Who told him to become the Pirate King!

Chapter 361 Questioning Akainu, Understanding Akainu, Becoming Akainu...

The reason Storm brought up Hawkeye Mihawk at this time was because

It's because Crocodile had previously given a somewhat vague intelligence report.

That was back when the news of "The Coronation of the White Dragon Emperor" was spreading like wildfire across the sea.

Storm learned from his various "friends" that they were about to go to the new world.

For example, Aokiji, Crocodile, and Gecko Moria...

All of these people chose to enter the New World because Strom became the Pirate Emperor.

However, due to the distance, the time it takes for each person to arrive in the new world is different.

For example, the sand crocodiles are in Alabasta, which is located almost at the very front of the park.

This means that the time it takes to get from Alabasta to the New World will definitely be longer than the time it takes to get to the New World from other places.

Just like Aokiji and the others had already arrived in the New World, while Crocodile was still on a boat, still on the road. Storm clearly remembered that when Crocodile contacted him, he conveyed an intelligence message.

According to Crocodile, he originally intended to invite Hawkeye to come along.

After all, it's located on a golden island in the East China Sea.

Storm, Hawkeye, and Crocodile together formed a secret organization called the Cross Guild.

Because of the existence of the "Cross Guild," Crocodile plans to contact Hawkeye and enter the New World together, and then seize the opportunity to launch "revenge" against the Whitebeard Pirates!

Unfortunately, Hawkeye declined Crocodile's invitation and declared that he would be working with another pirate crew.

Crocodile also told Storm that "Hawkeye has betrayed the covenant of the Cross Guild."

Whether Hawkeye betrayed or not...

Storm is not quite sure yet.

However, he could still make some inferences about Hawkeye's movements.

Well known.

Hawkeye Mihawk is a lone wolf.

There's probably only one pirate crew in the entire ocean that can be linked to Hawkeye: the Red-Haired Pirates.

Storm had previously thought that Hawkeye Mihawk would be working with the Red-Haired Pirates.

But it's unclear whether his deduction was flawed, whether there was a conflict between Hawkeye and Shanks, or some other reason.

The Red-Haired Pirates have all been captured by the new Marines.

Hawkeye Mihawk is still nowhere to be seen.

"...In short, based on the intelligence I obtained earlier, Hawkeye Mihawk is on his way to the New World."

Storm relayed the information he had gathered to the new naval leaders present.

"And Hawkeye is a friend of Redhead—so we still need to be careful about this issue."

Hawkeye Mihawk is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

According to the rules of the World Government, Hawkeye cannot attack member states or navies.

However, the "new navy" is not the "old navy".

If Hawkeye were to forcefully storm the new Navy's base for Shanks' sake—"

World governments will not only not stop it, but may even cheer it on.

Storm wasn't worried that Hawkeye actually rescued Redhead.

The new navy's overall strength is evident, with an abundance of high-end combat capabilities.

Hawkeye, fighting alone, can't compare to the entire Red-Haired Pirates crew.

If Hawkeye really intends to storm the new Navy's headquarters.

His fate won't be much better than that of Shiki the Golden Lion, who orchestrated the "Marine Headquarters Attack Incident" over a decade ago...

But no matter what...

Hawkeye Mihawk is the world's greatest swordsman.

What if the new navy were targeted by Hawkeye Mihawk right now?

This is indeed a troublesome matter.

Storm's reminder was not unnecessary.

Who made Hawkeye Mihawk have the title of "Marine Hunter" before becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?

This guy won't hold back when dealing with the new navy!

"Hawkeye Mihawk?"

Zefa frowned, and a cold, stern figure immediately appeared in his mind.

"I understand—"

"If that so-called 'world's greatest swordsman' really comes to attack, I will definitely arrest him."

Zeff acknowledges Hawkeye's strength, but disapproves of his style.

"Naval Hunter"?

snort!

The new Navy has successfully defeated the Pirate Emperor.

How could Zephyr possibly be afraid of a mere world's greatest swordsman?!

Aokiji and Fujitora's expressions did not change significantly.

Isn't it just Hawkeye?

Is a lone swordsman really more difficult to deal with than a pirate emperor?

have to say.

The defeat of the Red-Haired Pirates certainly instilled a great deal of confidence in the new Navy.

Especially the key figures in the new navy!

One of the Pirate Emperors has already been defeated, so how far away is it from taking down the World Government?

"Let's keep the Red-Haired Pirates locked up at the G1 branch for now!"

After giving instructions regarding Hawkeye Mihawk, Storm steered the conversation back to the Red-Haired Pirates, "Fleet Admiral Zephyr, there should be space inside the G1 branch, right?"

Yes, but not many.

Zefa nodded, but then shook his head.

"In the past, when the Navy captured a great pirate of this caliber, they would usually send him to Impel Down."

"But for now, let's keep them locked up at the G1 branch—there's nowhere else to put them."

We can't exactly send the Red-Haired Pirates to Impel Down to lock them up, can we?

That's a subordinate agency of the World Government!

The new navy has no right to use it.

"That is indeed a problem—."

Storm's brow furrowed as well.

"The G1 branch can hold the Red-Haired Pirates in place right now, but when the new Marines capture more pirates in the future, we'll still need a place similar to Impel Down."

"Or perhaps—we should kill all the pirates we capture?"

Storm genuinely felt that many pirates were the kind of beings who "waste air while alive and occupy land when dead."

For this kind of trash, "detention" or even "life imprisonment" is meaningless.

The death penalty is still the most reliable option!

