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Chapter 61: The Mole Leaks the Secret, Igniting the World's Storm!
"So, what you're saying is?"
Kizaru's voice still had its long drawl, but the eyes behind his sunglasses had lost all trace of amusement.
On the other end of the line, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice was filled with exhaustion and gravity.
"Why did Dragon appear in the East Blue?"
"Why now, of all times, in Goa Kingdom?!"
"The timing... is just too wrong!"
Sengoku analyzed calmly. If he didn't know what a bastard Garp was, he'd almost suspect Garp had told Dragon about Blake.
"Are you implying... Dragon's appearance in the East Blue is related to Boss Blake?" Kizaru asked tentatively.
"It's highly likely." Sengoku nodded.
"Tsuru and I have analyzed it. We can't find any other reason for him to be in the East Blue at this time. We must prepare for the worst."
Kizaru said nothing, just listened quietly.
"Listen, Borsalino. Your primary mission has changed."
Sengoku's voice was extremely low, as if every word weighed a ton.
"At all costs. Remember, at all costs!"
"You must absolutely not... let Dragon... make contact with that man named Blake!"
"Ara ra, this is really..."
Kizaru was about to make a quip to lighten the mood. To finally get a vacation, only to run into a former colleague who's fallen to the dark side. This is just like old times.
"Also!"
Sengoku rudely cut him off.
"The situation on the seas right now... is very wrong!"
"Some damned bastard... leaked the news of Kuzan's defeat in the East Blue!"
"Now, the entire ocean is in an uproar because of this news!"
"Whitebeard, Kaido, Golden Lion... those monsters entrenched in the New World... have all turned their gaze to the weakest East Blue!"
"Do you understand what this means?!"
The expression on Kizaru's face completely froze.
Of course he understood.
He was starting to regret taking this mission.
"Once the Revolutionary Army, or those pirates, get their hands on the power of the 'Dungeon Shop'..."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice was filled with an unprecedented fear.
"The Revolutionary Army will gain an endless supply of powerhouses!"
"The Yonko will become even more lawless!"
"The entire balance of the world will be completely overturned! The consequences... are unthinkable!"
"Borsalino, we can't take that gamble!"
"The Marines... can't afford to!"
Kacha.
The Den Den Mushi was hung up.
The deck fell into a deathly silence.
Kizaru slowly, slowly turned around.
His signature, cynical smile, for the first time... completely vanished.
In its place was an extremely rare expression: one called "trouble."
"Ara ra..."
He took off his sunglasses, rubbing his throbbing temples.
"This has really..."
"Turned from a paid vacation... into true overtime hell."
His lazy tone was still there, but its core had completely changed.
It was the frustration and gravity of facing a situation where he couldn't slack off, where he had to go all-out.
He stood up straight.
The next second.
His entire body instantly dissolved, turning into countless shining, golden particles of light.
The terrifying aura of the Marines' highest power was unleashed without reservation, making the entire warship groan under the strain.
"Gion-chan."
Kizaru's emotionless voice echoed from the light particles.
"Relay my orders."
The grave-faced Gion snapped her head up.
"Full speed ahead."
The moment his voice fell.
Swoosh!
A dazzling golden beam of light tore through the calm sky!
The light, at a speed that surpassed the warship's limit, surpassed the human eye's ability to track, shot straight toward the deepest part of the East Blue.
It left only a golden trail on the sea, which lingered for a long time.
Marineford.
Fleet Admiral's Office.
Kacha.
As the Den Den Mushi was slammed down, the room fell into a brief silence.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku let out a long, long breath, filled with an unspeakable exhaustion and weight.
He raised his hand, pressing hard on his throbbing temples. He felt that all the difficult incidents he had handled in his entire life, combined, had not been as taxing as this one day.
"Borsalino... although he always looks unreliable, at critical moments, he's more dependable than anyone."
Beside him, Grand Staff Officer Tsuru picked up her teacup, gently blowing on the floating tea leaves. Her voice was calm as ever, carrying a reassuring strength.
"Let's hope so..."
Sengoku gave a bitter smile, lowering his hand, his eyes full of gravity.
"The East Blue right now... can't be described as a 'vortex' anymore."
Sengoku's fist slammed on the desk.
"It's practically doomsday!"
"Don't forget, that bastard Garp is there too."
Tsuru sipped her tea.
"With two of the Marines' highest powers there, at least they can stabilize the situation."
At the mention of Garp, Sengoku's expression became even more complex, a mix of relief and headache.
"That guy... he's the biggest destabilizing factor!"
"But..."
Sengoku sighed, leaning back in his chair.
"You're right. Having them there is better than nothing."
After a brief silence, Sengoku's hawk-like gaze turned cold again.
"The problem now is... how did the information get leaked!"
"Kuzan's report was S-rank top secret! The number of people who could access it can be counted on one hand!"
"Could it be..."
Sengoku's eyes scanned every corner of the office, his voice carrying an icy chill.
"We have a traitor among us?"
Tsuru set down her teacup, the base making a soft, crisp sound.
She shook her head.
"No, I don't think so."
"Oh?" Sengoku looked at her, questioning.
"Think about it. What is the intel currently circulating in the New World?"
Tsuru's eyes were wise, as if she could see through all appearances to the core.
"The rumors only say 'a Marine Admiral' was crushed in the East Blue. No one knows it was Kuzan."
"They only know the location is the 'East Blue,' but not the specific island."
"Most importantly... 'Dungeon Shop' and 'Blake'. Those two names, which are enough to drive the world mad, haven't been spread at all."
Every one of Tsuru's sentences was like a precise scalpel, dissecting the chaotic situation.
Sengoku instantly understood her meaning. His tense nerves relaxed slightly, but his face was still grim.
"You mean... the mole isn't high-level?"
"Correct."
Tsuru nodded, confirming his guess.
"This 'rat' most likely... just happened to piece together the keywords 'Admiral,' 'East Blue,' and 'defeat' through eavesdropping, or from logistics personnel."
"He doesn't know the full truth. He can only pass on these fragmented, sensationalized bits of info to stir up chaos."
Hearing this, Sengoku let out a long sigh of relief.
This was, indeed, the best-case scenario.
If Blake's name and abilities had also been leaked... he couldn't imagine what kind of insane actions the World Government and the Celestial Dragons would take.
That man... had personally told Kuzan... he could "resurrect the dead"!
"Even so, it's enough!"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead.
"Just a few keywords... and it nearly set the entire New World on fire!"
"That damned rat! Don't let me catch him!"
"This just proves that our core security mechanism... hasn't been completely infiltrated."
Tsuru's tone remained calm.
"This rat is hidden deep. To be able to pass intel from the heavily guarded Marineford to Donquixote Doflamingo... he's no simple character."
"We'll find him, eventually. As long as he wants to keep passing information, he'll show his tail."
Tsuru stood up and walked to the large window, looking down at the grand Marine fortress below.
"For now, all our energy must be focused on the East Blue."
"That... is the stage where the world's future will be decided."