In such a thankless, suicidal situation, everyone chose to remain silent.
No one wanted to be the first to volunteer for what was surely a death sentence.
Sengoku's brows furrowed, a complex and weary emotion flashing in his eyes as he scanned the room, inwardly sighing.
These were the strongest fighters the Marines possessed, yet in moments like these, their caution often bordered on cowardice.
Just as his frustration was about to boil over, the harsh scrape of a chair against the stone floor cut through the silence.
A burly figure in a floral, magma-patterned shirt suddenly stood up, his presence a palpable wave of heat in the tense room.
"I'll go," the speaker declared, his voice a low, gravelly rumble.
It was none other than Admiral Akainu.
Sengoku was momentarily taken aback, surprised by the voluntary offer from his most stoic and uncooperative Admiral.
However, the second half of Akainu's statement left everyone in the room stunned into silence.
"But," he continued, his tone chilling, laced with a volcanic killing intent.
"My goal isn't to stop them. Pirates are the scourge of these seas, and the Four Emperors are the very root of that evil. This operation isn't about halting their advance—it's about eradicating them completely and bringing a true, absolute peace to these waters!"
His words fell into a dead silence.
At this moment, Akainu was like an unsheathed blade, radiating a heat and a purpose that was terrifying to behold.
"Kill them?" Sengoku's frown deepened, his gaze a mixture of disbelief and anger.
Have you lost your mind? he nearly snapped.
Do you realize who you're talking about?
"Fleet Admiral," Akainu spoke with a chilling composure.
"Please remain calm and hear me out. The conflict between Kaido and Whitebeard has been brewing for years. Once they truly clash, one side is bound to suffer heavy losses. Now, we have news that Whitebeard is a Three-Fruit user. This makes him unpredictable, but it is precisely where our opportunity lies. If these two titans exhaust each other in a fierce battle, then for the Marines, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to strike!"
His eyes burned like molten rock, the sheer bloodlust radiating from him seeming capable of igniting the very air.
"This time, I will annihilate the two Yonko's completely!"
Sengoku fell into a deep, troubled contemplation, turning Akainu's audacious proposal over in his mind.
The idea was a siren's call—beautiful, alluring, and lethally dangerous.
He could almost see it: a world where the Marines were the undisputed power, where the chaos of the Great Pirate Era was finally extinguished.
But he could just as easily see the alternative: a failed operation, the Marine forces crushed between two wounded and utterly enraged Emperors.
Just as he was weighing these world-altering possibilities, a sharp, distinct ringing echoed through the room.
Pururu pururu pururu...
It was the Den Den Mushi on his desk, the one with the direct, unbreakable line to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
As it rang, its features swiftly morphed into the stern, aged face of Elder Saturn.
A new, heavier silence fell over the room; the tension of debate was replaced by the cold weight of absolute authority.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," the voice came through, as cold and devoid of emotion as the void between stars.
"Elder Saturn," Sengoku responded, his voice a neutral mask.
"You must secure Kaido's three hundred billion Belly," Saturn commanded, his tone making it clear that this was not a request.
"...Understood," Sengoku acknowledged, though his mind raced with suspicion.
"Additionally," Saturn continued, his voice growing even more severe, "Kaido and Whitebeard are about to engage in a major battle. You will dispatch forces immediately."
"I will arrange it."
"Listen carefully to the specific tasks," Saturn commanded.
"First, seize any opportunity to strike. If you can eliminate one, you will do it. Whether it's Kaido or Whitebeard, weakening either of them is a victory for us.
Second, if the Whitebeard Pirates make their move, the scientist known as Ron might appear. Your second primary task is to capture Ron alive and bring him here. This man is of the utmost importance to us."
"Third," the voice of Elder Saturn continued, as cold and final as the grave.
"The blood of a Multiple Devil Fruit User must be retrieved. Vegapunk's experiments cannot be halted. It has been far too long, Sengoku. Do not test my patience."
The line went dead, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake.
For a long moment, Sengoku stared at the receiver, his mind made up for him.
The Five Elders had spoken, and their will was absolute.
He sighed, the weight of the world on his shoulders.
This was a dangerous, reckless path, but it was the path he was now forced to walk.
"Alright, everyone," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber.
"You have all heard the orders." He turned to his most zealous Admiral. "Sakazuki, you will lead the forces to the front lines. You are authorized to act flexibly and execute your judgment without waiting for further orders."
Akainu gave a slight, sharp nod, his eyes flashing with a grim resolve.
This was the authority he had always craved—the freedom to enact his Absolute Justice without restraint.
"Borsalino," Sengoku continued, his gaze landing on the languidly seated Kizaru.
"You will accompany Sakazuki. You are the insurance policy. While he brings the hammer, you will be the scalpel. Your primary objective, above all else, is securing that blood sample. That task must not fail."
Kizaru let out an exaggerated, theatrical sigh.
"Yareyare, my old injuries haven't even healed, and new ones are already lining up," he muttered.
"This is all so troublesome..."
Ignoring him, Sengoku turned to his third Admiral.
"Kuzan, you will conduct a thorough reconnaissance of the area around Jaya. The Whitebeard Pirates vanished overnight; I suspect they may have left contingencies there. Apprehend any of their crew you encounter."
"Ara, understood," Aokiji replied, a flicker of genuine curiosity in his sleepy eyes at the mystery of a disappearing island.
"All Vice Admirals," Sengoku commanded, his voice a final, authoritative crack of thunder.
"You will fully support the three Admirals in their operations!"
*****
Back on Sky Island, inside the spacious, brightly lit laboratory on Upper Yard, the air was thick with a unique, electric tension.
Ron stood at the center, surrounded by rows of metallic crates, each one exuding the faint, otherworldly glow of the Devil Fruits within.
"Captains, commanders," he announced, "as previously agreed, you may begin."
The atmosphere instantly grew lively.
"Captain Squard, you should eat it!" one of his men shouted, his voice thick with emotion.
"We all remember your kindness!"
"That's right!" another added, his voice cracking.
"In that battle back in Paradise, you took that slash for me! I'd be dead if it wasn't for you, Captain! Just eat the damn fruit!"
"I agree! The Captain should eat it!" a chorus of voices rose up, a powerful, emotional wave of unanimous support.
Squard listened, his hardened captain's facade threatening to crumble.
His eyes were already brimming with tears, and he felt a lump form in his throat.
To cry in front of his men... it would be too embarrassing.
He took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing the emotion down and replacing it with a rough, booming laugh.
"You bastards," he said, his voice feigning a casual calm.
"Don't think I don't know what you're plotting! You just want me to turn into a dragon so you can fly around on my back!"
His crew burst into relieved, good-natured laughter.
"Hahaha, the captain saw right through us!"
"Dehehehe, Squard, your crew respects you," another allied captain laughed.
"Just eat it already. Quit dawdling."
Wiping a tear that had escaped from the corner of his eye, Squard finally stepped forward, each step heavy with the weight of his crew's devotion.
He stopped before Ron, the turmoil in his heart finally settling into a quiet, profound resolve.
"Vice-Captain Ron," he said, his voice steady.
"I've made my decision. I'll be the mount."
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Completely lose all my respect for roger and that bum garp 🤬