"Verifying intelligence? This task requirement seems quite flexible." Kenji read through all the system prompts several times, feeling slightly surprised.

"For this task, I only need to confirm the authenticity of the intelligence, right?"

"If I can find the Pluton itself, I should get the highest reward?"

From Kenji's perspective, this task requirement didn't seem difficult on the surface. At the very least, it would be easy for him to secure the basic reward.

After all, he already knew that the Pluton was located in Wano Country, which meant he could directly confirm the intelligence's authenticity based on his own knowledge and experience.

"A task this easy isn't like this damn system… and this time the reward is an assignable upgrade opportunity…"

Kenji had been dealing with this system for quite some time now. Based on its past missions, it was practically impossible for it to issue a welfare-type task.

This "verify intelligence" mission seemed simple, and indeed, for Kenji, it was simple.

However, when Kenji started to deduce the mission as an ordinary Marine Rear Admiral, he discovered the difficulty.

"It's very difficult for an ordinary Marine Rear Admiral to enter Wano Country, let alone collect intelligence on Pluton… Hmm!" Suddenly, Kenji thought of a crucial point.

"Verifying intelligence… The system wouldn't exclude me, would it?"

"Only judging intelligence obtained from others as valid?"

From the perspective of intelligence gathering, the mission issued by the system this time actually contained some hidden pitfalls.

The most crucial point for Kenji was: would the system deem the intelligence he already knew about the Pluton as valid?

If it was deemed valid, then everything would be easy. He could simply enjoy the reward.

But if the system's judgment mechanism excluded Kenji himself, then he would have to re-collect intelligence on Pluton.

In such a situation, let alone an ordinary Marine Rear Admiral, even for the current Kenji, it would be extremely troublesome, even difficult and dangerous.

The ancient weapon Pluton is Wano Country's biggest secret. Would others agree to have it leaked? They'd probably go to any lengths to keep the secret.

As for how to most reliably keep a secret? You know.

If it were an ordinary Marine Rear Admiral, once their inquiries about Pluton were discovered, they would most likely not be able to leave Wano Country.

After all, Wano Country has many powerful combatants. Fighting an Admiral might be tough, but taking care of a Rear Admiral is well within their grasp.

"I knew it, an assignable upgrade reward isn't that easy." Kenji pouted.

He recalled the previous assignable upgrade reward missions, they basically all required escaping from a Legendary Pirate's grasp.

And at that time, in the system's timeline, Kenji was only a commissioned officer.

However, Kenji wasn't entirely without hope of completing the mission easily.

Because this thought was merely his speculation, the system hadn't provided clear judgment criteria.

So, he stopped and waited for a while.

The purpose was simple: if the system issued the reward for the intelligence verification mission next, it would mean he was included in the system's judgment range. Otherwise, he was excluded.

One minute, two minutes, five minutes…

Kenji waited for more than ten minutes, but there was no movement from the system.

By this point, he could be absolutely certain: he was excluded from the system's judgment range.

"What a damn system!" Kenji put away the system interface, extremely annoyed.

"It won't even give me a single bit of welfare."

He looked up and scanned his surroundings, his gaze slightly fierce.

Actually, he was just looking for Kuzan to adjust the direction of his upcoming intelligence gathering: focus all efforts on collecting intelligence about Pluton.

As for how Kenji knew Kuzan had arrived? That was, of course, through Observation Haki.

Not just Kuzan, but the movements of everyone present could not escape his Observation Haki.

At this moment, Kuzan had just finished conversing with the Wano Country samurai led by Ushimaru.

After Kuzan clearly explained the stakes, the samurai present unified their thoughts: they were ready to meet the invading enemy.

"Heh, with external aid, our chances of winning this time should be very high!"

Kuzan was very pleased that he had gained a group of powerful external aids with just a few words.

Even an Admiral might not be able to do that, right?

Just as he was feeling smug, he suddenly sensed a gaze on him.

Subconsciously turning his head, Kuzan immediately met Kenji's eyes, which were filled with irritation.

"Huh? Why is he coming towards me?"

It wasn't Kuzan who had this thought, but Oden, who was closer to the battlefield.

In fact, Oden had been closely monitoring the movements on the battlefield, observing Kenji and Whitebeard back and forth.

When Whitebeard suffered heavy injuries, Oden naturally shifted more of his attention to Kenji.

After all, strong individuals always garnered more attention.

In the nearly half an hour that Oden observed Kenji, he noticed that although the latter remained motionless, his expression grew increasingly grim.

Until now, from Oden's perspective, Kenji looked like someone who went for a massage but encountered a transvestite, on the verge of an explosive rage.

"What in the world is wrong with him? Why is he suddenly so angry?"

From beginning to end, Oden couldn't understand why Kenji suddenly had such a furious expression.

He had clearly suppressed Whitebeard and was about to win, yet he was still so unhappy? Why?!

Just as he was feeling restless, Kenji had already arrived, walking at an unhurried pace, step by step, under the gaze of Oden and other spectators outside the field.

"Kuzan, come here."

Kenji stopped near the edge of the battlefield, a distance away from Oden, then waved to Kuzan.

Because the matters he was about to instruct would likely be something Oden and most of Wano Country's populace would not want to hear.

No matter how you put it, openly plotting to investigate someone's 'national treasure' face-to-face was indeed too impolite.

Therefore, Kenji deliberately stopped while still quite far from Oden.

This distance was his politeness. They had hosted him with good food and drink for so many days, he should show some respect, shouldn't he?

Oden, on the other hand, didn't know what was going on. He just saw that Kenji didn't continue to approach.

He was quite pleased, thinking that Kenji was afraid of accidentally hurting him, so he kept his distance.

If he knew Kenji's true thoughts, he probably wouldn't be happy at all right now.

It's impolite to plot about the "national treasure" face-to-face, so you leave a certain distance? Is that all your politeness amounts to?

Of course, it would look better on the surface, but only slightly.