Marineford received the assessment feed without interruption.
Inside the command room adjoining Sengoku's office, the final images from Grove 1 remained projected across a wide white screen:
Eight Pacifistas detonating beyond the breakwater, Zaraki dividing the resulting shockwave with Nozarashi, Dorry and Brogy holding the remaining pressure away from the assessment ground, and Gion placing her sword against Monkey's throat after the blast subsided.
No one in the room mistook what they had witnessed.
Tsuru sat nearest the communications console, one hand resting beside the written assessment order.
Zephyr stood behind her with his restored arms folded across his chest.
Sengoku remained at the center of the room, both palms planted on the table as the visual Den Den Mushi replayed the moment Monkey pressed the emergency authorization key.
"He linked all eight units," one technical officer said. "The SSG safety protocol permits individual core purges only after evacuation and separation. Simultaneous activation at that distance violated every deployment restriction attached to the prototypes."
Sengoku's expression had gone beyond anger.
"Did Saint Nusjuro authorize the override?"
"No written authorization appears in the mission file."
Tsuru watched Monkey's recorded hand press against the console again.
"Then either the order was verbal and deliberately excluded from Marine records, or the agent acted out of humiliation after losing control of the assessment."
Zephyr's restored right fist tightened.
"Either way, he tried to kill the candidates, Marine observers, and everyone aboard the surrounding ships after they had already passed."
The command Den Den Mushi rang.
Sengoku answered it immediately.
"Grove 1, report."
Gion's face appeared on the snail.
"The assessment ground is secure. No Marine fatalities. Minor injuries among the recording crews, mostly from the initial shockwave. Dorry and Brogy remain cooperative, and their longship is intact."
"What about CP0?"
"Dog and Bear are being treated by Trafalgar Law. Monkey has fractures, a dislocated shoulder, and injuries from the first stage. He refuses to answer questions without direct orders from the Five Elders."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed when he heard Law's name, though surprise was no longer possible after watching ROOM move half the assessment staff to safety.
"Law surfaced?"
"Only after the purge. Without his intervention, we would not have cleared the blast area in time."
Tsuru leaned closer to the receiver.
"Has he requested that his Warlord candidacy be reconsidered?"
Gion glanced away from the snail toward something outside its view.
"He says he will decide after he sees whether the Government punishes the agent who attempted to kill him for providing medical assistance."
From the background came Law's voice.
"That is not exactly what I said."
"It was the polite version," Gion replied.
Sengoku rubbed his brow.
"Keep his presence out of the public report. Record his assistance in the classified file."
"Understood."
Yamakaji appeared beside Gion.
"Fleet Admiral, the combat portion is complete. We recommend both giant captains without reservation regarding strength. Their suitability remains conditional because they will not accept appointment until Oimo and Kashii are released and told the truth."
Sengoku looked toward Zephyr.
The former Admiral's expression remained hard.
"After what happened to my recruits, I have no interest in watching the Government build another agreement on a lie."
Tsuru nodded.
"The demand is reasonable, but Enies Lobby falls under the judicial administration. Marine Headquarters cannot simply order its guards released."
"We can order direct contact," Sengoku said. "Open a secure line to Enies Lobby. Oimo and Kashii will speak with Dorry and Brogy before the end of the day, with Marine witnesses present. No Cipher Pol intermediary."
The communications officer hesitated.
"The Five Elders may object."
"They can object while the call is connecting."
Sengoku returned his attention to the Den Den Mushi.
"Gion, inform the giants that Marine Headquarters will arrange immediate direct contact with their crewmates. I cannot promise release until the Government responds, but the lie ends today."
Gion's expression eased slightly.
"I'll tell them."
The secondary command receiver began ringing before the first call ended.
Its face shifted into the severe features of Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro as soon as Sengoku accepted.
"You will suspend the contact order," Nusjuro said without greeting.
"No."
The blunt refusal silenced several officers.
Nusjuro's eyes narrowed through the receiver.
"Oimo and Kashii serve Enies Lobby under a long-standing agreement."
"An agreement based on the claim that Dorry and Brogy were imprisoned," Sengoku replied. "That claim is false, and the captains are currently standing at Grove 1 demanding their men back."
"Their service is strategically useful."
"So are the two candidates you ordered us to evaluate."
"I did not authorize Marine Headquarters to negotiate conditions."
"You authorized an assessment. The candidates stated their condition in front of your agents and official recording equipment. Refusing to acknowledge it does not make it disappear."
Nusjuro's expression remained cold.
"The combat result is under review. CP0's actions were taken to protect restricted SSG technology from capture."
Tsuru reached forward and replayed the relevant section of the recording through the command line. Monkey's voice filled the room.
*"The candidates claim they can control their strength. Let them prove they can survive the consequences of destroying Government property."*
Then came Gion's order to cancel the purge, Dog's warning that it would kill the observers, and Monkey's refusal.
Sengoku let the silence following the recording settle.
"That was not the protection of technology. It was retaliation."
"The agent's judgment will be reviewed internally."
"After he gives statements to Marine Intelligence."
"CP0 does not answer to Marine Intelligence."
"He nearly killed two Vice Admirals, hundreds of Marines, and every Government observer at the assessment you ordered. He answers to the record."
