"I see…"
Sengoku's mind, famed for its brilliance as a strategist, raced at full speed, searching desperately for a solution.
But no matter how he turned it around, there was no way out.
He had to admit: Kizaru had played his hand far too well. If Kizaru's previous actions could still be smoothed over with Sengoku's reputation, the Navy's standing, and Kizaru's importance as Fleet Admiral, that possibility had now been shattered.
By conspiring with Steel Bone Kong, he had stomped directly on the Five Elders' biggest landmine. Once everything came to light, it was all but certain that even if they had to unleash the Holy Knights, the Five Elders would not rest until Kizaru was eradicated.
"I mean, it's not like I'd complain about having too many allies, right?"
Feeling Sengoku's "trust" slipping away, Kizaru answered with some grievance. He'd only told a few white lies—did Sengoku really have to nitpick so much?
"So in that case… Sakazuki must be your man too?"
Sengoku suddenly recalled something, and his face froze in shock.
If the top brass sent on "vacation" weren't Kizaru's accomplices, then didn't that mean the one who hadn't taken leave—Sakazuki—was actually colluding with him in secret?
With that assumption in mind, every one of Sakazuki's actions suddenly seemed suspicious.
Voluntarily skipping his leave? Clearly, he was just biding his time, waiting for the chance to overthrow the Government alongside Kizaru!
Those repeated requests to take the lead against pirates? Probably just cover to rendezvous with contacts from the Dark Matter Pirates—or even help them clear obstacles!
And now, having been dispatched on an "external mission" just days ago—it was practically conclusive evidence! The timing matched perfectly with the Dark Matter Pirates' mobilization!
Kizaru could clearly sense the faint hostility emanating from Sengoku beside him. The malice was weak, but the close proximity made it impossible for him to miss.
So he knew exactly what kind of wild suspicions Sengoku's mind was spinning.
"Hold it right there! I never said Sakazuki was one of mine. That guy's just a pure workaholic. Even when I try to give him leave, he won't take it."
Kizaru quickly jumped in to defend himself. With Sengoku's level of paranoia, even the Five Elders themselves might get imagined into being his co-conspirators.
"…If you had the chance to do this over again, couldn't you at least pick some better partners?"
Sengoku suddenly felt as though he had aged several years in an instant.
It wasn't just that the successor he had chosen turned out to be such a troublesome schemer like Borsalino—Steel Bone Kong's betrayal also made the world itself feel strangely unfamiliar to him.
Originally, he wanted to say that he regretted letting Borsalino become Fleet Admiral, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn't bring himself to say them.
After all, they had both climbed step by step from the very bottom of the Marines, both had carried out their duties in pursuit of their own interpretations of justice.
How could Sengoku not understand the choices Borsalino had made?
Still, the fact that Borsalino chose to work with pirates was something that stretched even Sengoku's tolerance.
He might not be as fanatical about "hating evil" as Sakazuki, but for a Marine of his generation, cooperating with pirates was simply too heretical.
"Hm? How do you know I've got other allies?"
Borsalino asked in mild surprise. He carefully retraced his steps—his connection with Dragon had been based purely on the tacit trust forged years ago.
Even if Garp himself were present, he wouldn't necessarily be able to notice it. How could Sengoku possibly tell?
Or was it that Sengoku didn't actually know, and had just spoken offhandedly?
Realizing that possibility, the corner of Borsalino's mouth twitched. Great—he had practically trapped himself with his own words.
"…Who else?"
Sengoku only felt his emotions rise and fall like the soap bubbles in Sabaody Archipelago, up one moment and crashing down the next.
Retiring earlier truly had been the right choice.
If Borsalino had dropped such a bombshell back when Sengoku was still Fleet Admiral, he might have suffered a heart attack on the spot.
"Dragon's Revolutionary Army. What do you think? At least they're better than pirates, aren't they?"
Borsalino said openly, no longer bothering to hide it. At this point, with the conversation already laid bare, even if Sengoku hadn't declared his stance yet, chances were he'd end up siding with him.
And once Sengoku's support was secured, Borsalino wouldn't have to worry about resistance within the Marine higher-ups anymore.
If the need arose, he could summon back all those "on vacation" admirals at any time.
With both the prestige of a former Fleet Admiral like Sengoku and the current Fleet Admiral himself, they could easily command over ninety percent of Marine power.
"…And those pirates?"
Sengoku's expression didn't waver too much. He remembered well that back when Dragon had still been a Marine, he and Borsalino were almost inseparable.
