"If that guy actually let a bunch of pirates who just entered the Grand Line snatch the person away right under his nose, I will definitely file a complaint to the World Government and have his position as an Admiral revoked. I can't afford to lose this kind of reputation!"
After letting out a gloomy snort, Sakazuki still obediently took out the Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
When the Den Den Mushi connected, before he could even ask anything, the voice on the other end had already come through.
"Ah, ra ra, looks like things on your side have wrapped up as well!"
That familiar voice and tone, upon hearing that it was Borsalino who had answered the call, both Sakazuki and Kuzan relaxed slightly.
Sakazuki did not hesitate and spoke directly in a grave tone: "Has it already ended on your side?"
"It's over!"
"I understand."
Sakazuki nodded in satisfaction. "We'll arrange for the fleet to head over as soon as possible. Make sure to keep a close watch on Rocks' blood!"
However, just as that satisfied tone fell,
Silence followed.
This abnormal reaction instantly made Sakazuki's and Kuzan's hearts rise to their throats, an ominous feeling emerging.
That guy couldn't really have let a pirate crew that had just entered the Grand Line snatch the person away right in front of him, could he?!
Sakazuki's heart jolted.
Suppressing the rage in his heart, he took a deep breath and was just about to ask, when Borsalino's voice came through once more, heavy and low, and he only said a single sentence: "The mission... Has failed. Marshall D. Teach successfully escaped from Enies Lobby!"
Sakazuki: "...?!"
After receiving the definitive answer, the fury that Sakazuki had been suppressing could no longer be contained.
Like a volcano that had been pressed down for a long time, it finally erupted at this moment. "Tell me, Borsalino, what exactly did you do?! Tell me!"
Beside him, Kuzan's hanging heart finally sank completely.
Ignoring the raging Sakazuki beside him, he turned his head and looked toward the calm sea in the darkness before letting out a long sigh. "Those greedy guys... Really gave an utterly wrong order!"
...
"Beep!" "Beep!" "Beep!"
Sitting atop the ruins blasted into rubble by the earlier battle, where only massive stones engraved with the word justice remained, Borsalino hung up the Den Den Mushi, dug a finger into his ear, and said: "Oh my, he was talking just fine, so why did he suddenly start cursing people? And so loudly at that?"
Did he want the mission to fail?
And besides, didn't the other side fail as well?
"Honestly, more and more troublesome things keep piling up!"
Borsalino put away the Den Den Mushi in his hand, then picked up the ramen beside him that was still steaming.
Fortunately, when the call came in earlier, he had hidden it. Otherwise, if Sakazuki had seen him eating ramen, he would probably have cursed him even more viciously.
Borsalino gently blew on the ramen held by his chopsticks, then stuffed it straight into his mouth.
He just sat there on the giant stone engraved with the word justice while gazing at the calm sea in the darkness of the night ahead, until, after taking a bite, a CP agent ran over at that moment.
"Admiral Kizaru, the wounded have already been taken care of."
"They have already been taken care of?"
Hearing the agent's words behind him, Borsalino did not lift his head.
While eating his ramen, he said, "Then have people clean up the surroundings as well. And also report what happened here to your superior. Oh, right, that kid is called Spandam, isn't he? Tell him that his subordinates probably won't be coming back!"
CP agent: "...?!"
As soon as these words fell, the agent's expression instantly changed.
Lucci and the others won't be coming back?
Could it be... that they died in the line of duty?
Although in his heart he could not believe that Lucci, the strongest among them, would actually die just like that, recalling the terrifying battle that had taken place on Enies Lobby not long ago, and knowing that Admiral Kizaru would not have such bad taste as to lie about something like this.
Therefore, after understanding that what Admiral Kizaru said... should be true, the agent spoke with a bitter tone: "Yes, Admiral Kizaru. I will report everything that happened here to lord Spandam."
As he spoke, he saluted again. "If there is nothing else, then I—"
"Wait a moment, there really is something I need your help with."
CP agent: "...?"
Before the agent could ask what it was.
"Prepare a ship for me."
Still eating his ramen, Admiral Kizaru continued in a casual tone: "Ah, it looks like I'll have to sail back myself now."
Although he could also fly back on his own, having a ship would be a bit more relaxing.
Hearing Admiral Kizaru's words, although the agent felt somewhat strange inside, he did not say anything further. He simply respectfully indicated that he would make the arrangements, then bowed and withdrew.
With Lucci gone and Spandam not here either, there were still many matters on Enies Lobby that needed him to handle.
After the agent left, the ramen in Borsalino's hand seemed to have been finished as well.
After letting out a satisfied burp, he somehow produced a handkerchief from who knows where, wiped his mouth, then frowned, as if thinking about something.
Only after a moment did he speak in a heavy tone: "Should I go back a bit later? Wait until Fleet Admiral Sengoku finishes venting his anger before returning?"
As he said this, a loud bang suddenly sounded from behind him, instantly startling the surviving agents and marines on Enies Lobby.
When they saw the burly figure descending from the sky, the agents and marines immediately recognized who it was, and all of their expressions changed.
"Enemy attack!"
However, just as the alarm on Enies Lobby was about to sound once more…
"Calm down."
Borsalino's voice rang out at that moment. Although his tone was calm, it spread across the entire Enies Lobby, causing those who had been tense to calm down immediately.
That's right, Admiral Kizaru was still on the island. They would absolutely be fine.