New World — Marine G-3 Base, Office
Night lay heavy over the sea. Beyond the window, the ocean was black as ink, broken only by the occasional rolling wave that caught and reflected a faint trace of moonlight.
Sakazuki sat behind his desk, both hands braced against its surface.
"The intelligence has been confirmed," he said, his voice low and rigid as his eyes remained fixed on the documents spread before him."The main forces of the Golden Lion's Flying Pirates' Third Division are scattered across these two shipping routes."
He lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Gern Reginald Sigmar.
"So, in order to wipe them out completely…""We split up."
"Separate operations?" Gern leaned casually against the edge of the desk, his fingertips tapping lightly against the wood.
His eyes swept over the marked routes on the file, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly."I don't have a problem with that."
"…Is that so."Sakazuki's brow twitched, almost imperceptibly.
Gern's reaction was far too calm—almost careless, in that familiar, unsettling way.
Every time this bastard wore that expression, it meant only one thing.
He was about to stir the fire.
"But I do have a suggestion," Gern continued smoothly, exactly as expected."If we're going through with this plan, then there's one more thing we absolutely need to do."
"And what would that be?" Sakazuki removed his cap and ran a hand through his hair.
Gern raised his hand and drew out a finely crafted Den Den Mushi, placing it gently on the desk.
The shell bore the insignia of Marine Headquarters. Its eyes were shut, sleeping quietly.
"Shut down all private Den Den Mushi lines that connect directly to Headquarters," Gern said, his tone calm—casual, even—as if discussing tomorrow's weather.
"Our operation isn't just about cleaning up random pirates. We're striking the Flying Pirates. That's going to attract Headquarters' attention very quickly."
He smiled faintly.
"And you know their standing order—'handle quietly, avoid escalation.'Besides… we're already this far in. We might as well proceed without distractions. Don't you think?"
The air in the office froze solid.
Sakazuki's pupils contracted.
Cutting off private communications meant completely severing direct contact with Marine Headquarters.
This wasn't merely disobeying orders anymore.
It was outright—acting independently.
"You do understand what you're saying," Sakazuki said heavily."That's a total communications blackout."
Gern didn't answer.
He stood up, walked to the window, and stared out at the pitch-black sea.
"Sakazuki," he said suddenly, his voice so quiet it nearly vanished beneath the sound of the waves.
"Don't you believe in 'absolutes'?"
There it was again.
That familiar tone made Sakazuki's breathing hitch.
"Bastard," Gern continued, turning back around, fanning the flames without hesitation."We represent justice."
He took slow steps toward Sakazuki.
"Every minute we delay is another village that could turn into hell on earth.Absolute justice—if we're already at this point, then we can't give pirates even a sliver of opportunity."
His gaze sharpened.
"What happens if Headquarters suddenly orders a withdrawal?Do we obey and let that order become the opening act of the next tragedy?
Tell me, Sakazuki."
"But you know what happens if we do this—" Sakazuki cut in sharply."The administrative punishment will be severe."
"Administrative punishment?" Gern suddenly laughed, clapping a hand on Sakazuki's shoulder.
"No—administrative leave." He tilted his head."And besides—"
"From the moment you agreed to deploy after my transfer…""We were already eligible for administrative leave."
His smile faded, eyes burning.
"So choose.Do we accept sudden restraints later—or do we fully carry out your 'absolute justice'?"
Silence spread through the office.
In the distance, the sound of waves crashing echoed like a countdown.
Sakazuki's gaze shifted between the two Den Den Mushi on the desk—then settled on the black sea beyond the window.
BAM!
A magma-coated fist slammed down.
The Headquarters Den Den Mushi instantly vaporized under the intense heat.
"You bastard," Sakazuki said, lifting his head."I'll decide the route first."
"Of course," Gern replied lightly."You are the commanding officer."
Their shadows intertwined on the wall—like two unsheathed blades crossing.
Outside, dark clouds silently swallowed the moonlight. The sea wind carried with it the faint scent of gunpowder.
Under the night sky of the New World, two Marine warships slipped quietly from port, heading in opposite directions.
All communication channels fell into silence.
Only the wailing sea wind remained—like a funeral bell tolling for someone yet unknown.
In the days that followed, Sakazuki's and Gern's fleets tore through pirate strongholds along their respective routes like raging infernos, showing absolutely no mercy.
Both men knew they had already crossed the line.
But once that path was chosen, the enemy had to pay the heaviest possible price.
After every annihilation, Marine flags were deliberately left behind—silent declarations to the world:
The hunt had only just begun.
In short—
With absolutely no interference, the two of them slaughtered pirates along their routes to their hearts' content…until they were completely drunk on bloodshed.
...
Several days later — New World, World Economy News Headquarters
"BIG NEWS! EARTH-SHATTERING NEWS!!!"
Morgans flapped his wings wildly, pacing back and forth across his office. The photos and drafts in his hands still carried the fresh scent of ink.
His eyes gleamed with manic excitement, as if he could already see the chaos this edition would unleash.
"Two monsters from Marine G-3 Base—Gern and Sakazuki—have launched an indiscriminate purge across the New World!The Golden Lion's pirate forces have suffered catastrophic losses—Third Division factions completely routed!"
He snatched up a photograph.
Burning wreckage of pirate ships littered the sea. Tattered pirate flags floated on the waves.
The emblem of the Flying Pirates was being devoured by flames—a symbol of the Golden Lion's crumbling power.
"Hahahahaha! This—this is real journalism!"
Morgans threw his head back in laughter, feathers bristling with excitement.
"Such an aggressive operation inside the Marines—and Headquarters wasn't even notified in advance!The World Government won't be able to sit still after this!"
With that, he grabbed a Den Den Mushi and dialed the printing plant.
"Start an emergency reprint! Front page! Full circulation!!Headline—"
He slammed his wing down.
'JUSTICE STRIKES! NEW WORLD PIRATES FACE THE BLOODIEST PURGE IN HISTORY!'