"But why did he involve the World Government?"
The answer was obvious.
What separated Saint Roselith Seraphina from ordinary Marines was not merely her rank, but her identity as a member of the Roselith Family, one of the Celestial Dragon bloodlines.
"Don't you find it strange that the Marines haven't done anything after Shanks became one of the Four Emperors?"
"At first, I believed it was simply because the Marines lacked the strength to interfere."
"But now… perhaps there is another possibility."
"Shanks reached an understanding with the World Government."
"The World Government silently acknowledged his rise as one of the Four Emperors."
"But Sengoku doesn't truly agree with that decision. At least… not in his heart."
Saint Roselith Seraphina spoke calmly, though countless thoughts churned beneath her composed expression.
If her deductions were correct, then what purpose did the Marines truly serve?
Was justice really the guiding principle of the organization?
Or had justice become nothing more than another political tool?
"Rear Admiral, wouldn't it be better to confirm everything with Lord Roselith Victor?"
Bruce carefully voiced the fastest method of uncovering the truth.
Everything Seraphina had said was still speculation.
However, if Victor learned about it, someone of his standing within the World Government would undoubtedly be able to determine whether such an agreement truly existed.
Seraphina frowned.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Would Father ever allow me to investigate something like this directly?"
Her displeasure was obvious.
After following her for so many years, Bruce's first instinct was still to report everything to the family.
"But…"
Bruce hesitated.
The danger of this voyage was simply too great.
If anything happened to Seraphina, neither the Marines nor the Roselith Family would ever forgive him.
"Since Sengoku already knows about the situation, he'll certainly make preparations."
"Our Fleet Admiral has never disappointed me."
Seraphina understood Bruce's concern, but she had already considered every possibility before setting sail.
First, Monkey D. Garp was currently in Marineford.
If Sengoku truly expected trouble, there was a very high chance he would dispatch Garp as reinforcements.
After all, Seraphina remained the person primarily responsible for establishing the Naval Academy.
Second, she had complete confidence in her own strength.
Although she still couldn't perfectly control that mysterious power sleeping within her body, using it to manifest and control her armor posed no difficulty.
If necessary, escaping would never be a problem.
Third, as long as she avoided exhausting her stamina recklessly, the overwhelming defensive capabilities of her armor combined with the Moonlit Blade would allow her to survive almost any battlefield.
The sea gradually disappeared beneath an increasingly dense blanket of fog.
Seraphina extended one hand.
Tiny droplets of moisture condensed upon her palm.
Visibility continued to worsen.
Today was certainly not an ideal day to be sailing.
Fortunately, the navigators aboard the warship had anticipated difficult conditions.
Their Log Pose had already been properly calibrated before departure.
Although the heavy mist greatly restricted Seraphina's Observation Haki, she could still perceive everything occurring within several kilometers around her.
"Rear… Rear Admiral!"
"Something's wrong!"
The Marine lookout suddenly shouted from the mast after spotting an enormous silhouette emerging from the dense fog.
"What is it?"
Seraphina remained perfectly composed.
Even though she couldn't yet clearly perceive what lay ahead, panic from the commanding officer would only spread fear throughout the crew.
At a moment like this, the commander had to remain calmer than anyone else.
"Pirate ships!"
"So many pirate ships!"
"It's an entire pirate fleet!"
"That ship…!"
"The Moby Dick!"
"The Whitebeard Pirates!"
The Whitebeard Pirates!
Seraphina quietly exhaled.
"So… it seems I won't be meeting Shanks after all."
"Bruce."
"Turn the ship around."
"Order an immediate retreat."
A trace of disappointment flashed across her face.
Her original objective had been to intercept Red-Haired Shanks.
Instead, they had encountered the strongest pirate fleet in the world.
Edward Newgate himself had arrived.
There was no longer any value in pressing forward.
Without another word, Seraphina leaped over the ship's railing.
