Marine Headquarters, Marineford
Fleet Admiral's office.
Three of the Marines' highest combat forces appeared one after another, plus that old man sitting on the sofa devouring senbei.
One could say half the Marines' strength was gathered in this small office.
"Ara ara—what major incident occurred?"
Aokiji lazily sank into the sofa, his eyepatch askew, showing only one half-awake eye. "My afternoon nap just started."
"Pardon me~ Seems I'm late."
Kizaru strolled in right on time, his tone leisurely without any genuine apology.
Akainu leaned against the wall, using his Marine cap brim to shade his eyes while discreetly scanning his two colleagues.
One lazy, one always procrastinating. Working with such colleagues—how could they build up the Marines properly?
Sengoku was used to this by now. As the saying goes, to be a good family patriarch, you can't be too observant. Being Marine Fleet Admiral was similar. Managing too strictly made the team difficult to lead.
Fortunately, though Aokiji and Kizaru weren't as proactive as Akainu, generally speaking, they still followed his orders as Fleet Admiral. That was good enough—better than a certain old man who constantly relied on seniority.
Sengoku glanced at Garp, who'd barged in and was now familiarly raiding his drawer for senbei.
"Achoo!"
Garp paused mid-bite and sneezed loudly.
"Who's thinking about this old man?"
Without waiting for anyone to respond, he laughed heartily. "Definitely my precious grandson Luffy missing me! Hahaha—"
Everyone in the room collectively rolled their eyes. Since Garp's grandson joined the Marines, this old guy couldn't go a day without mentioning his precious grandson—their ears were growing calluses.
Seeing everyone assembled, Sengoku stopped delaying and explained the situation.
"That's how it is. The Five Elders have formally issued orders requiring us to launch devastating strikes against Kai and his vessel Rayquaza, and recover the Poneglyph."
"This operation has extremely high specifications and will be jointly executed by us Marines and CP0."
"Ara ara—"
Aokiji tilted his neck, his lazy tone carrying a trace of seriousness. "Has the situation escalated to this degree?"
Marine Admirals and CP0 acting together—truly an unprecedented scenario.
Kizaru leisurely crossed his legs, fingers stroking his stubbled chin, sighing. "Ooh, scary~ Modern pirates are truly frightening. That Sand Crocodile fellow was defeated in one strike?"
"Hmph, such resolute measures should have been taken long ago!"
Akainu's gaze beneath his cap brim was sharp as an eagle's, his cold killing intent almost undisguised. Sengoku was too indecisive, allowing Kai to grow to this point. If he were Fleet Admiral, he'd have dispatched heavy forces for suppression already.
This kind of pirate scum attempting to destroy the seas' order deserved death a hundred times over.
Nearby, Garp seemed oblivious, still concentrating on challenging his personal senbei consumption record, crunching sounds unceasing.
Sengoku's gaze swept over everyone. "The severity of the problem should be clear to you all. Who's willing to go?"
"Ara ara—"
Beyond everyone's expectations, Aokiji was first to raise his hand. "I'll go. Been idle at headquarters too long—my body's nearly rusting. Some activity would do me good."
"No, I will execute this mission."
Akainu's emotionless voice rang out.
Kizaru stopped his fidgeting, watching these two colleagues rarely competing for a mission with great interest, clearly enjoying the show. If he had a Den Den Mushi camera handy, he'd really want to record this.
Aokiji was slightly puzzled. Before he could speak, Akainu continued. "If I remember correctly, the Demon Child Nico Robin was at Ohara back then."
Aokiji's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"
Akainu retorted bluntly. "My meaning—you should understand better than I do."
An eight-year-old girl escaping alive from Ohara, which was thoroughly carpet-bombed and tightly sealed? Saying there wasn't something suspicious would be insulting his intelligence.
Instantly, the office air seemed to freeze as invisible auras between the two Admirals intensely collided.
"Enough!"
Sengoku vigorously rubbed his throbbing temples, interrupting. "As colleagues, don't make groundless speculations and accusations!"
