Chapter 377 - 216

Chapter 216: The One-Week Death Warrant!!Sakazuki's iron-blooded declaration stirred a silent tremor within the meeting room.On both sides of the long table, the generals' brows were tightly knit, their fingertips unconsciously tapping the tabletop.Just as this oppressive silence was about to solidify, the legs of a chair scraped violently against the floor, letting out a sharp, ear-piercing screech.Doberman stood up.The hideous scar running across his cheek looked like a blood-drenched trench under the overhead lights.His voice was like sandpaper rubbing against rusted iron—hoarse, cold, and hard—every syllable smashing against the silence:"Remnants of the old era... Hah."He slowly scanned the room, his gaze like a quenched blade scraping across every solemn face.The corner of his mouth pulled into an almost mocking curve."The Pirate King's life was ended by our own hands at Loguetown.""Whitebeard's supposedly unsinkable flag has also turned to ash at Marineford."His voice suddenly rose, sharp and decisive:"What right do ghosts crushed by the wheels of time have to roar in this new era?!""The Marines—"Doberman's fist slammed heavily onto the table, making the teacups hum from the vibration."...are the sole overlords of this era! Any demons or monsters who dare stand in our way will be completely vaporized!"This hoarse and violent declaration blew away the mist like a scorching gale.Light reconsolidated in the eyes of the generals.Indeed, what did they have to fear?The Fleet Admiral presided over the center, the Three Admirals stood as the pillars of combat power, and behind the scenes, Inspector GeneralSengoku was strategizing while Hero Garp's Iron Fist could still shatter mountains... This was an absolute force capable of suppressing the entire sea.Golden Lion Shiki?He was nothing more than a lonely ghost who happened to escape from Impel Down, living in the shadows of years past.The air in the meeting room began to flow again, the heavy pressure replaced by a sharp fighting spirit.Staff Officer Tsuru nodded slowly."Vice Admiral Doberman is right."She spoke, her voice carrying the steadiness of years of experience and a hint of unquestionable sharpness."Golden Lion is entrenched in the first half of the Grand Line. He looks arrogant, but in reality, he is a trapped beast. The Marine's dragnet will tighten sooner or later."She shifted her tone, her voice suddenly growing heavier, each word dropping like a cold lead weight:"But'sooner or later' is something we cannot afford right now. His recent frantic slaughtering of islands is no longer pirate looting; it is a public execution of the World Government's authority!""The pressure from Mary Geoise..."Tsuru paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over everyone."...has turned into an ultimatum: Within one week, Golden Lion's head must be hung beneath the majestic flag of the Marines!""One week?!"Low murmurs of shock spread among the generals.Even the most radical hawks felt the heavy, almost inhumane political weight behind this deadline."Anger is useless."Sengoku's steady voice rang out. He adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses sharp as a hawk's."The key isn't how much he deserves to die, but what he 'intends' to do.""Madness always has a purpose; slaughter always has a path!!""We must see through his route to turn'sooner or later' into 'this very moment'!""Exactly."Tsuru took over the conversation without hesitation.She turned and pressed her finger precisely onto the massive sea chart behind her. The sound of her nail hitting the map was light, yet it was like a thunderclap in everyone's hearts."Based on the Strategic Department's analysis of the trajectories of all destroyed islands, ocean currents, and that man's arrogant personality... his final destination is highly likely—"Her finger stayed firmly on the area marked as the weakest sea, yet also the most sensitive region."...the East Blue.""The East Blue?!"The meeting room fell into a sudden, dead silence.That peaceful sea was the place where the Pirate King was born and ended, and it was a symbol of 'peace' that the Marines needed to uphold with extra care.If Golden Lion was going there, the malice and level of provocation instantly soared several levels higher."Give the specific orders, Staff Officer Tsuru."Sakazuki's voice broke the silence, his face still showing no emotion.Tsuru immediately pointed to the complex network of magnetic field lines on the sea chart leading from Paradise to the East Blue."Based on calculations from the last destroyed island, there are four conventional magnetic field routes leading to the East Blue.""Although Golden Lion can float, moving on a large scale with a clear objective means relying on a log pose or eternal pointer along established routes is still the most efficient choice.""Deserted islands off the routes are meaningless to him, and there's a risk of getting lost in chaotic magnetic fields, which wouldn't be worth the cost for him."She quickly made the deployment, her speech rapid and clear, demonstrating the immense efficiency of the General Staff Headquarters:"Therefore, the decision is as follows: Fleet AdmiralSakazuki will stay at Marineford to oversee the situation and maintain deterrence. AdmiralBorsalino, with his speed advantage, will serve as a global mobile force, ready to provide support at any time."Her finger traced