Chapter 105: The Navy's Plan (Please Subscribe, Recommend, and Vote!)

After parting ways with Luffy’s crew, Bufeng immediately conveyed the news to Moria.

When Moria heard that Bufeng had killed a Celestial Dragon, his first reaction was to sail the Thriller Bark out of the Florian Triangle and reunite with Bufeng. He did not hesitate for even a moment.

He had not shown the slightest suspicion or doubt, and the warmth that welled up in Bufeng’s heart was overwhelming.

Even so, Bufeng managed to persuade Moria otherwise. “At least the Florian Triangle still serves as a barrier. As long as you don’t leave voluntarily, it’ll be difficult for the Navy to find you and use you to threaten me. Organize the strength of the zombie army properly and prepare for a complete break with the World Government.

“I’ll make preparations on my end as well. If we don’t want to be controlled by the World Government, we must establish a force capable of standing against it!”

After hearing Bufeng’s advice, Moria thought seriously for a while. The fire in his heart, which had never truly gone out, began to burn once more.

He summoned the Three Freaks to the banquet hall and told them the news Bufeng had sent back.

Perona said, “What? Brother Bufeng killed a Celestial Dragon? Then…”

Absalom asked, “What do you need us to do?”

Hogback exclaimed, “Fush! Fush! Fush! Young Bufeng is truly extraordinary! If that’s the case…”

Moria watched their reactions, then nodded and continued. “Absalom, your ability is best suited for gathering intelligence. Set sail alone and collect everything you can about Bufeng. Report back at any time.

“Perona, we’ll make a trip out to sea. The shadows within these zombies need to be strengthened. Hogback, guard the ship. Continue enhancing those legendary zombies!”

Perona and Absalom both nodded. When it came to Hogback, however, he was completely at a loss. After a moment of silence, he said awkwardly, “How am I supposed to improve them in front of Young Bufeng’s skill?”

Moria was startled, then laughed knowingly. “In that case, take Ryuma and rob the pirates in the Florian Triangle! This time, only take their gold, silver, treasures, and supplies. Let them go once you’re finished.

“Also, make an inventory of all our treasures. You can stop those meaningless experiments of yours when necessary. From now on, focus on being a proper ship’s doctor!”

Ryuma had been listening quietly from the banquet hall. Upon hearing this, he vanished from the castle a moment later.

He returned to Bufeng’s laboratory, found Lola, and explained the situation. Lola immediately declared that they had to help Bufeng!

She returned to the headquarters of the Victims’ Committee, gathered every member of the Rolling Pirates under her command, and issued an order.

“Young Bufeng needs our help. Take everything you’ve accumulated over the past few years…”

Before she could finish, the crew members began pointing behind her and trembling.

“M-Moria…”

Lola turned around. When she saw Moria again, there was far less fear in her eyes than before. She drew the twin blades from her back, preparing for a “great battle” with him.

Moria merely waved his hand and said in his usual carefree manner, “Kishishishishi! I’ll return your shadows later. Go out there, and don’t become a burden to Bufeng!”

With that, he twisted his enormous body around and walked toward the harbor.

…

At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku finally received Hina’s military report through the Transponder Snail. The outcome seemed to be within his expectations.

He did not smash the Transponder Snail or fly into a rage. Instead, he calmly said to Tsuru, “Staff Officer Tsuru, they failed to capture Bufeng, but Crocodile’s group has been apprehended.”

Tsuru was not surprised either. She immediately began analyzing the situation. “What should we do next? The higher-ups still haven’t given us a clear answer. Something about this is wrong.”

As soon as she finished speaking, another black Transponder Snail on Sengoku’s desk began to ring.

The hearts of all three people in the office tightened when they saw it.

Sengoku picked up the Transponder Snail. Throughout the entire conversation, he responded only with words such as, “Yes. Understood.”

After hanging up, Sengoku said coldly, “The Elders’ position is that this matter must not be made public, including the death of Saint Camell. The World Government cannot afford to lose face. However, an admiral must be dispatched to pursue Bufeng. He must be captured alive!”

“Does that mean news of Princess Konohanasakuya’s defeat must also be kept secret?” Tsuru asked sharply.

“Yes. Not a single word may be revealed. Everything that happened in Alabasta will be blamed on Baroque Works. Crocodile will be stripped of his title as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

“The defeat of Crocodile will be credited to the Straw Hat crew, while the destruction of the entire plan and the subsequent arrests will all be recorded as the Navy’s achievements.”

Garp was somewhat displeased with this arrangement. “Why make my grandson take the blame for this? Does that mean Bufeng might as well have never gone to Alabasta at all?”

Sengoku nodded. “That’s right. The authority of the Celestial Dragons cannot be challenged. They will never admit that a pirate with the strength of an admiral has appeared, killed a Celestial Dragon, and intends to oppose them!”

Garp set down his teacup and sank into deep thought.

As a hero of the Navy, he had always hoped that his descendants would accomplish great things within its ranks and pass on his sense of justice.

Yet his son had defected to become the leader of the Revolutionary Army, while his grandson had gone straight into piracy. And now, both of them had caused quite a commotion.

“This is truly troublesome…”

…

After notifying Moria, Bufeng gathered all his crew and began discussing their next step.

