"Your Majesty Neptune, has the report on the patrol situation of the Sea King's Army in the open seas been received?"
While guiding Queen Otohime in training her Observation Haki, Sakazuki was also summarizing the reconnaissance situation of the Nautilus Corps on the outskirts of Fish-Man Island.
At this moment, Whitebeard had already identified the biggest obstacle and greatest concern regarding whether the Navy could successfully implement the garrison plan on Fish-Man Island.
For most people, mastering Observation Haki in a short period was nothing more than a daydream. Even those with exceptional talent, such as Luffy, took nearly two years of study and training to become proficient in the two primary forms of Haki.
However, Otohime was different from them. She was different from most people. She was naturally gifted in the use of Observation Haki, yet this innate ability had not been fully utilized to its true potential.
With her natural Observation Haki, she could resonate more deeply with the public during her speeches. However, she was rarely able to use it for its predictive capabilities to evade **.
She was unable to study the systematic applications of Observation Haki like Sakazuki and others, nor could she perceive the future like Katakuri or listen to the voice of all things like Roger.
To Sakazuki, this gave him a deep sense of regret, as if witnessing the tragedy of a wasted prodigy. He knew that Otohime was naturally frail and unsuitable for various physically demanding combat techniques, but even if she could refine her Observation Haki to a high level in just a single aspect, she could become the strategist of Fish-Man Island.
For this reason, he held nothing back, teaching her everything he knew. However, even with this, it was impossible for her to grasp it all in just one or two days.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan is also extremely proficient in Observation Haki. He will supervise your training," Sakazuki said decisively, handing this unexpected apprentice over to the soon-to-be inheritor of the Ice-Ice Fruit ability.
"Great! Then how should I address Vice Admiral Kuzan? …Master's Wife?"
"???" For the first time, the expression of utter confusion—the 'Black Man Question Mark Face'—appeared on Neptune's face.
"???" Sakazuki turned his head expressionlessly. He had just spoken ill of Kuzan, and karma had come for him instantly.
Both Neptune and Sakazuki halted their military discussion, staring blankly at Otohime in disbelief.
"Um… Otohime, Vice Admiral Kuzan is a man!" Neptune said, feeling both amused and exasperated.
"Shouldn't your main concern be why she would even think that Kuzan and I are a couple?" Sakazuki's face darkened. From his perspective, Neptune had clearly been saying some nonsense with a straight face, misleading Otohime into believing this absurdity.
Neptune, however, looked completely innocent. He genuinely hadn't said anything like that. All he had done was describe Kuzan's general appearance to his wife.
Dark blue military uniform, curly hair—that was it.
Yet Otohime stood there with an air of absolute confidence, hands on her hips, pointing at the two utterly bewildered men.
"Since ancient times, red and blue make a perfect ship!"
"…"
Sakazuki felt the veins on his temple throbbing—pulsing, screaming.
"Today's perception training… will be doubled!" There was a distinct gritted-teeth tone in Akainu's voice.
"Vice Admiral!"
Ghost Spider quickly stepped out from the side hall, his expression solemn. He didn't even notice the strange atmosphere lingering in the palace and instead lowered his voice to report the operational plans directly into Sakazuki's ear.
"Report, Vice Admiral! Lindemann has completed negotiations with our side and is awaiting your next move!"
Sakazuki naturally wouldn't delay in dealing with such crucial military intelligence. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his state of mind.
"Very good! I'll head over immediately to make preparations. Whether we succeed or fail… depends on this next step!"
Lindemann was invited into the cave once again. Yesterday's initial meeting had been without danger, and today, whether he could persuade Kaido or not would directly determine the success or failure of Vice Admiral Sakazuki's encirclement and rescue operation.
"Silver! You talked so much about the national situation yesterday. Then, what is your goal in this mission?" Kaido sat on the dry ground, gnawing on a huge chunk of sea beast meat.
Lindemann chuckled softly: "This is not something a subordinate like me should decide. Such an important matter, Your Excellency the General will personally discuss with you."
"Oh?"
The samurai of Wano took out a Den Den Mushi from his bosom, quickly dialed a few buttons, and respectfully held it in his hands.
A deep and vigorous voice reached the Beast King's ears: "I am the Guardian General of Wano, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Guardian Thirteen Divisions, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. Beast King, I apologize for disturbing you."
Imitating Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was somewhat difficult for Sakazuki. The old man's vocal cords had been worn down over the years, making his voice hoarse and aged.
To mimic such an elderly voice, aside from certain innate vocal traits, the key was to maintain a consistently low-pitched tone for a long period.
Fortunately, he was naturally a bass speaker, so achieving this kind of chest resonance wasn't too difficult for him.
The real challenge lay in the fact that the target of his imitation had aged vocal cords and a soft palate.
Therefore, Sakazuki had to make his voice very flat, focusing the control at the back of his oral cavity, and when retracting his voice, he had to weaken it slightly. This would create the impression and timbre of an elderly man.
Kaido appeared quite forthright: "So, you are General Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni? I've heard countless tales of your exploits from your subordinates. So, what does Wano hope for from us?"
"An ally! A reliable and extraordinarily powerful ally." The "General" of Wano answered frankly.
Kaido glanced behind him. In the depths of the darkness, it was silent, as if it were an unspoken form of intimidation. Helplessly, the Beast King had to follow the script they had hammered out the night before.
"Then why doesn't the General form an alliance with the Whitebeard Pirates? Isn't that old man currently the strongest force in the New World?"
Sakazuki sneered inwardly: If allying with Whitebeard was an option, would he have sent Lindemann into such a dangerous place?
However, his voice carried a trace of resentment: "Precisely because he is Whitebeard, I will never allow Wano to form an alliance with him."
Kaido burst into laughter, as powerful as a morning bell: "Why?"
"Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni" did not answer the question directly but instead brought up another matter: "From Rox to Roger and now to Whitebeard, the great pirate crews have risen and fallen like the tides upon this sea, wave after wave."
His deep and somewhat aged voice rang out like a twilight drum:
"And yet Wano remains stagnant, like a pool of dead water, devoid of vitality and hope! With aristocrats entrenched in their traditions, and daimyōs clinging to their outdated ways."
Sakazuki gripped Onigumo's military sword, slamming the scabbard heavily into the ground, producing a dull, abrupt thud: "I will orchestrate the greatest war the world has ever seen! Let the world witness Wano's rebirth in the flames of destruction!"
The Beast King's eyes suddenly lit up. This was exactly what he had always dreamed of—a grand war in which he could fight until his last breath!
Ignoring the faint coughs from the shadows, he nodded repeatedly: "That's exactly how it should be!"
"Only the strong shall live!" Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni roared.
"The weak must die!" Kaido bellowed, eager to set sail for Wano immediately. What kind of warrior, with the heart of a raging beast, could have thoughts so perfectly aligned with his own? In just a few words, the Beast King felt as if he had found a long-lost kindred spirit!
"This world is just that simple!" The two of them spoke in unison, their words resonating as if their souls had collided.
And yet, Sakazuki was destined to deliver a soul-piercing howl followed by two mind-shattering explosions to Kaido.
"This! This is why I chose you!" The voice of Wano's General thundered once more, like rolling thunder in Kaido's ears. "Whitebeard may be powerful, but he is merely a ruler of preservation!"
"It was not I who chose you! Nor was it you who chose me!"
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni roared: "Tell me! Who chose me?! And who did I choose?!!!"
Kaido's lips trembled, his voice shaking as well: "I chose myself!!!!"
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