On the highest-spec Marine warship heading to the East Blue, the atmosphere was leisurely.
"Oh my, what lovely weather."
Kizaru lounged lazily on a deck chair, his legs crossed, holding a delicate nail file and meticulously polishing his long fingernails.
The sun was just right, and the sea breeze was gentle.
In his opinion, this S-class confidential mission was a perfect paid vacation.
Beside him, Gion, in full military uniform, had her hand on the hilt of her famous sword, konpira, persistently practicing her sword swings.
Her sharp gaze scanned the calm sea, maintaining maximum vigilance at all times.
This formed a striking and comical contrast with Kizaru's relaxed posture.
"I say, Gion-chan, there's no need to be so tense."
Kizaru spoke without lifting his head, in his characteristic, annoying, drawn-out tone.
"This is the weakest East Blue, you know; you can barely find any decent pirates here. Relax, just relax a little."
Gion snorted coldly.
"It is precisely in this East Blue that an opponent capable of defeating Admiral Kuzan in three minutes appeared. No matter where in the world, such a situation warrants the highest level of vigilance, Mr. Borsalino."
"Moreover, I came here to become stronger!"
"For the justice of the Marine, I will become the world's greatest female swordswoman."
"Oh-ho-ho, what terrifying fighting spirit."
"I should record this with a den den mushi. Fleet Admiral Sengoku would surely be moved to tears of relief when he sees it."
Kizaru exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders and continued to file his nails.
Just then.
Just then.
Buruburu Buru—!
Buru Kacha!
A rapid, distorted den den mushi ringtone suddenly shattered the tranquility.
The sound came from Kizaru's wrist, from his exclusive den den mushi, which was entirely golden and luxuriously styled.
This was an Admiral's exclusive encrypted line.
Gion's expression instantly changed.
Kizaru's nail-filing motion finally stopped.
He slowly raised his wrist and casually pressed the answer button.
"Hello, hello, it's me, Mr. Sengoku, is there something you need?"
The next second.
"Borsalino!! You be serious with me!!"
The golden den den mushi vividly mimicked Fleet Admiral Sengoku's furious, vein-popping face.
The sound was so loud that the windows of the entire cabin vibrated.
Kizaru dug at his ear from the shouting, but his face still held that irreverent expression.
"Oh my, such a temper, Mr. Sengoku, did you eat expired senbei?"
"Don't you dare talk back! Listen up! Emergency intel!"
"Just now, the Celestial Dragon Saint Jalmack was attacked in the Goa Kingdom's waters!"
Kizaru raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Well, that's… not at all sympathetic."
"That incompetent fool isn't the point!"
Sengoku roared.
"Oh, oh! Please continue."
Kizaru turned over.
"Who would be so bold as to attack the rules of the world? How truly terrifying."
On the other end of the den den mushi, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice was silent for a moment before he sighed.
"The attacker…"
"Is Monkey D. Dragon!"
Dragon.
The moment that name was uttered from the den den mushi, time seemed to freeze for an instant.
On the deck, even the gentle sea breeze carried a chilling coldness.
Gion's hand, gripping her sword, tightened abruptly, her knuckles turning white from the force, and for the first time, an uncontrollable shock appeared in her sharp eyes.
That man!
The world's most evil criminal!
The only Revolutionary who dared and was capable of directly challenging the World Government's rule!
How could he appear in the East Blue?
And attack a Celestial Dragon?!
Compared to Gion's shock, Kizaru's reaction seemed somewhat… sluggish.
He merely stopped filing his nails, placed the nail file aside, and then slowly sat upright from the lounge chair.
His expression remained lazy, only his iconic brown sunglasses had slipped down slightly.
"Oh my… Mr. Sengoku."
Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses and spoke in an even more drawn-out, more annoying tone than usual.
"Getting old, my ears aren't working so well."
"Who did you just say… it was?"
The golden den den mushi was silent for two seconds.
Immediately after.
"It's Monkey! D! Dragon!!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's roar, like a volcanic eruption, exploded from the other end of the den den mushi!
"Borsalino! I'll say it again! The one who attacked the Celestial Dragon Saint Jalmack is the Revolutionary Dragon!"
"Did you hear me clearly?!"
This time, Kizaru heard clearly.
His lazy expression finally showed a hint of seriousness.
"Oh-ho-ho… This is truly… a formidable big shot."
Kizaru stood up and stretched, his bones making a series of crackling sounds.
He walked to the ship's railing, gazing at the boundless sea, his tone suddenly becoming incredibly sincere, incredibly earnest.
"Mr. Sengoku."
"You don't… mean for me to deal with Dragon, do you?"
"Shouldn't this be Mr. Garp's job?"
On the other end of the den den mushi, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's tone was icy.
"Dragon's motives for appearing in the East Blue are unknown. As Marineford's highest combat power, this is your duty!"
"Oh my, you can't say that."
Kizaru's tone suddenly became heartbroken; he clutched his chest, his face filled with sorrow and difficulty.
"That Dragon, he and I are like brothers, dear friends and family!"
"Back in the day, we even drank together and chatted!"
"Now you're asking me to deal with him…"
"This… this makes it very difficult for me!"
"I need more money."
Kizaru said seriously.
Beside him, Gion listened, dumbfounded.
From the other end of the den den mushi came heavy breathing.
That was the sound of Fleet Admiral Sengoku's blood pressure skyrocketing from extreme anger.
After a full ten-plus seconds.
Sengoku's voice, suppressing immense fury, squeezed out word by word from the den den mushi.
"Borsalino…"
"You listen to me!"
"If you don't handle this well, I'll assign you to station in the New World."
"Station in the New World?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's angry face, mimicked by the den den mushi, was clearly reflected in Kizaru's sunglasses.
"Pursuing the most heinous criminals is my inescapable duty as an Admiral."
Kizaru sighed exaggeratedly and spread his hands.
Who, besides a battle maniac like Sakazuki, would want to stay in a monster paradise like the New World for a long time?
His old bones couldn't handle that kind of torment.
"Borsalino, this is not the time for your antics!"
"Listen carefully!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice was filled with unprecedented gravity.
"That Celestial Dragon fool, don't worry about him for now! He won't die!"
"The CP organization has already taken him and escaped; Dragon didn't go for the kill."