He should have made this call a year ago, but unforeseen calamities, intelligence errors, and his wrong decisions forced him to be a miner for a year.
The Radio Snail was quickly connected, but there was no sound from the other side.
Drake was dialing Sengoku's personal number. Although Radio Snails don't have a caller display function, outsiders don't know this number. Those who can connect with this Radio Snail are all on special missions.
Hearing the connection sound from the other side, Drake also breathed a sigh of relief, found a suitable posture, pretended to be exhausted, leaned against the corner of the wall, and placed the Radio Snail nearby in a way that looked like it accidentally fell, then gently tapped the deck.
Ensuring no one was around just to make this call, he didn't want to be discovered during the interaction which would make his year's mining effort go to waste.
Tap tap... tap...
The rhythmic sounds echoed in Sengoku's office. Even though the sound from the microphone was heavily distorted, Sengoku still heard the code from Drake.
[Marshal Sengoku, this is Drake, the plan is being implemented, I have gained the chance to join them, Steel Mammoth Jack has been promoted to the Fourth Disaster, the Navy Branch may be attacked soon, cooperation needed...]
Listening to the information from the Radio Snail, Sengoku also let out a long sigh of relief. Since Drake reported his actions last time, he had disappeared for a whole year like he evaporated.
Initially, they thought Drake was preparing, but as time went on, Sengoku thought something might have happened to him. If not for the fact only a few top-level officials knew about this, he'd suspect Drake's intelligence might have leaked, leading to a failed undercover mission.
[Received. Why did it take so long to hear from you? If you delay a few more months, there'll be a new Navy Admiral.]
Sengoku was speaking the truth; after prolonged debate, the Navy and World Government wanted Kuzan and Sakazuki to become the new Admiral. This decision went unresolved after numerous meetings.
And neither Kuzan nor Sakazuki was willing to yield. Even the usually laid-back Kuzan strongly opposed Sakazuki becoming Admiral, ultimately, they decided to use force to resolve the Admiral position.
Only the impact of them fully fighting was too great, leaving the World Government and Navy looking for a suitable battlefield.
[It's a long story, the situation isn't suitable for chatting now, let's reconnect later.]
After Drake sent out the final cryptic message, Sengoku did not say anything and hung up the phone directly. But Drake did not return the Radio Snail to its place; instead, he transformed into an Allosaurus and charged out of the deck, causing chaos on the entire warship.
"Brother Jack, this group has only this one left now; it seems he survived the battle."
On the Steel Mammoth, Sheepshead was observing the battle ahead with binoculars, and all those who left prison with Drake were dead in the battle.
"He's an Ancient type, let me see... this guy was also a Super Rookie a year ago."
"So for this past year... he's been mining the whole time?"
Listening to Sheepshead's report, Jack was somewhat confused, Drake's recent actions seemed to indicate some intent to join them.
Yet in the past year he was a stubborn hold-out, which made Jack wonder, since he had plans to join, why not surrender earlier?
"Yes... so, Brother Jack, what do you plan to do?"
"If he can survive ten battles, naturally he has the qualification to join, but this guy is a bit suspicious; keep a closer eye on him, you're thinking the same, right?"
The first part was addressed to Sheepshead, but in the latter sentence, Jack's target switched to Alcremie. Sheepshead remained silent, seemingly accustomed, just silently noting Jack's requirements in his mind.
...
Back at Navy Headquarters, Sengoku also issued several orders to the warships stationed in the New World, then looked at the latest intelligence.
He's still the Navy Admiral now, many issues still require his decision.
"It's been so long, The Sea is still this troublesome... where has that guy Garp run off to?"
"Mr. Garp recently returned to the East Sea, heard he captured quite a few pirates, Marshal Sengoku."
On the sofa beside him, Kizaru was trimming his nails with a nail clipper; while Aokiji and Akainu were preparing for the Admiral position showdown, he was positioned at Navy Headquarters for convenient support to nearby World Government nobles.
"Tch, went back again... his grandson really doesn't let people relax."
Garp returning to the East Sea was within Sengoku's expectations, after the war on the top, pirates emerged en masse everywhere; Garp heading to the East Sea was to ensure his hometown is more peaceful. He was capturing pirates after all, Sengoku couldn't say much, but had to curse under his breath.
"Speaking of Mr. Garp's grandson, there's something recently closely related to them, Marshal Sengoku, you've seen the intelligence on Whitebeard II, right? It's said to be a monster with terrifying power like Whitebeard's in his youth."
"Whitebeard's mighty power when young, didn't you experience it personally?
This guy is troublesome, but currently, he's mostly targeting Whitebeard's remnants, the World Government's attitude is ambiguous...
Recently, that old guy Wald also seems to be back in action; being this Admiral is getting harder and harder, Borsalino, why don't you just take over instead."
"Spare me, Marshal Sengoku, let those two handle this troublesome matter."
"Sigh..."
Head-achingly picking up a stack of documents, Sengoku headed towards Tsuru's staff department for strategy analysis, while outside, pirates continued their habitual actions.
...
On a certain island in the New World, the pirate Sengoku and Kizaru discussed was in action.
"It's you! The one who didn't trust dad during the war and even tried to attack him!"
With a towering stature, a bulky body, muscular upper body but peculiarly thin lower body, he held a large sword similar in style to Murakumogiri.
Thick golden hair covered his back like a cloak, with sideburns on both sides of the cheeks braided.
Thick lips, perpetually snot running down, bearing fierce scars all over, along with a thinner crescent-shaped white mustache.
Whitebeard II - Edward Weevil
Bounty: 480 million Belly.
"Unforgivable, I'm going to kill you to avenge dad!"
Rumble!
Weevil raised the large sword and swung it forward, the pirate in front drew a huge katana to block, but against Weevil's power, he appeared very small, and was blown away in a few strikes.
"Doubting old dad... that was my unforgivable mistake but... only members of Whitebeard Pirates are dad's sons! You guys... how could you possibly be dad's sons!"