"In that case, I happen to have an important matter for you to handle in the New World."
Sengoku's expression became slightly more serious.
He had originally intended to discuss the matter with Seraphina after she arrived in the New World, but since she was already standing before him and had practically demanded an assignment, there was no reason to delay.
The situation surrounding Donquixote Doflamingo needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later.
"Anything is fine," Saint Roselith Seraphina said, nodding without hesitation.
As long as she could enter the New World with a few reasonably capable Marines at her side, she was confident that very few situations could force her into retreat.
The New World was dangerous.
But danger was relative.
For ordinary Marines, entering the territories controlled by powerful pirates could mean death.
For a Vice Admiral of Seraphina's caliber, however, the situation was completely different.
If she wanted to establish a foothold somewhere, there were very few people who could simply drive her away.
Sengoku opened one of the drawers in his desk and removed a sealed intelligence folder.
He placed it in front of Seraphina.
"This is the same Spark Rock you discovered aboard that cruise ship previously."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed when she saw the familiar material.
Sengoku continued, "We've received reliable intelligence from our informants that Doflamingo is secretly investigating ways to manufacture it."
Seraphina opened the folder and quickly scanned the information inside.
The reports contained intelligence gathered by the Marines over an extended period.
There were records of suspicious shipments, underworld transactions, movements involving Doflamingo's organization, and information suggesting that a scientist named Caesar had taken refuge under the protection of the Donquixote Family.
Seraphina's expression gradually became colder.
"Understood."
She closed the folder.
"Then I'll capture Doflamingo and bring him to Impel Down."
Sengoku's face immediately stiffened.
"No."
Seraphina looked at him.
"What?"
"I said that's not what I meant."
Sengoku sighed.
"The primary target is Caesar."
"Caesar?"
Seraphina repeated the name, clearly unfamiliar with it.
"Yes."
Sengoku pointed toward the intelligence file.
"Caesar Clown."
"Doflamingo isn't our immediate objective. Caesar is the key to understanding the research surrounding Spark Rock."
Seraphina frowned.
"Who exactly is he?"
Sengoku leaned back in his chair.
"Caesar Clown is a former scientist whose research has been connected to extremely dangerous weapons and experiments."
"He is a highly intelligent scientist, but his methods are completely unacceptable."
"He was once associated with the World Government's scientific research circles, but after his actions became too dangerous to tolerate, he eventually went his own way."
"Now he's working under Doflamingo's protection."
Sengoku's expression darkened.
"His research is the reason we are concerned."
Seraphina nodded slowly.
"So Caesar is the scientist."
"Exactly."
"Then I'll capture Caesar and bring him back to Marine Headquarters."
She paused.
"After that, I'll capture Doflamingo and send him to Impel Down."
Sengoku immediately shook his head.
"Let's not arrest Doflamingo."
Seraphina stared at him.
"Why?"
Sengoku hesitated.
For the first time, he felt that having someone with Seraphina's status could be convenient.
She was a Celestial Dragon.
A member of the Saint family.
A person whose actions carried political consequences that ordinary Marines could never afford to ignore.
But that same status also made her extraordinarily difficult to deal with.
"You should know that Doflamingo used to be…"
"So what?"
Seraphina interrupted him.
"That's his past."
Her expression remained indifferent.
"Doflamingo is a former Celestial Dragon. That doesn't make him immune to the law."
Sengoku stared at her.
Seraphina continued calmly.
"If he commits crimes, I'll deal with him according to those crimes."
"I don't care whether he was born a Celestial Dragon or not."
Sengoku couldn't help but sigh internally.
That was exactly what made Seraphina so troublesome.
She didn't treat her own status as something sacred.
She didn't expect other people to kneel before her simply because she had been born into the World Nobles.
And she certainly wasn't going to overlook a pirate's crimes simply because that pirate happened to share her bloodline's former status.
"Doflamingo isn't simply another pirate," Sengoku said.
"He has connections throughout the underworld."
"He's also involved with forces that make direct action against him considerably more complicated."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
"This guy knows something important, doesn't he?"
Sengoku was silent for a moment.
He had been trying to explain the situation without saying too much.
But Seraphina had immediately noticed the implication.
"There are reasons the World Government has been reluctant to move against him," Sengoku admitted.
"His former status as a Celestial Dragon is one of them, but it isn't the only reason."
"Doflamingo has built an extensive network in the underworld."
"He has influence, information, and connections with powerful organizations."
"He is also dangerous in his own right."
Seraphina's expression became thoughtful.
"So he's troublesome."
"Very."
