"Is the intelligence accurate?"
The den den mushi widened its eyes nervously as it confirmed once again.
"Accurate."
X Drake spoke in a deep voice.
"I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. The Plunderer Shirogai declared in front of everyone that he intends to lead the Supernovas and destroy the Holy Land Mary Geoise."
"The sky is falling! Hurry and notify them immediately..."
Panicked voices erupted from the other end of the den den mushi. Orders were shouted one after another, accompanied by the ringing of other den den mushi and hurried footsteps echoing through the background.
Then, silence fell.
A tense silence.
"Clatter..."
After an unknown amount of time, a doubtful voice finally came through the den den mushi.
"Drake, you received an invitation from The Plunderer Shirogai yesterday, and your entire ship was transported to Pilgrim Island last night. Why didn't you report this sooner?"
X Drake remained silent for a moment before replying calmly.
"I wasn't certain whether the invitation had surveillance capabilities. I acted cautiously. Only after confirming their target did I risk contacting you."
The den den mushi's expression turned grim.
"The higher ups of the World Government are already suspicious of you because of this. Once this incident ends, you will undergo investigation and questioning."
X Drake's expression did not change in the slightest.
"We'll discuss that later."
"..."
"I'm still unsure how they plan to reach Mary Geoise, but if Shirogai is personally leading this war, then they will reach the Red Line soon enough."
Drake leaned against the wall. His breathing was slightly uneven as he remained alert to every sound around him, yet his face stayed calm and composed.
"After I send this information to you, I don't know whether I've already been exposed. That man is The God King Shirogai. With Observation Haki at his level, locking onto my position instantly would be completely normal. If he launches an attack right now, I wouldn't be surprised."
The "fallen" Marine let out a quiet sigh as he looked up at the unusually clear sky above the island. Warm sunlight shone down peacefully, yet his heart felt frozen.
"Ever since I stepped onto this island, my Observation Haki has completely failed. No... perhaps it has been warning me the entire time. Warning me to run. As if the next second could become my last."
Even while speaking about death, X Drake's voice remained steady.
"If my voice disappears in the next second, then assume I've been killed. End the call immediately."
"..."
The person on the other end spoke hoarsely.
"Thank you for your service. If you die because of this mission, the organization will remember your contribution."
X Drake lowered his eyes slightly.
"My death doesn't matter. The Marines and the World Government need to prepare immediately. What looks like an attack on the Celestial Dragons could escalate into a global war at any moment."
"Rest assured. The World Government is already prepared, and the Marines have begun mobilizing. He has already lost the initiative. It is too late for him now. We will never allow him to reach Mary Geoise. They will be eliminated before that happens."
The den den mushi frowned in confusion.
"Hasn't Admiral Cero already arrived at Pilgrim Island? Why hasn't he made a move? Marine Headquarters has completely lost contact with him."
"I don't know."
Drake shook his head.
"From beginning to end, I haven't seen any trace of Admiral Cero."
After a brief pause, he took a slow breath.
"Should I attempt to stall them?"
"You?"
The den den mushi fell silent briefly before rejecting the idea.
"I'm sorry, but no matter what you do, it won't buy any meaningful time. Besides, infiltrating Shirogai's inner circle wasn't easy. Throwing your life away now would be a meaningless sacrifice."
"Captain of SWORD, continue your undercover mission. Unless absolutely necessary, do not expose your identity."
"I won't carry the den den mushi with me. It'll be discovered."
X Drake hid the den den mushi carefully within a dark corner before straightening his posture.
His back stood firm like a drawn blade.
He raised his hand and adjusted his outfit meticulously.
Although he no longer wore a Marine uniform, choosing instead the attire of a pirate, the habit of fixing his appearance remained. It was one of the few things proving that Drake still considered himself a soldier rather than a pirate.
Once finished, Drake looked toward the hidden den den mushi and spoke calmly.
"Understood. I'm leaving."
X Drake grabbed the four bladed axe resting nearby and walked firmly toward the gathering point of the Supernovas and Shirogai.
Like a lone warrior marching toward death without regret.
"..."
A long while later, the den den mushi hidden in the darkness quietly muttered:
"Stay safe."
Click.
...
...
"Before the World Council even begins, The Plunderer Shirogai is already making a move against Mary Geoise?!"
"Has he lost his mind!?"
The explosive intelligence instantly threw the entirety of Marineford into chaos.
"Send the orders immediately, your division moves out now!"
"Ignore all pirate pursuits! Forget the others! The Marine's highest priority is protecting the Celestial Dragons!"
The den den mushi relaying orders was drenched in sweat as it shouted itself hoarse.
"All troops mobilize immediately! Seal every route leading to Mary Geoise! No matter what happens, do not allow those reckless pirates to enter the Holy Land!"
Bang!
The loud crash of a door slamming open silenced the frantic command room.
"Cancel every blockade immediately. Change the objective."
Fleet Admiral Sakazuki strode into the room with heavy steps.
Da. Da. Da.
His expression was terrifyingly dark. His eyes burned like flowing magma as they swept across the anxious Marines.
His voice rumbled like an erupting volcano.
"Those damn pirates... have already reached Mary Geoise."
"What?!"
The Marine officers instantly turned pale.
"That's impossible!"
"We sealed every route immediately!"
"Did they fly there!?"
Fleet Admiral Sakazuki glared at them furiously before laughing in rage.
"Congratulations. You guessed correctly."
"What?!"
The officers stood frozen in disbelief.
Boom!!!
"That bastard Shirogai used the entire Pilgrim Island as a ship and crossed the Red Line through the sky itself!"
Sakazuki slammed his magma covered fist onto the table, instantly reducing it to molten ash.
"What the hell has the intelligence department been doing!? They didn't even discover when Shirogai met Golden Lion Shiki and obtained the power of the Float Float Fruit!?"
...
Above Mary Geoise, a massive floating island blocked out the heavens themselves.
Pilgrim Island hovered above the Holy Land like a descending catastrophe.
Then, an excited voice echoed across the sky.
"Third Form..."
Boom!!!
A gigantic foot descended from the heavens and crushed the gates of Mary Geoise into rubble.
"Gomu Gomu no... Gigant Axe!!!"