"Moshi moshi~ This is Borsalino. It is currently afternoon tea break. Please leave a message after the beep~"
Beep~
There was a half-second of silence on the other end of the line.
Immediately following, a roar loud enough to rupture eardrums suddenly exploded. Even the eyes of the golden Den Den Mushi bulged out, mimicking Sengoku's angry expression.
"Borsalino! You bastard! I know you're listening!"
Kizaru held the Den Den Mushi a bit further away, picked at his ear, and looked at Vegapunk with an innocent expression.
"Ooh~ Fleet Admiral Sengoku's temper is still as fiery as ever. It seems his menopause isn't over yet."
"Stop being so flippant with me!"
Sengoku's voice carried a sense of deep exhaustion and anxiety. In the background, one could hear a constant stream of reports and the sound of documents being flipped. Clearly, things at Marine Headquarters had already turned into a chaotic mess.
"Immediately! Right now! Head to Calebari Island!"
"That scientist named Bruce Banner must be brought back to Headquarters intact! This is a top-priority, absolute order!"
Kizaru sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs and speaking in a lazy tone.
"Sengoku-san, have you gone senile? For such a remote place, wouldn't it be enough to just send someone from a nearby branch?"
"If that doesn't work, you could just have Sentomaru take a few Pacifista. You know, my back hasn't been great lately; I'm not fit for long flights..."
Vegapunk, standing nearby, couldn't help but roll his eyes.
He was just trimming his nails a moment ago, and now his back is bad? This excuse is far too perfunctory!
"Under normal circumstances, I naturally wouldn't deploy an Admiral."
Sengoku's tone suddenly became solemn. Even through the Den Den Mushi, one could feel the oppressive low pressure.
"But this time is different."
"The Beasts Pirates have also set their sights on him."
Kizaru's nail-trimming motion paused slightly, and a faint, barely perceptible light flashed in his usually half-closed, dead-fish eyes.
"That madman Kaido's people?"
"Exactly! And the one leading the team isn't some small fry; it's one of the All-Stars, Jack the Drought!"
Sengoku's voice rose again, filled with urgency.
"According to intelligence, Jack is already on his way to Calebari Island! That madman will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. If he finds Banner first, the scientist will either be taken to Wano Country to manufacture weapons or be killed on the spot by Jack!"
"Borsalino! You should understand that the current situation allows for no mistakes! I'll let you in on another piece of news: Kuzan was defeated in the North Blue, and this operation suffered heavy losses."
"Kuzan is seriously injured, and over three thousand elite Marines—three thousand people! All gone!"
Kizaru stopped trimming his nails, his eyebrows twitching slightly.
He knew something had happened in the North Blue, but he hadn't expected it to be this tragic.
He was very aware of Kuzan's strength. To be able to push Kuzan to the point of serious injury, just what kind of monsters are 'Deadpool' and the Foundation behind him?
"And that damned Mordred, he didn't even say goodbye before leaving. What is that? It's contempt!"
"He has no respect for me."
"Borsalino, I've never suffered such humiliation in my life."
"As a Marine Admiral, can you endure this?"
I can endure it just fine.
Kizaru curled his lip, thinking to himself: What does your frustration have to do with me? I'm just a salaryman.
Seemingly sensing Kizaru's perfunctory attitude, Sengoku's tone suddenly became mournful.
"How old am I this year? I should be at the age where I retire and raise my goat, yet I'm still here cleaning up after you youngsters."
"That bastard Garp runs off to the East Blue to see his grandson whenever he feels like it, and I can't even contact him."
"Tsuru is also busy comforting the families of the fallen soldiers. Now, I'm the only commander left at Headquarters."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku's voice dropped, carrying an unprecedented level of intimacy, and even a hint of desolation.
"Borsalino, there are some things I don't usually say, but today I have to say them."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow, his nail clippers frozen in mid-air.
This old man's tone is not right.
"Look at the current Marineford. It looks glorious on the surface, but in reality, it's plagued by internal and external troubles."
Sengoku sighed deeply, his voice echoing through half the laboratory via the Den Den Mushi.
"That fellow Sakazuki believes in 'Absolute Justice,' and his methods are too radical and harsh. If he were to take power, I'm afraid this sea would be stained red with blood. Something too rigid is easily broken."
Kizaru curled his lip and didn't respond.
That mad dog Akainu is indeed quite terrifying.
"Then look at Kuzan. It's one thing to be lazy on normal days, but you've seen the North Blue operation."
Sengoku's tone shifted, carrying the pain of seeing someone fail to live up to their potential.
"Because of a momentary soft-heartedness, because of so-called 'humanity,' three thousand elite soldiers were killed or wounded! Even that mysterious man named Mordred looks down on our Marines!"
"Too emotional, too indecisive!"
Vegapunk stood to the side with his eyes wide open.
Old Sengoku is actually saying such things just to trick someone into doing work?
On the other end of the phone, Sengoku's voice suddenly rose, becoming forceful and resonant, as if every word was striking Kizaru's heart.
"Only you! Borsalino!"
"You are the one after my own heart."
Kizaru's hand shook at the shout, nearly clipping his own finger.
"Ooh~ Sengoku-san, don't scare me..."
"I'm not joking!"
Sengoku interrupted him, his tone becoming incredibly solemn and even taking on a hint of temptation.
"You aren't as extreme as Sakazuki, nor are you as naive as Kuzan."
"Your 'Ambiguous Justice' may seem moderate, but it is actually great wisdom! It's balance! It's the best mindset for managing the overall situation!"
"Among the three Admirals, the one I've always valued most is actually you!"
Kizaru's wrinkled old face twitched slightly.
If I hadn't been in the Marines for thirty years, I might have actually believed those words.
Sengoku didn't give him any time to think, continuing to paint a grand and rosy picture.
"You also know that I'm getting old. I won't be in this Fleet Admiral position for many more years."
"After this North Blue incident, there will surely be pressure from the World Government. I might even take the blame and resign early."
"When that time comes, this Fleet Admiral position..."
Sengoku paused and said meaningfully:
"The Marines need a steady, tactful person who can consider the big picture to take the helm."
Sengoku spoke with deep sincerity, as if implying: 'The favorite has fallen; it's your turn to rise.'
The laboratory fell into a dead silence.
Only the sound of the massive cooling fans could be heard whirring.
Vegapunk's mouth hung open, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
This pie in the sky was so hard to swallow, it would practically break one's teeth.
That old fellow Sengoku, in order to trick Kizaru into going out to work, would even make up such nonsense about 'passing on the throne'?
Who doesn't know that Borsalino is famous for 'If the pay is right, I'll crush the Four Emperors; if the pay is low, I'll just slack off'?
Letting him be the Fleet Admiral?
The entire Marineford would probably have a mandatory afternoon tea break starting at 3 PM every day.
Even Kizaru, who was dedicated to being a slacker, felt his throat go a bit dry after hearing that.
However, in the end, his lazy heart won out over his reason.
Stop testing me, Fleet Admiral.
I only have two words for you: Loyalty!