"How strong is he?"
Sengoku's gaze became serious.
"Strong enough that you shouldn't underestimate him."
"He's a Devil Fruit user and a dangerous fighter. More importantly, he's intelligent and extremely ruthless."
Seraphina closed the folder.
"Then I'll decide what to do when I meet him."
She had no intention of arguing with Sengoku any longer.
Her objective was simple.
Enter the New World.
Find Caesar Clown.
Bring him back to Marine Headquarters.
As for Doflamingo, she would determine the appropriate course of action after learning the actual situation.
"Since that's settled, I'll take the mission."
Seraphina stood.
Sengoku nodded.
"Then go."
His words carried little ceremony.
He knew that once Seraphina had made up her mind, there was no point trying to hold her back.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Seraphina turned and walked toward the door.
She had already spent too much time in Sengoku's office.
The atmosphere of Marine Headquarters was beginning to make her uncomfortable.
Too many old veterans.
Too many experienced officers.
Too many people who could look at her once and immediately begin calculating the political consequences of her actions.
Seraphina sometimes felt that Sengoku's office was less like a Marine commander's office and more like a den filled with old foxes.
Every conversation required patience.
Every sentence had several meanings.
And every decision seemed to involve ten different political considerations.
She preferred the battlefield.
At least there, an enemy usually had the courtesy to point a weapon at her.
Once outside the office, Bruce was already waiting.
He immediately noticed the change in Seraphina's expression.
"Your Highness?"
Seraphina handed him the document.
"This is the official authorization."
Bruce accepted it and glanced over the contents.
"We have permission to enter the New World?"
"Not only that."
Seraphina smiled.
"This time, we're going to pass through Mariejois openly and legally."
Bruce's eyes widened slightly.
"Understood."
Seraphina's mood improved considerably.
She remembered the previous occasion when she had entered the New World through Fish-Man Island.
At the time, she had been considerably more cautious.
She had avoided drawing unnecessary attention and had treated the journey with far greater restraint.
Thinking about it now, she felt a nameless irritation rising in her chest.
Seraphina hated timidity.
If there was a problem, she preferred to confront it directly.
Why waste time talking when a problem could simply be solved?
Of course, she understood that not every situation could be resolved through violence.
She was a Marine.
She couldn't simply cut down everyone who irritated her.
And her position as a Celestial Dragon made every reckless action even more dangerous politically.
Still, if she hadn't possessed the ability to perceive people's intentions so accurately, there were several occasions when she might have started a fight before the other side had even finished speaking.
"Understood," Bruce said again.
Before Seraphina could continue, a small voice came from behind them.
"Sister Seraphina."
Luna stepped forward, looking up at her with innocent curiosity.
"What kind of place is the New World?"
The little girl lightly bit her finger as she asked the question.
Since Luna had joined them, Hina had become considerably more indulgent toward her.
For reasons known only to Hina, Luna's presence seemed to awaken an unusually gentle side of her.
She would allow Luna to eat almost anything she wanted and rarely scolded her.
Hina crossed her arms and answered in an exaggeratedly frightening voice.
"Little Luna, the New World is a place that eats children."
Luna froze.
Her eyes widened.
"The New World eats children?"
"Yes."
Hina nodded solemnly.
"It waits until nightfall, then giant monsters come out of the sea and eat troublesome little girls."
Luna's face immediately turned pale.
"W-Wait!"
She looked around the warship.
There were Marines everywhere.
But she suddenly felt as though none of them could protect her from the terrifying monsters Hina had described.
"Will they really eat children?!"
Luna's eyes quickly filled with tears.
"Then Luna doesn't want to go!"
She was the only small child aboard the warship.
If monsters really ate children in the New World, wouldn't she be the first target?
Hina couldn't hold back her laughter any longer.
"Just kidding!"
She reached down and gently ruffled Luna's hair.
"There's no such thing as a monster that eats children."
Luna puffed out her cheeks.
"Hina is bad!"
"Sorry, sorry."
Hina smiled.
"But Little Luna, are you really sure you don't want to go?"
She leaned closer.
"I heard there are legendary islands in the New World with incredible food."
Luna's expression immediately changed.
"Food?"
"That's right."
"Some travelers' books describe islands famous for producing extraordinary delicacies."
Hina's eyes gleamed mischievously.
"And apparently, there are even places where sweets and cakes are famous throughout the surrounding seas."
Luna stared at her.
"Cakes?"
"Lots of them."
Luna's fear began to disappear.
Hina wasn't lying.
She had read about such places in books and travel records.
