"They got away?"
Hearing Kizaru's report, Sengoku's face turned green.
They had dispatched two Admirals this time.
And yet… they still failed to eliminate the Straw Hat Pirates?
Even if that ninja brat could defeat a Buster Call alone, there was no way he should've been able to escape two Admirals!
How was that even reasonable?!
"But that's exactly what happened, Sengoku-san~"
Kizaru spread his hands helplessly.
After Silvers Rayleigh stopped him and later left, Kizaru searched the entire archipelago for traces of the Straw Hat Pirates.
But he found nothing.
Not only that—
He couldn't even find Akainu.
Veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead.
He could already imagine how furious the Five Elders would be.
Two Admirals working together and still failing to capture a rookie pirate crew…
That was beyond humiliating.
"You're certain there are no traces of them left on the island?"
"Yes~ Completely certain."
Kizaru nodded.
"I searched every numbered grove with the troops. No sign of them at all."
It was as though the Straw Hat Pirates had vanished from the face of the earth.
And frankly—
Kizaru was troubled too.
But what was he supposed to do?
He wasn't a god.
Sengoku clenched his fists before letting out a deep sigh.
"...Damn it."
At this point, there was nothing more he could do.
The Navy no longer had the manpower to continue searching elsewhere.
After all—
Whitebeard could attack Marineford at any moment.
"What about Sakazuki?"
"No idea~"
"No idea?"
Sengoku frowned.
Weren't those two supposed to be working together?
Now that he thought about it, Akainu hadn't returned either.
Where had that man gone?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Sengoku's mind.
'Could it be… Sakazuki found the Straw Hats and continued pursuing them?'
A trace of joy appeared in his eyes.
If Akainu managed to wipe out the Straw Hat Pirates—
Then this entire mess could still be salvaged!
Without hesitation, Sengoku picked up a Den Den Mushi and called Akainu.
"Pururururu…"
"Pururururu…"
"Click."
"This is Sengoku."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
Akainu's subordinate froze for a moment after hearing the voice.
Then his expression became awkward.
"Why are you answering?" Sengoku frowned.
"Where's Sakazuki?"
"Admiral Sakazuki, the Fleet Admiral is calling for you."
Standing at the bow of the ship, Akainu turned around and took the Den Den Mushi.
"This is Sakazuki."
"Sakazuki, why didn't you return to headquarters with Borsalino?"
"Because I'm pursuing Gecko Moria."
Akainu's face darkened.
"If it weren't for him, I would've already captured the Blood-Eyed Ninja."
Even now, rage boiled inside him.
He had nearly completed his mission.
And then—
Moria appeared out of nowhere.
Because of that bastard, he lost his chance to capture Jin and could only watch him disappear.
Worse still—
Moria didn't even stay to fight to the death.
After delaying him for a while, that bastard escaped using shadow wings.
Akainu had nearly exploded from anger.
"So Moria helped the Straw Hat Pirates escape?"
Sengoku's eyes turned cold.
At that moment—
Even he felt murderous intent toward Moria.
That bastard had defected from the Warlords already, and now he was openly helping the Straw Hats?
Was he provoking the Navy?
"That's only part of the reason."
"Part?"
"Yes."
Akainu nodded.
"Moria stopped me from capturing the Blood-Eyed Ninja… but the Straw Hat Pirates disappearing was because of Kuma."
Hearing that, Kizaru raised an eyebrow.
'Kuma…'
Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
As an Admiral, he knew exactly what Bartholomew Kuma's Devil Fruit could do.
'No wonder I couldn't find them… they got sent flying by Kuma.'
"Kuma?"
Sengoku's expression sank.
Had Kuma betrayed them too?
But that didn't make sense.
His body had already been almost completely modified.
Only the final step remained before he became a mindless weapon.
Under those circumstances—
Why would he help the Straw Hat Pirates?
"When I was fighting Moria," Akainu continued,
"I heard someone shouting Kuma's name."
"So I moved toward that direction while fighting."
"Then I sensed Kuma and the Blood-Eyed Ninja."
"And after that… the three of them disappeared."
Akainu paused briefly.
"I'm sure both of you know what Kuma's ability does."
"Yes… we know."
And that was exactly why it was troubling.
None of them could understand why Kuma would help the Straw Hat Pirates.
"If you want answers, go ask him yourselves."
Unfortunately—
Kizaru shook his head.
"That's impossible now."
"Why?"
"On my way back, I received word that Kuma already returned to Egghead."
"He's currently undergoing the consciousness-erasure procedure."
Silence.
Akainu and Sengoku both fell quiet.
Neither of them were fools.
They understood exactly what that meant.
Once the procedure began—
Kuma's mind would disappear forever.
Sengoku sighed heavily.
"Forget the Straw Hat Pirates for now."
"I'll explain the situation to the Five Elders."
"Sakazuki, return immediately."
No matter how unwilling he was to accept it—
The Straw Hats escaping was now a fact.
And they had bigger problems.
"Return?"
Akainu frowned.
"What about Moria?"
If he didn't kill that bastard, he couldn't swallow this anger.
"Moria can wait."
Sengoku's voice became serious.
"The upcoming matter takes priority."
"You understand what I mean."
Akainu fell silent.
