Gulp gulp...
The beer in Aokiji's hand was finally finished. He reached out and placed the beer bottle beside him, glancing at the setting sun in the distance.
A penguin suddenly surfaced from the sea, swimming towards Aokiji. This penguin was carrying a backpack on its back, aimed in Aokiji's direction, as if there was something inside that it wanted to give him.
This was Aokiji's pet.
Of course.
This penguin had a very unusual name, it was called Camel.
"Camel."
Aokiji waved at his pet, softly saying, "One bottle of beer is enough, it's going to be very dangerous here soon, move further away."
"..."
The penguin floated away slowly towards the distance.
Akainu watched the penguin standing in the water as it swam away, exhaling a thick puff of smoke and coldly said, "Let's begin!"
"It looks like it's about to start..."
Aokiji nodded, lazily saying, "Sakazuki, I plan to fight with the resolve to kill you..."
Because...
He needed to gain the trust of the Konoha Pirates.
"So do I."
Akainu glanced at Aokiji beside him.
Because he also needed to fight desperately with Aokiji to gain the trust of the Five Elders.
The conversation...
Seemed to end there.
The temperatures on both their bodies changed drastically at the same time!
Cold air continuously emanated from Aokiji's body, freezing the air into frost, layers of ice forming on his dark blue trench coat, making the surrounding temperature biting cold...
Magma surged up from Akainu's body, scorching lava continually dripping from his fist, with thick smoke from the magma seeping out from him, making the air around him unbearably hot...
In the next moment!
Both of them charged at each other!
Their eyes locked onto one another, battle intent surging from their bodies, as Akainu's magma and Aokiji's surrounding cold air clashed instantly!
Countless magma spattered out!
Countless cold air froze the magma rapidly!
The entire port was destroyed by their first clash!
Akainu lifted his hand, aiming a punch to decisively crush Aokiji before him, a gigantic magma fist descending from the sky directly causing the port to explode!
Yet as the explosion's flames began to rise, they were instantly enveloped by the low temperatures, the ice freezing the explosive flames and thick smoke into something resembling a stunning artwork!
This small port...
Was instantaneously frozen by Aokiji's cold air!
The battlefield between these two Navy Admirals began to spread to the surrounding area, soon the two of them were fighting into the interior of Punk Hazard!
In a distant sea area.
A Navy warship was observing the battlefield from here.
Vice Admiral Vergo of the G5 Branch, holding a pair of binoculars, was closely watching the two figures on Punk Hazard, as he was the observer ordered to watch the battle between Akainu and Aokiji.
"The fight has started..."
Vergo put down the binoculars in his hand.
As Vergo was not only a simple Vice Admiral, but he was also a senior officer in the Donquixote Family under Donflamingo, deeply trusted by Donflamingo.
Many years ago.
On Donflamingo's orders, Vergo joined the Navy, choosing to enter the G5 Branch closest to Dressrosa Kingdom. Over the years, he had been continuously sending naval intelligence to Donflamingo, even handling some of the dirty work for Donflamingo.
For instance...
Killing the spies the Navy planted in the Donquixote Family.
Vergo's strength was decent, steadily climbing to the rank of Vice Admiral of the Navy G5 Branch, and has been using his authority to conceal the illegal experiments conducted in secret by Donflamingo and Dressrosa Kingdom.
"The matters here..."
"Must be relayed to Doffy as soon as possible."
Vergo always understood the importance of intelligence.
The news of the battle between Admiral Akainu of the Navy Headquarters and former Admiral Aokiji at Punk Hazard would certainly be valuable, and if Donflamingo could receive this information in advance, he might be able to utilize it.
On the other side.
Dressrosa.
At present, Donflamingo actually had no time to worry about other issues.
Because Donflamingo had brought back the world's top genius scientist Vegapunk, hoping that Vegapunk would work for him, and help him become a multiple Devil Fruit User, then help build a terrifying army like the White Zetsu Army.
"Fufufufu..."
"Dr. Vegapunk..."
After making his request with gentlemanly manners, Donflamingo, also valuing the scientist's needs, said with a grin, "I understand just how immense the costs of a scientist's research can be. Whatever funding, materials, or assistances you need, I can have it ready for you as quickly as possible..."
"..."
Vegapunk looked somewhat helpless.
Compared to the Five Elders and that Konoha Pirates' party, Donflamingo was indeed quite good as a client. The treatment and reception he was receiving were impeccable, this Seven Warlords of the Sea member sure acted the part of a patron valuing talents.
Unfortunately.
Vegapunk couldn't meet Donflamingo's demands, only to sigh: "Actually, I can't replicate that scientific achievement. There is a critical material within which, no matter what, you cannot obtain. Having me stay here will only bring disaster upon you..."
"What material?"
Donflamingo's smile remained unchanged.
The entire Underworld had to give him some face. What material would be unattainable in the Underworld's black market? He could even casually get hold of Seastone which the World Government was in urgent need of!
"Biological remains from the time when human civilization was destroyed..."
Vegapunk was quite honest, straightforwardly revealing the missing material for multiple Devil Fruit abilities: "I don't know where the Konoha Pirates acquired it. Perhaps the Goddess of Rabbit had once destroyed human civilization, at that time transforming humans into creatures called White Zetsu, the perfect material for human experiments..."
"I'll send someone to help look for it."
Donflamingo agreed cheerfully, then his expression turned sly: "But I have one more question, Akihara Kagura of the Navy Headquarters, he seems to be your first successful experiment, Dr. Vegapunk, can the experiment done on him be replicated onto me?"
"..."
Vegapunk looked at Donflamingo in shock.
This guy...
Is he out of his mind?
Akihara Kagura wasn't any experiment! That man inherently possessed multiple Devil Fruit abilities, he wasn't an experimental subject at all!
Brulubrlu...
While Donflamingo was waiting for Vegapunk's response, a Radio Snail rang, informing him of the battle news between the two Navy Admirals at Punk Hazard.
"Tell Caesar to pull back as soon as possible."
Donflamingo's first concern was the scientist Caesar, whom he was funding. Chuckling, he ordered: "Have Caesar come over to assist Dr. Vegapunk. The battle between Akainu and Aokiji can destroy Punk Hazard. You better stay far away from their battlefield to avoid being caught in the crossfire..."
As Donflamingo was still chuckling, advising his senior officer who he considered as family to take care of his safety, a playful and familiar voice suddenly emerged from the Radio Snail on the other side.
"Hey hey hey..."
"Who are you on the phone with?"
"You're the commander of the G5 Branch, Vergo, right?"
"Seems like we've caught you... a spy infiltrating the Navy... Admiral Borsalino... Look at our G5 Branch commander... turns out to be a spy..."
"What identity do you have, daring to become a spy in the Navy?"
"!!!"
Donflamingo's face changed.
It's over!
His spy Vergo placed in the Navy had been caught red-handed!
Donflamingo even recognized from the voice who had captured Vergo from the other end of the Radio Snail! He had heard this voice during the Shampodi Archipelago event!
Vice Admiral Akihara Kagura!
The freshest and mightiest Marine from the entire sea!