“I’ve killed a Celestial Dragon. From now on, the Navy’s pursuit will be endless. I have no intention of running away. I want to survive on this sea according to my own will, so we need to establish a force of our own and oppose the Celestial Dragons and the privileged class to the very end!”

Vivi had once belonged to the Celestial Dragon lineage. Given her current circumstances, she naturally supported Bufeng’s decision completely.

Her reason for setting sail with Bufeng was also practical. If she continued staying in Alabasta, not only could her own safety not be guaranteed, she might also drag the country into ruin once again.

Neither she nor her family possessed combat strength capable of contending with an admiral like Bufeng did. Moreover, the existence of Pluton was a ticking time bomb that could be detonated without warning.

Since Bufeng intended to oppose the Celestial Dragons, she was absolutely willing to follow him. The sooner his wish was fulfilled, the sooner she could return to the country she loved.

Thinking of this, Vivi said, “As long as it means opposing the Celestial Dragons, and as long as Captain Bufeng needs me, I’m willing to do anything!”

“Just the few of us won’t be enough,” Reiju added. “We need territory where we can establish a foothold, as well as a powerful army!”

Reiju was relatively calm. Although she did not know where Bufeng’s unfathomable confidence came from, she was willing to accompany him in doing things that ordinary people would consider utterly impossible.

“Reiju, I’ll ask you one more time. Have you truly decided to stay and remain with us?” Bufeng asked, his expression extremely serious.

“It depends on whether you can completely free me from my father’s control,” Reiju replied casually, though her heart was utterly resolute.

At twenty-two, she had retained her emotions, but she absolutely obeyed her father Judge’s orders—and deeply disliked doing so. Strictly speaking, was Judge’s rule not another manifestation of the privileged class?

And was his reason for acting this way not also to increase his strength and escape the control of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government?

Especially after meeting Sanji and seeing her younger brother pursue his dream freely at sea with a group of companions, Reiju no longer wished to return to the Germa 66 forces, where she had never felt even the slightest trace of human warmth.

“Fine. I promise you that,” Bufeng said. Although he had no absolute certainty, he believed it should not be too difficult.

In terms of combat power, the two princesses could not offer him much assistance. But their identities and social connections were precisely what Bufeng needed most.

With Vivi on his side, as long as Pluton was not accidentally discovered and destroyed, it could continue exerting pressure on the World Government.

As for Reiju, leaving everything else aside, her understanding and tacit rapport alone made her one of Bufeng’s greatest assets.

At least, that was how Bufeng saw it.

“Yohohohoho! Young Bufeng, where are we going next?” Brook asked seriously.

Bufeng thought for a moment before replying, “Take Saul to an island. If pirates are occupying it, seize their treasures and drive them away, then occupy the island yourselves. Remember, don’t do anything that will make the island’s inhabitants resent us.”

With that, Bufeng took out a sea chart and handed it to Brook, marking a location on it.

He then clipped off a small piece of Brook’s fingernail and used it to create a Vivre Card, which he kept for himself.

“Ha! Then where is the main force headed?” Saul asked cheerfully.

To be honest, after accompanying Bufeng through so many adventures, Saul agreed with Bufeng’s ideal of absolute neutrality, but he had always felt that they were merely wandering about on aimless adventures.

This time was different. Bufeng intended to establish a force capable of challenging the rule of the privileged class. After experiencing the Ohara incident, the root of Saul’s doubts about the Navy’s justice lay precisely in the rule of the privileged class represented by the World Government.

Now that Bufeng intended to oppose it, Saul felt more motivated with such a goal driving him forward.

Bufeng did not answer his question directly. Instead, he turned to Reiju and asked, “Reiju, what do you think is most important to an army in its early stages?”

“Intelligence!” Reiju answered almost without thinking.

“Then how can we establish an intelligence network of our own?”

Bufeng continued seeking her advice. After all, Reiju was also an officer of Germa 66, so her experience in this area was certainly far greater than his own.

“My identity may allow us to temporarily obtain some information through Germa’s intelligence network, but…”

At that moment, a News Coo landed on the deck of the Juventus.

Bufeng was just about to take out a one-hundred-Berry coin when inspiration suddenly struck him, and he thought of a marvelous idea.

If one were looking for the most convenient way to obtain information in the world, it would surely be through the News Coos that delivered newspapers across the globe.

Of course, controlling Morgans, the leader of the News Coo network, was unrealistic. That left only one option: learning how to communicate with the News Coos.

Bufeng took out the sea chart and examined it. Then he marked a location and smiled.

“Let’s go here and find a companion with a special ability!”

Everyone leaned forward to look at the location Bufeng had marked, but all they saw were question marks.

“The East Blue?” Reiju wondered. “Who could possibly be worth seeking out there?”

She did not say it aloud.

After hearing Bufeng’s explanation, Vivi was the first to speak. “Does someone with such an ability really exist?”

Reiju, who had seen far more of the world, smiled. “Devil Fruits possess all sorts of strange and extraordinary abilities. Isn’t Lily’s Mini-Mini Fruit proof of that? So why should it be impossible for there to be a Whisper-Whisper Fruit that allows its user to hear the voices of animals?

“Besides, Captain Bufeng possesses that incomprehensible surgical stitching technique despite not being a Devil Fruit user. If something that miraculous can exist, how can you claim to understand everything?”

Chapter 105: The Navy’s Plans