Although no one from the two kingdoms on the Rulusas continent reported Alucard’s actions to the Marines or the World Government, the Marines were already aware.
As the two largest nations on the Rulusas continent, it would be strange if the Marines didn’t have agents stationed there.
In the Marine Headquarters meeting room, Chief of Staff Tsuru sat with her hands crossed under her chin, looking at the other high-ranking Marine officers. "This confirms Alucard’s presence in the Exeter Kingdom. My subordinates report he’s been there for two days and hasn’t left."
"Do you have a unique insight, Tsuru?" Sengoku asked, his arms folded.
"Before that, I have a hypothesis I’d like to share," Tsuru replied.
"Speak freely. Say whatever you wish," Fleet Admiral Kong said, waving a hand.
"Five months ago, Alanson Drew, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates who was defeated by Alucard, I suspect he’s dead," Tsuru stated, her eyes deep.
The Government’s intelligence department had informed the Marines about Alucard and Drew’s battle. While New Kaba was Whitebeard’s territory, it was also a key surveillance target, and the incident Alucard caused there was significant.
Drew’s defeat initially didn’t make the Government fully prioritize Alucard. It was his battle with Kaido that truly brought him to their attention.
"According to intelligence, the usually belligerent Drew hasn’t appeared for two consecutive months. This led me to believe," Tsuru hypothesized, "that the battle with Alucard caused him to die from his severe injuries. This must have happened recently."
"Why recently, Vice Admiral Tsuru?" a Rear Admiral frowned, asking.
"Roger and Shiki have been causing a ruckus in Whitebeard’s territory recently. Even if he’s angry, Whitebeard doesn’t dare make any rash moves. He must stay put and watch those two monsters, who are on par with himself."
After Tsuru’s explanation, many quietly nodded. Tsuru then continued, "But even so, we can still find an opportunity to sell this information to Whitebeard." She shifted her gaze to Kong. "We received intelligence earlier that the Double Dragon Pirates, a subordinate crew of the Whitebeard Pirates, were causing trouble in Grimm Town in the New World, correct? Let’s use them to see if we can achieve our objective."
By this point, even without Tsuru further explaining, everyone understood her intention.
First, instigate a battle between the Whitebeard Pirates and Alucard, then annihilate them all in one fell swoop.
On the other side, the Marines hadn’t intervened in the current clash between Shiki and Roger in the New World, precisely to wait until both were severely weakened before initiating an extermination operation.
However, the location of Roger and Shiki’s incident was too close to Whitebeard’s territory. To prevent the war between two individuals not inferior to himself from affecting his domain, Whitebeard chose to personally oversee the situation, temporarily leaving Alucard alone.
In other words, Whitebeard was waiting for a reckoning later.
Grimm Town was a moderately sized town in the New World.
The Double Dragon Pirates were a crew under the Whitebeard Pirates, led by two brothers who called themselves the "Double Dragons," hence their title, the Agnis brothers.
After looting considerable treasure from Grimm Town’s wealthy merchants, they were brazenly drinking in a tavern.
As the Double Dragon Pirates roared with laughter, the Agnis brothers suddenly overheard a conversation from another table nearby.
"That Alucard the Immortal who fought Kaido of the Beasts to a draw is on the Rulusas continent? Really?"
Upon hearing this, the Agnis brothers immediately motioned for their crew to be quiet and listen carefully to what the people were saying. The conversation continued. Another person said, "Of course. A distant relative of mine is an Exeter Kingdom soldier. He said that during the war, that Alucard the Immortal broke into the battlefield between the two kingdoms and, like a madman, killed over ten thousand people. Even after both armies retreated, he remained on the battlefield, frantically sucking blood. He’s a monster!"
"Over ten thousand dead? Why aren’t the Marines and the Government doing anything? Why aren’t they capturing such a heinous pirate quickly!?" another person exclaimed in surprise.
"You’re an idiot. Would a kingdom run to the Marine Government for help just because of one pirate? If they can’t even defeat one pirate, it shows their incompetence as kings!"
"Is that what they call ’suffering for the sake of pride’?"
"For royalty, pride is indeed a very important thing."
After hearing this conversation, the Agnis brothers gestured, and the Double Dragon Pirates immediately put down their drinks and rushed out. The Agnis brothers quickly called the Whitebeard Pirates and reported what they had just heard.
In the tavern, the group who had been chatting took off their coats, revealing vests with the Marine insignia. One of them winked at the tavern owner, who immediately stepped outside and hung a "Closed Today" sign on the door. One of them put on his Marine cap, then dialed a Den Den Mushi, speaking to the person on the other end: "Vice Admiral Tsuru, mission accomplished. The information has been delivered to the Agnis brothers of the Double Dragon Pirates."
"Excellent," the Den Den Mushi mimicked Tsuru’s aged, profound expression. "Continue to secretly monitor the Whitebeard Pirates’ movements in that sea area, but do not expose yourselves. Three Great Pirates are gathered there; one mistake could cost you your lives."
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