At the New Marine Headquarters, when the messenger urgently led the silver-haired Sengoku and Garp into the Fleet Admiral office...
Sengoku looked stunned "Sakazuki, you seem quite agitated lately. Have you not been visiting the pleasure district enough?"
"Pfft—BWAHAHAHA!" Garp burst into laughter, spraying senbei everywhere.
The office was in complete disarray.
Akainu sat gloomily in his chair, his face dark as iron. The walls around him were smoking, with one side blown open—the masonry stones melted away.
"SHUT IT!"
Smoke practically rose from Akainu head as he glared at Sengoku and handed over the Den Den Mushi.
"What's this?"
"Aramaki went out alone—no idea where. This is his private line with me. Just now, some arrogant bastard calling himself Caesar contacted us through it, demanding to speak with you or Garp."
Sengoku frowned, realizing the severity of the situation.
A Marine Admiral personal Den Den Mushi had somehow ended up in a stranger hands.
And this person had the audacity to directly contact Headquarters—such lawlessness was unprecedented.
"Quit dawdling! That guy said Aramaki is in his custody. If we don't respond in three minutes, he'll kill him!" Akainu growled through clenched teeth.
Sengoku and Garp expressions darkened instantly. Sengoku quickly dialed the exclusive number.
"Purupurupuru..."
The call connected, and the same arrogant voice echoed through the Fleet Admiral office.
"Too slow, old mutt. Time's up—your man already gone." Caesar booming voice mocked them.
Akainu fury erupted. "Bullshit! It's only been two minutes!"
"If I say time's up, then it's up! Borororo! I'll have someone dump the corpse at Marine Headquarters soon enough."
Akainu was about to retort when Sengoku signaled him to stay silent, forcing him to swallow his rage.
Sengoku cleared his throat. "Sir, let's not joke about this. The life of a Marine top fighter is no trivial matter. State your demands—just tell us what you know about Aramaki"
Caesar sneered. "As expected of the 'Resourceful General' Sengoku—so measured and logical, unlike that rabid dog. Bororo! Sengoku! Garp! To think you've forgotten me—unforgivable! Though, your voice sounds so old now. I wonder if you could even take one punch from me!"
"Huh?"
Sengoku glanced at Garp, who shrugged, indicating he had no clue either.
"How dull. I've only been asleep for thirty years, and the world already erased me. Seems my reputation wasn't big enough. That bastard Rocks has been dead for 38 years and people still remember him! Borororo, I'll set sail again—make this world remember what suffering truly is!"
Caesar manic declaration left the three men in the office grimacing.
"Enough riddles. Who the hell are you?" Garp snapped impatiently.
"I am Caesar, Garp! On God Valley, you punched me several times! And that bastard Roger slashed my chest—it still hasn't healed, Bororororo!!"
Crunch.
Garp suddenly crushed the senbei in his hand, his eyes widening.
Sengoku, too, shuddered, his long-restrained Conqueror's Haki leaking out uncontrollably, stirring a violent gust in the office.
"Demon Caesar?! You...weren't you already dead?!" Sengoku roared, losing his composure.
Beside him, Akainu furrowed his brows deeply, sensing that something was amiss.
For both Sengoku and Garp to show such shock—such figures were truly few and far between on these seas.
Years ago, Akainu had only seen such stunned, grave expressions on their faces when the great pirate Shiki the Golden Lion escaped from prison.
Noticing Akainu questioning look, Garp said solemnly "Demon Caesar, Kaido older brother."
"What? Kaido brother?" Akainu eyes widened in disbelief, doubting his own ears.
Garp sighed and continued "It's normal you haven't heard of him. This man was the top enforcer on Rocks' crew, nicknamed 'Demon.' His strength rivaled that of a young Whitebeard. After the God Valley incident, he fled to Hachinosu with Kaido. A few years later, news of him gradually faded. For over thirty years, he hasn't appeared on the seas. We all thought he was long dead. Who would've thought..."
Akainu gaped, as if being mocked.
"Rivaling Whitebeard? Kaido is already monstrously strong—and this fiend has an even more terrifying older brother? Wait..."
Akainu face suddenly paled. "Doesn't that mean this man is in Wano? A combatant no weaker than Kaido—why hasn't he interfere with the situation before? How did the Straw Hats manage to defeat Big Mom, Kaido, and this Caesar working together?"
Garp expression darkened too—his precious grandson Luffy was still in Wano.
"Borororo, why so quiet? How boring. After all, we're old acquaintances. Fine, I'm heading to the Flower Capital now. Hehehe, Garp, I heard your grandson defeated my useless little brother and replaced him as one of the Four Emperors? Borororo, how amusing! He's still in Wano, isn't he?"
Caesar utterly sinister laughter continued, like a devil whispering in their ears.
Garp gritted his teeth and roared "CAESAR! If you dare lay a finger on my grandson, I'll make sure you regret it!"
"Borororo, Garp, you've grown old. I wonder if your fists have rusted. I'm not afraid of you now—no, I never was back then either."
Caesar gripped the Den Den Mushi, grinning arrogantly.
"The world's gotten interesting! I've decided—I'll set sail too and claim the title of Emperor for myself! Borororo, Sengoku, spread the name of Emperor Caesar far and wide! Let these seas know who the true ruler of the ocean is!"
"Caesar!" Sengoku bellowed into the Den Den Mushi. "Don't change the subject! Where is Green Bull?!"
Click.
The call ended mercilessly.
"DAMN IT!" Sengoku was so furious he was practically steaming from his ears, his hands trembling.
"What should we do? We don't even know if Aramaki still alive. Damn it, why did he go to Wano? Didn't I warn him to stay at Marine HQ and not wander around? The New World is undergoing a massive power reshuffle right now—it's dangerous everywhere. Even an Admiral can't guarantee safety sailing alone."
Akainu had long lost his composure as Fleet Admiral, his face contorted, barely holding back from cursing outright.
Sengoku frowned and sighed. "If it really is that demon Caesar, then Aramaki is most likely in trouble. That guy... is truly not someone to mess with."
Akainu still seemed skeptical. "Is he really that strong?"
"It's not just about raw strength. Back in the day, his physical prowess far surpassed Kaido. He also possesses terrifying abilities, and his weapon has consumed an extremely rare power" Sengoku explained.
"Three Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits: the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, eaten by Kaido."
"Fish Fish fruit Model: Zhu Long, fed by Caesar to his weapon."
"And the last Fish Fish fruit Model: Kun Peng, eaten by Caesar himself."
Garp expression turned grave.
"The Devil Fruit Caesar consumed is the most unique among the Mythical Zoan types—he can transform into a fish thousands of meters long and swim freely in the sea. In other words, seawater and Seastone have no effect on him!"
Akainu: "???"