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"Bang!"
A heavy sound rang out as a fist slammed onto the table. Sengoku's face turned ugly. He never expected Saul, who had served in the Marines for so many years, to actually defect.
However, the mission from the World Government still had to be carried out.
"Kuzan, Sakazuki."
After a brief pause, Sengoku looked toward the two men in front of him.
Just as he was about to assign the mission, an image suddenly flashed through his mind, causing him to hesitate for a moment.
"Go and call Borsalino as well."
Kuzan's eyes flickered slightly, and his brows furrowed. Beside him, Sakazuki remained expressionless.
Not long after, Borsalino arrived. When he sensed the unusually heavy atmosphere, he couldn't help but smile.
"This suffocating mood... Did something big happen?"
Sengoku raised his head.
"I summoned you here for an extremely classified mission."
Hearing that, Borsalino's expression twitched.
"I really don't want to carry out any classified missions..."
But the Admiral in front of him clearly had no intention of giving him a chance to refuse. Sengoku immediately began to explain the situation and objectives of the mission.
"West Blue. Ohara." Muttering these words, Borsalino showed a helpless expression.
"That guy seems to be stationed in West Blue, right?"
Kuzan nodded. "Not only that, but Ohara is also his homeland."
"That's truly a troublesome matter..." Borsalino said with a shiver.
"Don't show such a frightened expression just because you thought of Kojin! Don't forget who you are. Besides, he is also a Marine. This is the highest-level classified mission. Even if he were standing in front of me, there would be absolutely no room for objection!"
Sengoku snorted, his expression grim.
He knew very well how highly Kojin was regarded within the Marines. He also knew the difference in rank between Kojin and the three men before him, as well as their deep personal bonds.
"If...I mean, if."
"If Kojin ends up standing in front of us, what should we do then?"
Borsalino sighed and forced a smile as he asked.
He truly did not want to fight that monster unless it was absolutely unavoidable.
"Don't ask such childish questions, Borsalino. Understand who we are. Even if that man obstructs Headquarters from carrying out the mission, he won't have a good ending!" Sakazuki spoke coldly at that moment.
Sengoku frowned and looked at the three men but said nothing further.
He could feel it, on the eve of the Buster Call, the morale of those tasked with executing the mission was extremely low.
After the three of them left, an officer beside him asked softly, "Should we inform the West Blue G-18 Branch, Vice-Admiral Kojin, and the others about this mission?"
Sengoku glared at him. "Do you think things aren't troublesome enough already?"
He sat back down and flipped through the documents on Ohara lying on his desk, frowning deeply and feeling more irritated and restless by the moment.
Launching a Buster Call against a group of unarmed scholars...
This was the first time in history that such a thing had happened. Even Sengoku himself thought it was cruel.
But he had no choice. Orders from above could only be obeyed.
A moment later, the office door opened, and a figure stepped in.
"Zephyr?"
"Why are you here?"
Sengoku looked up, astonishment filling his face when he saw the visitor.
"Commander Kong sent me," Zephyr said in a deep voice.
Sengoku froze, then quickly understood, his expression turning to shock.
"Is it because of that kid?"
Zephyr nodded silently.
Five Vice Admirals would launch the Buster Call. Additionally, two Admirals would remain on standby, ready to handle any unexpected developments.
That was the Marines' stance toward Ohara.
It was also the stance of the World Government's highest rulers.
"Kojin..." Sengoku's eyes flickered and his fist slowly clenched. "I hope you make the right choice!"
"Otherwise..."
...
West Blue, G-18 Base
Rapid footsteps sounded. Soon, a commissioned officer stepped into the courtyard where Kojin lived.
"Vice-Admiral, there is a letter for you."
Kojin raised his head in confusion and casually took the letter.
"A letter for me?"
"Yes, it's from Vice-Admiral Saul at Headquarters," the officer said.
"Saul..."
The moment Kojin heard that name, his expression tightened.
He waved the officer away and opened the envelope.
He saw the messy handwriting immediately. There weren't many words, yet Kojin's face instantly turned solemn.
"My best friend, Kojin, please forgive my recklessness and impulsiveness. Regarding this matter, perhaps only you can help me. Headquarters intends to launch a Buster Call on Ohara."
"..."
It was a fleet's plea for help. The letter briefly explained Saul's stance, the pain of his decision to defect from the Marines, and his confusion regarding justice.
The most important part, however, was the warning: Ohara was about to face the danger of a Buster Call.
Saul also begged Kojin to save the innocent scholars of Ohara at all costs. Kojin held the letter tightly in his hand and his expression became deadly serious in an instant.
The next second, his right hand trembled slightly. A flash of lightning flickered, and the paper burst into flames, burning into ash.
Then, Kojin's figure blurred, and he suddenly appeared before Rouge and Ace.
"Ace!"
"Do you want to go on a trip?"
Ace immediately perked up, jumping to his feet with excitement. Rouge's expression shifted, realizing the implications.
A quarter-hour later, Evans led a single elite squad aboard a small battleship and quietly left the fortress, heading toward East Blue.
a missionAt the same time, the fortress's alarm lights began flashing wildly. Piercing sirens echoed throughout the entire base.
Countless Marines poured out and formed neat ranks. Their faces were solemn and tense as they awaited orders from the highest-ranking officer.
"Bullet!"
"Crocodile!"
"Penn!"
"All personnel... assemble!"
Kojin stood high above them and shouted loudly, his voice shaking the air itself.
"Vice-Admiral-sama, what happened?!" Eveya ran over nervously and asked urgently.
"We're going to carry out a mission... A mission to uphold the bottom line of justice in our hearts." Kojin grinned as he spoke, but the look in his eyes was icy cold.
Eveya looked completely confused.
One battleship after another sped out of the fortress, sailing straight toward Ohara.
Not long after, once Eveya finally understood the details, her face turned pale with terror, and her entire body began to tremble.
...
At the same time, Kojin picked up a Den Den Mushi and made a call.
"Sensei, you might have to look after Ace for a while."
Hearing this, Garp, who was sitting on the shore of Windmill Village, barely reacted to the sea breeze.
"Since you've made your choice, then charge forward without hesitation."
"Brat, I'm proud of you. You always do the things I want to do but can't."
"You've got more courage than I do."
"Whether your choice is right or wrong, we'll leave it to the future to decide!"
The brief call ended, and a smile spread across Kojin's face.
The sea breeze blew against him, yet his heart felt lighter than ever before. A long-lost surge of passion rose in his chest.
He knew very well...
He knew exactly who his next enemy would be.
The world itself.
...
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters...
"Latest report! Vice-Admiral Kojin has already left G-18 Fortress!"
"His course is Ohara!"
The trembling voice caused Sengoku, who had been waiting a long time, to suddenly clench his fist before slowly loosening it again.
A few minutes later, a voice rang out from the Headquarters harbor, one that could not be distinguished between excitement and fear.
"Sengoku the Buddha!"
"Black Arm Zephyr!"
"Both Admirals have been deployed!!"
(End of Chapter)