Chapter 553: Unable to Understand
Chapter 553: Unable to Understand
After trying unsuccessfully to locate the submarine, Vice-Admiral Gion could only return in frustration.
Her Docile Fruit ability wasn’t without weaknesses. Despite being able to manipulate energy, she could only tame it, unable to utilize the energy in return. In essence, her ability was a form of reduction of intrinsic material energy.
She could use this characteristic to reduce the flow speed of seawater, thereby accelerating the speed of her own ship. However, this didn’t mean she could use this method to catch the submarine.
The other party was traveling underwater, and Vice-Admiral Gion had no idea about the movements of the submarine. This meant she couldn’t rashly open the Gate of Justice to return because she feared that the submarine might quietly follow her ship from underwater when the Gate of Justice was opened, thus entering the Marine Headquarters. Therefore, she could only send out naval soldiers who could swim to investigate underwater before daring to open the Gates of Justice.
However, what she didn’t know was that Ian had no intention of following her to the Marine Headquarters because going there now was pointless.
This was also why Ian thought of using sea snakes to tow the submarine. From the beginning, he intended to break free from the influence of the World Government’s specialized sea currents.
His destination, naturally, was the Amazon Lily. Although Boa Hancock had already left with the Marines, Ian’s Ark Maxim was still hidden in the bay of the Island.
And if he calculated the time, Uncle Fujitora and the others should be arriving soon…
After knowing that Ian’s destination was the Amazon Lily, Jinbe and Crocodile weren’t particularly surprised. They had seen Boa Hancock and Ian fight side by side back in Dressrosa, so they naturally understood the relationship between the two. It was the prisoners who, upon hearing the name Amazon Lily, were both envious and terrified.
They were envious because they knew that this Island was a famous kingdom of women, populated entirely by women. For prisoners who had been locked up in prison for a long time without seeing women, this allure was simply irresistible!But they were also terrified because they knew that the women of this Island were not to be trifled with. It was a forbidden zone for men, and legend had it that any man who intruded would be mercilessly killed.
So they were actually quite puzzled as to how Ian, the big boss, could approach Amazon Lily…
With the sea snakes towing them, the submarine’s speed was still quite fast. It didn’t take long for them to return to Amazon Lily.
In the bay where the Ark Maxim was anchored, as the submarine began to surface and the hatch opened, the prisoners rushed out one after another. Before they could leisurely stretch and enjoy the freedom of fresh air, they were flashed…
There was no way around it; the golden glimmering on the Ark Maxim was just too dazzling!
The prisoners drooled all over the place. A few of them seemed to have been driven mad by the gold, actually running up the ship with weapons, trying to pry the gold off.
The consequence awaiting them was Enel’s punishment! A bolt of lightning struck down, leaving these foolish individuals charred black.
“What a joke! That’s my ship! Even though… even though it’s currently commandeered by Ian, it’s still my ship!”
Ian frowned upon witnessing this scene. He knew well that with such unruly prisoners, only force could deter them. Thus, he made no effort to stop Enel’s actions.
After issuing orders prohibiting these prisoners from boarding the Island, Ian and his crew temporarily rested in the bay. Those skilled in combat and swimming were assigned to catch fish for food in the sea, while Ian and the leaders gathered to discuss their next steps.
Jinbe knew Ian intended to intervene in the war between the Whitebeard and the Marines to help Oyaji and his crew, a plan he supported since the Whitebeard was also his benefactor.
However, the situation was different for Crocodile. Although he had escaped with Ian and even accepted his invitation to join the Dragon Hunters Pirate Crew, Ian suspected that Crocodile harbored intentions to kill the Whitebeard.
Ian was unaware of the history between Crocodile and the Whitebeard. Although he wanted to ask Crocodile about it, he doubted Crocodile would reveal anything. Ian had spent some time with the Whitebeard Pirates before Ace joined them and knew that the position of the second division commander had always been vacant. This made Ian wonder if Crocodile had any connection to this matter.
However, Ian wasn’t inclined to delve deeper into the matter at the moment; his main concern was Ivankov.
Turning to Ivankov, Ian said, “Iva, do you think you can contact Uncle Dragon?”
“Huh? What do you want to do?” Ivankov was puzzled.
“This war between the Marines and the Whitebeard is actually a great opportunity!” Ian whispered. “With the Marines almost emptying their nest, the Holy Land Mary Geoise probably doesn’t have much defense left. If the Revolutionary Army strikes the World Government’s headquarters at this time, what kind of impact do you think it would have?”
Jinbe and Crocodile were stunned to hear Ian’s words. How could they not have considered that Ian would be so bold?
Honestly, Ivankov was also shocked by Ian’s idea. But after careful consideration, Ivankov shook his head and said, “I doubt Dragon would agree…”
“Why?” Ian asked puzzledly. “Isn’t the Revolutionary Army’s goal to overthrow the World Government? Why wouldn’t they agree to such a good opportunity?”
“It’s simple because the Revolutionary Army isn’t strong enough!” Ivankov shrugged. “Dragon has been keeping the Revolutionary Army developing quietly for years because he knows very well that the Revolutionary Army doesn’t yet have the strength to directly confront the World Government and the Marines. Once, as you said, they attack Mary Geoise, it will certainly shock the world, but they will likely face the World Government’s full retaliation afterward… You may not know, but over the years, the Revolutionary Army has lost many cadres annually because the World Government has been targeting them with assassination operations. Despite this, the World Government hasn’t focused all its energy on the Revolutionary Army…”
“Is it the Four Emperors that are diverting the World Government’s attention?” Jinbe asked.
“That’s right!” Ivankov replied. “To put it bluntly, in the Revolutionary Army’s view, they’re actually hoping for the Marines and the World Government to engage in war with the Yonko. Dragon would never allow the Revolutionary Army to appear conspicuously at this time to draw attention…”
“I see…” Ian sighed, realizing he had oversimplified things.
“However, I can go with you!” Ivankov said. “As Dragon’s son and a cadre of the Revolutionary Army, and because I’m concerned about Kuma’s current situation, I need to go to the battlefield with you to see for myself…”
“Then I’ll count on you!” Ian nodded.
With that topic settled, Ian and the others chatted while waiting.
On the other side, Vice Admiral Gion had returned to Marine Headquarters, Marineford. She reported the specific details of the Impel Down prison break incident to Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
“… ” Sengoku listened to Gion’s report, remaining silent for a long time.
Ian rescuing former Shichibukai Jinbe and Crocodile wasn’t surprising to Sengoku. From the beginning, upon learning of Ian’s presence at Impel Down, Sengoku had guessed his intentions.
However, when Gion’s report mentioned the discovery that all the prisoners on the sixth level of Impel Down were dead after the prison’s cleanup, Sengoku found himself somewhat puzzled.
Starting a prison riot and releasing the prisoners from the first to the fourth level, that can be understood. Sengoku speculated that Ian wanted to recruit these prisoners, to join his own pirate crew. But then Ian remained indifferent to the prisoners on the fifth level, and killed all the prisoners on the sixth level. No matter how you look at it, this seemed strange. Didn’t he know that the prisoners on the fifth and sixth levels were highly skilled hardcore criminals? Wouldn’t it be better to strengthen his own power by taking away the prisoners from these two levels of the prison?
Moreover, even the former prison warden, Shiryu of the Rain, who had originally sided with him, had been killed. What on earth was going on!?
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