Of course he understood.
Sengoku was telling him to return immediately in preparation for Whitebeard.
Still—
He had already located Moria.
Just a little more time and he could've killed him.
But Akainu also knew this next operation was the Navy's top priority.
One mistake—
And Marineford itself could be destroyed.
"…Understood."
"I'll return immediately."
"Good. Hurry back."
After hanging up, Sengoku rubbed his temples tiredly.
Even after learning the truth—
Convincing the Five Elders wouldn't be easy.
Then he turned toward Kizaru again.
"You mentioned encountering Rayleigh?"
"Yes~"
"What's his intention?"
"Is he planning to return to the seas?"
If the former first mate of the Pirate King returned—
The impact would be enormous.
Especially now.
"No."
Kizaru shook his head.
"From what I gathered, he simply thinks highly of the Straw Hat Pirates."
"That's why he stopped me."
Sengoku's headache worsened.
Even Rayleigh favored this rookie crew?
That was terrible news.
Especially the Blood-Eyed Ninja.
According to Kizaru—
Jin had already mastered Haki in only a few days.
A few days earlier, he couldn't even use it.
That level of talent was terrifying.
Combined with his ninja techniques…
The threat level skyrocketed.
If he reached the New World—
Could he really grow into a monster comparable to the Four Emperors?
Even Rayleigh seemed to think so.
'Damn you, Garp…'
'What kind of monster did your grandson recruit?!'
Then Sengoku remembered Monkey D. Garp's situation and sighed again.
"…Forget it."
"That old man has enough problems already."
"Should we deal with Rayleigh?" Kizaru asked lazily.
Despite his words—
He clearly had no intention of seriously pursuing the matter.
Otherwise, he would've acted already.
After thinking for a moment, Sengoku shook his head.
"As long as he doesn't return to piracy… leave him alone."
Killing Rayleigh wasn't the difficult part.
The real issue—
Was the surviving Roger Pirates.
If they learned Rayleigh had been killed…
Who knew what truths they might reveal to the world?
The Void Century.
The One Piece.
Secrets the World Government could never allow to spread.
That strange balance between the Navy and Roger's former crew had existed for years.
Neither side crossed the line.
And it was better that way.
"Then that's for the best~"
Kizaru smiled.
"After all… he's very strong~"
Sengoku stared at him speechlessly.
This guy just wanted to slack off.
Again.
Suddenly—
BANG!
The office door burst open.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Emergency!"
"Come in!"
A communications officer rushed inside carrying a newspaper.
"We just received an emergency edition!"
Sengoku's expression instantly changed.
'Don't tell me…'
Had Morgans already published the Celestial Dragon incident?!
It hadn't even been half a day!
He snatched the newspaper and read it carefully.
Right there on the front page—
It clearly stated:
"Blood-Eyed Ninja Jin of the Straw Hat Pirates Kills Three Celestial Dragons!"
And there were pictures included.
When Sengoku saw the images—
He froze.
How the hell did Morgans get photographs?!
Were reporters hidden inside the auction house?!
Those vultures really were everywhere.
BANG!!
Sengoku slammed the paper onto the desk furiously.
"That bastard Morgans!!"
"How dare he?!"
Kizaru glanced at the paper.
One image showed Jin pinning Saint Charlos to a seat with a sword.
That cold expression…
It was clear he never viewed Celestial Dragons as untouchable.
"Oh~"
"Rookies these days are truly terrifying~"
Ignoring Kizaru, Sengoku barked:
"Contact Morgans immediately!"
"Tell him to stop publication at once!"
The communications officer smiled bitterly.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru already issued the order…"
"But Morgans said all papers have already been distributed."
"The news birds already took them."
"There's no way to recall them."
BANG!!
Sengoku punched a hole through the desk.
"That damn bird…"
"Fleet Admiral," Kizaru said calmly,
"The issue now isn't the newspaper."
"It's the fact the Straw Hats are still alive."
And that was exactly the problem.
Once word spread that people who killed Celestial Dragons survived—
There would absolutely be imitators.
Madmen.
Followers.
Perhaps even hunters targeting Celestial Dragons directly.
The only true solution—
Was eliminating the Straw Hat Pirates completely.
But now?
Finding them would be nearly impossible.
Only Kuma knew where they had gone.
And Kuma's consciousness was already gone.
"…We'll have to search slowly."
But right now—
Whitebeard mattered more.
"Tell Morgans this."
Sengoku growled.
"If he publishes something like this again…"
"I'll personally pluck every feather off that bird."
Meanwhile—
Far away—
Big News Morgans laughed wildly while reading the newest issue.
"GYAHAHAHAHA!!"
"This edition is going to sell like crazy!!"
Three Celestial Dragons dead.
What bigger headline could there be?!
He had even personally written the article himself.
Looking at the Straw Hat Pirates' name on the paper, Morgans' eyes gleamed.
"They attacked Enies Lobby…"
"Then killed Celestial Dragons…"
"When they enter the New World…"
"What kind of chaos will they create next?"
"What if they defeat an Emperor someday?"
"That'd be the ultimate headline!!"
"GYAHAHAHA!!"
"Straw Hat Pirates…"
"Don't die too soon!!"
He still needed them to create more world-shaking news.
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