The visual feed from Grove 1 ended only after Garp's fist buried Zaraki in the reinforced platform.
For one brief moment, the command room at Marineford remained silent.
Then Zephyr laughed.
It was not the thunderous, carefree laugh Garp would have produced, but a rough sound dragged from somewhere beneath days of grief and exhaustion.
Several officers around the communication table looked at him in surprise.
Zephyr folded his restored arms.
"He deserved that."
Tsuru lifted her teacup without taking her eyes from the final frozen image.
Zaraki's upper body had disappeared into a crater while Garp stood over him roaring, and Law had quietly moved his medical equipment out of the likely path of the next punch.
"He probably deserved several more," she said.
Sengoku did not laugh.
His attention remained fixed on the earlier section of the recording, which the visual Den Den Mushi replayed across the white screen.
Monkey's authorization key touched the Pacifista control console.
Red warnings spread over the display.
Dog warned him that the purge would kill the observers, and Monkey activated all eight cores anyway.
The image changed.
ROOM rose from beneath the mangrove shelf.
Marine personnel vanished from the edge of the assessment ground.
Dorry and Brogy hurled disabled Pacifistas toward the open sea. Zaraki released Nozarashi and drove the final two machines beyond the breakwater.
When the cores detonated, he divided the approaching shockwave so precisely that the ships and Yarukiman Mangroves remained intact.
Nothing about the sequence resembled the report CP0 had already attempted to send.
"The candidates destroyed restricted Government property and forced an emergency purge," Sengoku read aloud from the Cipher Pol summary.
He placed the document beside the recording transcript.
Tsuru's mouth tightened.
"The recording shows the candidates disabling the weapons without damaging the cores. The emergency purge happened afterward."
"Monkey also omitted Trafalgar Law evacuating the Marine personnel," Zephyr added. "And the fact that Zaraki could have killed him before the countdown reached zero."
A technical officer stepped closer to the table.
"Fleet Admiral, we verified the SSG deployment restrictions. The prototypes were authorized for controlled combat testing, but the core-purge system was intended to be used on one unit at a time after evacuation. Linking all eight required the examiner's personal override."
"Did Saint Ethanbaron issue separate instructions?" Sengoku asked.
"No written instructions were attached to the mission file."
"Then preserve every copy of the recording," Sengoku said. "One remains with Marine Intelligence, one with Tsuru, and one in the Fleet Admiral's sealed archive. No Cipher Pol unit touches them without my authorization."
The officer saluted.
"Yes, sir."
Another Den Den Mushi began ringing before the replay ended.
This receiver carried the direct seal of the Room of Authority.
Sengoku answered without sitting down.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's face appeared first, reflected through the snail's severe expression.
The other four Elders were visible beyond him inside the chamber at Mary Geoise: Saint Topman Warcury sat with his enormous white mustache rigid above his mouth, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn leaned against his cane, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter stood near the tall windows, and Saint Marcus Mars watched from beside the long table.
Nusjuro did not waste time on courtesy.
"The combat assessment is concluded."
Sengoku looked toward the still-frozen image of Monkey's hand on the purge control.
"That is one way to describe it."
"The candidates survived every stage and demonstrated sufficient combat value."
"They also protected Government agents and Marine observers from an illegal escalation initiated by your examiner."
Warcury's voice rolled through the receiver.
"CP0's conduct will be reviewed internally."
"Marine Headquarters will conduct its own review," Sengoku replied. "The agent nearly killed two Vice Admirals, hundreds of Marines, and every recording official you ordered to attend."
Saturn tapped one finger against his cane.
"The present question is not the examiner. It is the giants."
Tsuru placed her teacup down.
"Dorry and Brogy passed the combat portion. They have not accepted an appointment."
Ju Peter's brows lowered.
"They were invited to Sabaody as candidates."
"They arrived with a condition," Sengoku said. "Oimo and Kashii were deceived into serving at Enies Lobby. Dorry and Brogy will not enter a Government agreement while that lie remains in force."
