In the waters not far from Elbaf, a massive and tightly packed fleet of Marine warships stretched across the sea like a field of stars. The formation moved with overwhelming presence, cutting steadily through the ocean toward the land of giants.
At the very front sailed an enormous warship bearing the flag of the Fleet Admiral.
"How much farther?"
Standing at the bow was a broad, imposing man with a cigar clenched between his teeth. His expression was cold and unyielding, his coat of justice draped over his shoulders. His deep voice carried authority as he questioned the Marines nearby.
Clap!
A Marine officer snapped into a salute.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral! We are still four hundred nautical miles away from Elbaf!"
"Hmph."
Akainu Sakazuki narrowed his eyes toward the horizon. A faint heat seemed to radiate from his body as his gaze sharpened.
"Borsalino, I do not know if it is just my imagination, but I feel that unpleasant aura from Shirogai."
Behind him, Kizaru Borsalino sat lazily with his legs crossed, head tilted forward as if dozing. At Akainu's words, he slowly raised his head.
"Oh? It seems this old man drifted off for a moment."
He stretched slightly before speaking in his usual drawn out tone.
"That must be your imagination. We are still quite far from Elbaf. Even if Red Hair has already started fighting him, there is no way you could sense anything from this distance."
Akainu turned, his eyes filled with clear hostility.
"They are both troublesome, but that Shirogai is the worst."
His voice hardened further.
"If not for his existence, the state of the world would not have deteriorated like this. Without the Marines maintaining order, the world would have already been thrown into chaos by him and turned into his playground."
Kizaru stood up slowly, stretching his back with exaggerated effort.
"Oh my, the more this old man deals with Shirogai, the more frightening he becomes. If he decided to attack Mary Geoise directly, I doubt anyone could stop him."
Akainu glanced at him without expression.
There was something unusual in Borsalino's tone. It carried a faint sense of resignation, almost like regret.
"Oh, right."
Kizaru suddenly looked up as if recalling something.
"Was it really a good idea to hand Zefa sensei over to Navy General Cero? That young man is quite impulsive and has never dealt with Zefa sensei before. If something goes wrong..."
Akainu raised his hand, cutting him off.
"Zephyr is no longer one of us. The moment he attempted to destroy the seas of the New World, he became an enemy. His past contributions do not erase his current crimes."
His voice remained steady, but carried absolute finality.
"The Marines cannot stand by. If the magma storage area were destroyed using the Explosive Rock, the entire New World would fall into irreversible chaos. You understand that very well."
Kizaru gave a small shrug and sat back down, letting out a quiet sigh.
"Ah… Zefa sensei has truly lost his way. Still, I thought the World Government might try persuasion first. I did not expect them to immediately choose elimination."
Akainu remained unmoved.
"For anyone who threatens the peace of the world, the Marines will respond with full force. No exceptions."
Kizaru leaned back, a faint mocking smile forming on his lips.
"Destroying the world, how terrifying."
He closed his eyes again, crossing his legs as if the matter no longer concerned him.
…
Shanks took a bite of meat, chewing slowly before speaking.
"After arriving at Elbaf earlier, I realized something troubling. The true spirit of Elbaf has already been quietly destroyed."
His tone was heavy.
"The current Elbaf is not the one that could once stand against the world. The giants still have their strength, but something essential is missing. Their core has been altered, stripped away without them even realizing it."
He exhaled lightly.
"They are no longer what they used to be."
Shirogai stopped spinning his blade. With a casual motion, he reached toward the bonfire beside him and grasped it.
The flames vanished instantly, as if they had never existed.
"That was inevitable," he said calmly.
"He has had his eyes on Elbaf for a long time. Controlling the giants would bring him closer to his goal."
Shirogai's expression remained indifferent, his tone steady.
"But this is still Elbaf. Even if the process began long ago, the changes have already gone beyond his control."
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