At this moment, Fleet Admiral Sengoku finally realized what had happened. Someone must have snatched Yahn's Den Den Mushi. His voice carried the weight of absolute authority as he demanded:
"This is the Fleet Admiral speaking. Who are you, and where is Lieutenant Yahn?"
"Still pretending to be Fleet Admiral Sengoku, huh? Heh… Sengoku…"
The burly navy captain's voice faltered. All at once, he realized… it might actually be possible.
"Th–this…"
His hand began to tremble uncontrollably as he barked, his voice now laced with panic:
"Do you know the crime of impersonating the Fleet Admiral?! Believe it or not, I'll contact Rear Admiral Camillo this instant and have you arrested!"
"Rear Admiral Camillo?"
Sengoku paused, then called toward the office door:
"Go. Fetch Rear Admiral Camillo, who should be on duty downstairs."
"???"
The burly captain froze.
In that instant, cold dread washed over him. His face drained of color, his lips quivered…
He suddenly felt as if he were drunk, his legs unsteady, and his first instinct was to shove the cursed Den Den Mushi back into Yahn's hands.
But Yahn merely waved him off.
"You seem to like holding onto it, so keep it. I was just wondering how to answer this old man. You're doing me a favor."
Gulp.
Around them, the seven other North Blue naval officers, who had been silently watching, all swallowed hard at the same time.
Moments later, just as the burly captain stood frozen in despair, the voice from the other end of the line continued:
"Rear Admiral Camillo, reporting in."
"Good. Rear Admiral, confirm the identity of the man on this line. He seems to know you."
And then, a familiar voice rang out.
"This is Rear Admiral Camillo. Who's speaking?"
"B–brother… it's me…" the captain whimpered, nearly in tears.
"?!"
Camillo blinked in shock.
That idiot from North Blue?! And Sengoku himself had asked him to confirm his identity?
Instantly realizing this was a disaster, Camillo coughed and quickly deflected.
"I haven't been anyone's brother for years. You must have the wrong man."
After a pause, he added smoothly:
"Oh… I remember that voice now. You're that distant hometown acquaintance I haven't seen in years, right? We're not exactly close."
Sengoku shot Camillo a sharp look, then spoke curtly.
"Enough. Rear Admiral Camillo, return to your duties. Hand me the Den Den Mushi."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
The vice admiral's voice boomed from the snail, echoing across the warship's deck.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
The words crushed the last remnants of hope inside the captain.
The gathered North Blue naval officers, horrified, began to piece together the truth.
With Camillo's confirmation, there was no longer any doubt. The man on the other end of the line was none other than the highest authority in the entire navy—Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
But that wasn't even the most terrifying part.
The most terrifying part was what Yahn had just called him.
Old man?!
In that instant, they all understood what the two characters—"Buddha"—on Yahn's cloak truly meant.
Their hearts churned like seas stirred by countless Sea Kings.
"Why didn't anyone tell us Fleet Admiral Sengoku's son was visiting North Blue?!"
Sengoku himself, now faintly aware of what had transpired, spoke firmly into the line.
"Brat, you can hear me, can't you? Stop fooling around. What exactly is happening over there?"
Yahn glanced at the captain, who was still holding the Den Den Mushi like an offering, and replied casually without taking it.
"Nothing much, old man. I'd just arrived in North Blue when the local navy blocked me off, threatened to fire cannons at me, and tried to cover it up as a routine sea disaster."
He added with a faint smile:
"They even claimed they had Rear Admiral Camillo backing them at headquarters. Said he'd smooth everything over and shoulder the responsibility."
Thud.
On the other end, Rear Admiral Camillo's knees buckled. He collapsed to the floor of Sengoku's office before he could even leave.
"Very well. Since you've already begun your duties, carry on."
Sengoku's words were simple and direct. He hung up immediately and barked an order:
"Men, take Rear Admiral Camillo away. Search his residence as well."
"Yes, sir!"
Several marines quickly dragged the pale-faced Camillo away.
Sengoku leaned forward on his desk, fingers steepled beneath his chin, sinking deep into thought.
For branch marines to dare plot against a headquarters inspector, even going so far as to attempt murder and disguise it as an accident at sea?
Clearly, Yahn wasn't joking. He was warning Sengoku just how rotten North Blue's navy had become.
Worse still… some branch officers might even be colluding with headquarters officers.
"It seems Yahn and Kuzan were right. The navy's oversight of the Four Seas has gaping flaws. The branches are slowly becoming their own power blocs."
Sengoku muttered, then grabbed a file and began adding these findings.
Meanwhile, on deck, Yahn gave Ensign Hope a signal. Hope smoothly retrieved the Den Den Mushi from the trembling captain's hands.
Then, with a wave, he ordered two marines forward to arrest the captaim and prepare him for transfer to Enies Lobby.
But just as they moved in, the captain, his face ghostly pale, suddenly roared.
With explosive strength, he lunged forward, massive fists like iron cauldrons swinging straight at Yahn.
"So what if you're Sengoku's son? This is North Blue! If I can't survive as a navy man, I'll become a pirate instead. I've got wealth and networks enough to rule the seas!"
"You think a mere navy lieutenant and ensign can send me to trial? Then first, hand over your lives!"
In that instant, he made his choice.
Rather than be dragged to Enies Lobby to face trial and imprisonment, he would cut ties with the navy entirely.
With his accumulated fortune in these waters, he could easily recruit countless pirates and rise as one of North Blue's great pirate lords.
But right now, trapped aboard a warship with eight more surrounding it, escape alone was impossible.
His only chance—his only card—was to seize the frail-looking young man before him, Sengoku's son.
With that hostage, nothing would be impossible.
---
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