His original plan was to have Garp partner with one Admiral, but if he dispatched either Aokiji or Akainu while leaving the other behind, the one left out would inevitably harbor resentment.
So be it—might as well treat it as increasing the mission's success rate.
"Since you both volunteered, you'll both go."
"Two Admirals mobilizing simultaneously? Oh, scary~"
Kizaru's eyes widened slightly. Plus CP0, the World Government's elite intelligence agency—such a powerful lineup could arguably take down a Yonko.
Seems like he'd underestimated Kai's threat level in the Five Elders' and Sengoku's minds.
"Fine by me. Don't drag me down—I won't hold back."
Akainu coldly dropped these words, tugging his cap brim down low and striding away first.
Aokiji said nothing, merely silently straightening his askew eyepatch and expressionlessly walking in another direction.
Sengoku watched both departing unhappily in opposite directions, glanced at the innocently faced Kizaru on the sofa and Garp, who'd nearly choked himself and was now gulping tea, and couldn't help feeling deep powerlessness rising from his heart. He sighed heavily.
"Go, go."
He wearily waved them off, feeling the future looked bleak.
Under the Five Elders and Sengoku's personal supervision, the Marines' massive war machine displayed astonishing efficiency. Just half an hour later, a massive fleet of twenty elite warships had assembled, departing Marineford port in grand formation toward the target sea area.
On the Marine flagship's war room, Aokiji, Akainu, and the CP0 operation leader held a brief pre-battle meeting.
"According to intelligence, after Natural Disaster Kai left Alabasta andheaded southeast. We predict his ultimate destination is most likely here—"
The CP0 agent wearing a pure white robe with a bizarre clown mask precisely pointed at an island marker on the sea chart.
"Jaya Island?"
Aokiji slowly read the island's name.
"Correct. To ensure absolute success, I've already dispatched elite agents to pre-position on that island and surrounding waters. Once they appear, they absolutely cannot escape our control."
The Clown-masked CP0 was supremely confident. Then he shifted topics with barely detectable condescension. "Oh, right. Before the target clearly appears, please ensure your Marines maintain distance and stand by at the perimeter. To avoid alerting them and interfering with our operation."
This near-commanding tone and implicit contempt for Marine intelligence and operational capabilities made both Aokiji's and Akainu's faces darken slightly. But both controlled their expressions extremely quickly—only the surrounding air seemed to grow several degrees colder.
One week later
Light winds, clear skies. The azure sea surface was smooth as a mirror as Rayquaza broke through fine white foam, sailing steadily forward.
At one end of the deck, Kai had just enjoyed today's "dessert"—several energy-rich meteorite fragments. Currently, he leisurely leaned in a beach chair, holding a glass of refreshing lemon juice while instructing his junior brothers' training.
"Faster, faster, even faster!"
"Remember, more sweat in training means less blood in battle. Enemies won't give you breathing room."
"Too slow! Ace, your flames aren't for fireworks—condense them. Clenched fists hit harder."
On the other side was a completely different scene. Yamato shouldered her kanabo, spiritedly teaching her newly accepted dugong disciples.
As they say, students reflect their teachers. These Kung Fu Dugongs now each held miniature kanabos, standing in neat rows.
"Watch closely!"
Yamato violently swung Takeru, raising fierce winds with grand movements.
"Thunder Bagua!"
The reduced-power Thunder Bagua struck the Poneglyph but disappeared without a trace, like a stone dropping into deep water.
"Remember my swing form? Follow me."
While demonstrating, she shouted loudly. "Treat it as your enemy—strike hard!"
One dared to teach, others dared to learn. Under Yamato's lead, the Kung Fu Dugongs charged at the Poneglyph, vigorously swinging their little kanabos.
Recently boarded, Chopper wasn't idle either. Under Kureha's and Hiriluk's dual instruction, he absorbed medical and chemical knowledge like a sponge.
"If only I could enhance my brain."
