Chapter 71: Enemy Attack!
At Marine Headquarters, in the Fleet Admiral's office, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was looking at the intelligence report in his hand with an immense headache. The Red Nose Pirates were indeed developing towards the worst-case scenario he had imagined.
He had used his highest authority, even contacting the CP0 whom he disliked the most, and spent two days collecting and organizing intelligence on the Red Nose Pirates. The result was utterly shocking.
"Tsuru, what do you make of this pirate crew?" Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Sengoku handed the intelligence report on the Red Nose Pirates to the Marine's Great Staff Officer, Vice Admiral Tsuru, who was sitting on the sofa.
A while later, after reading the report, Vice Admiral Tsuru slowly looked up at Sengoku and said, "Very tricky. Ordinary pursuit will be ineffective. After all, with Daz Bonez, their speed at sea is too fast; we simply can't catch them. In my opinion, the difficulty of eliminating this pirate crew is no less than that of fighting one of the Four Emperors. However, difficult doesn't mean we do nothing. The wanted posters must be issued, but not now. Let's wait for news from the North Blue before making a decision. If what Sarkozy IV said is not false, the Red Nose Pirates will soon make contact with Borsalino. I believe you have already alerted him. All that's left is to wait. We'll talk again after Borsalino has ascertained the strength of the Red Nose Pirates."
"What if the Red Nose Pirates avoid Borsalino?"
Sengoku's question was not without reason. In the world of pirates, generally speaking, pirates rarely confronted the Marines head-on. Most confrontations happened when they couldn't escape. Otherwise, how would Caribou of the Swamp-Swamp Fruit have become infamous for killing Marine soldiers?
"That is also a possible outcome, and the best one at that. But I estimate that this outcome is unlikely to occur."
Vice Admiral Tsuru shook her head, because according to the intelligence gathered, the Red Nose Pirates were no pushovers. A pirate crew with less than ten people dared to directly attack the royal capitals of three countries to wipe out their royal families. Not only that, but they also divided their limited personnel into three groups. Such a pirate crew was absolutely confident in their own strength and would naturally not abandon their objective because of the Marines.
The white-haired old lady could already predict that in a few days, or even less, news of a great battle between the Red Nose Pirates and a Marine Admiral would come from the North Sea. The only unknown was who would emerge victorious.
While Vice Admiral Tsuru and Fleet Admiral Sengoku were in discussion, on an island in a certain sea area of the North Blue, Sarkozy IV finally saw a Marine ship sailing in from the distance.
After getting a clear look at the person who had arrived and confirming that it was the Marine Admiral with the title "Kizaru," Borsalino, Sarkozy IV finally felt a little relieved.
In contrast to Sarkozy IV's relief, Borsalino was feeling a bit sour inside.
Since when did a Marine Admiral become a character to be ordered around at will? Just because Dr. Vegapunk was missing a certain material, he was dispatched to the North Blue, and then before there was any news on the material, he was forcibly assigned this rescue mission by the World Government.
Have these guys ever considered my position as a Marine Admiral? Does being easy to talk to mean I'm easy to bully? It seems that after I get back, I'll have to use practical actions to show some people what dissatisfaction means.
Despite his thoughts, Borsalino did not show any dissatisfaction on his face, maintaining his usual lazy appearance.
"Admiral Kizaru, thank you for your rescue. Do you think we should set off for Sarkozy Kingdom now?" Having been chased out of his home, Sarkozy IV was extremely frustrated. Now that strong reinforcements had arrived, he naturally hoped to kill his way back immediately.
"King of Sarkozy, your suggestion is quite a headache, you know~. To rescue you, I rushed over from a very far place. I didn't even have time to resupply along the way. Not only are the ship's supplies insufficient now, but the soldiers also need a good rest. After all, for your safety, they rushed here with all their might. I estimate it will take at least a few days of rest for them to recover," Kizaru said in his unique slow drawl, glancing faintly at Sarkozy IV.
Looking at the energetic soldiers busy in the distance, Sarkozy IV really wanted to slap Borsalino.
Are those high-spirited, excited guys in the distance really the 'exhausted soldiers' you're talking about? Are you kidding me?
Forcibly suppressing his anger, Sarkozy IV turned and walked away. He had now fully experienced the Marine Admiral's unpleasant attitude. Rather than shamelessly pestering this Admiral, it was better to just wait and see when he was actually planning to leave. In any case, he had already been chased out; the result of returning early versus returning late probably wouldn't be much different.
Thinking of this, Sarkozy IV walked towards his own ship.
And just as Sarkozy IV was about to board the ship, a sudden chill crept up his spine. Reacting instantly, Sarkozy IV moved, putting a dozen meters between himself and the ship.
In the next second, a violent explosion suddenly rang out. Accompanied by the explosion, Sarkozy IV's vessel was smashed into a pile of fragments by a super-fast cannonball.
Without seeing it with one's own eyes, no one would believe that a solid cannonball could have such power.
Looking at the now-shattered ship and hearing the delayed, sharp sound of something tearing through the air, Sarkozy IV's face was gloomy.
He cast his gaze to the distant sea horizon, where a black dot was rapidly growing larger as it headed his way.
"Enemy attack!" a Marine soldier who had reacted shouted loudly.
At this moment, everyone on the island knew that an enemy was coming, but as for who the attacker was, probably only Sarkozy IV and Borsalino knew.
Sarkozy IV's gloomy face was now completely ashen. He truly couldn't believe that this Red Nose Pirates crew would be so arrogant as to actually chase him down, not even hesitating in the slightest upon seeing a Marine warship.
As for Borsalino, the lazy look on his face was swept away, replaced by a grave expression.
The power of that cannonball just now had truly astonished him.
As a Marine Admiral, Borsalino was very clear about the parameters of the cannons on Marine warships. Even the strongest one couldn't fire from such a long distance. Not only that, but its power absolutely could not reach the level of the one just now. For a solid shot, a warship's cannon could at most blast a large hole in Sarkozy IV's vessel.
In just an instant, Borsalino made a judgment: from this day forward, the "Thor," which could threaten Marine warships, absolutely could not be allowed to exist.
Putting thought into action, Borsalino flashed and appeared directly in the sky above the island, facing the rapidly approaching "Thor."
Yasakani no Magatama!
(End of Chapter)