Upon hearing the report, the Navy officer on the other end of the line suddenly stopped breathing.
After a brief daze, blood vessels popped in his eyes, cold sweat drenched his face, and he gritted his teeth as he roared:
"Hey! Marine! Are you sure you saw it clearly?! This is no joke!!!"
But before he could finish receiving the report, the Den Den Mushi's expression suddenly changed—from anxious to eerily calm, wearing a faint smile, with crimson gleaming eyes.
That instant shift made the Navy officer's scalp go numb.
Fear surged through his eyes uncontrollably.
...
On top of a high-rise building,
Orin leisurely examined the Den Den Mushi that had just been teleported into his hand.
In this towering structure untouched by cannon fire or smoke, Orin casually leaned his elbow against the railing.
Despite his nonchalant posture, none of the Marines or CP agents surrounding the building dared to make a move.
The Navy's wariness stemmed from the man before them—an infamously dangerous criminal who had once destroyed half of Marineford, a madman even the highest combat powers of the Navy couldn't handle.
As for the CP agents directly under the World Government, their fear came from a top-secret directive issued from the highest authority:
[If during a mission you encounter Orin's interference, cease all operations immediately. Await further instructions from the higher-ups before proceeding.]
...
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi,
The nervousness of the Marine officer was no less than that of those below.
As he hesitated whether to hang up and run to report to his superior, a gentle voice came from the Den Den Mushi:
"Moshi moshi~"
"Is this a Navy officer? Please connect me to Kuzan and tell him an old friend is looking for him~"
"If you hang up, you're finished. I've already memorized your face."
Upon hearing this,
The officer's face turned green, and he felt like he had swallowed bitter medicine he couldn't spit out.
Headquarters had clearly ordered: without direct command, the Navy is prohibited from engaging Orin.
If he provoked Orin and caused him to attack the Navy, he didn't know whether Orin would be punished—but the World Government and Marineford would definitely come after him!
Damn it!!!
Why am I this unlucky?!
Without caring for anything else, he took off running, sprinting toward the warship that had just docked, carefully cradling the smiling Den Den Mushi in his hands.
...
Seeing this guy rushing over, the officers stationed by the warship reached out to question him—
Only to find that he completely ignored them and darted straight onto the ship.
...
On the deck, Kuzan had just been about to disembark when he saw a subordinate charging toward him.
What was this guy's name again?
Oh, right… Dick?
Looking closer, the guy was holding a Den Den Mushi.
Little did Kuzan know,
Dick was feeling more miserable than ever.
The thing you fear most always finds you!
Back when the invasion of Marineford happened, the moment he saw that handsome face on the news, he realized the terrifying mistake he'd made—
That "Black Gun" Orin was the man he had personally brought into Marineford!
If the Fleet Admiral or the Admirals found out…
He'd be dragged before a military tribunal… No, more likely executed on the spot!
So, he told no one. He even silenced all the Marines who had seen Orin's face that day on the ship.
He thought it was all over. This time, he had just hoped to earn some merit.
He never imagined…
This calamity would find him again!
Now, all he wanted was to deliver the Den Den Mushi and get far away from these terrifying monsters.
But fate had other plans.
Just as he was about to hand the Den Den Mushi to Kuzan—
Two figures slowly stepped out from the void.
One of them even wore a wicked smile and patted Dick on the shoulder, looking at his bulging eyes and saying calmly:
"Thanks again, Captain Dick, for kindly showing me the way."
Shrimp-heart pig-lungs!!!
Dick looked like he was going to split open, as if he could already see his gloomy future.
...
And of course, it wasn't just Dick who was stunned by Orin's sudden appearance.
Everyone turned to the tall, handsome figure in a black military uniform, carrying both blade and firearm, who smiled and said:
"Long time no see~"
Kuzan's mouth hung open in shock for a moment—
Then immediately clenched into a scowl.
His fists clenched.
"This is… impossible!"
"Intel showed that 'Black Gun' had just left the Sabaody Archipelago a few days ago. How could he be here in the West Blue?!?!"
While Kuzan was stunned, the other high-ranking Navy officers were even slower to react, all wearing looks of disbelief.
Just days ago, during a meeting, they had gone over Black Gun's most recent trail!
Now, everyone's eyes were fixed on the young man with long, loose black hair.
Yet Orin only smiled lightly in return.
Despite his always-calm demeanor, Kuzan felt no admiration—only creeping cold radiating from his body, frost beginning to form.
"Still as lively as ever, Kuzan."
Orin greeted him like an old friend, ignoring the nearly tangible bloodlust in Kuzan's eyes.
...
The surrounding Rear Admirals and Commodores bit their lips and braved the cold to rush forward and restrain Kuzan.
"You can't, Vice Admiral Kuzan! The World Government's standing order strictly forbids any engagement with 'Black Gun' Orin unless explicitly authorized!!!"
Kuzan, expressionless, looked down. Frost slowly formed on his sunglasses as he glanced at his colleagues and said coldly:
"No orders to attack?"
"Isn't the Buster Call an order? Orin is on Ohara Island, isn't he?"
The officers froze.
"This..."
"So I'm just following orders, gentlemen."
And as soon as those words fell—
A burst of icy petals exploded beneath Orin's feet, though, of course, they didn't hit their mark.
Orin vanished in an instant.
Mihawk, who hadn't teleported with him, immediately dodged using Observation Haki and repositioned himself on another part of the deck.
"Oi oi, Kuzan. Long time no see. Is that how you greet someone?"
"Don't forget, Orin… all I feel for you is endless killing intent!!!"
Orin's lips curled into a smirk—
And in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Kuzan.
Kuzan, using Observation Haki, sensed it immediately.
Dark-armored Haki surged to his hand as he started to turn and counter—
But before he could, a quiet voice whispered in his ear:
"Don't move, Kuzan."
...
A strange phenomenon occurred.
Kuzan's body froze in place, immobilized for a brief moment as if time had stopped.