More than half a month later, while Cross was still thinking about the Ope Ope no Mi transaction, an assignment order from Marine Headquarters arrived at Branch G-2.
"You have something to do again!"
In the office, Borsalino put an order in front of Cross and joked, "You've been pretty idle lately, ne~, so it's a good thing I found you something to do!"
As an inspector, as long as Branch G-2 maintained a good atmosphere and morale, with not too much corruption or violation of military discipline, Cross's daily life was very relaxed. Even the previous mission of leading the new recruits on a voyage was an extra task given to him by Borsalino.
"I'm not idle, I train every day!" Cross retorted, reaching for the order on the desk. He saw that it simply instructed him to go to Marine Headquarters and receive orders from Admiral Sengoku.
For an ordinary mission, a command from Marine Headquarters would usually just tell the person where to go to carry out the mission. The fact that he was being summoned back to Marine Headquarters to receive orders from Admiral Sengoku meant that it was definitely no ordinary mission. It was probably related to the Ope Ope no Mi transaction...
With that thought, Cross promptly put the order away, faced Borsalino, and said in a low voice, "The time on the order is tight. It must be an important mission, so I'll go back and pack and then leave immediately!"
"Be careful on the road~" Borsalino said without raising his head, focused on trimming his nails.
In case he was going to be gone for many days, Cross simply packed a few clothes in his dorm room and left in a hurry. The three Apostles and Bastet, his pet cat, accompanied him. The second Apostle, "Thunderstorm" Marduk, was very fast. He carried Cross across the sea and arrived at Marineford in just a few hours.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in!"
Cross knocked on the door and, after getting a response, opened the sliding door and walked into the Admiral's office.
Sengoku looked at Cross and the two guardians, Marduk and Surtur, who were flanking him. He couldn't help but smile and say, "I just sent the order this morning, and you're here before noon. That's fast!"
"I guessed it was an important mission, so I rushed here," Cross replied with a smile.
"It is an important mission... Sit down first, don't be shy!" Sengoku came out from behind the desk, gestured for Cross to sit on the sofa, and explained in a low voice, "You guessed right. This mission is a top-secret Marine matter. Even Garp and Kuzan don't know about it!"
Cross looked serious. He sat up straight on the sofa and said earnestly, "Admiral Sengoku, please give the order. I will do my best!"
"Hehehe, don't be so serious. Relax a little," Sengoku smiled at Cross's solemn expression and nodded in satisfaction, believing he had chosen the right person for the job.
Just then, someone brought in some tea. Sengoku gestured for him to drink, and Cross politely picked up the teacup and took a small sip of the hot tea.
"This mission concerns the World Government and was personally ordered by the Gorosei. The specific content is about a Devil Fruit!" After drinking his tea, Sengoku put down his teacup and said in a deep voice, "Diez Barrels, a former Marine officer, left the Marines, but not long ago, he got his hands on the Paramecia-type Ope Ope no Mi. Due to the importance of this Devil Fruit, we offered him 5 billion Berries a month ago. Diez Barrels agreed, and the transaction is scheduled to take place five days from now on Rubeck Island in the North Blue!"
"However, an accident happened three weeks ago!"
"Somehow, the news of our transaction with Diez Barrels was leaked and found out by the Donquixote Family. That Doflamingo is planning to steal the Ope Ope no Mi before we can make the trade!"
"Fortunately, I had an undercover agent in the Donquixote Family who informed me of their meeting place. So, I plan to use this opportunity to capture the entire Donquixote Family!"
"Tsuru has already led her troops to the North Blue. You will be temporarily under her command, so follow her orders!" At this point, Sengoku's eyes were sharp as he looked seriously at Cross.
"Don't worry, Doflamingo is an 'old friend' of mine. I'll make sure to 'greet' him properly this time!" Cross's eyes were cold and his voice was sinister.
Sengoku nodded in satisfaction and said, "With you and Tsuru, I believe we can wipe out the Donquixote Family this time!"
"Oh, and I have an undercover agent in the Donquixote Family. If you encounter him, please do your best to protect him and bring him back. I'm counting on you!" With that, he handed a file to Cross.
"Commander Donquixote Rosinante..." Cross looked down. On the first page of the thick file was a striking photo of a poker-faced blond young man in a white, sleeveless Marine sailor uniform with a blue bandana.
"You read that right. He's a Donquixote. He's Doflamingo's biological brother. When I found him, I didn't know who he was, but he confessed to me later," Sengoku said softly. "I trained him to be a Marine, and after Doflamingo formed his pirate crew and set out to sea, Rosinante went back to the Donquixote Family as a Marine spy to stop his brother!"
"Although I adopted him, he is no different from my own son. So, please help me protect him and bring him back!"
At this point, Sengoku was asking Cross as a father.
"Admiral Sengoku, I never judge people by their identity, but by what they've done!" At this moment, Cross grinned and said decisively, "Commander Rosinante is a spy for justice on Doflamingo's ship, even willing to take action against his own family. As a member of the Marines, I can only say that I am filled with admiration. Please rest assured. If I meet him during the mission, I will do everything in my power to save him!"
"Thank you, Commodore Cross!" Sengoku smiled as well and said seriously. He knew the young man's strength. Although he had just become an adult, he possessed monstrous power and definitely had the potential to become an Admiral.
The fact that he could fight fiercely with Doflamingo for a long time at only 15 years old, lasting until Marine reinforcements arrived without being defeated, meant that his progress over the years would make him difficult to defeat now.
Although Doflamingo had become famous as "Heavenly Yaksha" in these years, Cross was also a well-known Marine Star. It was hard to say who was stronger.
Therefore, as long as Rosinante didn't actively seek death, and with Cross's rescue, it would be easy for him to escape from the Donquixote Family.
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