Chapter 60: A Private Conversation
It didn't seem like Akainu was going to cause him any trouble.
"Admiral Akainu," Ian began, not standing on ceremony after being invited to sit, "did you ask me here for a private conversation?"
"Ian, you don't mind me calling you that, do you?" Akainu sat in a large chair, his gaze fixed on Ian across the desk. He cut straight to the point with an unexpected question. "I have a question for you. If you hadn't killed Jack the Drought, but had captured him alive instead, what do you think the consequences would have been?"
Ian considered this. "I think... Jack would have been imprisoned in Impel Down, the underwater prison. The Beasts Pirates are a savage bunch, and Kaido is hailed as the 'Strongest Creature,' someone who couldn't be killed even after multiple captures. Given his temperament, he might lead his forces in a direct assault on Impel Down to break Jack out. The probability of success is unclear, the timing of such an action is unclear, and the consequences are even less predictable. The World Government and the Marines can't afford to deploy top-tier forces to defend Impel Down indefinitely based on a hypothetical threat. We can't estimate how long we'd need to hold out. The seas are too chaotic; we can't waste resources like that. The above is just my personal conjecture."
This time, Ian didn't play dumb. Akainu hadn't raised this in the main meeting room but had chosen to speak with him privately in his office. It was clear the Admiral wanted to hear a substantive answer, not some evasive nonsense.
"Ian, you are indeed intelligent and decisive," Akainu stated, a note of approval in his voice. "Your style of handling things is different from others in this organization. I admire your approach and fully agree with it! There is no need for mercy when dealing with those lawless pirates."
Ian quickly interjected, "I was merely speculating on the scenario if Jack were still alive. Please don't misunderstand, Admiral Akainu. I explained clearly in the conference room that Jack's death was an accident. I didn't intend to kill him."
Expressing logical reasoning was one thing; admitting to deliberate killing was another. Ian wasn't naive enough to reveal his hand just because of a little praise. No matter what Akainu thought, the official story remained: Jack's death was an unforeseen outcome of the battle.
"Take this." Akainu handed Ian a uniquely patterned Den Den Mushi. It looked different from a standard model, almost as if it were... Admiral Akainu's personal line?
"This Den Den Mushi is for contacting me directly. It cannot be monitored or intercepted by any known technology," Akainu explained, his words heavy with implication. "If you encounter a situation you feel cannot be reported through standard Headquarters channels, you can use it to contact me."
Ian was Garp's disciple and enjoyed the trust of the Fleet Admiral himself. If he ran into trouble, why wouldn't he contact Sengoku or Garp? Why contact Admiral Akainu? Was the man already laying the groundwork for a future power play? How ambitious.
"Understood. I will use it with discretion," Ian replied, his face betraying no emotion as he pocketed the special Den Den Mushi. "Admiral Akainu, was there anything else?"
Akainu was silent for a few seconds before pointing to an exquisite potted plant on a table near the door. "That's for you. Take it. Cultivate your patience. I've been tending to it for a long time; it's about to bloom."
Ian: "..."
You're a Marine Admiral! Instead of giving out Devil Fruits, legendary swords, or treasure, you're giving me a potted plant? The tiger smells the rose, is that it?
Then, Akainu added, "Ahem, if you personally don't have the time, you could also assign it to a more... meticulous subordinate to care for it. Make sure it's well looked after."
Ian: "..."
That addition was completely unnecessary! Was he worried Ian wouldn't get the hint? Was he subtly telling him to hand it over to Skylark? After all this, he was just acting as a delivery boy for his daughter? Ian was a pure, natural courier!
Perhaps this special Den Den Mushi and today's private conversation were Akainu's way of giving face, using Skylark as a pretext. Did Ian now have a hostage on his hands?
In a slightly sour mood, Ian walked to the door and picked up the potted plant. He turned back to the riddle-loving Admiral and said, "Don't worry, Admiral Akainu! I will take good care of your... 'beloved possession.' Goodbye."
After Ian left, Akainu lit a cigar and took a deep puff. Then, a sudden realization struck him.
Cough, cough...
Wait a minute? What did that kid mean by 'beloved possession' just now?
The next morning, news of the death of Jack the Drought, one of the Three Disasters of the Beasts Pirates, swept across the seas like a typhoon, becoming a phenomenal headline.
Forces across the New World had varied reactions, but without exception, they all foresaw the coming of a turbulent era. What was going on between the Beasts Pirates and the Marines lately? Doflamingo had indirectly caused the death of Kaido's "right-hand man." What price would he have to pay to atone for it?
Ian paid no mind to any of this. The more chaotic the seas, the more comfortable his own life would be.
After his morning training, Ian leisurely planned out a "half-day tour." Jack was indeed dead, but the four Gifters and dozens of pirate grunts he'd brought with him had mostly survived. By the time Admiral Kizaru arrived, it was too late to finish them all off. The Sabaody Archipelago Marine Base didn't have a prison large enough to hold so many people. According to regulations, these pirates needed to be transferred to the Impel Down prison via a specialized ship and escort team!
Since arriving at Sabaody, most of the pirates Ian had encountered were weak. Occasionally, when a transfer to Impel Down was necessary, Ian didn't need to involve himself personally. But the officers of a Yonko crew were different! Even if they were just minor cadres, the name "Yonko" carried weight. Regulations stipulated that the escort must be led personally by the base commander or an officer of higher rank.
Since he was in a good mood today, Ian had his subordinates mind the base while he set out alone with a few dozen Marines to escort the prisoners to their "sister organization," Impel Down.
Peacock: "Little Ian, are you sure you don't need one of us to go with you?"
T-Bone: "Major General Ian, Fleet Admiral Sengoku specifically called. He said you should limit your movements for the next few days and stay at the base as much as possible."
Nami: "Major General Ian, why not let Colonel Peacock go? The newspapers said you were seriously injured."