Chapter 394 - Will Wood Participate in the Summit War?

"Old man Sengoku, if you're trying to send me on another secret mission, then forget about it." Wood's voice came through the receiver, clearly displeased, causing Sengoku to feel a twinge of awkwardness. "No matter the promise of promotion or a raise, I'm not interested anymore. Cut my pay if you want; it's not like I need the money right now."

Wood's frustration was understandable. Sengoku had, over the years, assigned Wood nothing but grueling tasks. First, he had to infiltrate Impel Down and pretend to defect. Then, he sabotaged the deal between the Donquixote Family and the World Government involving the Ope Ope no Mi. Later, he was involved in the Pluton blueprints incident at Enies Lobby and more recently, in creating conflicts between Big Mom and Kaido.

None of these missions had been easy. The figures involved and the stakes were always sky-high, pushing the limits of what could be accomplished. Yet, Wood had succeeded in every assignment, and not only that, but he also managed to extricate the Marines from these affairs unscathed. That was precisely why Sengoku had continually placed trust in him.

However, Sengoku knew that Wood wasn't the same as before—he couldn't be fooled so easily now. Back when he was a fresh pirate, promises of promotion and pay raises might motivate him. But as the missions stretched on, and Wood realized he might never truly leave his undercover role, those incentives became meaningless.

In the end, Sengoku had been forced to promise that once Wood completed his duties, he could retire—to live peacefully as a branch captain in a far-off location. But years had passed, and Sengoku had yet to fulfill that promise, causing Wood to grow even more disillusioned.

The last time, Sengoku had nearly run out of options to convince him. Wood only accepted the mission to attend Big Mom's tea party because he feared for his sister, Ain, and the dangers she might face. Sengoku knew he could only use Ain as leverage sparingly, or Wood might finally snap.

Despite all this, Sengoku, Garp, and the other top Marines still believed they hadn't been wrong about Wood all those years ago. They felt that the sense of justice was still there, but it was a different kind of justice—one Wood executed on his own terms. As long as the Marines weren't Wood's enemy, he'd continue his work, especially given his ties to people like Gion, Ain, and Zephyr.

"I'm not calling about a secret mission," Sengoku said, choosing his words carefully. "I just want to know why you were at Sabaody Archipelago and why you ended up fighting Kizaru."

Though Sengoku's question sounded casual, the answer meant a lot to him. He needed to know if Wood still held the same attitude toward the Marines that he did all those years ago. After all, Wood's current identity as an "Ancient Weapon" and a major underground figure wielded far more clout than his nominal Marine rank.

"I just happened to be passing by Sabaody," Wood replied, his tone nonchalant. "I'd heard about the Marine Science Unit's 'Pacifista,' this so-called formidable human weapon. As someone in the arms business, I wanted to get my hands on one to see if Vegapunk is as brilliant as they say.

"As for Kizaru, I didn't provoke him. He came at me first—probably couldn't stand how handsome I am. That wrinkled old creep just couldn't bear the competition."

Sengoku could feel the vein bulging on his forehead as he listened to Wood's carefree, shameless explanation. Of course Kizaru, being the head of the Science Unit, couldn't just ignore someone trying to waltz off with one of their latest projects. Yet, despite being irritated, Sengoku found relief in Wood's response—there was no sign of betrayal in his words.

"The execution date for Fire Fist Ace has been decided," Sengoku said, shifting the topic. "It will take place at Marine Headquarters, Marineford. I need you to find a way to be there."

The Marines had discovered that Portgas D. Ace was actually the son of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, and planned to use his public execution as a declaration of their strength. However, Ace wasn't just a notorious pirate; he was also the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Given Whitebeard's nature, there was no chance he'd let one of his sons face execution without a fight.

The Whitebeard Pirates were considered the strongest of the Four Emperors, and Whitebeard himself was often called the "Strongest Man in the World." Although the Marines had prepared extensively for the upcoming conflict, Sengoku had his doubts. Could they really handle the full might of the Whitebeard Pirates?

After all, the Seven Warlords were still pirates at heart, and Sengoku knew Garp, who had practically raised Ace, would almost certainly make some sort of move. Three Admirals might be enough to bring down Whitebeard himself, but then there were the division commanders, each a formidable force.

This was why Sengoku wanted as much extra strength as possible, and Wood was the ideal choice. Not only was he cunning and resourceful, but his strength also ranked among the best in the world.

