"Raleigh, when can we get off this damn island?" Doflamingo changed the subject, asking when they could leave.
He'd already spent most of the day with Raleigh.
"I'm waiting for a call. Once it comes, we can go." Raleigh pointed to the Transponder Snail nearby.
"If that snail rings, it means my plan worked, and we can go collect our reward. If it doesn't, we'll have to find another way."
Doflamingo looked at the ordinary-looking snail, feeling confused.
Shouldn't such confidential information be handled with an encrypted Transponder Snail?
He couldn't understand Raleigh's approach at all.
Noticing Doflamingo's intense stare, Raleigh casually pointed to the sky and said.
"Don't overthink it. This isn't some big secret. I bet the whole North Blue will know about it within three days."
"Oh, really?"
Just as Doflamingo was half-convinced, the Transponder Snail suddenly rang.
Brrr Ring Brrr Ring
Raleigh rolled to his feet, snatched up the receiver.
"Hello, Raleigh. We've got a huge problem. That 'World Destroyer' Bryndy World is getting way out of hand."
"He attacked a World Government ship and killed many of our Marines. Even Rear Admiral Zakri, the highest-ranking officer on the mission, was killed."
"So before the World Government comes asking questions, we need to prove we're going to capture that big-shot pirate, Bryndy World."
Hearing Borsalino's words through the snail, Raleigh put on a pained expression.
"What a terrible shame. Rear Admiral Zakri was so nice—we became good friends the moment we met—and now this happens to him."
"I never thought Bryndy World would be so bold. I swear I'll lay his head at Rear Admiral Zakri's grave."
"Anyway, you should hurry back to the base. I'll gather the troops, and we'll meet on the warship."
Borsalino hung up, baffled by how Raleigh could say such things.
Raleigh brushed the dust off his clothes, tucked the snail away, and squinted at the odd-looking Doflamingo beside him.
Unaware his stare was rude, Doflamingo kept asking.
"As far as I know, you and Zakri didn't get along, did you? I remember you two had a clash before."
Raleigh grinned widely and laughed heartily.
"So what? Whether Zakri is alive or dead, what's wrong with me using 'avenging a comrade' and 'upholding the World Government's honor' as my banner?"
"Sometimes in the game of power, even the dead can be useful."
Hearing this, Doflamingo was genuinely impressed by his shamelessness, but also learned something new.
''You're something else!''
''Let's go. We need to get Bryndy World's head as fast as possible. Don't forget to notify the Donquixote Family members.''
....
Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Office.
Fleet Admiral Kong looked gloomily at his most capable subordinates.
Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and the others were somewhat puzzled.
"What is that madman Bryndy World trying to do?" Sengoku spoke first.
At a time when the World Government was pressuring the Marines, and already held a grudge against them, Bryndy World suddenly caused this trouble, putting the Marines in a very tough spot.
''Regardless, the mess Bryndy World made definitely needs the Marines to clean it up.'' Tsuru added.
The situation in the North Blue had spiraled out of control because of the wildcard that was Bryndy World.
Garp sat noisily munching on rice crackers nearby.
His mind was set only on catching Roger; he couldn't care less about Bryndy World robbing World Government ships.
In his view, neither side was good—it was just a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
''Let Borsalino handle it. We need to give the World Government an explanation after all.'' Kong rubbed his temples.
With his term as Fleet Admiral nearing its end, Kong had hoped to maintain stability.
But some things always slipped out of his control, which frustrated him greatly.
Sengoku, in his seagull cap, suddenly spoke.
"Fleet Admiral, didnt our forces in the North Blue insufficient? Borsalino is still just a Vice Admiral—he's too inexperienced compared to a legendary pirate like Bryndy World. I'll go."
Actually, having Zephyr go from the East Blue would be faster than sending Sengoku from Headquarters.
But for personal reasons, Kong preferred Sengoku to be the one to go.
If Sengoku became Fleet Admiral, with his abilities and his connections to Garp and Tsuru, he could better maintain the Marines' stability.
Thinking this, Kong nodded.
''Very well, you go.''
Sengoku nodded, then left the office to muster troops onto his warship and prepare to head for the North Blue.
"Tsuru, what do you think the World Government's opinion of us will be this time?"
After Sengoku left, Kong turned to ask Tsuru beside him.
After a moment's calm thought, Tsuru said.
"Our Marines have also suffered casualties. According to Borsalino's report, the guard commander, Rear Admiral Zakri, also died in this battle."
''Since we've also suffered losses, the World Government can't make too big a deal out of it for us. At most, they'll order us to capture Bryndy World as soon as possible.''
''That's why I didn't stop Sengoku. We need to resolve the Bryndy World situation quickly to satisfy the World Government.''
Kong nodded, satisfied with his disciples.
Only after Garp and Tsuru had left did Kong take out the confidential documents about the North Blue from his desk.
"Such methods... this is no simple matter. Is it you? Christian Raleigh?"
The document in Kong's hand detailed the movements of various Marine branches.
It included the reasons why the surrounding Marine forces failed to provide timely support when the World Government ships were in trouble.
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