Chapter 100 Kizaru, Stop Pretending

A Few Hours Earlier

Marineford – Marshal's Office

"Marshal Carlos, I'm curious as to why you've called me here."

Kizaru, looking laid-back as usual, spread his hands with a helpless expression.

"I've received word that the Five Elders are on their way. I believe it concerns you."

"The commander of the Revolutionary Army's Western Army, Crow, has the same Devil Fruit abilities as me. And with their numbers, it's only natural that the mission failed, right?"

Carlos waved his hand dismissively.

"I'm not concerned about what happened there. However, you cannot fail this next mission."

He handed Kizaru a document, his expression unreadable.

Suppressing his curiosity, Kizaru hesitantly took the document. After a quick glance, his carefree expression shifted.

"Hijacking a warship? Stealing 200 billion Berries worth of Heavenly Tribute?"

Carlos nodded slightly. "Yes, and they're currently facing obstacles on their way back."

"I need you to head there immediately. Defeat the Red Hair Pirates."

In the New World, only the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates could be considered rivals of the Marines.

Carlos had deep knowledge of Whitebeard and had many strategies to deal with him. The Red Hair Pirates, though fewer in number, were a different story. Every one of their senior officers had earned a notorious reputation. With the highest average bounty and a perfect balance in their crew, they were known as the Iron Wall Pirates.

Carlos couldn't afford to take any chances, which is why he had called for Kizaru.

"If I heard correctly, you want me to help Kaido defeat the Red Hair Pirates?"

Kizaru furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled by the order. The request was entirely unexpected.

Pirates fighting each other was usually a golden opportunity for the Marines to capitalize on. As the Marine Marshal, Carlos should have focused on recovering the Heavenly Tribute, not aiding Kaido.

Carlos, however, remained stone-faced. "Yes. Compared to Kaido, the Red Hair Pirates pose a much greater threat to us."

Kizaru's confusion only deepened. "You're aware, aren't you, that Kaido has joined forces with Bullet and formed the Dragon Pirates? Along with the prisoners from Impel Down, their power far surpasses the old Beasts Pirates."

"If Kaido is allowed to escape with those 200 billion Berries to Beehive Island, he'll quickly grow into a terrifying force."

Suspicion flashed in Kizaru's eyes. For a brief moment, he even wondered if the man sitting in front of him was secretly aligned with the pirates.

"The Dragon Pirates are nothing to be worried about," Carlos said, noticing Kizaru's doubt. A sly smile crossed his face. "I might as well tell you—Aokiji has successfully infiltrated the Dragon Pirates."

"What?" Kizaru's eyes shot up in surprise.

Carlos continued, his expression calm but calculating. "Aokiji's departure from the Marines was just a cover, a ruse to get close to Kaido and the others."

The more Kizaru thought about it, the more it made sense. Aokiji, a former Marine Admiral, wouldn't join the pirates without a reason. He had his own brand of justice. This could explain everything.

With Aokiji's strength, it wouldn't have been difficult to rise through the ranks of the Dragon Pirates and gain Kaido's trust.

Now, with the secret support of the Marines, along with the combined might of Kaido, Bullet, and the other formidable prisoners, the remaining pirate forces in the New World would be wiped out. It was only a matter of time before they dominated the seas.

At that point, the Marines could join forces with Aokiji, wait for the right moment, and take them all down in one decisive blow.

If this plan worked, the Marines wouldn't have to pay any heavy price. The pirate threat in the New World would be eliminated in a single, calculated strike.

Could Carlos have foreseen all of this when he took office as Marine Marshal?

Kizaru was taken aback by the thought. The revelation had shocked him deeply.

After a moment of stunned silence, he began to think of another pressing concern.

The Heavenly Tribute had been stolen, and the Five Elders wouldn't simply let that slide. How would Carlos explain this to the World Government? Would the blame ultimately fall on him?

Carlos, still calm, smiled knowingly. His Observation Haki spread out in all directions like an invisible, all-encompassing wave. At this moment, he seemed almost godlike—aware of everything happening around him.

The subtle beat of Kizaru's heart, the rhythm of his pulse, the faintest flicker of his facial expressions… all of it was laid bare before Carlos' watchful gaze.

If Kizaru were to show even the slightest hint of unease, Carlos would sense it instantly.

Carlos' Observation Haki grew even more intense. It penetrated deeper, brushing against Kizaru's very thoughts, his emotions—happiness, anger, doubt, joy, and all the complex currents swirling in his mind.

In this state, Carlos could easily predict what would happen in the next few minutes. Everything was under his control.

Suddenly, Carlos spoke.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're a spy for the Revolutionary Army."

Gulp!

Those words hit Kizaru like a thunderbolt. His eyes narrowed instinctively, but he quickly regained his composure.

"The Revolutionary Army? I have no idea what you're talking about," Kizaru said, trying to play it cool.

Could Carlos have uncovered his identity as a Revolutionary Army agent? Was he using this knowledge as leverage to force him into accepting the mission?

Countless doubts swirled in Kizaru's mind. For the first time in a while, he found himself genuinely uncertain.

Currently, four major forces ruled the world: the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, the Marines, and the Pirates. If the current situation continued to unfold as it had been, the Pirate era was on the verge of collapse. The balance of power would soon shift to a three-way struggle for control.

Kizaru couldn't shake off his recent thoughts. He recalled how Carlos had visited Danjian Island and meet Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. No one knew the details of their conversation, but shortly after, Kuma and Vegapunk had been brought into the fold. It was clear some agreement had been made between the Marines and the Revolutionary Army.

Could this be how Carlos knew about Kizaru's undercover role?

And what was Carlos' real goal? Did he plan to overthrow the Celestial Dragons? Was this operation to seize the Heavenly Tribute part of a larger scheme to weaken the World Government?

The more Kizaru thought about it, the more it all seemed plausible. The implications left him speechless for a moment.

Whether true or not, Kizaru realized one thing: the Revolutionary Army couldn't take on both the World Government and the Marines simultaneously. If the goal was to overthrow the Celestial Dragons, then an alliance with the Marines was the best course of action.

Kizaru took a deep breath and, with measured precision, spoke each word slowly:

"Alright, I'll take the mission."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can visit my Patreon page:

Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel

There are 15+ advanced chapters available for you to read.

Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Check out my new One piece fanfic!

[One Piece: Invincible Starting From The Fruit Of Words]