"Hmm?"
"A direct emergency rescue order… from the World Government?"
Kuzan's (Aokiji's) pupils narrowed slightly as he held the Den Den Mushi. His expression shifted — not to panic, but to a cooler, sharper seriousness.
If it was Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong calling at this timing…
then it was definitely not a trivial matter.
And if it was an order personally issued from "those people" sitting above Mariejois…
then it meant just one thing:
This wasn't a normal pirate cleanup.
This was political.
"Fleet Admiral Kong," Kuzan asked slowly, "why is the World Government insisting that we send someone?"
"Don't they have CP-0 for this kind of thing?"
"As far as I know, CP-0 agents are all top-tier elites. Even in the New World they're considered monsters — assassination, infiltration, disappearance… that's what they're best at."
"Wouldn't it be more natural to send CP-0 than a Marine warship?"
Because that was how it usually went.
CP-9 → covert ops.
CP-0 → the Celestial Dragons' direct blade.
They didn't answer to the Marines.
They didn't even answer to the Fleet Admiral.
They answered upstairs.
Which was why Kuzan found it strange.
If the World Government really wanted to rescue a group of nobles… CP-0 should've handled it.
On the other end, Kong's voice came back calm, but firm:
"Those at the top have their own considerations."
"This isn't something you and I can question."
"In short — the order is clear."
"The Marines will dispatch one strong combatant to infiltrate the pirate group and extract the captured nobles alive."
"At the same time, they will also send one of their own."
"This will be a joint emergency operation — Marines + World Government."
Kuzan's brows rose.
"A joint op… with CP-0?"
"Just to save a few nobles?"
He really wanted to refuse.
He didn't like this kind of mission.
Big battles? Fine.
Freezing an entire bay? Easy.
But rescue work — penetrate, neutralize, protect the hostages, don't kill the VIPs, don't let the pirates blow them up out of spite — this was the kind of task that was the biggest headache.
Still, he asked:
"…Then at least tell me the details, Fleet Admiral."
"If it's not too messy, I'll go."
"As a Vice Admiral, I can decline."
"If I do, you'll just have to send someone else."
There was a brief pause.
Then Kong said:
"Have you heard of the Rosede Kingdom?"
Kuzan's eyes flickered.
"…Rosede, huh?"
He thought for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"If I remember right, Rosede Kingdom is one of the World Government's member nations."
"Thanks to its climate and soil, it grows a unique fruit — used to brew a very rare wine."
"That wine is regularly offered to the Celestial Dragons."
"It's the kind of thing only nobles can drink."
"Because of that single special crop, Rosede became rich — one of the more prosperous member nations."
"Am I wrong?"
On the other end, Kong affirmed:
"Exactly."
"Because of that fruit, the kingdom prospered."
"And because it prospered… it got targeted."
"A large pirate force raided them — roughly three thousand to four thousand men."
"The kingdom had money — but no army."
"So… a dozen Rosede nobles were captured alive."
"Along with about five hundred of the kingdom's royal guards."
Kuzan fell silent.
That explained it.
A member nation — plundered.
Nobles — kidnapped.
And to make it worse…
Rosede was a nation that paid its heavenly tribute properly — supplying wine directly to the Celestial Dragons.
In other words…
They paid protection money.
So now that the "little brother" had been beaten up…
the "big brother" — the World Government — couldn't just sit there and do nothing.
Otherwise the other member nations would start thinking:
"We pay tribute every year…
but when pirates hit us, you don't help?"
"So what are we paying for?"
Kuzan exhaled.
"…So that's what it is."
"So the target is not to destroy the pirates —"
"—but to rescue the nobles. Intact."
That was the annoying part.
If they could just blast the pirates off the island, he'd have said yes already.
But rescue meant: no mistakes.
Kuzan rubbed his neck.
"Who hit Rosede?"
"Which pirate crew?"
Kong answered at once:
"A large crew calling themselves the Sword-Lion Pirates."
"Large headcount — about four thousand."
"The captain is an Animal-type Devil Fruit user — the 'Sword Lion' Zoan."
"Name: Lowe Gatt."
"Bounty: 48 million Berries."
"Under him are four officers — each with bounties over 30 million."
"So if you go… there's a high chance it'll end in a direct confrontation."
"Your job — wipe them out and get every noble out alive."
"If even one of the high-value nobles dies… Rosede will file an official complaint."
"And you know how annoying that gets."
Kuzan listened quietly.
The problem was clear now.
Strong pirate crew.
Hostages.
World Government watching.
Must get them out alive.
He really didn't want to do it.
Then…
his gaze shifted.
A few meters away…
the four-year-old monster was standing shirtless, still soaked in sweat, Ghost Back glowing like a demon sigil on his spine.
Kuzan's eyes narrowed.
A thought appeared.
"…Fleet Admiral," he said suddenly, "the order from above only said we have to send one strong Marine, right?"
"They didn't say who?"
Kong answered, "Correct."
"As long as the one going is strong enough, it fulfills the order."
Kuzan smiled.
"Then I'll accept the mission."
Kong paused.
"…You'll go?"
Kuzan shook his head — even though Kong couldn't see it.
"No."
"I won't go."
"I'll let someone else go."
Kong's tone changed.
"Who?"
Kuzan grinned.
"A few days ago I already reported him to you."
"Vice Admiral Garp's grandson."
"Monkey D. Kai."
"I'll let him take this emergency rescue mission."
"With his current strength…"
"…a pirate group with a captain under 50 million is nothing."
"I believe he can finish it. Clean."
On the other end, Kong was… stunned.
"Wait."
"You're sending Garp's four-year-old grandson…"
"…on a World Government rescue mission?"
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Kong almost snapped the Den Den Mushi in half.
"That kid is four!"
"He may be a monster, but he's still a kid!"
"If something happens to him…"
"Garp won't kill me first — he'll kill you!"
Kuzan waved lazily with his free hand, even though no one could see.
"Relax."
"This kid is way stronger than you think, Fleet Admiral."
"You saw the report."
"He used Conqueror's Haki to wipe out over three thousand pirates in one blast."
"He killed three pirates with bounties over tens of millions — in straight combat."
"He's already mastered Rokushiki."
"He's already mastered Life Return."
"He's literally doing things I can't do."
"So…"
"Sending him against a 48-million Zoan…"
"…that's not dangerous."
"That's practice."
On the other end…
Kong went silent.
A long silence.
Then:
"…Kuzan."
"I'm warning you."
"If that brat gets so much as a scratch…"
"I won't be the first to kill you."
"Garp will."
"And he won't just kill you."
"He'll peel you."
Kuzan laughed.
"Don't worry."
"Kai is stronger than even you've imagined, Fleet Admiral."
"He's not the weak link here."
Kong grunted.
"…Fine."
"One more thing," Kuzan said before hanging up. "Who're they sending?"
"Since this is a joint op."
"Who's the World Government agent we'll be working with?"
Kong's voice came back, slightly speechless:
"This time, the World Government said they're also sending a prodigy."
"A thirteen-year-old."
"Someone even CP-0 has their eyes on."
"Name is…"
"Rob Lucci."
To be continued…
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