Chopper looked at the mountain of thick books nearly touching the ceiling, small hooves propping his chin as he pondered this thought.
"Kai, estimated half a day's voyage until we reach Jaya Island."
Violet approached with the Log Pose and sea chart to report.
Seeing this, attentive readers might question: Hippo, hippo—doesn't the Log Pose at Alabasta need five days to fully charge? Rayquaza only stayed one day!
Eh? Thanks to selflessly contributing Brother Crocodile. His warehouse had numerous pre-stored Log Poses for his agents' operations. Now naturally benefiting Kai.
Back to the point.
Kai didn't plan to first reach Jaya Island then follow Luffy's route—riding the Knock Up Stream to Sky Island. One word—unnecessary.
Without flight ability, ride the Knock Up Stream. Having flight ability, do you still ride the Knock Up Stream? Wouldn't his ability be wasted?
"Everyone listen up, prepare for takeoff." Kai announced.
Having reached Jaya Island's vicinity, things were simple—Sky Island was right overhead. Just fly up.
The next instant, brilliant green light bloomed from his body. Moments later, a massive emerald dragon spanned the sky.
"Hold on tight."
Kai extended his dragon claws, gripping the rail and reinforcing the ship with Haki before shooting skyward at astonishing speed.
"Waaah!"
Despite Kai's warning, this sudden intense g-force still caught many pirates off-guard, their screams mingling as they tumbled together, thoroughly experiencing astronaut treatment.
"Carrying such a large ship yet flying this fast—is this guy even human?"
Wapol watched the scenery rapidly changing outside the railing, swallowing hard. Thank God I'm useful. Good thing I ate the Munch-Munch Fruit.
As they climbed to approximately 3,000 meters, Violet, who'd been observing the sky above with her ability, suddenly exclaimed. "There really is a sea of clouds!"
"That's the White Sea, formed by special Sea Clouds—truly a 'sea' where ships can sail."
Kai explained.
"To think the sky actually has seas like this—it's incredible."
Kozuki Hiyori covered her mouth, her eyes full of wonder.
"Kai, is Sky Island above that sea of clouds?"
Bonney's eyes sparkled with longing. She'd finally see that dreamlike island described in books.
"Papa, look—I don't need to wait until I'm twenty. I can go to Sky Island now! This is wonderful!"
Bonney excitedly squeezed her father Kuma's hand, her smile radiant.
"Yes, truly wonderful."
Kuma smiled gently, his large hand gently squeezing back.
He often recalled those dark years when Bonney was sick, shadowed by her terminal illness, and his heart still ached. If he hadn't met Kai-san, would Bonney have already—he couldn't bear to finish the thought.
At this, Kuma raised his head, gazing at the emerald dragon carrying the ship upward. In the bright sunlight, Kai seemed to glow. Kai-san's kindness—I can never repay it.
Kai didn't know the father-daughter pair's thoughts below, merely acting as a casual tour guide.
"Sky Island isn't at the White Sea but higher—above the 'White White Sea' at ten thousand meters."
Ten thousand meters sounded impossibly distant, but for a full-speed-flying dragon like Kai, it was merely a few minutes. If not for fearing the passengers couldn't handle it, his speed could be even faster.
Before long, Kai carried the ship past the edge of the vast white ocean.
"Wooow—!"
On deck, exclamations erupted from all sides. When the endless white ocean appeared before them, few could help but be amazed.
"Violet, see if there are any islands where we can land nearby."
Here, searching became remarkably easy. With a 4,000-kilometer visual range, Violet finding land was effortless.
Sure enough, Violet barely paused before reporting a direction.
"East, 200 nautical miles—large island with buildings and signs of human habitation."
As Kai headed toward the unknown island, far below near Jaya Island, after nonstop full-speed sailing, the massive Marine fleet of twenty warships finally reached their designated position, silently closing the trap and settling in to wait.
"It won't be long before Kai walks right into our hands."
The clown-masked CP0 agent let out a low, confident laugh.
"Victory belongs to the World Government."