"You want me, a pirate, to attend the Summit War?" Wood asked, his voice a mix of surprise and disbelief. "Are you planning for me to publicly reveal that I'm an undercover Marine?"

Even if Sengoku wanted him to reveal his identity, Wood wasn't interested. His current position gave him unparalleled influence, something that would be impossible to maintain if he rejoined the Marines, even at the rank of Vice Admiral.

Besides, unless he personally admitted to being a Marine, no one would believe it. The things Wood had done over the years, the alliances he had built, made it impossible for anyone to think he was anything other than a pirate. The Marines were dogs of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, but Wood had his hands on their throats, using wealth and power to keep them in check.

"No, I don't want your true identity exposed," Sengoku replied, quickly dispelling the notion. "Your current role benefits the Marines much more. I do want you at Marineford, but I want you there as a pirate."

Sengoku wasn't a fool. The Marines had painstakingly nurtured a figure who, after a mere few years, had become one of the most influential in the world. Bringing Wood back into the fold as an official Marine would add little value. However, keeping him in his current role gave the Marines a valuable source of intelligence and the ability to complete high-risk missions without raising suspicion.

"So, you're saying you want me to fight against the Marines at Marineford? To make things even harder for you?"

"Wood, our preparations for the Whitebeard Pirates are flawless. This time, Whitebeard will not leave Marineford alive," Sengoku said, his tone confident. "And you—you've been building your influence for years. Don't you want to take the next step? Don't you want to become one of the Four Emperors?"

Hearing Sengoku's words, Wood understood. The Fleet Admiral was planning a massive move, not just to eliminate Whitebeard but also to elevate Wood, their "inside man," to the position of an Emperor of the Sea.

The title of an Emperor represented not only power but also significant influence across the seas. Having a member of the Four Emperors secretly aligned with the Marines would give them unmatched leverage over the sea's pirate population.

"I refuse," Wood said immediately. "Becoming an Emperor just means painting a target on my back. Even if Whitebeard falls, others will tear each other apart to fill that gap. I'm not interested. But I might still drop by Marineford to see the spectacle, though I won't bring a large force. Nico Robin won't join in—she has no love for the Marines. And the Fish-Men won't be involved either; Queen Otohime has worked too hard to improve relations between our races to throw it all away. So, it might just be me and a few of my guys."

Sengoku, hearing this, did not press further. As long as Wood showed up, that would be enough. His goal was to have a contingency plan, something in his back pocket for unexpected situations.

"I'll leave a gap in the Gates of Justice for you," Sengoku said. "With your skills, getting here shouldn't be too hard."

With business settled, both hung up. Sengoku locked the Den Den Mushi back in a secret compartment, while Wood simply slipped it into his coat. After a moment of thought, Wood turned to Robin and Ruth, informing them of his plan to enter seclusion for training once again.

He had received two chances for "Universal Simulations" as a reward for his fight against Big Mom and Kaido. One had been used to visit the Re Zero universe. Now, with only one opportunity left, Wood decided to use it before the Summit War.

The Summit War would be the pinnacle battle in the world of One Piece—the strongest man in the world versus the three Admirals of the Navy, Whitebeard's Pirate Fleet against the entirety of Marineford. Practically every notable figure in the sea would be there, clashing in an epic confrontation.

Wood had confidence in his strength, but he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could dominate a battlefield of that caliber. If the simulation could offer him an edge, no matter how small, he would take it.

Both Robin and Ruth were used to their captain's habit of frequently retreating into his room for secluded training. Though his strength was already overwhelming, he always insisted he needed more—that his enemies were even stronger.

And each time, after a few days or weeks, he would emerge stronger than before. Other strong individuals might reach a plateau in their growth, but not their captain. For him, growing stronger was as natural as breathing.

They had been with Wood long enough to know that whatever he did during those sessions made him stronger, but they never inquired. It was his secret. As loyal members of his crew, their role was not to pry, but to protect him while he trained.

Whenever Wood locked himself in his room, Robin and Ruth would keep a vigilant watch in their own ways. Ruth, who typically enjoyed lounging around, would suddenly find himself patrolling near Wood's room, claiming it was just a stroll. As for Robin, she might not always be visible, but her Hana Hana no Mi ensured that her "eyes and ears" were always present, keeping guard over the captain's sanctuary.