Inside Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku rubbed his temples in frustration.
After his previous attempts failed, he had no other choice but to try another approach.
With a sigh, he picked up the Den Den Mushi once again.
This time, he dialed the number belonging to Admiral Kuzan.
After all, the matter involved a Celestial Dragon.
Anything related to the Celestial Dragons was considered extremely sensitive.
The Den Den Mushi rang briefly before finally being answered.
"Fleet Admiral, I'm a little busy capturing the Red-Haired Pirates right now."
"If there's something important, we'll talk later."
Kuzan's voice sounded hurried.
Before Sengoku could even respond
Click.
The line went dead.
Clearly the Admiral was currently engaged in battle.
Far away on the seas of the Grand Line, Kuzan stood atop a frozen ocean surface.
Opposite him stood the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates.
Shanks.
"Hey now, Admiral," Shanks laughed casually.
"If you've got business, maybe you should go handle it."
Despite Kuzan's powerful Ice-Ice Fruit, Shanks showed no signs of concern.
His dream had always been clear.
He would follow the path left behind by the Pirate King.
One day he would inherit that will.
And he would not allow anyone to stop him here in the first half of the Grand Line.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Shanks."
Kuzan's tone grew colder.
"This time I won't let you enter the New World so easily."
If Shanks returned to the New World again, the fragile balance of power could collapse.
Another major reshuffling among the pirates might occur.
And that chaos could easily give birth to a new Emperor of the Sea.
Back at Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku slowly placed the silent Den Den Mushi back on the desk.
He closed his eyes briefly.
He simply wanted a moment of quiet.
Seeing his exhausted expression, Tsuru spoke calmly.
"Sengoku… why don't you contact that boy Borsalino?"
She already understood the situation.
If someone like Dracule Mihawk appeared, only an Admiral could properly handle the situation.
Sending anyone weaker would be meaningless.
Akainu was too far away.
Only Kuzan and Borsalino could possibly reach East Blue quickly.
After a moment of thought, Sengoku nodded.
He picked up the Den Den Mushi again.
The call connected quickly.
"Hello? Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
Borsalino's lazy voice sounded through the snail.
"Borsalino."
"I need you to travel to Loguetown immediately."
"You must ensure the safety of Marine Commodore Saint Roselith Seraphina."
There was a brief pause.
"Seraphina…?"
Behind his orange sunglasses, a strange glint flashed in Borsalino's eyes.
"Understood."
"I'll handle it."
Sengoku blinked in surprise.
Kizaru had agreed unusually quickly.
That alone made Sengoku slightly suspicious.
Still
At least the problem now had a possible solution.
Tsuru placed several documents on Sengoku's desk.
"Actually, I came here today to report something important."
The documents contained a list compiled by Bruce.
They were records of pirates recently captured in East Blue.
Sengoku began reading.
His expression slowly grew serious.
"Most of these pirates…"
"They're from the Grand Line."
Tsuru nodded.
"The East Blue has been becoming increasingly unstable."
"These pirates are ambitious individuals hoping to gain fame overnight."
"Sengoku… do you understand what that means?"
He did.
Seraphina had unknowingly become a symbol.
A Marine officer rumored to have forced Shanks to retreat.
Such a reputation attracted attention.
Attention from dangerous people.
"Saint Roselith Seraphina has become like a magnet," Tsuru explained calmly.
"She attracts ambitious pirates."
"If this continues, East Blue will become a battlefield."
"And the civilians will suffer first."
She paused briefly.
"Right now it's only Mihawk."
"But if Shanks' reputation continues to grow…"
"Even more monsters may appear."
Tsuru looked directly at Sengoku.
"Our priority must always be the safety of civilians."
Sengoku sighed deeply.
He already understood.
Keeping Seraphina stationed in East Blue was no longer wise.
Otherwise the entire sea would become a vortex of conflict.
And the first target would inevitably be the strongest Marine officer stationed there.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
"The World Conference is approaching," Tsuru added.
"If Seraphina returns to Marine Headquarters…"
"She could help oversee the defense of Mary Geoise and Pangaea Castle."
"As a Celestial Dragon herself, she could also serve as a bridge between the Marines and the World Government."
That point was extremely important.
The political balance between the Marines and the World Government was delicate.
Having someone like Seraphina present during the conference could stabilize that relationship.
More importantly
The situation in East Blue was becoming dangerous.
If matters escalated further, they might even have to deploy Monkey D. Garp there permanently.
But if Garp left the Grand Line for too long, the New World would become difficult to control.
And three powerful Emperors already waited there for an opportunity.
They had to act quickly.
After a long silence
Sengoku finally nodded.
"Very well."
"We'll proceed with that plan."
The Next MorningThe sun slowly rose above the sea.
Golden light spread across the ocean horizon.
A massive silhouette appeared beneath the glowing sun.
Standing on the harbor pier of Loguetown, Dracule Mihawk looked toward the distant sea.
"Finally…"
His hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly.
From afar, it almost looked like an island moving across the ocean.
But as the shape approached, Mihawk understood the truth.
It was not an island.
It was a gigantic sea beast.
Standing calmly atop the creature's back
Was Saint Roselith Seraphina.
At the same moment she noticed him as well.
Mihawk's golden eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
His black hat cast a shadow across his face.
Behind him rested the enormous black blade Yoru.
The strongest sword in the world.
Seraphina stepped forward calmly.
"Dracule Mihawk."
"At last."
She had been looking forward to this meeting during the entire journey.
Among swordsmen
This kind of encounter was inevitable.
"Mihawk?"
"Seraphina?"
The two spoke almost simultaneously.
No further introduction was necessary.
A single glance was enough.
Both immediately recognized the truth.
The person standing before them
Was a true swordsman.
Mihawk slowly drew the legendary black blade Yoru.
Seraphina responded by unsheathing her sword.
Bruce stood nearby, silently observing the situation.
Although Seraphina had brought him along as support, Bruce clearly understood one thing.
This battle was not meant for interference.
Still, he remained ready.
As a former CP0 genius, he could at least hold the line if necessary.
Seraphina had once believed that the Seven Warlords of the Sea were only as strong as Boa Hancock.
After all, she and Hancock had been childhood friends.
They had even sparred playfully many times.
Yet seeing Mihawk now
She realized how wrong that assumption had been.
If every Warlord possessed strength like this…
Then Hancock had certainly grown stronger as well.
The thought made Seraphina both proud and serious.
"Bruce."
She spoke calmly.
"Wait here."
Bruce nodded without hesitation.
From the moment he chose to follow her
He had already accepted the possibility of dying in battle.
The two swordsmen stepped forward.
Neither showed the slightest carelessness.
Both released their Observation Haki, extending their senses to the limit.
The air grew heavy.
Silent.
Then
Mihawk swung his blade.
A massive emerald slash tore through the air.
Seraphina's sword flashed like winter lightning.
An ice-laden slash collided with Mihawk's attack.
The sea trembled.
And the duel
Had finally begun.