Using Geppo (Moonwalk) in combination with her exceptional physical ability, she rapidly crossed the sea's surface, her speed increasing with every step.
Time was critical.
Someone had to remain behind and buy enough time for the warship to escape.
"Wait!"
"Rear Admiral!"
"What are you planning to do?!"
Bruce was completely stunned.
Her decision had come far too suddenly.
"I'll cover your retreat."
Before the final syllable faded, Seraphina's white figure vanished into the dense fog.
"Damn it!"
Bruce clenched his fists before immediately turning toward the officers.
"You all heard the Rear Admiral!"
"Retreat immediately!"
"Colonel Bruce, but "
"This is a direct military order!"
"The Rear Admiral has already left the battlefield."
"I am now the highest-ranking officer aboard this ship."
"All hands!"
"Retreat immediately!"
"Withdraw to G-5!"
"Major Leva!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Carry out the order!"
"At once!"
Bruce wasted no time lowering an assault boat into the sea.
The previous time Seraphina had faced overwhelming danger, he hadn't been by her side.
This time would be different.
Even if it cost him his life.
…
Because of the dense fog, Seraphina deliberately restrained her speed.
Bruce quickly caught up aboard the assault boat.
"Bruce."
"Why did you come back?"
Bruce looked directly at her.
"Your Highness."
"You cannot forbid a CP0 operative from carrying out his duty."
"My duty is to protect you."
"No matter what."
Seraphina sighed softly.
Sending Bruce away now would only waste precious time.
Originally, her plan had been simple.
Delay Whitebeard's fleet for a short while.
Then retreat across the sea using Geppo, relying on the defensive abilities of the Moonlit Blade and her armor to escape safely.
Now that Bruce had returned, everything had changed.
She only hoped the Marines retreating behind them would not repeat Bruce's recklessness.
"Bruce."
She looked at him calmly.
"Have you prepared yourself to die?"
Bruce answered without even a moment of hesitation.
"Of course."
"I could no longer stand behind Your Highness as your shield."
"So today…"
"I'll stand beside you."
A faint smile appeared on Seraphina's face.
"That fool."
"He really deserves a beating after this."
She slowly drew the Moonlit Blade.
Its silver edge reflected the pale light filtering through the fog.
"Very well."
"Let's see for ourselves…"
"How powerful the World's Strongest Man truly is."
…
"Father!"
"They're retreating!"
The Whitebeard Pirates had already noticed the Marine warship changing course.
"Gurarararara…"
Whitebeard laughed loudly.
Then, almost immediately, his smile disappeared.
"Something's wrong."
His Observation Haki detected two presences rapidly approaching through the thick fog instead of fleeing.
The nearby division commanders exchanged puzzled looks.
"What is it, Pops?"
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes.
"The Marines aboard that ship aren't ordinary soldiers."
He slowly lifted Murakumogiri onto his shoulder.
"Come on, boys."
"Let's go greet our visitors."
The entire fleet immediately adjusted course.
"Who could they be?"
…
At nearly the same moment, Seraphina and Bruce also caught sight of the outlines of Whitebeard's fleet.
Even obscured by the fog, the gigantic silhouette of the Moby Dick was impossible to mistake.
Seraphina immediately switched weapons.
The Moonlit Blade disappeared as she drew her second sword.
A freezing aura instantly erupted around her.
She thrust the blade toward the sea.
The surrounding seawater froze at astonishing speed.
An enormous sheet of ice spread across the ocean like a frozen continent, rapidly extending until it blocked the entire path of Whitebeard's fleet.
The pirates aboard the Moby Dick instantly recognized what that scene represented.
Only one Marine possessed such overwhelming freezing power.
A Marine Admiral.
The wielder of the Ice-Ice Fruit (Hie Hie no Mi).
"Aokiji?!"
Several pirates instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
Had Admiral Aokiji arrived before them?
Whitebeard remained silent.
His Observation Haki clearly told him otherwise.
The person standing beyond the frozen sea…
Was not Kuzan.
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