Two Days Later
"Look… if we run into him, don't even think about fighting — just focus on figuring out how to retreat safely. I really don't want to tangle with a monster like that. Anyway, make sure your Den Den Mushi are ready. Honestly… why give this mission to me? Wouldn't it be better to send someone hot‑blooded like Akainu?!"
Kuzan led his fleet ashore at Orbedia, grumbling non‑stop as he walked toward the city center.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan… we haven't even engaged yet. Is it really a good idea to lower morale like this?" His aide followed with a pained expression.
"Ah… you weren't there the last time we fought him. That's why you can say things like that…" Kuzan replied, looking completely drained and lifeless.
Suddenly, Kuzan stopped in his tracks. His lazy, lethargic expression vanished, replaced by deep seriousness.
The troops behind him halted instantly as well.
"S‑Sir? Is something wrong?" the aide asked nervously.
"Such… such a thick smell of blood…"
Kuzan hurried forward into the city. Oddly enough, he hadn't seen any bodies along the way, yet the scent of blood in the air was so heavy it made him frown deeply.
When they entered the once‑prosperous metropolis, the sight before them left them stunned.
Kuzan had told himself he wouldn't be surprised no matter what hellish scene he encountered; he had witnessed such things more than once.
But this… this was completely different. Because this time, it was an empty city.
How to describe it…?
It looked as though it had suffered through a horrific war. Buildings were shattered, streetlamps twisted and bent, glass crunched underfoot, houses collapsed into rubble.
Yet amidst all this ruin, there wasn't a single living soul to be found… nor even a corpse.
If the streets had flowed with rivers of blood and been piled high with bodies, it wouldn't have fazed a seasoned Marine like Kuzan.
But a city so silent and dead that not a sound could be heard… this sight sent chills crawling up his spine.
"I‑Investigate…"
Kuzan spoke with difficulty, his voice cracking. The aide didn't catch it clearly at first.
Suddenly, Kuzan shouted, his voice rising several octaves, completely shedding his usual lazy tone: "Search the area! Find survivors!"
"Aye aye, Sir!"
The Marines spread out quickly to search the city. But there was no one left. Only occasional puddles of dried blood marked what had happened.
"Damn it… I'm too late…"
Kuzan stood alone, then sat down on the broken remains of a building. He pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"First… I need to report this to Headquarters. The nearest kingdom from here should be… Ragna, right?"
Just thinking about it made goosebumps rise all over Kuzan's body.
"I remember Sakazuki is patrolling those waters right now… I really hope he doesn't get too carried away and try to fight…"
Unfortunately, the more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen.
The moment Kuzan finished his report, Headquarters immediately forwarded all the details to Sakazuki.
Since Sakazuki was currently patrolling near the Kingdom of Ragna, logic dictated that after leaving Orbedia, Grimm's next target would definitely be the closest neighboring nation.
"Retreat? How could I possibly do that?!"
In the waters off Ragna, Sakazuki gripped the receiver, his tone filled with intense displeasure.
"When dealing with pirates, the only correct response is to crush them utterly and wipe them out! That is the only way to prevent future trouble!"
A murderous gleam shone in his eyes from beneath his cap. "I will handle him myself!"
When the line went dead, the civil servant at Headquarters let out a long sigh of helplessness. He turned to another officer and said, "I'm out of ideas. You go ask Fleet Admiral Kong to talk some sense into him."
Sakazuki's methods against pirates were always extreme… but the problem here was who he wanted to fight.
He thought he was going to wipe out Grimm… but who exactly would be wiping out whom was debatable.
Yet he was stubborn and refused to listen, so the only choice was to report to higher authority.
"I AGREE!"
"I DISAGREE!"
Two completely opposing voices echoed from two different Marine warships in separate parts of the New World.
The speakers were none other than Sakazuki and Zephyr.
They were responding to a strategic proposal just issued by the World Government's high command:
> Abandon the eleven smaller kingdoms formerly ruled by Grimm, including Ragna. Concentrate all military strength at the large nation of Altdimir.
Based on Kuzan's intelligence, after finishing his "revenge" in Orbedia, Grimm's next logical target — based purely on geography — was Ragna… exactly the nation Sakazuki was currently patrolling.
However, both the Marines and the Government knew perfectly well that Sakazuki alone was no match for Grimm. They couldn't afford to send their future Admiral to die for nothing.
Coincidentally, during this period, Zephyr was leading the New Marines through combat training exercises in the New World.
His fleet was positioned very close to Altdimir — another nation formerly under Grimm's control.
So the Government proposed a plan:
> "Abandon Ragna. Have Sakazuki withdraw and rendezvous with Zephyr at Altdimir. Defend that position and wait for Grimm to come to us."
Rather than Sakazuki facing the danger alone, having Zephyr join him would undoubtedly increase their chances of victory.
According to intelligence reports, Grimm's subordinates remained at his main bases and strongholds; their only apparent mission was to protect the nobility and wealthy merchants from being slaughtered.
When Headquarters relayed this strategy to Zephyr and Sakazuki, the master and pupil gave completely opposite answers.
Zephyr was against it. Sakazuki was in favor.
While Sakazuki was known for his extreme stance against pirates, he was also highly intelligent.
Plus, since this plan improved his odds of winning, why not accept it? He agreed immediately.
Back at Ohara, he had ordered the destruction of refugee ships just to eliminate a potential threat — human lives meant absolutely nothing to him.
On the other hand, Zephyr — known as the "Admiral Who Does Not Kill" — could never agree to abandoning the royalty and citizens of entire nations just to gain a tactical advantage against pirates.
And so, a conflict arose between the former Admiral and the Admiral‑in‑waiting.
However, what the Marines didn't know was this: the citizens of all twelve nations were already being secretly evacuated and relocated through teleportation portals built inside the churches of every city.
All Grimm intended to do was execute the traitors — those who had betrayed him and refused to place their faith in the Holy Light.
He had given them chances; they hadn't valued them. Now, the only destination left for them was hell. And perfectly timed too… the Great C'Thun needed souls to construct Naxxramas.
Shortly after Sakazuki agreed to the strategy of "sacrificing the pawn to save the king" and hung up the phone, an aide hurried over with a report.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki! Reports from the troops stationed inside Ragna: they have spotted Grimm's ship landing on the island's shore! They are requesting immediate reinforcements!"
Sakazuki stared at the aide for a moment, then spoke calmly: "Tell them to retreat and fall back."
"E‑Excuse me?" The aide froze in confusion. "Vice Admiral Sakazuki… you mean… not send support?"
"What support is there to send? The plan is clear: we are abandoning this nation. Turn the ship around. Set course for Altdimir."
Sakazuki's answer confirmed exactly what he had decided earlier.
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