Marcus Mars finally spoke.
"Releasing two giant guards from Enies Lobby weakens a judicial stronghold."
"Then replace them with guards who know what they agreed to," Zephyr said from behind Sengoku.
"You cannot demand loyalty from Dorry and Brogy while keeping their men loyal through fraud."
Nusjuro's gaze hardened when he recognized the voice.
"You are not part of this discussion, Zephyr."
"My recruits died because the Government tried to turn a massacre into a candidate evaluation. I am part of any discussion involving the same mistake."
For several breaths, the only sound in the command room came from the Den Den Mushi's quiet breathing.
Sengoku broke the silence.
"Oimo and Kashii will speak directly with their captains today. Marine witnesses will be present. Their service at Enies Lobby is suspended until the facts are acknowledged."
Warcury leaned forward.
"You are issuing orders to the judicial administration."
"I am preventing a second crisis while Kaido approaches Sabaody with a route someone inside the Government provided."
No Elder reacted visibly.
That absence of surprise was answer enough.
Tsuru watched their faces through the receiver.
"The Giant Warrior Pirates represent a single organization," she said.
"There is one vacant Warlord seat under discussion. Marine Headquarters recommends that the Government provisionally approve the crew's candidacy under one charter while Dorry and Brogy decide which captain will be named as the official holder. The other will be recognized as co-captain and commander under the same agreement."
Ju Peter glanced toward the others.
"An unusual arrangement."
"So is recruiting two captains who have fought each other for a century," Tsuru replied.
Nusjuro rested one hand near the sword at his side.
"The combat qualification is provisionally approved. No appointment takes effect until one official representative is named, the conditions of service are signed, and the candidates accept the terms."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed.
"And Oimo and Kashii?"
Saturn answered this time.
"The direct contact may proceed. Their continued service will be reviewed after the conversation."
"That is not release."
"It is more than you possessed an hour ago."
Sengoku disliked the answer, but Dorry and Brogy had already made it clear that no final acceptance would occur without their crewmates.
The Government could delay the release. It could not quietly erase the demand now that official recording equipment had captured it.
"Send the provisional decision through the Grove 1 command line," Sengoku said. "The giants will hear it themselves."
Nusjuro's expression cooled.
"Marine Headquarters has become remarkably particular about procedure."
"After watching your examiner turn eight prototypes into bombs, I find procedure comforting."
The Den Den Mushi's face went still.
Then the Five Elders ended the connection.
...
At Grove 1, the direct call to Enies Lobby connected beneath the eyes of Marine witnesses.
Dorry and Brogy knelt beside the outer berth, each enormous face lowered toward a Den Den Mushi that looked tiny between them.
Garp stood several paces behind Zaraki with his arms folded, apparently waiting for the swelling on the younger man's head to disappear so he could create another one.
Law treated Dog and Bear beneath a temporary medical canopy. Monkey sat nearby with one arm immobilized, guarded by Gion and six Marines from the Oni Slayer.
Yamakaji supervised the damage inspection while evacuation bells continued ringing beyond the secured grove.
The Enies Lobby receiver opened its eyes.
Two massive faces appeared.
For one heartbeat, neither side spoke.
Oimo's mouth fell open.
Kashii stared so hard that the Den Den Mushi began imitating his expression.
"Captains?" Oimo whispered.
Dorry's single visible eye widened.
"Oimo."
Brogy leaned closer.
"Kashii."
The silence shattered.
"CAPTAINS!"
Oimo's roar blasted from the receiver loudly enough to make nearby Marines cover their ears.
Kashii began laughing and crying at the same time, while Dorry and Brogy answered with booming voices that rolled through the mangrove roots.
For fifty years, Oimo and Kashii had believed their captains were imprisoned by the World Government.
For a century, Dorry and Brogy had believed no one from their old crew knew where they were.
The reunion did not produce elegant words.
