"Before Rob Lucci, Who's-Who was the Ace of CP9. However, after Lucci joined CP9, the title of Ace shifted away from him. Ten years ago, he was even thrown into prison for failing an escort mission in the East Blue!"
Akainu brought up the past events, his tone somewhat peculiar.
Hearing this, Taro also felt a deep disdain. This was truly the World Government's style—kicking the ladder away after climbing up, burning bridges after crossing them. When they decide to abandon someone, there's not a shred of sentimentality.
Gekko Moriah, Who's-Who, Spandam... they really are used and then discarded!
"Sakazuki, I still don't understand. What does you suddenly mentioning him have to do with the matter we're discussing now?"
Akainu remained silent for a long while before speaking.
"The reason I'm telling you this is to make you understand that CP is a direct agency of the World Government. Even if they make mistakes and are detained, they shouldn't be imprisoned in Impel Down. Do you understand?"
Taro raised an eyebrow.
"You mean Spandam being thrown into Impel Down was an accident, which is why the Gorosei were forced to personally send someone to take action?"
At this point, Taro recalled the original plot where the World Government wanted to secretly execute 'Impel Down's Newspaper King' Donquixote Doflamingo. At the time, Vice Warden Magellan also placed Mingo in solitary confinement for protection.
Now, Hannybal is also protecting Spandam? Is this a coincidence, or is there something more to it?
"That is precisely what I mean!" Akainu nodded, grunting.
"Hannybal prevented the World Government from privately executing Spandam, which has greatly angered the Gorosei!"
Taro clicked his tongue in admiration. "Hannybal actually has the guts for that? He's really got backbone!"
Akainu's breath hitched, and he roared angrily, "Taro!"
"You really don't know why he's so bold?"
Taro was stunned for a moment, rubbing his ear.
"Why are you shouting so loud? How should I know why?"
Akainu slammed his fist heavily onto the admiral's desk.
"Hmph! The Gorosei were furious about Hannybal's disobedience and ordered me to investigate. Hannybal claimed he was following your orders to 'take care' of Spandam. You still dare say you don't know?"
Taro was dumbfounded. What the hell!
The 'taking care' I meant was that kind of taking care, not this kind of 'taking care,' okay?!
Taro was extremely annoyed, a million curses running through his mind. After calming down for a moment, he realized:
No matter how foolish Hannybal is, he couldn't possibly have misunderstood his original words to this extent.
Even if he were that stupid, the cunning Magellan wouldn't have misunderstood his meaning.
But now, Hannybal is pushing the blame onto him. Did he sense that Spandam knows something?
After thinking for a moment, Taro spoke cautiously.
"Sakazuki, there's no need to test me. I did say to 'take care of Spandam,' but you know perfectly well what that phrase truly meant!"
"Just say it. What are you really thinking now, and what do you want me to do?"
Akainu fell silent, speaking only after a long pause.
"I just wanted to remind you: we are soldiers. We should focus on our duties. There are some secrets we don't need to know."
Taro neither agreed nor disagreed. "And then?"
Akainu's tone became distant.
"Since you didn't kill Spandam, I assume you don't care about his life or death. I was thinking... why not hand Spandam over this time?"
Is Red Doggy consulting with me?
Taro pondered for a moment. "For disobeying orders, how do the Gorosei plan to deal with Hannybal?"
Hearing Taro mention this, Akainu seemed utterly unconcerned.
"The great prison Impel Down is an instrument of the law! All criminals imprisoned there are either publicly executed or left to rot inside! If private executions or assassinations become rampant, where will Impel Down's authority stand in the long run?"
Would the Gorosei even care about that? The only reason they still care about face now is that they haven't been pushed to the brink yet!
Taro thought for a while.
"If the Gorosei only want Spandam, there's no problem handing him over. Handle it as you see fit."
Only then did Akainu let out a sigh of relief. "Good!"
Taro didn't care at all about Spandam's life or death. Instead, he was more curious about what Hannybal had learned from Spandam—no, what *Magellan* had learned.
This whole affair reeked of something 'poisonous,' very much like Magellan's style!
Just as Taro was pondering Magellan's intentions, Akainu asked another question, seemingly casual but actually quite deliberate.
"I heard you rejected Grandma Tsuru's proposal to have Hina marry you?"
Taro frowned. Why is Red Doggy gossiping too? The atmosphere in the Marines isn't quite right lately.
"That's true. Why do you mention it?"
Hearing this, Akainu seemed even more at ease.
"No reason. You're the Navy Grand Staff Officer. It's only right for me to show some concern!"
I don't believe a word of it, you crafty old man!
Taro curled his lip, remembering what Hina had mentioned earlier about Koby's promotion.
"Speaking of which, I'm really surprised you promoted Koby."
Hearing this, Akainu's thoughts darkened slightly.
"Are you suggesting I should have discussed it with you, the Grand Staff Officer?"
Taro felt baffled. Why is this guy's attitude like a rollercoaster, suddenly turning so cold?
He waved his hand, not particularly concerned, and instead offered a bit of criticism.
"Why discuss it with me? Rewarding merit is only natural! As the Fleet Admiral, promoting a deserving Marine Soldier is It is only natural. What's inappropriate is that it took so long!"
Hearing this, Akainu's mind completely relaxed.
His thinking was simple. Promoting Koby, on one hand, could demonstrate his magnanimity as Fleet Admiral.
On the other hand, after Garp retired, he never appeared at Marineford again. Koby was essentially the last Disciple Garp personally taught.
By letting bygones be bygones now, he could also send a friendly signal to the faction of Marines loyal to Garp, in case Taro and Aokiji's meeting was meant to shake his position as Fleet Admiral.
He hoped Garp's connections would at least remain neutral.
However, all of this had clearly been a wasted effort.
Akainu was now finally certain that Taro truly had no intention of competing with him for power!
He recalled what Vice Admiral Tsuru had told him a few days ago when she mentioned Taro refusing to marry Hina.
"Sakazuki, Taro's dissatisfaction with you is only about your methods and style!"
"As for the position of Fleet Admiral, he has always believed you are more suitable than Aokiji!"
Now, even his cautious maneuvering regarding Koby's promotion hadn't provoked any displeasure from Taro, further reassuring Akainu.
"Taro, I will definitely end the Great Pirate Era and cleanse the Four Seas!"
Akainu's firm tone carried a tremor of excitement, which puzzled Taro.
However, Taro didn't care why this Red Doggy had suddenly become so pumped up and confident.
Instead, he suddenly remembered the sentence Akainu had mentioned earlier when talking about Who's-Who, a detail he had previously overlooked.
The information revealed in that sentence was somewhat peculiar.
"Sakazuki, you just said Who's-Who failed an escort mission in the East Blue ten years ago. What was he escorting?"
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