The sea surrounding Banaro Island was no longer the calm blue it once was.
Dozens of Marine warships cast vast shadows across the water, like dormant beasts lying in wait.
They formed a perfect crescent formation, sealing the island completely—no gaps, no escape.
Above them, countless seagull-emblazoned flags of "Justice" snapped violently in the wind, their sound like relentless war drums.
Along every ship's side, rows of massive cannons extended outward—dark, hollow muzzles gleaming coldly under the fading sunlight.
If they fired together—
The island would vanish from the map.
At the center of the fleet stood the massive flagship bearing the Admiral's insignia—
The Sakazuki.
At its bow stood Sakazuki.
He wore a sharply pressed dark red suit, a deep crimson flower pinned to his chest, glowing eerily in the sunset.
His Marine cap was pulled low, shadowing most of his face, leaving only his rock-like jawline visible.
His hands rested behind his back.
Though he stood still—
Molten magma dripped slowly from between his fingers.
Each drop sizzled as it hit the deck, burning holes straight through the hardened wood.
His killing intent had already reached its peak.
His gaze pierced through the fog, locking onto Banaro Island.
In his eyes—
Blackbeard.
Fire Fist Ace.
The Straw Hat crew.
All of them—
Nothing but filth to be erased.
Behind him, within the shadows—
Three figures stood silently.
They did not belong.
They were agents of CP0—the World Government's highest covert intelligence unit.
Unlike the fully armed Marines around them, they carried an unnatural coldness.
Detached.
Inhuman.
The leader stood nearly three meters tall, cloaked in a long white coat embroidered with golden patterns.
A grotesque wooden mask covered his face—narrow eye slits, a hooked beak-like nose, like a hawk judging the world below.
Beside him stood a well-built man in a pristine white suit.
He wore a feminine smiling mask, his hands tucked into his pockets, his posture relaxed—but his muscles hinted at terrifying physical strength.
The third was shorter, yet emanated a venomous aura.
His fanged demon mask and flowing white robe gave him the presence of a lurking predator.
"Admiral Sakazuki."
The tall leader spoke first.
His voice was cold, mechanical—like an echo from the abyss.
"Orders from above."
"The original plan was for Blackbeard to capture Ace."
"If he failed, we are to take over and complete the mission ourselves."
Sakazuki slightly turned his head.
Under the shadow of his cap, his eyes flashed with undisguised disgust.
"I don't need reminders."
His voice rumbled like thunder.
"Any trash that runs wild on the sea—once I see them, I erase them."
"Blackbeard's incompetence is… disappointing."
The hawk-masked agent let out a cold snort.
"He should have succeeded easily."
"Since he failed, we cannot remain passive. Direct intervention is optimal."
Suddenly—
Sakazuki turned fully.
Heat exploded outward.
The air warped.
Nearby soldiers staggered back under the intense pressure.
"I don't need rats hiding in the shadows to tell me what to do!"
His voice burned with absolute conviction.
"With this fleet, whether it's Fire Fist Ace… or Straw Hat Luffy…"
"They will be crushed completely."
"Admiral Sakazuki,"
The agent with the smiling mask stepped forward slightly.
His tone carried a warning.
"The Straw Hat crew is not part of our target list."
"They are… a variable."
"Behind him stands Dragon of the Revolutionary Army."
"And also… your senior, the Marine hero Garp."
"If you act against them now, it could trigger consequences."
"It may disrupt the larger plan against Whitebeard."
"That does not align with the Government's interests."
Sakazuki's expression hardened.
Magma splashed from his arm, melting part of the railing instantly.
"My justice doesn't answer to anyone."
His voice was filled with iron will.
"Background? Bloodline?"
"Those only make their crimes worse."
"If they stand here—"
"They die here."
"That's my rule."
He turned away, ignoring CP0 completely, and roared toward a signal officer:
"Transmit my orders!"
"All battleships—annihilation mode!"
"Encircle Banaro Island!"
"Not even a fly escapes!!"
Faced with his near-mad fanaticism, the three CP0 agents said nothing more.
They turned coldly and leapt onto a small black vessel docked beside the flagship.
As the hatch closed—
Sakazuki's overwhelming presence was cut off.
Inside the ship—
The shortest agent spoke urgently.
"Captain… Sakazuki isn't going to follow the plan."
"If he captures both Ace and Luffy…"
"Garp will lose control. It could split the Marines."
"And with the Revolutionary Army involved… we'd be fighting on two fronts."
"Correct."
The tall leader stood by the window, hands behind his back.
His voice was calm—yet chilling.
"Ace must be captured."
"He is the bait to draw out Whitebeard."
"That cannot change."
"But the Straw Hats… cannot fall into Sakazuki's hands."
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
Tap… tap…
"Sakazuki wants destruction."
"We want order."
A pause.
Then—
"We create an opening."
"In that airtight encirclement…"
"A path."
"Straw Hat Luffy and his crew…"
"Must escape…"
"Before the magma falls."
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