It produced accusations, laughter, shouted questions, and several attempts by all four giants to speak at once.
Garp rubbed one ear.
"They're louder than you."
Zaraki looked at him.
"You shouted directly into my face ten minutes ago."
"That was discipline!"
Garp raised one fist.
Zaraki turned back toward the call.
An Enies Lobby administrator finally gathered enough courage to enter the edge of the Den Den Mushi's view.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has ordered Oimo and Kashii's gate duties suspended until the terms of their service are reviewed. They are not to be restrained or reassigned without direct Marine Headquarters authorization."
Dorry's expression hardened.
"Who told them we were prisoners?"
The administrator swallowed.
"The original agreement was approved through Cipher Pol. The current judicial files bear the authorization of Chief Spandam."
Brogy's hand closed around the haft of his axe.
"Where is he?"
The administrator looked down at the papers.
"Chief Spandam departed Enies Lobby yesterday with Agent Jabra. He was ordered to assist with the protection and evacuation of Saint Charlos during the World Noble's visit to Sabaody."
Every Marine close enough to hear the answer became still.
Yamakaji turned from the damage report.
"Saint Charlos is still on the archipelago?"
"He refused the first evacuation request," the administrator said. "His escort reported that he intended to complete purchases at the Human Auctioning House before returning to Mary Geoise."
Gion's expression sharpened.
"Kaido's fleet is approaching, and a Celestial Dragon remained at the auction house?"
"The escort stated that Saint Charlos would leave when he was ready."
Garp's face darkened.
"Of course he did."
A signal cannon sounded from the direction of the commercial groves.
Boom—!
The report rolled across Sabaody, followed moments later by the rapid ringing of an emergency Den Den Mushi at Yamakaji's side.
He answered.
"This is Vice Admiral Yamakaji."
A Marine officer shouted over noise and panicked voices.
"Sir! The evacuation route near the Human Auctioning House is blocked by Saint Charlos's procession. A collared mermaid escaped from an auction transport, and the World Noble's guards are firing inside the crowd. Civilians cannot clear the avenue!"
Gion's hand moved to Konpira.
"How long until Kaido reaches the western markers?"
"Latest estimate: fifty-seven minutes."
Dorry's voice came from above.
"Spandam is there?"
"So the report says," Zaraki replied.
Brogy lifted his axe.
"Then we will speak with him."
"Not through a city full of people," Law said without looking up from Bear's fractured arm. "You will crush half the evacuation route simply by trying to hurry."
Dorry frowned.
"Then bring him here."
Garp cracked his knuckles.
"That can be arranged."
Yamakaji turned toward the senior Marine Captain commanding the Oni Slayer.
"You hold Grove 1. Keep the candidates, the longship, the Government transport, and the medical area secure. No CP0 agent leaves without a recorded statement. Continue the evacuation around the outer berth."
The Captain saluted.
"Yes, sir."
Law glanced toward Zaraki.
"I am staying until these three are stable enough not to die and accuse me of causing it."
Monkey's cracked mask tilted toward him.
"No one requested your treatment."
Law tightened the bandage around Dog's ribs.
"You screamed when I reset your shoulder."
"That was Bear."
Bear, lying on the next cot, looked offended.
Zaraki rested one hand on Nozarashi's hilt.
"Keep the submarine ready."
"It already is."
Garp stepped toward the avenue leading out of Grove 1.
"Zaraki, Gion, Yamakaji—with me. We clear the route, remove Charlos from the evacuation zone, and bring Spandam back alive."
Zaraki glanced at him.
"You said that last part as though it might be difficult."
"With you, it usually is."
Behind them, Dorry and Brogy returned to their reunion with Oimo and Kashii, but neither captain took his eyes from the road.
The provisional Warlord approval could wait.
First, the lie that had bound their crewmates for fifty years had acquired a face—and that face was somewhere on Sabaody with less than an hour remaining before Kaido arrived.
---------
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