Eight Days Later
Calm Belt, Grand Line
A massive fleet had come to a halt just outside the Calm Belt. Its size was unprecedented—more than 400 warships, accompanied by numerous top-tier combatants of the sea.
The total number of soldiers exceeded 80,000. Such a grand-scale mobilization hadn't been seen in decades, perhaps even centuries.
Not even the legendary Battle of Edd War or the earlier War at God's Valley in the West Blue could match this scale in terms of fleet size and manpower. While those battles may have featured more individual powerhouses, this current force was, without a doubt, the largest in naval history.
Roughly 80% of the fleet consisted of Navy warships, while the remaining 20% were dispatched by the World Government.
The World Government's fleet, stationed on the left flank, consisted of over 40 ships. Onboard weren't just soldiers, but also numerous CP agents in black suits, including three elite CP0 squads—15 members in total.
Each CP0 squad was led by a fighter at least equivalent to a Vice-Admiral candidate, and under their command were four elite Vice-Admiral-level operatives.
In other words, just these three emergency-deployed CP0 squads equaled the strength of three Admiral candidates and twelve elite Vice-Admirals—a force that couldn't be underestimated.
---
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, we're ready to move!"
The voice belonged to Spandine, the former commander of CP9 and father of Spandam. He had arrived with the CP0 squads, personally assigned by the Five Elders to oversee this mission.
After the retreat of the vanguard fleet, the Five Elders had been deeply dissatisfied.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, give the order!"
"The Five Elders are waiting for our victory!"
On the Navy's flagship—an ironclad warship—Spandine stood with a dark and sinister expression. Ever since Spandam was assassinated on Enies Lobby, he had been investigating who was behind it.
Though he hadn't confirmed it yet, more and more evidence pointed to a mysterious organization: Jun Lin.
At around the same time, three CP9 agents in Alabasta and four agents in Water 7 had all disappeared without a trace. Both locations showed signs that Jun Lin had been there.
This led Spandine to strongly suspect that Jun Lin had orchestrated his son's assassination.
Thus, although the mission was officially commissioned by the Five Elders—it was Spandine who had begged for it. He wanted to personally destroy Jun Lin and interrogate their leader about what really happened to Spandam.
Although Sengoku disliked Spandine's tone and attitude, he had no choice. Spandine was the official overseer sent by the Five Elders themselves.
So, reluctantly, Sengoku gave the order to move out.
Shortly after...
The massive fleet entered the Calm Belt.
---
With over 80,000 troops, the entire fleet was on high alert.
No one knew when or where Jun Lin might strike.
Aside from Spandine, no one dared to underestimate them.
"Any signs of Jun Lin?"
"None. The outer perimeter ships haven't detected anything resembling Jun Lin's fleet."
The response came from Vice Admiral Jonathan, the officer specifically transferred to lead this fleet operation.
Jonathan might be among the weaker Vice-Admirals in combat, but his naval command skills were among the best in the entire Navy—especially in fleet coordination and sea warfare. That's why Sengoku had chosen him.
It had now been three hours since they entered the Calm Belt.
Still no sign of Jun Lin.
But that only made Jonathan more uneasy.
"Fleet Admiral, I have a bad feeling."
"What do you mean?" Sengoku asked.
"We've already entered deep into the Calm Belt. The fleet is moving at a speed of only three knots."
"If Jun Lin attacks now, we won't be able to retreat quickly—we'd need at least three hours to escape."
"And I don't believe Jun Lin's fleet moves at only three knots."
Jonathan turned to glance at the ship's command tower.
Sengoku suddenly realized—these steel warships were purchased from Jun Lin themselves. Their cruising speed could reach over 20 knots, and their top speed up to 30 knots.
Even in the Calm Belt, these ships could operate at full speed because they didn't rely on sails.
"So you're saying…?"
"They're waiting for us to go deeper before they strike."
Sengoku's eyes widened.
"Dammit!"
"Immediately dispatch all surveillance ships! Expand our monitoring radius to ten nautical miles in every direction!"
But it was too late.
Explosions tore through the sky, striking the left flank of the fleet.
One of the warships was hit directly—a massive explosion split it in two. Several other ships were damaged by near-misses.
"Jonathan, looks like your prediction was right. Now what?"
They couldn't even see Jun Lin's ships—meaning the attack was launched from at least ten nautical miles away.
Judging by the number of shells fired, they likely had around 20 of the same ironclads the Navy had purchased.
But Sengoku was puzzled:
How could they aim so accurately from that distance?
Were there traitors in the fleet feeding Jun Lin targeting information?
There was no time to verify that now.
Sengoku turned to Jonathan for a solution.
"Fleet Admiral, our only option is to send Admiral Kizaru."
"He must trace the trajectory of the shells and locate Junlin's fleet immediately."
"Even if he can't destroy them, at least he can interrupt their bombardment."
"If not, we'll be devoured by Jun Lin—bit by bit."
Sengoku nodded grimly and pulled out a Den Den Mushi, calling a Vice-Admiral stationed aboard Kizaru's ship.
Calling Kizaru directly rarely worked, so Sengoku had arranged for a contact officer on his ship.
Moments later, from a warship just a few hundred meters away—
A beam of golden light shot into the sky, racing toward the source of the attack.
It streaked across the heavens, heading straight for Jun Lin.
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