"Are you kidding me!? There's no way I'll agree to this! We're the Navy, dammit! We're the Navy that protects civilians from harm! We're the Navy that maintains order and safety on the seas! And now you tell me we're going to cooperate with the CP organization, go to Water Seven, escort shipwright Tom to Judicial Island for trial and execution!?"
A chilling gust of wind swept through Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
"Admiral 'Aokiji' Kuzan's" voice came from inside the office, accompanied by the sharp slap of someone striking the table.
Another voice — resolute and ruthless, like a needle striking grain — answered in return.
There was no doubt: the voice belonged to "Admiral 'Akainu' Sakazuki."
"Kuzan! Get a grip! That man built the pirate ship for Gol D. Roger… From my point of view he is undeniably an accomplice of the Pirate King! An accessory! He should have been executed back then; later he was given a suspended sentence because of that Sea Train… Now that the Sea Train has been completed, all future trains can be built along the same track layout — he no longer needs to live!"
"Sakazuki! Don't give me that crap! You think he's an accomplice, do you? Then when weapons from the Navy's arsenals leak into the sea and get into pirate hands, should we execute everyone in the entire arsenal!?"
The Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals outside the door glanced at each other.
Admiral Akainu and Admiral Aokiji were arguing — and they could do nothing but worry.
After all, Admiral "Borsalino" and Vice Admiral Tsuru and Fleet Admiral Sengoku inside the office had not spoken a word.
"Ah, if they keep arguing like this… I hope the two Admirals won't actually start fighting inside the Fleet Admiral's office?"
"…Don't joke. With Akainu's temper, it might actually happen."
"What unfortunate timing. Both substitutes for the Admirals are away from headquarters, Vice Admiral Garp and Chief Inspector Michael aren't here either… We can only wait to see what Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru decide."
Outside the door, people could only sigh and pace — they had no other options.
Inside the office, the atmosphere was already at the point of steel meeting bowstrings.
Luckily the quarrel between Sakazuki and Kuzan was happening in Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office; otherwise, the two would surely have squared off already.
But it was almost as if they had started fighting anyway — except they hadn't used any Devil Fruit powers. The tension and readiness to fight were palpable.
Both men wore gritted, furious expressions; it was obvious they were extremely dissatisfied with each other.
Yet they also knew today had to end here.
If they dared to start a fight in Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, a court-martial would surely follow.
"Oh my, how scary. When you two argue like this I just want to run away…"
"Borsalino! Don't make flippant remarks!" Sakazuki snapped, turning abruptly to Borsalino. "You're an Admiral too! Are you trying to stay out of this?"
"I'm not trying to stay out of it, but I won't easily agree with either of you… After all, neither of you are calm right now."
Borsalino sat on the sofa as if nothing were happening, speaking casually while he leisurely crossed and re-crossed his legs and continued trimming his fingernails.
Sengoku and Tsuru sat nearby in silence.
But their eyes were fixed on someone else in the room — someone other than the Navy brass…
A head of purple hair, a face full of sly cunning — the classic schemer.
That man finally opened his mouth, speaking with an arrogant, overbearing tone:
"What's the point of your quarrel? This is an order from the World Government — you Navy people should just obey and act!"
"Shut your mouth, you idiot from CP!" Akainu spun to face him. Molten sparks flew from his parted lips; his hard face took on an even more savage, terrifying aspect. "I remember you… you're Spandine's son, right? Didn't your father tell you: if you don't want to die horribly, you'd better keep your mouth shut!"
Akainu's brutality made Spandam immediately see the situation clearly. He forced a fawning smile and shrank back, saying nothing.
Spandam's behavior only drew a sneer from Sakazuki.
The World Government… was getting more and more useless.
But inside Spandam his thoughts were very different.
Bear it! As long as he could take the Navy to Water Seven, arrest Tom, and find the design drawings of the 'Pluton'… then he would surely rise rapidly within the World Government!
Then Admirals and Fleet Admirals would have to treat him with deference!
Thinking this, he could not help but let out an arrogant, leering chuckle inside his head.
He then continued to listen to the heated debate between ice and fire.
"This must be done! Only then can we tell everyone not to get involved with pirates!"
"Sakazuki, I don't want to waste any more words with you!" Kuzan gave a cold laugh and shook his head.
"Tell me — how is this any different from terrorizing the public and threatening civilians!?"
Sakazuki ground his teeth, reached out, grabbed Kuzan's collar, and shoved his face up close.
"Compassion! In chaotic times, harsh measures must be used — do I need to teach you that again!?"
"Brutal and merciless, everything is black or white, kill everything — is that your idea of an exemplary Navy? Cut it out, Sakazuki! Tom's Sea Train has connected Water Seven — a city threatened annually by massive storms — and it even connects to Judicial Island, making the whole Judicial Island a truly strategic and dangerous point! What, great Admiral Akainu, are you going to ride the criminal's train to capture him? You've taken that very train! So it looks like you're an accomplice of the Pirate King too!"
"Hmph! Don't put those two things on the same level!"
"Then… put a muzzle on that mouth of yours!"
At that moment Kuzan's body radiated cold, but his eyes blazed with fire.
The two men were on the verge of coming to blows.
Borsalino silently put away his nail clipper and watched them warily, ready to step in and stop them at any moment.
"Re-re-re-report! Intelligence from Water Seven!"
A messenger who was trembling all over and stammering his words burst into the room.
For someone to storm into a face-off between two Admirals and still keep his footing was already impressive.
Finally Sengoku spoke.
"Speak. What is it?"
"Re-report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Water Seven has confirmed that Chief Inspector Michael and Vice Admiral Garp appeared at the Tom Shipyard…"
"And now they have taken Tom onto the Sea Train, heading to…"
"Judicial Island!"
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