Crack.
The goblet in Donquixote Doflamingo's hand finally gave way and shattered completely.
The scarlet wine flowed through the gaps between his fingers and dripped onto the white marble floor like blood.
But he wasn't angry.
On the contrary.
The corners of his mouth were curling upward frantically, forming an extremely exaggerated arc.
The veins on his forehead were still pulsing, but that predatory killing intent had now transformed into something else.
Extreme greed.
"Fuffuffuffuffu..."
A low laugh escaped from deep within Doflamingo's throat, gradually becoming high-pitched until it turned into a frenzied roar.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Interesting! This is way too interesting!"
He suddenly spread his arms, his pink feather coat rustling loudly in the wind.
What kind of living dead is this? Isn't this just a super soldier that can be manufactured in five minutes?
Doflamingo turned around, kicked away some rubble blocking his path, and strode to the edge of the pool, looking at his reflection in the water.
As a broker of the Underworld, he knew all too well what this meant.
If he could control the source of this virus... he could continuously produce these tireless, incredibly powerful killing machines!
When that time came, whether he sold them to the Four Emperors or to nations plotting wars...
"Take Baby 5 for treatment."
"Buffalo, you did a good job."
Doflamingo pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his coat.
"Vergo."
The call connected.
A steady, cold voice came from the other end, accompanied by the sound of someone chewing food.
"It's me, Doffy."
"You're over in the North Blue, so you should have received the news by now, right?"
Doflamingo sat on a beach chair and crossed his legs.
"About Iron Fang Island, and about that... virus."
The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.
"I just received an emergency bulletin from the G-5 Branch."
Vergo's voice remained steady, showing no emotion.
"That troublemaker Smoker sent the report directly to Headquarters. Now the entire Marine high command is shaken."
"Sengoku has issued a maximum-level blockade order."
"No vessel is allowed to approach the waters of Iron Fang Island; violators will be shot on sight."
The smile on Doflamingo's face grew even wider.
As expected.
The Marines are afraid.
They fear the spread of this uncontrollable power.
"Vergo, I want that man in red."
Doflamingo said straightforwardly.
"I don't care who he is or what organization is behind him."
"I want him alive."
"If you can't catch him alive, then get me a sample of that virus."
"Even if it's just a piece of flesh or a vial of blood."
Vergo stopped chewing on the other end.
"Understood."
"I'll go there personally."
Marineford.
The doors to the Fleet Admiral's office were suddenly pushed open.
Kuzan walked in lazily with his hands in his pockets, followed by the man who had the entire Headquarters on high alert.
As Abel entered the room that represented the highest authority on the sea, his gaze didn't waver in the slightest.
Behind the desk, Fleet Admiral Sengoku put down the documents in his hand, his eyes flashing with scrutiny behind his round-rimmed glasses.
On the sofa, Garp was munching on rice crackers, though his chewing speed had noticeably slowed.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sat quietly to the side, her hands folded, her gaze cutting across Abel like a blade.
"Sit."
Sengoku pointed to the chair opposite him.
Abel ignored the chair and walked straight to the wall, looking at the four large characters hanging there: "Reign over the World."
"Boring calligraphy."
He gave his evaluation.
The veins on Sengoku's forehead twitched, but he quickly suppressed his emotions.
"Kuzan has already told me the gist of the situation."
Sengoku said in a deep, powerful voice.
"The SCP Foundation, containment objects, and... that virus codenamed 'Blacklight'."
"While this all sounds like a fairy tale, the tragedy at Iron Fang Island cannot be faked."
Sengoku took a stack of photos from a drawer and tossed them onto the desk.
They were images that had just been transmitted via fax.
Although the quality was blurry, one could still see the hellish scenes.
Living dead wandering the streets, bones picked clean, and a laughing figure in a red and black suit standing atop the ruins.
"Is this your Foundation's traitor?"
Sengoku pointed at the photo of Deadpool.
Abel turned around and glanced at the photo.
"It's him."
"But this is only the beginning."
Abel walked up to Sengoku, leaning his hands on the desk and looking down at the Fleet Admiral.
"Your blockade was established quickly, but to 'Blacklight', it's meaningless."
"It can spread through water, through birds, and even... through marine life."
Hearing this, Sengoku's pupils constricted sharply.
Vice Admiral Tsuru finally spoke up from the side.
"Are you suggesting, sir, that this ocean is no longer safe?"
Abel sneered.
"If the Mother isn't recovered soon, this world will quickly become a carnival for a horde of zombies."
"The Foundation's Containment Team is already on the way, but I'm an impatient man."
Sengoku's hands tightened on the desk.
His knuckles turned white from the excessive force.
As a master strategist, his mind was racing, calculating the consequences of the possibility Abel mentioned.
Spreading through marine life?
This was the Grand Line.
The Calm Belt, teeming with Sea Kings, was right next door.
If the virus known as 'Blacklight' infected the massive Sea Kings... the mere thought of it was enough to make this veteran Fleet Admiral feel a chill down his spine.
Hundreds-of-meters-long rotting monsters charging onto the Red Line?
That would be a true apocalypse.
"Let's cooperate, native."
Abel leaned back against the chair, crossing his arms.
"While the Foundation has the power to destroy this planet, our primary mission is to 'Protect'."
"Before the situation spirals completely out of control, the O5 Council has authorized me for a solo recovery mission."
"I need intelligence."
"I need the eyes and ears of you natives spread across the sea."
"Once he's found, I will handle him personally."
Sengoku fell silent.
He was weighing the pros and cons.
Although the man before him was extremely dangerous and his words were full of contempt for the Marines, the potential biological crisis was even more terrifying.
The tragedy of Iron Fang Island must not be repeated.
Furthermore, if they could use this cooperation to uncover the true nature of this 'SCP Foundation'...
"We need a sample of that virus."
Vice Admiral Tsuru suddenly interjected.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"If we are to cooperate, this is the condition."
"The Marines must have the capability to develop a cure; we cannot leave the fate of the world in the hands of a group of strangers."
Abel's dull eyes turned toward Tsuru.
There was a hint of amusement in his gaze.
"A cure?"
"Do you think this is some common cold virus?"
"The Blacklight Virus is God's forbidden zone, a fork in the road of evolution."
"However..."
Abel's tone shifted.
"If you can find any severed limbs left behind by that traitor, you might be able to extract some inferior samples."
"That's your business; the Foundation isn't responsible for educating you."
Sengoku took a deep breath.
He made his decision.
"We can provide intelligence support."
"The Marine intelligence network will operate at full capacity. Once the red-clad man's trail is found, we will notify you immediately."
"But."
Sengoku's tone became stern.
"You must act under Marine supervision."
"I cannot allow a dangerous individual who could destroy an island at any moment to roam freely on the sea."
"Kuzan."
Sengoku looked at Aokiji by the door.
"For the upcoming operation, you will be responsible for 'accompanying' Mr. Abel."
"Until that so-called traitor is captured or eliminated."
Kuzan scratched his head, looking completely reluctant.
"Arara... Fleet Admiral, this is a real drag."
"My vacation isn't even over yet."
Despite his complaints, Kuzan still walked over to Abel's side.
He knew very well.
Aside from Admiral-level combat power, no one else could keep an eye on this monster.
"Deal."
Abel stood up.
He didn't give Sengoku another look and turned to walk toward the door.
"A word of advice."
"Don't try to study that virus."
"Some things are not meant for lower civilizations to touch."
"When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."