Mariejois, the Holy Land. The Red Line. Inside the gold-leafed halls of the palace.
"What did you say? 'Golden Ring' Aeridar's secret research base was attacked by the Revolutionary Army and the Neo Marines?" The Gorosei stared at Borsalino in shock, finding the news nearly impossible to stomach.
"Well now... if my ears didn't deceive me, that is indeed the long and short of it," Borsalino drawled, his mouth twisted in its signature slow smirk.
The Five Elders exchanged looks of utter bewilderment. For a moment, the room fell into a stunned silence.
The World Government had set its sights on that mysterious research base more than once. Years ago, two CP0 agents had spent an enormous amount of effort infiltrating the place, only to be discovered and executed on the spot.
They knew the facility used the powers of the Float-Float Fruit to hover thousands of meters above the Clifford Kingdom, but the defenses were so airtight that the World Government had never successfully planted a mole.
"Absurd!"
"With the staggering amount of funding they receive every year, has Cipher Pol been spending it all on wining and dining?"
"The Great World Government... outplayed by rats like the Revolutionary Army! Does their intelligence network actually surpass ours?!"
"If those vermin get their hands on the Chris Pirates' technology, we are in for a world of trouble!"
"Cipher Pol needs a complete overhaul! At this rate, the Revolutionaries will be knocking on the gates of Mariejois before we even know they've moved!"
"And Zephyr... joining forces with the Revolutionaries is unforgivable. Issue a wanted poster immediately! Order the Navy and Cipher Pol to hunt him down with extreme prejudice!"
Suddenly, the Gorosei erupted in fury, their voices thundering as they berated the entire Cipher Pol organization.
Hearing the Elders lay into Cipher Pol, Borsalino sensed that things were getting troublesome. If the Revolutionaries' intelligence network truly had eclipsed that of the World Government and the Navy, it would be a disaster that couldn't be ignored.
Fortunately, recognizing the gravity of the situation, he had rushed back ahead of schedule to report. Borsalino stared off into space, his inscrutable gaze hidden behind his sunglasses as he muttered to himself, "Zephyr-sensei... just what are you thinking?"
…
Elsewhere, in the towering Marine headquarters, Sakazuki and Kong sat opposite each other in the Commander-in-Chief's spacious office. Steam rose from white porcelain cups, carrying the faint, elegant scent of tea.
In a large nearby aquarium, several brightly colored sea fish darted through the water, their movements causing the seaweed to sway gently.
"If Borsalino hadn't sent word, we wouldn't even know such a massive event had occurred!" Kong rubbed his temples as if nursing a headache, his face grim. "If the Revolutionary Army gains access to the Chris Pirates' technology, even a fraction of it, it will be enough to bolster their strength significantly."
As a Fleet Admiral and part of the World Government's military branch, Borsalino had relayed this critical intel to Sakazuki and Kong while still en route.
"Whether it's the Revolutionary Army or the Chris Pirates, they both grew into behemoths we should have addressed long ago. One hides in the shadows where we can't strike, and the other stands in the light, but we've been too paralyzed by hesitation to make a move!" Sakazuki growled, a lit cigar clamped between his teeth.
Since taking the mantle of Fleet Admiral, he had realized that many things were not as simple as "willing it into being."
For instance, Sakazuki had always wanted to annihilate the Chris Pirates. However, the far-reaching political implications, coupled with the Chris Pirates' sheer military might, made it impossible for the Navy to wage war on the Clifford Kingdom.
It was much like Fujitora's relentless push to "Abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Sakazuki wanted it done just as badly, but the fallout was a price neither the Navy nor the World Government was certain they could pay. Thus, despite many within the government agreeing with the sentiment, the system remained.
"And then there's Zephyr. Uniting with the Revolutionaries... he has crossed the World Government's ultimate line. The Gorosei will not tolerate his existence any longer."
"Furthermore, this will undoubtedly enrage 'Golden Ring' Aeridar. The Chris Pirates will surely launch a massive hunt for Zephyr and the entire Neo Marine force."
Kong's thoughts turned to his old comrade, Zephyr. According to Borsalino's report, the Neo Marines had played a pivotal role in the raid. The majority of the Neo Marines were elite veterans who had resigned from the Navy; they still shared bonds of brotherhood with active-duty Marines.
But after this incident, neither the World Government nor the Chris Pirates would allow the Neo Marines to survive on the open sea...
Unless they officially joined the Revolutionary Army to hide under their protection. But knowing Zephyr's pride, how could he ever lower himself to take refuge with his juniors?
In retaliation, the Chris Pirates would hunt the Revolutionaries with everything they had. Simultaneously, the World Government, desperate to prevent the Revolutionaries from becoming a threat through stolen tech, would ramp up their own suppression efforts.
Caught between the full-scale pursuit of two global superpowers, even the elusive Revolutionary Army would have to tuck their heads and hide. That would leave the Neo Marines alone to face the Chris Pirates' wrath, and likely the World Government's as well.
"Zephyr-sensei... hmph. He must bear the consequences of his own actions. He is no longer a Marine!" Sakazuki snorted coldly, exhaling a thick ring of smoke.
Kong looked at Sakazuki and could only manage a bitter smile, choosing to remain silent.
"Sigh... I wonder how Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru will react when they find out?" Kong sighed inwardly, shaking his head slightly.
…
The following day, an undercurrent of tension swept across the world. While the masses remained oblivious, Cipher Pol mobilized its agents en masse, activating an intelligence network the World Government had spent centuries building.
They were hunting: searching for the movements of the Chris Pirates, the location of the Neo Marines, and the hideouts of the Revolutionary Army.
Any scrap of information involving these three factions was pursued regardless of the cost. From CP1 to CP8, all the way up to CP0, the world was crawling with agents.
The sudden, widespread deployment of CP0 even drew complaints from the Celestial Dragons, but nothing could sway the Gorosei's resolve. The Navy also mobilized globally, coordinating with Cipher Pol's operations.
While it was unclear how many revolutionaries they actually caught, the Navy managed to round up a significant number of pirates in the process, some with bounties over 100 million, filling the empty cells of Impel Down.