But after Strom said that...

Zephyr, Aokiji, and Fujitora all shook their heads in unison.

"As expected of you—"

"I think your idea is a bit too extreme—..."

"Pirates certainly deserve to die, but not every pirate deserves to die—"

Storm stared speechlessly at the three new naval leaders before him.

He overlooked the fact that these three guys in front of him were all "moderate" members of the navy.

It's a bit scary to think about.

At this moment, Storm started to miss Akainu.

Question Akainu, understand Akainu, become Akainu —

I've actually become the head of the Navy's hawks?

"The death penalty is absolutely necessary!"

Storm insisted.

"I also worked in Impel Down for a period of time. Among the criminals imprisoned in Impel Down, if you kill ten out of ten, there might be wrongful convictions, but if you kill nine out of ten, there will definitely be some who escape."

"Most pirates are damn trash!"

Upon hearing what Storm said, Zephyr, Aokiji, and Fujitora exchanged a glance.

I don't know if it's just their imagination.

"Complete justice" seems to be making a comeback in the new navy —·

Zefa pinched the bridge of his nose, choosing to skip the topic for now.

"We'll talk about that later—but Storm, your plan to build a large prison similar to Impel Down can definitely begin now."

If it were anyone else here, Zefa wouldn't have spoken so casually.

But who could blame him when Storm was sitting in front of him?

With Storm around, moving islands is a piece of cake.

Finding an island and building a new, large prison was not difficult for Storm.

If Impel Down weren't so special, with so many prisoners inside...

Zephyr even considered suggesting that Storm go to the Paradise phase and bring Impel Down to the New World!

Having witnessed firsthand the entire process of Storm moving the G1 branch, Zephyr felt that this method of "building a base," while somewhat shameful, was indeed very efficient.

"I've got it."

Storm nodded, then glanced warily at Aokiji beside him.

"Once we find a suitable island, Admiral Aokiji, don't forget to modify its environment. Just transform it into an environment similar to the extreme cold of Impel Down."

Impel Down is a frigid hell, where prisoners with bounties of over 100 million are held.

According to rumors, the average bounty for pirates in the New World exceeds 100 million Berries.

The New World and the extreme cold of hell go quite well together!

Aokiji's "Ice-Frozen Fruit" has long been capable of permanently altering the climate and environment.

It's easier to have Aokiji create "Extreme Cold Hell" than to have Storm find a new "Prison Island".

Therefore, Aokiji readily agreed.

"no problem!"

That concludes our discussion on how to deal with the Red-Haired Pirates.

The new Marines will gain fame—the fame from defeating the Red-Haired Pirates will be gained by the new Marines.

Storm will gain benefits—he will take over the Red-Haired Pirates' finances and territory.

Aside from the Red-Haired Pirates, a win-win world has been achieved!

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Storm was about to pack up and leave when he suddenly remembered the base commanders of the previous G1 and G5 branches.

"Marshal Zephyr, what's the situation with Lieutenant General Rat and Lieutenant General Bruglas?"

Upon hearing this question, Zefa, who had just seemed so confident, immediately frowned and began to stammer.

"The Rat and Bruglas were very firm—they both felt, they both felt—"

Storm saw Zefa's troubled expression and immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Is it because of me?"

Zefa sighed and nodded.

really!

Storm pressed further, "General Zephyr, didn't you tell them about my identity as a member of the 'Blade Force'?"

Zephyr shook his head and said somewhat tactfully, "I did tell them, but neither Rat nor Bruglas really believed me."

In fact.

The rat and Bruglas weren't "not very trusting."

Instead, they believed that Zephyr was being controlled by Storm, the evil pirate emperor!

For these two vice admirals.

The new navy is barely acceptable.

After all, they all knew exactly what the World Government and the World Nobles were like.

But a new navy that cooperates with the Pirate Emperor?

Can this still be called a navy?!

Storm was also helpless about this.

He could completely understand the concerns of the rat and Bruglas.

But this kind of thing can't be explained by language alone—

Storm never expected to personally step in and persuade the two rats.

If he were to personally take the field, the effect he could have would definitely not be positive!

Storm is very confident about this.

"Marshal Zephyr, this matter still depends on you and Admiral Aokiji to do their best."

Storm shook his head, not mentioning Fujitora.

Fujitora was the last to join the new navy, and it was Storm who recommended him to join.

In the eyes of Rat and Bluegrass, Fujitora's personal qualities might not be as believable as those of an ordinary marine...

At this point, Storm recalled the Red-Haired Pirates, who had been captured by the new Navy.

"By the way, when you're trying to persuade the rats, maybe you could take Shanks with you."

Storm offered his earnest advice.

"A true pirate emperor, a pirate emperor utterly defeated by the new Navy, must hold great significance for Rat and his crew!"

Upon hearing this, Zefa's eyes suddenly lit up.

Yup!

Zephyr was unable to persuade the rats to let go of their fear of Storm.

However, he could allow the rats to meet the Red-Haired Pirates!

At the very least, we need to make the rats realize the new Navy's determination and will to defeat the Pirate Emperor!

If there's nothing else, I'll head back to Wan Guo; there's a lot of stuff to take care of there too.

Storm stood up and nodded to Zephyr and the others.

"Once the construction of the new Navy base and other miscellaneous tasks are completed, we can then release the news that the new Navy has been established and the Red-Haired Pirates have been defeated."

"By then, our new navy may have to face more than just the Pirate Emperor."

"And the Marine Headquarters, and the World Government!"