the four virtual routes."The remaining top combat powers will split into four groups to conduct a dragnet-style interception and pursuit along the routes!""Admiral Issho (Fujitora)!""Admiral Aramaki (Ryokugyu)!""Inspector General Sengoku!""Vice Admiral Garp!""The four above will each lead three Headquarters Vice Admirals, along with corresponding Rear Admirals and elite troops, and set out immediately!"This list made everyone's heart skip a beat.Four peak powerhouses of the sea, plus a hunting lineup of twelve Headquarters Vice Admirals—this was almost the strongest strike force the Marines could mobilize without entering a full-scale war."Everyone,"Tsuru's gaze, like a cold blade, swept across the face of every general."The indiscriminate slaughter of affiliated nations is a challenge to the very foundation of world order.""The tolerance of the Marines and the World Government is zero!""For this mission, there is no 'expulsion,' no 'capture.'"She paused for a second, letting the final word imprint clearly in the air:"Only [Annihilation]!!"There was no more uproar in the meeting room, only a sudden surge of cold, murderous determination.The Marine war machine roared to life at maximum efficiency at this moment, pointing its blade toward the East Blue.Vowing to bury the remnant of the old era, along with his arrogance, into the abyss... The next day, Sabaody Archipelago, 'Shakky's Rip-off Bar'.The afternoon sun filtered through the coated bubbles, casting shifting halos of light inside the bar.The proprietress, Shakky, held a slender cigarette but forgot to take a puff, looking at the man in front of the bar in a rare moment of daze.Compared to three months ago, he had changed quite a bit.His signature short green hair had grown slightly longer, standing up wildly.A fresh and prominent vertical scar had been added over his left eye, like a cruel medal, adding a touch of tempered maturity and rock-like determination to his young face.Most striking was the aura surrounding him... when calm, it was like an ancient sword in a deep pool, but occasionally, when his gaze shifted, a sharp edge like an unsheathed blade would flash out.Three swords hung casually at his waist, silently telling the Shura path their master had walked."Oh my..."Shakky slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, masking her genuine surprise."This is truly... unexpected. You're actually the first to arrive."She remembered clearly that this swordsman gentleman was a hopeless lost soul who could walk in the opposite direction on a straight road.Could it be... three months of training even cured that?The world is truly a wonder!!"I'm the first?"Zoro raised an eyebrow, picked up the glass in front of him, and drained it in one go, his Adam's apple bobbing as he let out a satisfied sigh.During his days of training with Hawkeye on Kuraigana Island, alcohol was a rare luxury.At this moment, the mellow liquid slid down his throat, bringing a long-awaited relaxation.He unceremoniously pushed the empty glass forward: "Another one. It seems I've beaten that guy by a lot."Shakky smiled as she refilled his glass, a hint of resentment toward her own late-returning old man flashing in her eyes:"Indeed, not just you, but even that unreliable old man of mine—who knows which sea he's fishing in right now.""Hmph."The corner of Zoro's mouth curled into an arc that could definitely be called a 'winner's' smile, as if he could already see the cook's fuming and jumping reaction."Getting here before that Perverted Cook... that alone is enough to make that guy admit defeat a hundred times.""I hope he hasn't just been studying recipes these past few months and let his skills slip.""You can rest easy on that."Shakky leaned against the bar, her smile carrying a bit of sympathy. "The level of 'excitement' Sanji-kun has experienced these three months probably isn't less than yours.""Under that Captain of yours... well, I believe he'll be 'reborn'.""Maybe."Zoro gave a non-committal response, his attention clearly more focused on the drink in his glass.To him, today's 'first place' was a solid achievement, enough to be a powerful weapon to suppress that Curly Eyebrows cook for a long time to come.Just thinking about it made it worth having a few more drinks.After a few glasses, he paid the bill briskly and stood up."Anyway, I've got nothing to do now, I'm going to go fishing for a bit."He stretched his shoulders and walked toward the door, his tone relaxed. "I'm off.""Hey,"Shakky couldn't help but raise her voice behind him to remind him,"Fishing is fine, but remember to look at the road signs! Don't end up casting your hook at the Marinebase pier!""Shut up, don't worry!"Zoro waved his hand without looking back, his figure disappearing into the brilliant bubble light and shadows at the door.Shakky watched the direction he left, took a slow puff of her cigarette, and her elegant brows furrowed slightly.A subtle, ominous premonition, based on years of experience and a deep understanding of his character, wound around her heart like a wisp of cold smoke.She glanced at the calendar on the wall, sighed, and muttered to herself:"I hope... before the others arrive, the peace officers of Sabaody Archipelago won't receive any strange reports like 'a green-haired swordsman asking for directions with a blade in the amusement park'..."PS: Why don't you guys guess who will encounter Golden Lion?!