Nusjuro's face hardened.
The confrontation might have continued for another hour if a new alarm had not sounded from the long-range communications station.
An officer turned from the receiver bank.
"Fleet Admiral! Urgent signal from Sabaody's western watch network!"
Sengoku did not look away from Nusjuro.
"Report."
"Multiple large vessels have crossed the final western marker and are approaching the archipelago under Beasts Pirates colors. Estimated arrival at the outer groves: less than two hours."
Every voice in the command room stopped.
Zephyr lowered his arms.
"Kaido."
Tsuru's gaze shifted toward Nusjuro's Den Den Mushi.
The Elder showed no surprise.
That absence answered more than a confession would have.
Sengoku's voice became dangerously quiet.
"You gave him the route."
Nusjuro did not confirm it.
He did not need to.
"The presence of an Emperor changes the situation," he said. "Marine Headquarters should focus on preserving Sabaody rather than obstructing Government authority."
The Den Den Mushi closed its eyes.
Nusjuro had ended the call.
Sengoku remained still for half a second, then began issuing orders.
"Evacuate civilians from Groves 1 through 10. Redirect coating traffic to the eastern side of the archipelago. All Marine ships in range move to defensive positions, but no one fires on the giant candidates or the Polar Tang unless I authorize it."
Tsuru rose.
"I'll coordinate the evacuation."
"Zephyr, take command of the rapid-response units leaving Marineford."
The former Admiral nodded once.
"And Garp?"
Sengoku looked toward the clock.
"He should already be at Grove 1."
...
Garp's warship entered the secured harbor with enough speed to make the signal crews wave frantically from the docks.
The vessel had not fully settled against its berth when Garp launched himself from the bow.
He crossed the remaining distance in one leap and landed on the reinforced assessment ground hard enough to crack the stone beneath his sandals.
Marines snapped to attention.
Gion closed her eyes briefly, while Yamakaji removed his cigar and stepped away from the likely line of destruction.
Zaraki stood near the scorched edge of the platform with his hands in his coat pockets.
Garp looked him over from head to foot.
The bandages were mostly hidden.
Nozarashi rested at his waist.
He was alive, upright, and wearing the expression of a man who had not spent nearly three weeks making the entire Headquarters search for a corpse.
Garp walked toward him.
Law, standing beside the injured CP0 agents, quietly moved his medical equipment several meters away.
Zaraki watched Garp approach.
"You took your time."
Garp's right fist struck him in the head.
The impact drove Zaraki face-first into the reinforced stone and opened a crater around his shoulders.
Every Marine on the assessment ground flinched.
Dorry and Brogy stared from the outer berth.
Brogy leaned toward Dorry.
"Is that part of Marine discipline?"
Dorry considered the question.
"It resembles Elbaf discipline."
Garp seized Zaraki by the back of his coat and pulled him upright.
"NEARLY THREE WEEKS!" he roared directly into his face. "You survive Kaido, vanish into a storm, cross half the Grand Line with a pirate, fight Hawkeye, recruit two giants, kill Weevil, and the best message you send me is that you're alive and working?!"
Zaraki rubbed the swelling already forming on his head.
"It covered the important parts."
"It covered one part!"
"You only asked whether I was alive."
"I asked every ship on the Grand Line!"
"That sounds inefficient."
Garp raised the fist again.
Gion stepped between them before the dock required another repair.
"Vice Admiral Garp, Kaido's fleet is less than two hours away."
The anger did not leave Garp's face, but the fist stopped.
He looked toward the western sea.
"Of course it is."
Yamakaji approached with the long-range report in hand.
"The Beasts Pirates are moving directly toward the secured groves. The route suggests they knew Zaraki would be here."
Garp's gaze shifted toward the injured CP0 agents and then toward the recording Den Den Mushi.
"Those old bastards invited him."
Monkey remained silent beneath Marine guard.
Zaraki's golden eyes brightened.
"So that's what Nozarashi felt coming."
Law heard the name of the sword but nothing of the private voice behind the warning. He folded his arms.
"You are smiling again."
"Kaido crossed the world to finish the fight."
"He crossed the world with a fleet, while we have wounded Marines, two giant candidates, damaged Government weapons, and an archipelago full of civilians."
Zaraki looked toward the western horizon.
The grin remained, but his answer carried more thought than the reckless challenge Law expected.
"Then we get the civilians clear, move the ships away from the mangroves, and make sure he has nowhere to aim except at me."
Garp released the back of Zaraki's coat.
"You are not fighting him alone this time."
Zaraki looked at him.
"That sounded almost protective."
"It was a threat. If you disappear again before I finish yelling at you, I'll follow you into the sea and beat you there."
Dorry rested his sword against the longship's rail.
"We came for an assessment."
Brogy lifted his axe.
"And now an Emperor is coming to provide one."
Law stared at the giants.
"No. That is not how Government evaluations work."
Zaraki's grin widened.
"It is now."
Beyond Grove 1, evacuation bells began ringing across Sabaody while Marine ships moved toward the western channels.
The combat assessment was over, the appointment remained unresolved, and the Five Elders' hidden weapon was approaching beneath the flag of the Beasts Pirates.