Three days passed in a flash.
"Admiral Sengoku, everything is ready."
"In three hours, the target—Byrnndi World—will land on an uninhabited island in the northern waters of Rubeck Island. I recommend initiating the operation there."
Inside the warship's cabin, Sengoku listened to the calm voice coming from the military Den Den Mushi. His brows slowly knitted into a frown.
"Daren, are you sure this intel is accurate?"
"For the past three days, Byrnndi World's movements have been erratic. Even the government's intelligence network has failed to track a single trace of the World Pirates. If the intel is wrong and our Marine forces are exposed, all the efforts we've put into this operation will go to waste."
As he spoke, Sengoku shot a glare at Borsalino, who was casually clicking his nails nearby.
"Please rest assured, Admiral Sengoku—there won't be any mistakes."
"The intel comes from a reliable source. As far as I know, Byrnndi World has been purchasing a large number of smuggled weapons through North Blue's underworld channels. The confirmed exchange site is the island in question."
Daren's composed voice echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
Hearing Daren's confident tone, Sengoku's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Good. I knew I wasn't wrong about you."
He paused briefly, then asked, "Do you have any recommendations for the operation to take down Byrnndi World?"
On the other end, Daren sounded deliberately hesitant.
"Admiral Sengoku, I'm only a headquarters Captain. It might be inappropriate for me to offer strategic advice on a major operation against a pirate of Byrnndi World's caliber, no?"
Sengoku snorted.
"Cut the crap, kid!"
"If you've got something to say, say it. Once the mission's a success, you'll get your share of the credit!"
"Besides, I've already submitted your promotion paperwork. As long as it clears the formal review, your appointment as Commodore will go through. A position like that is more than qualified to participate in an operation of this level."
Sengoku wasn't naive.
As the Marine's famed "Resourceful General," his political savvy and strategic brilliance were among the best on the seas.
Ever since the Saint Xildes incident, the World Pirates had become increasingly cautious and slippery. Neither the Marine nor CP intelligence networks could pinpoint Byrnndi World's location.
Sengoku had even reached out through personal connections to the leaders of various North Blue kingdoms in hopes of picking up a trail—only to come up empty-handed.
And yet, under these conditions, Daren—North Blue's Admiral—managed to deliver pinpoint intel with an exact time and location within just two days.
That fact alone said plenty.
As Sengoku mulled this over, a sudden, absurd thought crossed his mind.
Could it be…
"Daren! Did you arrange this arms deal yourself!?"
His tone sharpened, voice turning stern.
The Den Den Mushi fell silent for a second before Daren's amused voice calmly replied.
"As expected of Admiral Sengoku. Your insight is as sharp as ever—nothing gets past you."
"Yes. I arranged it."
"Over the past few days, Byrnndi World has been frantically recruiting troops, stockpiling weapons, and building a massive cannon—one with the potential to wipe out your entire fleet."
BANG!!
Sengoku's fist slammed into the desk in front of him. His face darkened like a stormcloud.
"Damn that Byrnndi World!"
"Is he trying to blow up Marineford!?"
Having clashed with Byrnndi World multiple times, Sengoku knew better than anyone how terrifying the Moa Moa no Mi could be.
If the man got his hands on a weapon of that scale… Forget the fleet. With his deranged, violent personality, Byrnndi World wouldn't hesitate to turn Marine Headquarters into a crater.
Still, knowing this ahead of time gave them a fighting chance.
That thought helped settle Sengoku's rising panic.
"You didn't actually give him that cannon, right? Daren… I trust you. You wouldn't be foolish enough to—"
"No, Admiral Sengoku," Daren interrupted smoothly. "I did give it to him. A cannon unlike anything the world has ever seen."
Sengoku: …
One second later—
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
Sengoku shot up from his seat, voice thundering so loudly it nearly blew the roof off the cabin. Even Borsalino rubbed his ear, wincing.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Sengoku growled, glaring at the Den Den Mushi as if Daren's calm face was right in front of him, nostrils flaring with steam.
"Please, Admiral Sengoku—don't panic. I had my reasons."
Daren's unhurried tone came through again.
"Byrnndi World may seem insane, but he's extremely difficult to deal with."
"Despite his ambition to destroy the world, he's not some reckless idiot."
"Without offering a big enough incentive, we'd never lure him out for a decisive strike."
"If he didn't receive the cannon, he wouldn't risk going to war with us—especially not while injured."
"Right now, we have him boxed into the North Blue. This is our best chance. We can't let it slip."
"Because if he escapes into the Grand Line—or worse, the New World—it'll be exponentially harder to take him down."
Sengoku rubbed his temple as he listened to Daren's calm, logical breakdown, still visibly troubled.
"But Daren… you're taking a hell of a risk."
"No, Admiral. Please trust me."
Daren's voice carried the weight of conviction.
"If I dared to give him that cannon, it's because I'm confident I can handle him."
"As for this operation—there's something I want to request."
He paused, then said clearly and firmly:
"I want to lead this mission."
"I will command the North Blue Fleet… and go into battle!"
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake