Once he truly stepped into the level of a General, many long-delayed plans could finally be carried out without restraint, no longer constrained at every turn like he was now.
And in his plans, Onigumo had to die!
Ivan was never the type to take a beating without fighting back.
Onigumo had publicly twisted the truth in the conference hall, maliciously accusing him of negligence and going easy—that was the first reason.
Moreover, Onigumo belonged to Akainu's faction, adhering to a cold, obsessive, and nauseating doctrine of Absolute Justice.
For the sake of so-called order, he would stop at nothing, treating human lives as worthless. This philosophy was utterly incompatible with the Burning Justice in Ivan's heart.
Just the thought of such a person still wielding power and openly slaughtering civilians was intolerable to him.
With this thought, a cold glint of killing intent flashed in Ivan's eyes.
He would devise a meticulous plan to completely erase Onigumo!
Coincidentally, not long ago, he had unexpectedly obtained a piece of intelligence.
Onigumo had recently received orders from headquarters to escort several kings notorious for their cruelty on a leisure trip.
These kings, who usually levied exorbitant taxes and committed countless atrocities, deserved death ten thousand times over. Yet now, the Marines were personally providing them with protection—utterly absurd.
For Ivan, this was undoubtedly a heaven-sent opportunity.
When the time came, he could launch a surprise attack, wiping out Onigumo and these heinous kings in one fell swoop.
This way, he would both remove a cancer within the Marines and eradicate evil from the world.
Once the dust settled, everyone would believe it was the work of the Shadow Garden. No one would ever suspect that it was all the doing of Vice Admiral White Dove!
Several days later, Ivan formally bid farewell to Fleet Admiral Sengoku and received his approval.
The Orange Ship, now transformed into a mobile castle on the sea, slowly departed from Marineford's port under the watchful eyes of countless Marines, riding the wind and waves as it headed toward the Kingdom of Alabasta.
Another few days passed. With the propulsion of Wood Release, even though the Orange Ship was extremely heavy, its speed was not slow. Coupled with Nami's miraculous navigation skills, the Orange Ship arrived at Rainbase in Alabasta just one week later.
Upon arriving at Rainbase, residents lining the streets had already recognized this increasingly famous ship, rushing to the roadside to cheer enthusiastically.
As Ivan disembarked, smiles and greetings filled the path, the atmosphere incredibly warm.
They were expressing their gratitude to the hero who had saved their country!
Soon after, the group stepped inside Rain Dinners. As soon as they steadied themselves, a slender and elegant figure emerged slowly from the shadows.
Robin gently lifted her gaze, her eyes like autumn waters, fixed unwaveringly on Ivan, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
The moment she saw Robin, Nami could no longer contain her curiosity. She immediately leaned in, blinking as she asked:
"Robin, where have you been all this time? We haven't seen you at all!"
Robin chuckled softly, her gaze still on Ivan, her tone carrying a hint of slyness: "You could ask Ivan. He knows best."
Nami pouted, looking helpless: "If I ask him, he'd never tell me on his own."
Only then did Robin explain with a light laugh: "I just went traveling for a while, taking in the sights of this great sea."
Nami and Tashigi exchanged a glance, both their eyes filled with envy. They couldn't help but murmur in admiration:
"I want to go traveling with Ivan too!"
Hearing the girls' words, Ivan ruffled their heads: "We have a secret mission to carry out; it's not just a vacation... Besides, don't worry. There will be opportunities in the future. I'll definitely take you traveling!"
"Yay, Ivan is the best!" the two girls cheered.
Watching this scene from the side, Robin's smile gradually overflowed. This warm feeling was something she hadn't experienced since her hometown was destroyed!
As the cheerful laughter faded, Nami suddenly leaned close to Robin, wearing a mysterious expression.
She lowered her voice: "Robin, you've been traveling all over lately. Have you heard about the major events that have shaken the entire sea recently?"
Seeing Robin raise a slight eyebrow, showing curiosity, Nami immediately launched into an enthusiastic account:
"You know about the Shadow Garden, right? They've been causing a lot of trouble lately. Their new member, Azure Dragon, repelled the Four Emperor Kaido. And that Fox actually dared to confront Mr. Garp head-on.
No one expected the Shadow Garden's strength to be far more formidable than the world estimated!"
Here, she shifted her tone, adding a note of pride as she instinctively glanced at Ivan beside her, smiling as she continued:
"But you know, our Ivan isn't lacking either!
During the last operation to capture Fox, he genuinely held off Tanuki. Even Mr. Garp said he's now the strongest Vice Admiral in Marine Headquarters.
It won't be long before Ivan definitely possesses strength at the Admiral Level !"
Tashigi beside her nodded repeatedly in agreement, her eyes filled with admiration for Ivan.
The two girls chatted excitedly about the Shadow Garden, while only Robin wore an especially subtle expression.
As Ivan's assistant for this operation, she knew everything.
The so-called Shadow Garden—from Azure Dragon to Fox—were all roles played by Ivan alone using his clone ability.
One could even say that all the recent sensational news related to the Shadow Garden across the sea was essentially the work of Ivan alone.
She helplessly cast a smiling glance at Ivan, silently asking:
When are you planning to tell Nami and Tashigi the truth?
Ivan, barely suppressing his laughter nearby, subtly shook his head, responding with a look only the two of them understood:
Not yet. Their temperaments aren't steady enough; they're far less composed than you. Revealing it too early would only add unnecessary risk. When the time is right, I'll naturally tell them everything.
...
A giant cruise ship cut through the sea, sailing across the azure waters.
On the deck, three lavishly dressed kings sat together, discussing the leisure activities they were about to enjoy in the East Blue.
They were Valen Greystri, King of the Guresteri Kingdom; Calon Blackhammer, King of the Blackhammer Kingdom; and Alice Bloodrose, Queen of the Rose Kingdom.
As kings of historically significant kingdoms, their ancestors had even intermarried with the Celestial Dragons, granting them thin Celestial Dragon bloodlines and extraordinary status.
Therefore, when traveling, Marine Headquarters would dispatch a veteran Vice Admiral to protect their safety.
The Vice Admiral assigned to protect them this time was Onigumo!
Suddenly, Alice glanced at Onigumo, who stood solemnly at attention nearby, and said arrogantly:
"Vice Admiral Onigumo, we are unfamiliar with the East Blue. Quickly tell us, what worthwhile places are there to visit in the East Blue?"
Onigumo replied expressionlessly, his voice low and deep:
"If Your Majesties wish to visit a place of significance, then it would be Loguetown.
It is the birthplace of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and also the place where he was finally executed. It is known as the 'Town of Beginnings and Endings' and holds considerable weight in the East Blue."