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Chapter 51: Glint-Glint Fruit, Moving Out
Marineford, Marine Headquarters Port.
A massive warship, one that could be called a fortress at sea, was quietly docked at Pier 1.
This was the highest-class flagship, a vessel only a Marine Admiral was qualified to board when deploying.
On deck, thousands of elite Marines stood at attention. The atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.
A hard-to-conceal tension and confusion was on every soldier's face.
They had received a top-secret, S-rank mission.
But their destination... was that "weakest sea," a place they'd always imagined even Sea Kings were too lazy to visit.
This intense contrast filled the air with a strange tension.
And the source of this strange atmosphere was standing lazily at the bow.
Marine Headquarters' highest power.
Admiral, "Kizaru" Borsalino.
He wore his signature yellow-and-white striped suit, hands in his pockets. He was facing Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who had come to see him off, and let out a huge yawn.
"Aaa~~yawn..."
This long, obnoxious yawn instantly diluted the solemn atmosphere of the port.
A vein throbbed on Sengoku's forehead.
He fought the urge to punch this bastard into the sea and, in the most serious, grave tone he had ever used in his life, warned him.
"Borsalino!"
"I'll say this one last time!"
"Remember your mission!"
"Investigate! Evaluate! Until you have my permission, until you are absolutely certain, you are not to engage in any conflict with that man, Blake!"
Sengoku bit out every word.
Kizaru dug in his ear, tilted his head, and put on an extremely sleazy expression. He replied in his signature, drawn-out voice:
"Ooooh~~"
"How scaaaaary~~"
"Sengoku-san, that expression of yours... is really frightening me."
He pushed up his sunglasses, holding his hands out lazily.
"It's just a trip to the weakest East Blue. Is there any need to be so nervous?"
"Besides, I wasn't planning on fighting that Blake kid."
Kizaru's lips curled, his smile becoming even more playful.
"Hearing Kuzan's description, that kind of monster who can create a world with a wave of his hand... surely he needs someone of your level, Fleet Admiral, to handle, right?"
"You're sending me... Isn't that putting me in a tough spot?"
"..."
Sengoku felt his blood pressure skyrocketing.
He clenched his fists so hard his nails were digging into his palms.
This bastard!
Every word he says... is perfectly calculated to piss me off!
Yes! I want to go myself!
But can I?!
The Fleet Admiral personally deploying to the weakest sea? How much of a commotion would that cause? How would I explain that to the World Government?
And what would the Yonko in the New World think?
"Stop screwing around with me!"
Sengoku finally couldn't take it anymore and roared at Kizaru.
"If you mess up this mission!"
"Your vacation time for the rest of this year... no! All of your vacation time for next year is canceled!"
"?!"
The smile on Kizaru's face froze for an instant.
His hand, which was adjusting his sunglasses, also paused.
He looked at Sengoku's face, which was red with anger, and confirmed he wasn't joking.
The next second.
Kizaru's grin... grew even wider.
He held his hands out in a helpless gesture.
"W-Well..."
"Why say something so terrifying."
"Honestly, now I'm just..."
A sharp glint of light flashed across his sunglasses.
"A little curious."
Sengoku looked at his impervious attitude and just felt exhausted.
He waved his hand tiredly.
"Get going!"
"Oooh, as you wish."
Kizaru gave an extremely sloppy Marine salute, turned, and slowly walked toward the cabin.
"Set sail!"
With Sengoku's order, the giant warship sounded its long horn.
The fleet slowly pulled away from the port, heading for the endless sea.
Sengoku stood on the docks, watching the flagship grow smaller, unmoving.
Behind him, Grand Staff Officer Tsuru walked up and said softly:
"Don't worry, Sengoku."
"Borsalino may look unreliable, but he values his life more than anyone."
"He knows what to do."
Sengoku let out a long sigh.
"I'm worried because I know he values his life more than anyone!"
"That slippery bastard... The moment he senses danger, he'll be the first to run!"
On the bow of the warship.
Kizaru had re-emerged.
He stood there, watching the shrinking Marineford. The sleazy smile on his face... slowly... receded.
The sea breeze blew the hem of his suit.
The sun reflected off his sunglasses, casting a cold light.
At this moment, there was no trace of the laziness or sleaziness from before.
In its place... was a calmness as deep as an abyss.
"Admiral."
A cool, female voice came from behind him.
Gion, dressed in a sharp Marine uniform, her hand resting on her famous blade, "Konpira."
There was no confusion in her beautiful eyes. Only the sharpness of a drawn blade and a soaring fighting spirit.
She couldn't wait... to see the monster that had defeated Admiral Aokiji in three minutes.
Kizaru didn't turn, just glanced at her, his lazy drawl returning.
"Gion-chan, don't be so excited."
"We're just going to the peaceful East Blue this time. Just think of it as a paid vacation. Relax."
"Besides," he paused, adding slowly, "according to Kuzan's report, that 'Beginner Dungeon' shouldn't be too hard."
"Hmph."
Gion snorted, not replying.
She didn't like Kizaru's ambiguous attitude.
In her view, any threat to "Justice" should be cut down with the sharpest blade.
Not... "probed"... timidly, like this.
Kizaru didn't mind her attitude.
His gaze, through his sunglasses, looked out at the endless blue sea.
A cold light reflected off the lenses.
His voice... was so soft only he could hear it.
"An ability that even gave Kuzan trouble..."
"Truth-Seeking Orbs... Limbo: Border Jail..."
"What a headache."
"I just hope... it's not a speed-type."
"If it is, that would be..."
"Way too troublesome."
Meanwhile.
In a nondescript watchtower on Marineford.
A tall figure, wearing sunglasses, was watching the departing fleet with a telescope.
His face was blank.
It was Vergo.
He watched until the flagship had completely disappeared over the horizon, then slowly lowered the telescope.
"Kizaru... Gion..."
He pushed up his sunglasses, turned, and melted into the shadows.