"P-Please! Our merchant ship is about to sink in the storm, and the crew is injured. Can you come and save us..."
It was still the same old story, and the female Marine had memorized it well, but this time the response from the other end of the line was different—
"Of course."
A calm young voice sounded, seemingly just taking over the call, asking with concern:
"Don't panic, speak slowly. How many people are left on your ship?"
At the door, Akainu, who had one foot out the threshold, suddenly paused.
"More than a hundred people..." The female Marine was stunned. She hadn't even discussed the reward yet and hastily added, "If you can come, we are willing to offer..."
"Coordinates? Are there any prominent landmarks around?"
The female Marine's mind was a bit frozen and answered instinctively, "Coordinates are... There's a small island nearby with an old lighthouse that's been abandoned for years..."
"That should be easy to find, not too far. We can get there in a few hours. Hang in there; we're on our way immediately."
Click, the call was directly hung up.
The female Marine turned her head, somewhat at a loss, looking at Dor.
"Not pirates."
Vice Admiral Dor disappointedly pouted and lit a cigarette, "Just rescuing people... Such guys are rare in the New World. Call them back and tell them not to come."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
As the female Marine was about to pick up the handset, a rough, strong hand had already gripped her wrist.
Dor raised his head, showing a look of astonishment: "Mr. Sakazuki?"
"Not pirates?"
Akainu still had that expressionless look, making it hard to fathom his thoughts:
"How could it not be... Dor, you did well. Not only did you catch a fish, but you also caught a big one at that."
That young voice...
So familiar, so loathsome.
It's only been half a year; how could he forget!
"Shano..."
Akainu's eyes were heavy; this time, he would not give the other party a chance to escape!
...
On the Endgame.
After the call was cut off, on Shano's orders, Nami began cross-referencing the partially drawn Nautical Chart, directing Jack to steer towards the mentioned direction.
"Boss."
Smoker frowned, "This call is suspicious. I feel we shouldn't trust it; it might be a pirate fishing, a trap specially set up."
"What if it's true? After all, there are more than a hundred lives at stake. We can't just watch them die. As for whether it's a trap..."
Shano smiled, said nothing more, and returned to the dining table to grab some sushi and stuff it into his mouth.
Smoker thought for a moment and then smiled wryly.
That's true.
Why hesitate? Does the captain need to care if it's a trap?
Even if it is a trap, so what?
The Four Emperors themselves aren't that bored, and the Three Great Admirals usually aren't in the New World.
And as for the rest, whether pirates or the Navy, if they plan on fishing them out, they will only end up with one consequence—
Asking for trouble!
...
A few hours later.
A moss-covered old lighthouse came into view, positioned at the center of a small island, no more than a few thousand square meters in area.
At the coastline, there was indeed a wrecked ship, but the Endgame was already within a few hundred meters, yet not a single person was in sight.
"How strange."
Nami leaned on the second-floor railing, scanning back and forth with a monocular, perplexed, "Can't see anyone at all?"
Whether genuinely needing rescue or malicious fishers...
There should always be someone here, right?
Could that call have been a complete prank?
She instinctively looked at her big brother, only to see Shano not paying attention to the wrecked ship, his eyes lingering on the old lighthouse.
After a brief contemplation.
"You all stay here; I'll go take a look."
With those words, he left the deck directly, stepping with Moonwalk twice, landing steadily on the small island.
...
Inside the lighthouse.
"He's here! He's here!"
A Navy lieutenant nearly jumped up, excitedly turned, and shouted, "That guy really took the bait!"
"Don't get excited. Why are you so loud? Stay hidden!"
Another Navy Rear Admiral frowned and reprimanded, glaring at him.
"It doesn't matter; we can't hide from that guy's Observation anyway; we're just bait."
Dor, with a cigarette in his mouth, leaned on the railing and then turned to the communication soldier, "Hey, confirm again, G-1 Branch, and G-5 Branch fleets have arrived at the designated position?"
"Report, Vice Admiral, both friendly fleets have arrived at the predetermined position and formed a triangular blockade with our fleet, ready to seal off this area at any time!"
"Very good."
Dor's mouth curved into a cold smile, "Today's battle must be decisive. Not a single one of those on the pirate ship shall escape!"
G-1, G-5, G-14.
Three Navy branch bases, all personally led by their commanders!
With such forces, it's already close to a Buster Call's scale, more than enough to wipe out a small Pirate Gang!
Speaking of which, there's one thing that truly surprises her.
The fact that G-1 Branch's commander personally took the lead is understandable, given they were old acquaintances and could be called with a word.
But the G-5 Branch's commander, Vergo, was a notoriously reclusive person, reportedly quite caring to his subordinates internally, but always did his own thing externally, rarely attending to other branches' requests.
Yet this time, upon learning that the target of the siege was the Endgame Pirates, he was very proactive and immediately led his team right after hanging up.