When Dragon defected, Borsalino had come under close surveillance for a time.
Of course, that "surveillance" ended after thirteen CP agents—including two from CP0—died in succession, and yet not a single trace of treachery from Borsalino had surfaced.
Only then did the Gorōsei grudgingly loosen their suspicion of him.
Given how sour Borsalino's relationship with the Gorōsei already was, that conflict had practically become the spark that ignited everything.
So now that Borsalino openly admitted to staying in touch with Dragon, Sengoku—already well past being shocked—found it almost natural.
"Boros is mine. Kaido and Big Mom aren't."
Borsalino answered with rare honesty. If he wanted to pull Sengoku into his camp, he needed to show enough sincerity.
Which meant that, aside from the secrets tied to the dimensional chat group, he wasn't planning to hide much from Sengoku in the short term.
"…And that guy? What's his background?"
Even though Sengoku had already raised his expectations of Borsalino quite high, the admiral's answer still left him stunned.
After all, Boros was the one who, right after making his debut, had defeated a Yonko and then forced that same emperor to submit as his subordinate.
Not long after, he had pressured yet another Yonko into kneeling, taking both great pirate crews under his banner at once.
Naturally, someone like that immediately drew the full attention of Marine intelligence.
Reports about Boros piled up so quickly they practically filled the Intelligence Division's offices wall-to-wall.
If Sengoku hadn't already retired from his position as Fleet Admiral—and if Borsalino hadn't long since displayed power beyond even the Yonko—he would likely still be losing sleep over how to deal with such an absurdly powerful figure.
And now Borsalino was openly claiming Boros as one of his own men.
It was almost unbelievable, and at the same time, it sparked a burning curiosity in Sengoku.
"Just think of him as an alien space pirate. I went through a lot of trouble persuading him to lend a hand. So if any Marines come across Boros, make sure they don't start a fight with him…"
Borsalino deliberately added the warning. Without such a reminder, Sengoku's Marine instincts might really drive him to clash with Boros on sight.
"Are you sure he's reliable? If you're not absolutely confident, Garp and I can help you deal with him…"
Sengoku frowned slightly. Anything tied to the word "pirate" was never something he could view in a positive light.
And Boros's strength, from what little he'd seen on record, was simply outrageous. If anything went wrong, subduing him would be a nightmare.
Better, then, for their side to strike first—Borsalino's strength, plus Sengoku and Garp's support, and if necessary, even Sakazuki and Kuzan could be brought in.
Of course, that would have to wait until after Boros overthrew the World Government. Otherwise, they'd just be doing the Gorōsei's dirty work for them.
Sengoku didn't even realize when it had started, but he now found himself weighing everything from Borsalino's perspective.
"…Ah, that won't be necessary. If it comes down to it, I'm more than confident I can defeat Boros. He's not my match."
The corner of Borsalino's mouth twitched. Inwardly, he muttered about Sengoku—no wonder he was called a strategist; he was already making plans to burn the bridge after crossing the river.
"You're that confident?"
Sengoku was genuinely surprised. His knowledge of the Dark Matter Pirates was limited, but the fact that Boros had simultaneously suppressed Kaido and Big Mom spoke volumes about his terrifying power.
Even when he first imagined an ambush against Boros, Sengoku's calculations required at least himself, Garp, and Borsalino acting together to have any hope of victory.
And yet here was Borsalino, calmly claiming he could win alone.
That was strength well beyond anything Sengoku had pictured.
"It's not like we haven't fought before. I won."
Borsalino said it with complete composure. Even if Boros had grown stronger after mastering Haki, the gap between them was still too wide for Boros to overturn.
Yes, Boros had improved. But Borsalino, ever since his own substitute's awakening, had been growing even faster.
Compared to the version Boros once knew, Borsalino was at least thirty percent stronger now.
As for Boros—apart from his freakish talent in Conqueror's Haki, even a one percent improvement from learning all three forms of Haki was already impressive.
For true powerhouses, new systems of strength were little more than alternate ways to channel energy.
And for someone like Boros, who was born with complete control over energy itself, techniques from another world didn't necessarily work better than what he already wielded.
"…Just how strong are you now?"
Hesitation flickered across Sengoku's face. After a long silence, he finally voiced the question.
His feelings were complicated—like an old wave watching the new wave crash down and sweep him away.
He had known for years that Borsalino's power had surpassed his own.
But at least back then, they had still belonged to the same "tier."
Now… things were different.
°°°
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