# Chapter 84: Marines Respond, Interfering in the Four Seas
"Take good care."
Hades clinked glasses with Newgate, and at the same time, they drank heavily, gulping down the wine.
Newgate was leaving; he was following the unit led by John.
John and Wang Zhi would soon depart, secretly infiltrating the First Half of the Grand Line.
Using the method of Coating, they would infiltrate the Deep Sea with the cooperation of Fish-Man Tribe members, pass through Fish-Man Island to cross the Red Line, and head towards Paradise.
This operation plan was very complete, almost flawless, making even Hades sigh in admiration that the Rocks Pirates' Intelligence Organization actually possessed such talent.
Of course, it couldn't be said to be completely without flaws, but the reality was that the Rocks Pirates' overall strength held an absolute advantage.
Under such an advantage, the Rocks Pirates' offensive efficiency was pushed to the extreme.
The premise was that the Marines also divided their forces; in that case, the Marines were bound to lose.
If the Marines were willing to give up some things and concentrate their combat power to deal with one or two core members.
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it was still possible to achieve some results.
Did the Marines have such determination? Of course!
In the battle on Kent Island, the Marines knew they were no match for the Rocks Pirates, so they decisively gave up the confrontation and instead sent powerhouses to deal with Hades, this unknown minor character.
However, they misjudged Hades' strength, leading to the mission's failure, coupled with the Rocks Pirates interfering and sending out "Golden Lion" Shiki.
Of course, Hades had no plan to warn them; the Rocks Pirates' strategy had no issues.
If they were targeted by the Marines, it could only be said that their strength was insufficient and their luck was bad.
The Rocks Pirates were stirring, like wild beasts about to break free from their cages, ready to erupt at any moment.
At this time, the Marines were also discussing how to respond to the Rocks Pirates.
One by one, they furrowed their brows, speculating where the Rocks Pirates' target might be.
"The Four Seas must send out combat power. If we do nothing, and if the Rocks Pirates truly attack the Four Seas, we can at least offer some resistance, and it will also give the Member Nations an explanation."
Fleet Admiral Black rubbed his temples, but understood in his heart that this was merely a pretense.
The elite marines in the Four Seas had all been transferred away, how could they possibly deal with the Rocks Pirates?
Even the Pirates within the Four Seas were difficult to deal with given the current strength of the Four Seas Navy.
Moreover, the Four Seas were simply too vast; sending out a small amount of combat power was completely useless.
Currently, the main position the Marines were defending was the New World, confronting the Rocks Pirates.
Even the World Government did not allow the Marines to place their main strength in the Four Seas.
Once the New World Marines fell, the Rocks Pirates would be like entering an uninhabited land.
Whether it was attacking the Red Line or rampaging through the First Half of the Grand Line via Fish-Man Island, they could achieve it.
As for the Four Seas, if the Rocks Pirates truly sent out Pirates to target the Member Nations, the Marines would most likely not be able to catch up.
The Marines had already been condemned enough; one more time wouldn't make a difference.
But they couldn't do nothing either.
If they truly did nothing, the Member Nations would have absolute reason to refuse to submit the heavenly tribute.
Some Member Nations might just be waiting for this opportunity.
If there was a first time, there would be a second; at that point, the World Government would be troubled, and the Marines would be troubled too.
Therefore, this precedent could not be set, so the Marines had to take action.
The Pirates in the Four Seas, having lost the Marines' strong suppression, gradually began to rampage, affecting the overall economy of the Four Seas.
Some Member Nations had already issued a final ultimatum: the amount of heavenly tribute this year would be reduced.
Fleet Admiral Black already had an idea: he planned to clear out the Pirates in the Four Seas, deal with those rampant Pirates, reduce the number of Pirates, and bring down the overall strength of the Four Seas Pirates.
This should be able to silence these Member Nations and be considered an explanation for the Four Seas.
As for those Member Nations that might be annihilated, the World Government could help with reconstruction later.
As long as there were sufficient reasons and results.
As for how to communicate with the Member Nations, that matter would be left to the World Government; Black didn't have time to worry about such things now.
"First Half of the Grand Line, the eight bases should be prepared, constantly patrolling the surrounding Sea Areas. Once any trace of the Rocks Pirates is discovered, immediately report to Headquarters."
The Marines had contingency plans for the Rocks Pirates attacking the Four Seas and the First Half of the Grand Line.
Although the current intelligence suggested that the Rocks Pirates were most likely to attack the New World Marines.
But for some things, preparations had to be made in advance.
Moreover, the current situation of the Rocks Pirates was very unusual; there were many strange aspects, especially the loss of contact with intelligence agents, which gave Black an ominous premonition.
As a Fleet Admiral, Black had witnessed too many things.
The Rocks Pirates' situation was already somewhat illogical, but he didn't know exactly what the Rocks Pirates wanted to do, or where their target was.
All in all, the Marines needed to respond with all their strength.
"In each Sea Area of the Four Seas, three Vice Admirals will be stationed, serving as Acting Governor-General to coordinate the strength of the Marines in the entire Sea Area, preparing to deal with the Rocks Pirates, while also clearing out the increasingly rampant Pirates in the Four Seas."
Sending out twelve Marine Vice Admirals might seem like a lot, but divided among each Sea Area, it was only three Vice Admirals.
Black had a list in front of him, containing all the Marine Vice Admirals currently at Headquarters.
Holding a pen, he checked them off one by one, adding notes next to them.
Others could tell Fleet Admiral Black's idea at a glance: one Marine Vice Admiral from the Four Seas Faction for each Sea Area, and they were all sent to their corresponding Sea Areas.
As for the other two Marine Vice Admirals, both were Headquarters Vice Admirals with no connection to the Four Seas Faction, effectively suppressing the Four Seas Faction in terms of numbers.
And the position of Acting Governor-General was also unrelated to the Marine Vice Admirals from the Four Seas Faction, held by a Headquarters Vice Admiral.
This kind of arrangement represented Black beginning to interfere in the affairs of the Four Seas Navy.
The high-ranking officials of the Four Seas Faction Marines wanted to object, but had no reason; factional disputes could not be spoken of openly.
(end of chapter)