Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Sakazuki and Carlo had just boarded the ship when a bolt of lightning struck the deck.
Crack!
Holding the rank of Rear Admiral and draped in a cloak of justice, Enel landed on the ship with a loud thud, carrying a bundle with him.
Sakazuki gave a faint smile. "Not bad."
The boy laughed proudly at that.
Carlo also glanced over with a hint of approval, then waved his hand, and the warship slowly began to move.
Looking at the smug Enel, Sakazuki shook his head slightly and asked, "Alright, stop showing off. Did you bring it?"
Enel smiled. "Heh, of course I did."
He pulled open a corner of the bundle, revealing a magnetic bomb capable of jamming communications.
Then, as if remembering, he added, "Oh, and this is the rank and cloak Fleet Admiral Kong asked me to deliver. But... why was Bullet only promoted to Rear Admiral? People like Borsalino and Kuzan were made Vice Admirals."
Sakazuki took the bundle, gave it a glance and handed it to Carlo. "Put it away."
He then looked back at Enel. "It doesn't matter. This round of mass promotions was meant to intimidate the seas. It's more like borrowing from the future, and Bullet asked for the Rear Admiral rank himself. After all, even a junior officer can lead a ship on their own. If he were promoted to Vice Admiral, he'd have to leave.
"Strictly speaking, my warship is already overloaded. You, Carlo, and Bullet all have positions and strength that qualify you to lead. But if you guys want to stay on this ship, your ranks can't surpass mine.
"Headquarters wouldn't allow a Vice Admiral to serve under another Vice Admiral. So once I become an Admiral, Bullet can be promoted and take command of this vessel. A perfect transition."
The boy nodded. "Makes sense. By the way, Uncle, where are we going now?"
Sakazuki replied, "To pick up Bullet. His homeland had a Devil Fruit user stirring up trouble and he went back to handle it. It's done now."
Enel perked up with interest. "A Devil Fruit user who could shake a whole nation? What kind of power?"
The vice admiral let out a quiet chuckle. "It's the Clank-Clank Fruit. That person can transform into a tens of meters tall giant using it. For most nations in the Grand Line or the Four Blues, that's a serious threat, but Bullet already captured the target."
This was the very fruit Bullet accidentally ate on the battlefield when he was thirteen in the original story. But since Sakazuki had taken him away at twelve, it ended up in someone else's hands.
Unfortunately, that person lacked Bullet's talent and physique. Even after years of development, the user could only form giants a few dozen meters tall.
It's fine to wreak havoc on a nation, but not nearly enough to stand against the current Bullet for a few rounds.
* * *
Grand Line, Unknown Sea Area.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of cannon blasts exploded around a wooden ship, and from a distance, a Marine warship continued its barrage, relentlessly firing on the vessel.
In the midst of the downpour of shells, one cannonball finally struck its mark.
Boom!
The wooden ship's central keel snapped with a loud crack, as if it had been broken in half.
On the Marine vessel, Vice Admiral Saul roared in anger at his subordinates.
"Stop firing! Cease fire immediately! Capture them alive! They're not some violent pirates! You fools can't even catch a few scholars? You've already destroyed ship after ship full of archeologists. I just don't understand... why do they have to die?!"
Bang!
He slammed his massive fist onto the deck, shaking the entire warship.
"Is this really justice...?"
The soldiers onboard exchanged uneasy glances, not knowing what to say. But the orders from above were clear. There were to be no survivors.
Silence fell over the ship.
* * *
Half a year later.
Saul sat on the deck, staring at the ocean. His heart was growing heavier and more confused by the day.
This should be the last ship...
He couldn't defy the government's orders, but he couldn't bring himself to watch anymore either.
After the cannons roared once more, a voice rang out.
"Report! Vice Admiral Saul! This time, we captured one alive."
Saul instantly spun around. "What?!"
He shot to his feet, making the warship tremble as his eyes locked onto the white-haired woman being escorted by several soldiers.
"After killing so many... it's unforgivable!" The woman shouted at him with fury burning in her voice.
Taking a few deep breaths, Saul finally asked the question that had been buried in his heart, "Did you... really want to awaken a weapon?"
That was all he wanted to know now.
The white-haired woman stared at him like he had just said something laughable. Tears welled up in her eyes as she screamed, "How foolish! You judge us without even thinking for yourselves and blindly trust the law. You use stopping the awakening of weapons as an excuse. You're all just afraid of a past you don't understand!"
Her words echoed in Saul's mind like thunder. He stood there frozen, unsure of how to respond.
By the time he came to his senses, the sky had darkened, and the woman had already been taken below deck.
Saul clenched his fists. Something inside him had been decided.
* * *
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Fleet Admiral Kong hung up the call and ordered someone to fetch Sengoku.
Not long after, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," he said as he pressed out his cigar and dropped it into the ashtray.
Sengoku walked into the smoke-filled room and was greeted by the sight of a stone-faced Kong.
"Fleet Admiral, what's going on?"
Kong gestured for him to sit. "You know about those historical explorers, right?"
Sitting down, Sengoku thought for a moment and responded, "You mean the group that started researching forbidden subjects six years ago?"
The fleet admiral confirmed. "That's the one. We found documents on their last ship before it was destroyed. They're from Ohara."
Sengoku's eyes lit with understanding. "The archaeological holy land… no wonder there were so many scholars."
Closing his eyes, Kong rubbed his temples. "The higher-ups have issued the order. Buster Call. Destroy Ohara."
Sengoku frowned. "Isn't that a bit much?"
Kong sighed. "There's no other choice. They crossed the line and have touched the World Government's greatest taboo. If we hadn't found out, maybe it could've been overlooked. But now that it's out, there's no turning back. Activate the Golden Den Den Mushi and mobilize ten warships and five Vice Admirals. You can choose who goes."
The admiral nodded, but suddenly paused. "How about sending Sakazuki to lead?"
Kong raised a brow. "Isn't that overkill?"
Sengoku explained, "Sakazuki needs a major accomplishment to be promoted to Admiral. If we announce this operation afterward, it'll not only send shockwaves through the world, but will also give him the perfect justification for the promotion."
After a few seconds of silence, Kong answered, "Fine. Go prepare, but keep it secret and don't let it leak. Dismissed."
Sengoku stood up. "Understood."
Shhhk!
He slid the door open and left.
The idea to have Sakazuki lead the mission had come to him on a whim.
Over the years, the vice admiral's reputation had only grown stronger: cruel to pirates, kind to civilians, and loyal to the World Government. Not a single crack to be found; his record was flawless, almost too flawless.
A Buster Call would inevitably lead to the deaths of many innocent people. Sengoku wanted to see what Sakazuki would choose.
Currently, the admiral was still an obedient servant to the government. Not yet the man who, years later, would become disillusioned after covering up more and more of its darkness.
This was his final test for Sakazuki.
* * *
Grand Line, first half.
Sakazuki stood on the deck, watching his men wipe out a pirate crew. Just then, he received a confidential report from Carlo.
He unfolded the sealed letter and read it quietly.
Fwoosh!
The envelope abruptly turned to fire in his hand, molten lava dripping to the floor.
He snorted coldly. 'Sengoku…'
With a flick of his wrist, he turned and spoke flatly, "Clean up the battlefield and turn around. We're heading for the West Blue."
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