At Marine Headquarters, on the vast crescent-shaped inner bay plaza, a massive projection screen was displaying footage.
Marine officers busy with their tasks set down their work one after another, lifting their heads to gaze at the enormous screen.
It clearly showed four or five distinct areas—some close-up shots, others panoramic views—revealing everything happening in the celestial realm without reservation.
The blind Fujitora leaned on his sword-cane atop an artillery emplacement, his ears twitching as he caught the familiar, arrogant laughter emanating from the giant screen.
"Doflamingo, this former Celestial Dragon turned brute, has completely embarked on a path of no return." Fujitora sighed.
His Observation Haki range extended just far enough.
Thus, he keenly detected the gasps of astonishment and hurried breaths from all the Marine officers at headquarters.
"Sakazuki, isn't this somewhat inappropriate? Flaunting the disgrace of the World Nobles so openly—the higher-ups will come for your head."
Somehow, several wicker chairs and round tables had appeared beside Fujitora.
The tables were laden with melons, fruits, beer, and an exquisitely packaged box of cigars.
The Marine's top combat forces—Admiral Kizaru and Fleet Admiral Akainu—reclined in the wicker chairs on either side, legs crossed, tossing popcorn into their mouths.
"Are you telling me how to do my job?"
"I am the Fleet Admiral of the Marines!"
Akainu snorted contemptuously, snapping a thick cigar alight and exhaling a dragon-like plume of smoke.
"The Marines are about to face our most terrifying war. If we can't withstand it, I'll have to atone with my death as Fleet Admiral."
"In such circumstances, I've no patience to care about those fools' feelings!"
"How terrifying, Sakazuki. Ever since Caesar declared war on the Marines, have you completely cast off all restraint?"
Kizaru noisily slurped his fruit juice.
"Pururu pururu"
"Pururu pururu"
Kizaru froze mid-action, pulling out the constantly vibrating blue Den Den Mushi from his chest.
"What's this? Did someone snitch? The Gorosei calling us so soon?"
He glanced at Akainu beside him.
"Who else? Other than that bastard Black Horse, who'd bother with such tedious nonsense?"
Akainu spat thickly to the side, snatched the Den Den Mushi from Kizaru's hand, and flung it backward over his head.
A distinct splash immediately followed as the Den Den Mushi hit water.
"Hey hey hey! Blue Den Den Mushi are rare breeds, extremely expensive!" Kizaru's outstretched hand hung frozen in air.
"Pururu pururu"
"Pururu pururu"
No sooner had Akainu discarded Kizaru's Den Den Mushi than the one in his own chest began ringing.
Then, immediately after, the one in Fujitora's possession chimed in.
From nearby, several other Den Den Mushi sounds simultaneously erupted.
Akainu turned around and saw a tall woman with bold attire, her chest exposed, her huge breast straining against her white coat.
She had long green hair and a stunningly beautiful, enchanting face.
Holding a blood-soaked unlucky fellow in one hand, she leaped onto the military harbor.
"Oh! Aramaki, you're back? Who did you catch?" Kizaru slid his sunglasses down his nose.
With two thuds, two mud-like figures landed before them, splattering drops of blood.
Ryokugyu pulled out a blue Den Den Mushi from her bosom, casually tossed it into the sea, then swayed her voluptuous hips as she seductively sat down next to Akainu.
She raised a delicate finger, from which extended a verdant vine that wrapped around the cigar box on the table.
She took out a cigar and held it between her luscious red lips.
"The Barrier-Barrier Fruit user you wanted, Bartholomeo. And a Swamp-Swamp Fruit user we happened to encounter on the way, what was his name? Never mind, just some trash pirate anyway."
Ryokugyu leaned her head close to Akainu's, lit the cigar, and blew out a stream of white smoke from her red lips.
The movement caused her coat to slip open, suddenly revealing two large white rabbits in Akainu's vision.
Akainu's mouth twitched.
He coughed once, snatched the sunglasses from Kizaru's nose, and put them on himself.
Fujitora cleared his throat lightly. "Ryokugyu, you should pay some attention to your personal image. After all, you're a Marine Admiral, you can't just..."
"Issho, aren't you blind? Hmph! I'll dress however I want, what's it to you?"
Though Ryokugyu intended to snort coldly, the words coming from her overly charming face sounded like a coquettish woman playfully acting spoiled...
Fujitora wore a bitter smile.
He thought to himself that since Caesar appeared, the personalities of all the Marine higher-ups except himself had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Kizaru went from laid-back to cold and ruthless, Akainu let himself go completely, treating the Gorosei's orders as mere background noise.
As for Ryokugyu, never mind her personality - even her gender had changed.
He shook his head and looked again at the large screen in the distance.
On the screen, Doflamingo in his fiery red cloak spun, leaped, and closed his eyes as he passionately commentated around two Celestial Dragons.
After explaining at length, he waved toward the stage floor.
Soon, dozens of various cold weapons and firearms were thrown onto the stage, clattering noisily on the golden floor.
"Now then, everyone, please enjoy this duel between great gods!"
"Great Saint Roswald, and equally great Saint Charlos! Between the two of you, only one can survive. Whether you both die here or decide who gets to live - that's between you father and son. I won't interfere."
With that, Doflamingo directly jumped off the platform.
On the stage, the dazed father and son stumbled to their feet, looking around in confusion at the growing crowd gathering below the stage.
These people of varying heights all radiated formidable auras.
What frightened them most was seeing numerous giants over ten meters tall mixed in the crowd, making them feel utterly insignificant.
"What duel? Doflamingo! What nonsense are you spouting?"
Saint Roswald looked panic-stricken at the surrounding dark mass of people, his fear growing increasingly intense.
When he noticed an Image Den Den Mushi on a nearby pillar, its two wide-open eyes fixed directly on him, he suddenly understood his predicament.
"You damned, filthy, gutter-dwelling vermin! How dare you treat your gods this way! Turn it off! Turn off these damned Den Den Mushi!"
Saint Roswald spread his arms and lunged toward the nearest Den Den Mushi, intent on crushing it.
Wham!
Caesar casually waved his large hand, sending a gust of wind that struck Saint Roswald and effortlessly sent him flying, crashing into his foolish son who was sticking his butt out, sending them both tumbling across the ground.
This ridiculous scene was being broadcast live for the entire world to see clearly!
In the Holy Land, the Gorosei's faces were so dark they seemed about to drip water, all gritting their teeth as they squeezed out two words filled with infinite hatred through clenched teeth.
"Caesar!!!"