The New World contained countless strange islands, each with its own climate, culture, and specialty.
Some were terrifying.
Some were dangerous.
And some were famous for food that couldn't be found anywhere else.
Luna lowered her head and thought carefully.
After several seconds, she raised her little fist.
"Then…"
She paused.
"Then Luna should go anyway."
Hina smiled.
"That's my girl."
"If there is delicious food, Luna isn't afraid of monsters!"
Luna nodded seriously.
"As long as Luna can eat something delicious, Luna can fight the monster!"
Seraphina watched the exchange from nearby and couldn't help but smile.
"Don't worry, Luna."
She gently placed a hand on the girl's head.
"If anything dangerous appears, I'll deal with it."
"Really?"
"Really."
Luna immediately relaxed.
With Seraphina protecting her, the terrifying New World didn't seem quite so frightening anymore.
Meanwhile, another Marine officer had already received his own assignment.
Because the Marines were facing a severe shortage of manpower due to the escalating conflicts across the seas, Hina had volunteered to accompany Seraphina's warship.
Rather than treating the vessel as an ordinary Marine ship, the two forces were being organized into a small fleet capable of operating independently in the New World.
Smoker, however, would not be joining Seraphina.
Instead, she had ordered him to proceed to Alabasta.
The situation surrounding the Alabasta Naval Academy was approaching a critical stage, and additional Marine strength was needed to secure the region.
Smoker's personality made him particularly suitable for the assignment.
He hated pirates.
He hated corruption.
And he certainly wasn't afraid to challenge people who abused their authority.
As for Momousagi, she was under considerable pressure as well.
The rapid expansion of pirate activity had caused the Marines to spread their forces across multiple fronts.
She had barely managed to catch a glimpse of Ace during the recent events before other urgent matters demanded her attention.
There simply wasn't enough time.
The New World was already becoming a battlefield where every powerful Marine officer was being pulled in several different directions.
And now, Saint Roselith Seraphina was preparing to enter that sea as well.
…
"Doflamingo, that guy has been hanging around here lately. When is this going to end?"
"Yeah, the family's business has already become difficult enough."
"Having a Marine Admiral constantly appearing around our territory is putting everyone on edge."
Inside the Donquixote Family's base, several executives were discussing the troublesome situation.
Doflamingo sat comfortably on a sofa, his legs crossed.
His expression was calm.
He wore his familiar sunglasses, making it difficult to determine exactly what he was thinking.
"A Marine Admiral hanging around our doorstep would make anyone nervous," one of the executives said.
"But…"
"Enough."
Doflamingo's voice immediately silenced the room.
"No buts."
He leaned back against the sofa.
"Do you intend to question my decision?"
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
The executive who had spoken earlier lowered his head.
"I'm very sorry, Young Master."
Doflamingo didn't attack him.
After all, the man's concern wasn't completely unreasonable.
Everyone in the Donquixote Family knew how terrifying a Marine Admiral could be.
An Admiral was one of the strongest combatants in the Marines.
Someone capable of confronting the most powerful pirates in the world.
A person whose presence alone could change the balance of an entire battlefield.
And now Kuzan was lingering around their sphere of influence.
That naturally made everyone nervous.
"You should still show some respect to the Marine Admirals," another executive said cautiously.
"You don't understand how terrifying their strength is."
"They are monsters in human form."
Doflamingo's smile didn't disappear.
"I know."
His voice was relaxed.
"But sometimes, knowing when to endure is also a quality of the strong."
"Not every problem needs to be solved by immediately drawing a weapon."
The executives exchanged glances.
Doflamingo wasn't wrong.
He understood Kuzan's strength.
Perhaps not completely, but enough.
A Marine Admiral wasn't someone Doflamingo could casually provoke.
At his current level, he had no intention of fighting an Admiral without a compelling reason.
He knew very well what the consequences could be.
That was why he had been making arrangements behind the scenes.
He had already contacted the necessary people.
He believed that sooner or later, Mariejois would give him an answer.
Once that happened, the situation surrounding Kuzan would naturally be resolved.
"As expected of Doflamingo," one of the Donquixote Family executives said with admiration.
"You always know how to adapt to the situation."
Doflamingo's smile widened.
"Fufufu…"
"Survival isn't about being the strongest all the time."
"It's about knowing when to fight…"
"And when to wait."
No one in the room noticed the significance of those words.
Because while Doflamingo was waiting for an answer from above, another force was already moving toward the New World.
Saint Roselith Seraphina had received her orders.
Caesar Clown was her target.
And somewhere beyond the Red Line, the path to the New World was waiting.