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"There are indeed some things. Here's what happened. Magellan contacted me earlier and told me a notification had come in from Marine Headquarters. It's said the Blackbeard Pirates have vanished from the area. They might be taking advantage of the fact that Marine Headquarters is tied up with the war against the Whitebeard Pirates and can't spare the attention, sailing to Impel Down to recruit powerful prisoners as partners instead. Blackbeard's target is likely those Level Six criminals," Sadi said, her expression serious.
"What? The Blackbeard Pirates are actually coming here to recruit prisoners?" Domino clenched her fists. "No, because of Bullet, a riot just broke out here. Impel Down can't handle another one right now, especially not one involving Level Six prisoners. We have to stop the Blackbeard Pirates, no matter what."
"That's natural. Now that we know about this, we won't let their invasion actually happen. If the Blackbeard Pirates arrive here with their crew, they'll be walking straight into a trap," Sadi said, pumping her fist confidently. "Oh, right, I'm telling you now so you can prepare yourself mentally, not when they actually show up. You got hurt last time because it happened so suddenly."
"Thank you, Sadi-chan." Domino felt a warm rush in her chest at her best friend's concern. "Speaking of which, regarding Marine Headquarters, why do you think the Blackbeard Pirates could even reach Impel Down in the first place? We're in a very particular location. With our defenses, they shouldn't be able to get through the Gate of Justice at all."
The sea route from Marine Headquarters to Impel Down sat on a very particular circular current. Once a ship entered that current, it could sail freely within it, but barring some unforeseen circumstance, there was no way to break free of its pull. The only way out was through the Gate of Justice, which the Marines controlled, and pirates simply couldn't use it.
That was exactly why Domino couldn't understand how Blackbeard had managed to reach Impel Down from Marine Headquarters by way of the current.
"According to the message from Marine Headquarters, a warship disappeared from the base at the same time as the Blackbeard Pirates. They may have taken that warship for themselves," Sadi said.
"I can't believe something like that's possible." Domino frowned.
A pirate ship couldn't pass through the Gate of Justice on its own. But if the Blackbeard Pirates used a stolen Marine warship to approach it instead, passing through would indeed be possible.
"In that case, we could contact the Sea Serpent stationed near the Gate of Justice and just tell them not to open it for any Marine ships," Domino said.
"How could you even suggest something like that? This isn't like you at all, Domino. Did what happened in Level Six rob you of your ability to think straight?" Sadi's eyes narrowed. "Wait, did you hurt your hand? Quick, let me see."
Sadi reached out and grabbed Domino's collar, about to unbutton her jacket to check her chest for any sign of injury. If nothing turned up there, she seemed fully prepared to pull off Domino's dress next and give her a complete, thorough check-up.
"Wait, wait, don't do anything reckless, Sadi-chan! I'm not hurt, I promise!" Domino blushed and grabbed Sadi's hand. It was fortunate Sadi didn't put much force behind it, since given the gap in strength between them, there was no way Domino could have stopped her otherwise.
"If you're not hurt, then why did you say what you said?" Sadi looked her up and down, puzzled.
"What did I even say that has you so worked up?" Domino asked, rubbing her temple.
"That idea about telling Marine ships not to pass through the Gate of Justice."
"Is there something strange about that?" Domino tilted her head, confused.
"Domino, if the Blackbeard Pirates have already passed through the gate, telling the Marines guarding it not to open it won't do anything to stop Blackbeard now. It would only keep the reinforcements Marine Headquarters is sending from reaching us." Sadi wagged a finger. "Also, there's something else you're forgetting. Blackbeard's crew includes people skilled in hypnosis, and some who can fly. With that kind of help, it wouldn't be hard at all to convince the guards at the gate to open it for him."
"So that's how it is." Domino murmured to herself, then looked at Sadi with surprise. "It's honestly unexpected, you being the composed one this time. These are some sharp observations too, more thoughtful than I'd have expected from you."
What she really meant was that Sadi was thinking things through more than she used to. In the past, Sadi had barely thought at all, letting instinct and whatever interested her in the moment drive everything she did.
"Hmph, don't underestimate me," Sadi said, puffing out her chest with pride.
She really was quite sharp, in truth. She'd simply never cared to use her head much before, not with Domino always around to think for her. All she'd ever had to do was follow Domino's lead. But things were different now.
Sadi's heart had quietly shifted from the Marines to Ikki, and that wasn't something she could let anyone else find out. So she'd decided she needed to start thinking for herself when it came to getting things done, and that shift was exactly what had left Domino seeing her as sharper and more thoughtful these days.
"Alright, alright, I won't underestimate you anymore." Domino laughed, feeling genuinely proud that her best friend had grown both stronger and wiser.
"By the way, Sadi-chan, you mentioned Marine Headquarters sent help our way. Is that actually true, or was that just a hypothetical you threw out?" Domino asked, recalling what Sadi had said earlier.
"It's not hypothetical. Magellan told me himself," Sadi said, shaking her head. "Marine Headquarters sent Gion, and a partner of Ikki's named Astolfo, to help out."
As she said his name, Sadi thought again of the Heroic Spirit Astolfo, whom she'd encountered before in the space of her own consciousness.
'So that guy's been summoned. His strength must be considerable.' She set her jaw. 'Hmph. I'll prove I can grow stronger than him.'