Chapter 27 North Blue Intelligence
[Marineford Naval Headquarters Marshal's Office]
Sengoku, donning the marshal's cloak, was buried in a thick stack of war documents. A Den Den Mushi on the corner of the table suddenly opened its eyes, vibrating like an alarm bell.
"Drip—drip drip—"
Sengoku paused, frowning as he looked at the call frequency.
"...G-5 line?"
He immediately pressed the answer button, and the Den Den Mushi imitated the familiar cold voice:
"Rogge, East Blue has completed its mission and is now on its way back."
Sengoku narrowed his eyes and spoke more slowly:
"I heard you met... with the red-haired man?"
"I did." Rogge said simply.
"Fire exchange?"
"No."
Sengoku paused, then let out a long breath, and the tense nerves on his forehead relaxed slightly.
"…At least you didn't make East Blue a world news story."
"Yes, well done."
He knocked on the table and said in a deep voice:
"That guy is not the type to be easily dealt with. Many people would rather fight Kaido than touch that red-haired mess."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Rogge's response remained calm:
"I'm not negotiating with him, I'm giving him notice."
"There won't be a next time."
Sengoku was silent for a few breaths, a rare look of relief on his face.
"...You're even harder than Akainu."
"Continue to defend G-5. The branch will be your powder keg in the next phase."
"But don't forget—the ocean never moves just for you."
"Hang up."
"Snap—"
Den Den Mushi closed its eyes and fell silent.
G-5 Branch West Training Ground
The scorching sun burned the steel training ground, and the air was filled with the smell of iron and sweat.
Rhett went into battle shirtless, his fists wrapped in heavy seastone brass knuckles, facing the "Iron Fist" Vice Admiral Bastiel.
The two men's fists and feet collided, like a heavy hammer hitting iron, with sonic booms!
"Come on, buddy!"
Rhett laughed, his shoulders bulging with veins. "Your strength isn't enough to fill the gaps between my teeth!"
Bastiel responded in a deep voice, sending a punch crashing down, sweeping up gravel. "Stop talking nonsense! You're still two points short of Haki!"
Not far away, Enel's entire body was tightly wrapped in high-density Armament Haki vines, and lightning was madly dissipating on the surface of his skin.
Ghost Spider Vice Admiral had a cold expression and a glare like a knife:
"If you have poor control, don't call me Thor."
"Your lightning is only enough to kill a mouse."
Enel gnashed his teeth, his earlobes throbbing, and he roared while struggling:
"Hey, you old spider! Say that again!!"
"Wait until I break free, and the first bolt of lightning will strike your desk!!"
————
The sun is shining brightly and the dust is flying.
Under the banner of the Suzheng Army, an unusual actual combat training is taking place in the center of the training ground!
BANG! !
A flash of lightning exploded, the ground was charred, and rubble flew everywhere!
Enel's arms were wrapped in lightning. With a step, he instantly leaped into the air and shouted angrily from above:
"Thunder Beast Shuangming!!"
Two spiral thunder dragons shot out from the fingertips and rolled towards the black shadow on the ground!
And almost at the same time——
"Drink it!!"
Rhett rushed out from the flank, carrying Seastone on his shoulder and punching like a mountain!
He and Enel launched a double-team attack for who knows how many times. The offensive was like an iron tide and thunder, heading straight for the black figure in the field.
--Rye!
But he still stood there, his eyes calm as a mirror, his right hand slightly raised.
"Air cutoff."
Buzz!!!
The air is forcibly extracted, forming a vacuum barrier!
boom!!!!
Lightning exploded at the edge of the void and was forcibly bounced away by the barrier, while Rhett's heavy punch was frozen by an inch of air - unable to move!
"cut."
Lei Te roared, and suddenly unleashed Armament Haki! Black and red patterns surged across his arms!
And the next moment!
Enel actually wrapped the remaining lightning directly around Lei Te's arm!
"Thunder Force: Release——!!"
Chila!!
Thunder flashed on his fist, and Lei Te roared and smashed his fist down.
"Drink!!!"
BANG!!! This attack truly broke through the air barrier set up by Rogge!
Dust flew everywhere, and the bricks on the training ground collapsed half a meter!
but--
"It's moving faster."
A deep voice sounded from the smoke and dust.
"I've also learned to cooperate."
As soon as the words fell, a black shadow instantly cut through the space and slid out from behind the two of them!
"But the weakness..."
Rogge clenched his right fist, and the air was like a knife!
"It's still too obvious."
Bang——!
Rhett and Enel were knocked back at the same time by a blow from behind, knocking over the protective pillars of the training area, lightning scattered, and the aura surged!
The two men fell to the ground, gasping for breath, but with smiles on their faces.
Lei Te grinned: "Ha...ha...this time...you didn't dodge our trick."
Enel's earlobes were still twitching, and a hint of pride rose at the corner of his mouth. "I broke your defense... Just at that moment, I heard your heartbeat stop for a moment."
Rogge stood there, his cloak fluttering slightly, his eyes calm.
"Next time, use that blow to knock me down directly."
"One step slower and you'll be dead."
The two looked at each other and nodded heavily.
They still lost this training.
But they know—
One step closer to "being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Rogge"!
The other soldiers on the training ground were trembling with fear and dared not make a sound. The whole place was filled with an oppressive feeling as if "hell had begun to boil".
——This is not a training camp, this is a battlefield.
——This is G-5, the darkest iron wall in the Marine Corps, the place that Pirates fear the most!
[Announcement of G-5 branch codenames six months later]
[Summary of public information from the World Government Intelligence Agency]
Branch Number: G-5
Codename: "Rectification Barrier"
Commander: Rogge Commodore
Adjutant: Lieutenant Colonel Rhett
Special Forces Captain: Enel Warrant Officer (Most active contributor to the annihilation of Pirates in the past six months)
Risk Level: Fleets below the Four Emperors level are not recommended to force their way in.
Six-month cumulative record: 94 Pirate fleets destroyed, 7 corrupt officers purged from the branch
Enemy nicknames: "Purgatory Iron Throat" and "East Blue Break Gate"
G-5 Branch Intelligence Department
Rhett dozed against the wall, with army biscuit crumbs on the corners of his mouth;
Enel, bored out of his mind, drew eerie images on the control panel with static electricity, muttering to himself, "My heart network is about to grow mushrooms..."
"alarm--"
"High-density channel activated."
A mechanical sound suddenly interrupted the lazy atmosphere of the two.
Buzz——!
The main intelligence screen flashed red codes.
[Source: North Blue Branch Intelligence Station G-17]
The intelligence officer in front of the control panel suddenly changed his expression, quickly stood up and stood at attention, his voice hurried:
"Report! North Blue Pirates [Diez Barrerus] have been spotted in contact with an unknown force."
"Suspected transaction item—"
"Up-Up Fruit!"
"A suspicious keyword appeared in the conversation—'to be transferred to Marine'!"
The air froze instantly as if struck by lightning.
Leiter's eyelids twitched, and he jumped up from the wall. "...What? Op-Op Fruit?"
Enel's fingertips flashed with lightning. "Isn't that the fruit Doflamingo has been chasing? Behind him..."
boom--
A steady sound of footsteps was heard, and the metal floor creaked under the military boots.
Rogge, dressed in a dark combat uniform, has arrived, his cape unfastened, his gloves buttoned tightly, his aura as cold as a blade unsheathed.
He glanced at the holographic briefing and said only four words:
"Don't go."
Rhett: "Huh?"
Enel: "Boss?"
Rogge turned around, his steps resolute:
"This time, I can do it alone."
"Immediately call up the North Blue route for me and set up single-ship sortie clearance."
The intelligence officer was stunned: "But, but Commodore Rogge——this level…"
Bastiel had walked into the intelligence room at some point and advised in a deep voice:
"Rogge, that sea area is not patrolled by the G-5. If you take action, it will implicate a wide range of people..."
Rogge interrupted coldly:
"I just want to be involved."
His eyes were as cold as ice, but there was a raging fire hidden in them.
"If this fruit really falls into our hands, none of those behind this will have an easy life."
He turned slowly, his steps steady and each one like a nail into fate.
When he reached the door, he murmured softly, as if speaking only to himself:
"Old man Sengoku—"
"You have to owe me a favor this time."
[G-5 Pier · Night Sailing]
The standard single ship slowly sailed out of the military port.
On the bow, a black cloak fluttered, and Rogge stood with his hands behind his back, his figure as straight as a gun.
The wind rose, the sea surged, and the North Blue thunderclouds piled up layer by layer, as if vaguely opening a huge mouth to swallow everything.
But Rogge's eyes—
Still extremely calm.
The word "wait and see" has never entered his mind.
——If there is something in this world that needs to be controlled more than war, it is "false justice under the influence of power politics."
This time, he will go deep into the quagmire alone.
But so what?
The Blade of Rectification never needs backup.