"Pulululul..." A rapid Den Den Mushi ring echoed, adding a unique flair to the roaring waves.
"This is Vice Admiral Tsuru's fleet," the intelligence officer reported after answering the Den Den Mushi.
"Please inform Vice Admiral Tsuru," the G-8 Naval Base intelligence officer reported in an organized manner, "the Marine at G-8 naval base has already set up an ambush on Jaya Island. The Donquixote Pirates have fallen into the trap and await Vice Admiral Tsuru's arrival."
Upon receiving the news, Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately issued an order to advance at full speed. Her goal was to reach Jaya Island as quickly as possible and, along with the G-8 Marine base, surround and annihilate the Donquixote Pirates. Ah, life truly is unpredictable.
On the coast of Jaya Island, Cricket and Doflamingo chatted happily, oblivious to the approaching danger. If one were to ask who was most familiar with strong currents, it would undoubtedly be Cricket. He had dedicated many years to maritime salvage, encountering countless strong currents and always managing to escape danger. He was quite capable.
After agreeing with Cricket to return to sea in three days, both men went to make their own preparations. Doflamingo also began reinforcing the pirate ship. After all, the strong current was no joke; it was essential to be fully prepared, as their lives were at stake.
Doflamingo arrived at the coast where the Donquixote Pirates were docked, but he didn't see Diamante and the others. It seemed that gathering information was not an easy process. All he could do was wait calmly on deck for their return.
After a long time, Diamante and the others finally came back. Their dejected faces clearly indicated that their mission had been unsuccessful. As Diamante led his team back, he spotted Doflamingo standing on the deck from afar. Without delay, he rushed to inform him.
"Doffy, we didn't find Cricket, and the locals know very little about ocean currents. We..." Diamante began, a guilty look on his face.
Doflamingo waved him to stop. "I found the person. Now, the priority is to reinforce our ship again, in preparation for the big event in three days. Diamante, take people to reinforce the ship. Don't disappoint me this time."
"As expected of Doffy, there won't be a next time. I'll take people there immediately," Diamante promised seriously, realizing Doflamingo was a bit annoyed. Diamante naturally flattered Doflamingo, but Doflamingo didn't take it seriously. Instead, he was slightly irritated. "If you can't even handle such a small thing, do you want me to do it myself? What's the use of you?"
Three days passed quickly, and the atmosphere on Jaya Island grew increasingly solemn. The usual lively buzz was somewhat subdued. It was unclear if this was due to the bloody and brutal incident at the Mock Town bar a few days prior, which had caused such a stir, or if it was the panic among pirates caused by the Marine's hidden ambush. But none of that mattered anymore. Today was the day Cricket and Doflamingo would meet and planned to head out to sea together.
Dawn gradually broke, and the sky was still dotted with a few lingering stars. The land was hazy, as if draped in a silver-gray veil. After a while, a pale patch of light appeared in the eastern sky, brightening the land. Jaya Island also seemed to be adorned with a piece of red brocade, a beautiful sight. However, Doflamingo and Cricket had no interest in such beautiful scenery. Their shared goal was Skypiea, the Sky Island.
According to Cricket's experience, they needed to get close to the Knock-Up Stream in advance, as its exact emergence location was uncertain. They had to arrive early and be prepared to accurately detect its position.
The Donquixote Pirates set sail once more, heading towards the powerful ocean current.
"Reporting to Colonel Vimos," a Marine reported to the highest-ranking officer on Jaya Island, "we found that the Donquixote Pirates have already departed from Jaya Island, and Vice Admiral Tsuru has not yet arrived. Should we surround them?"
"Go and inform Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately," Colonel Vimos ordered his Marines calmly. "I will take my men to prevent the Donquixote Pirates from leaving." Here, Colonel Vimos was leading his men to intercept Doflamingo. Vice Admiral Tsuru also received the news and was heading at full speed to join Colonel Vimos in the encirclement.
"Young Master, there's a Marine behind us," the lookout exclaimed, anxious, even a little panicked.
Doflamingo was not in a hurry. They were just a bunch of small fries. As long as Vice Admiral Tsuru wasn't there to stop them, they would be useless to him. If it weren't for the fact that there were still a few hours until the Knock-Up Stream emerged, and he wanted to get close to it as quickly as possible for fear that the Marine would delay his plans, he would have been impatient to get rid of the tail behind him.
"Don't worry, let them follow. Now the important thing is to reach the destination first," Doflamingo said, standing at the bow of the ship.
Cricket looked at Doflamingo's back and said nothing. In his heart, pirates or the Marine had nothing to do with him. As long as he could help him find the Golden City and clear his ancestors' grievances, that was more important than anything else. Even in his heart, the pirates were much more straightforward than the Marine. Thus, the pirates and the Marine were one in front and one behind, living in a seemingly harmonious, yet somewhat strange, peace.
"We've arrived. Let's wait here for the Knock-Up Stream to arrive," Cricket told Doflamingo.
Doflamingo immediately understood and instructed his men: "Next, our ships will follow Brother Cricket's orders. We'll wait for the Marine to arrive and then get rid of this tail."
"Report to Colonel Vimos that the Donquixote Pirates have stopped ahead and are not moving." On the Marine ship, Colonel Vimos heard his men's report, went to the bow, and looked at the Donquixote Pirates ahead, who were standing still and motionless, as if they were intentionally waiting for the Marine to arrive.
Vimos suddenly felt that this group of pirates was truly audacious. They dared to be so arrogant that they stayed where they were, waiting for the Marine to arrive and deal with them. "Haha, come here, you damned pirates, it's time to enforce our justice." Colonel Vimos felt insulted. The pirates' behavior undoubtedly showed their contempt for the Marine. "Attack, kill these damned pirates!" The Marines were so furious that they wanted to fly over there and kill the pirates.
The four warships quickly surrounded Doflamingo's pirate group. They took ropes and attached them to Doflamingo's pirate ship to prevent him from escaping. The warships took the opportunity to get closer, and the Marines rushed to Doflamingo's camp, ready to wipe out the Donquixote Pirates.
"Fufufufu." Seeing that the pirate group was connected with the Marine, Doflamingo was not in a hurry. Instead, he laughed and said: "Diamante, Trebol, Pica, how about the four of us each take a warship, and the others guard the ship and protect Brother Cricket?" Hearing Doflamingo's words, Trebol and the other two understood what Doflamingo meant. This was to annihilate the entire Marine, and they were also extremely excited.
"Hehehe, I can't wait anymore." "Doffy, I can't wait anymore, I wanted to destroy them a long time ago."
Pica said nothing, but rushed to a warship impatiently, expressing his excitement with actions. After saying: "Don't leave anyone behind," Doflamingo waited no more and headed towards Colonel Vimos on the main opposing ship.
The war began. Whether Doflamingo will be able to escape the Marine's encirclement will depend on whether readers' recommendations can help him.