One minute ago.

Off the coast of Mary Geoise.

Red Port.

"Hurry up!"

"Damn it! If anything happens to me, you'll all go down with me!"

"If that bastard goes berserk, we'll all die here!"

"Quick! Set sail!"

"Marines!! Marines, protect us!"

Panicked cries echoed from the decks of the ships as representatives and kings from Member Nations yelled in terror, urging their subordinates to set sail.

While Daren and the Five Elders clashed in battle, they had already fled Mary Geoise, escorted by CP Division agents and Holy Land guards, flooding into Red Port. The horrifying display of Rogers Daren's power—the brutal scene of him subduing the Five Elders, the highest authority of the World Government—left these pampered nobles and national representatives terrified. They had no desire to stay any longer.

One thought consumed their minds:

—Leave the Red Line continent immediately! The farther, the better!

At the command of the delegates, the Member Nations' official ships scrambled to set sail. In their frantic rush, they clogged the massive Red Port harbor, causing numerous accidents and disputes.

"Distinguished delegates, trust in our Marines! Whatever the crisis, with the might of the Marines, we will ensure your safety!"

Watching the chaos unfold, Sengoku paced, his anxiety palpable. Sweat beaded on his brow as he suddenly leapt onto the mast of a warship. From his elevated position, he bellowed:

"In the name of the Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters, I can absolutely—"

Before Sengoku could finish, an enraged king from one of the Member Nations cut him off:

"Shut your mouth! Who would believe you? That madman Rogers Daren is still one of your own!"

Sengoku froze.

Beside him, Borsalino stroked his chin and remarked, "Well, they do have a point..."

Sengoku shot him a fierce glare before grinding his teeth and speaking loudly:

"Gentlemen, Rogers Daren was expelled from the Navy long ago. He is wanted by justice with the world's second-highest bounty—he is our greatest enemy… He has no connection to our Marines whatsoever!"

"And most importantly, even if you don't trust anyone else, surely you trust me, Sengoku?"

At that moment, another representative from the Member Nations retorted bluntly:

"We don't trust you, Sengoku! After all, you weren't even granted the privilege to attend the ceremony!"

Sengoku's expression froze. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Borsalino scratched his head, muttering under his breath in a voice only he could hear:

"That's really cutting to the bone… He's completely right. After all, even the Shichibukai, who started as pirates, have the privilege of watching the ceremony remotely from the Holy Land hall. Yet we Marines are stuck guarding ships in Red Port..."

"—Borsalino, will you shut up already!"

Sengoku spun around, his eyes burning with fury as he glared at Borsalino, his teeth clenched.

Seeing Sengoku's enraged expression, Borsalino raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, his face innocent as he said:

"Sorry, sorry, Admiral Sengoku."

Sengoku took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. As he swiftly issued orders for the soldiers to organize the orderly departure of the Member Nations' official ships, he lowered his voice and asked:

"What's the situation at Pangaea Castle?"

Borsalino glanced at his wristwatch, then turned his gaze toward the distant horizon where Pangaea Castle stood.

Even from this far away, he could faintly discern terrifying shockwaves and crimson-black lightning bolts erupting into the sky, violently shattering the Sea Clouds. Without needing to be present, he could vividly imagine the catastrophic battle unfolding there.

'And I'm stuck here in Red Port, waiting helplessly because of that damned order from the Five Elders!'

Sengoku clenched his fists tightly, his heart burning with frustration so intense that he almost ground his teeth to dust.

"The strike operation request has been submitted to CP headquarters. I expect results soon enough..."

Borsalino cast a careless glance at the chaotic harbor, a mocking half-smile on his face.

"Besides, that Daren fellow doesn't seem the type to act recklessly..."

This isn't reckless!?

Sengoku nearly lost his temper again, his chest heaving with rapid breaths. He was filled with utter regret.

He should never have been tempted by that bastard Daren's measly few billion-Beli military "aid" and let him sneak into Impel Down for "training"!

How could he have been so reckless!?

But then again, this wasn't something he could control.

After all, Daren's abilities and modus operandi were utterly insane—completely unpredictable, utterly reckless, with zero regard for others' lives.

Just then—

"Beep-beep-beep..."

A series of urgent electronic beeps suddenly sounded from Borsalino's wristwatch. He glanced down and smiled.

"The CP Department has approved it, Admiral Sengoku?"

"Depart immediately!"

Sengoku's eyes lit up, and he gave the order without hesitation. Only Borsalino's abilities could get him to the battlefield at top speed.

"Then... what's the objective?"

Borsalino feigned confusion.

Sengoku rolled his eyes, snapping irritably, "You decide! Adapt on the fly!"

What possible objective could there be against that brat Daren?!

Having "cleared" the sixth layer of Impel Down's Eternal Hell, Sengoku couldn't even begin to fathom how far Daren's strength had escalated. Even if Daren chose to fight head-on without exploiting his Devil Fruit abilities, Sengoku couldn't guarantee he'd gain the upper hand against him, let alone capture him.

In fact, Sengoku estimated that arresting Daren would likely require mobilizing every elite combatant from Marine Headquarters to stand a chance!

"Understood."

Borsalino murmured with a smile, then his form rapidly dispersed into countless photons, vanishing from the spot.

At that moment, Sengoku's expression changed abruptly.

A thunderous roar echoed as he looked up, only to see a figure enveloped in lightning streaking out from the direction of Pangaea Castle. That figure briefly crossed paths with Borsalino's golden light, then passed by as if they hadn't seen each other at all.

Sengoku: "..."

That bastard Borsalino!

He's... far too agile.

Before Sengoku could react, the lightning figure abruptly materialized above Red Harbor. A powerful, savage, and terrifying aura radiated downward. Daren, whose figure resembled a blood-soaked man, beckoned to the stunned Sengoku with a smile and said:

"Well, Admiral Sengoku, long time no see."

With that, he shot straight up into the sky, vanishing into the Sea Clouds.

Sengoku stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

Not far away, on the government ships anchored in the harbor, the group of royal representatives from the World Government pointed at Sengoku, their eyes wide. Their expressions screamed, "And you said he had nothing to do with you?!"

Sengoku: "..."

…

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