"Arrest Collins and prepare a fine meal for him. I'll report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku myself."
Dalmatian's voice was grim as he turned to leave. He already knew what this meant — Collins's death would serve as payment for the entire division's survival. Sengoku would understand. There was no other choice.
Wiener, understanding the unspoken order, simply nodded. After Collins finished his last meal, he was quietly sent to his end.
Marine Headquarters – Fleet Admiral's Office
After speaking with Kaito, Sengoku's appetite vanished completely. The tension in his chest burned hotter with every passing minute. He knew it was only a matter of time before a division commander called to report what had happened. And when that happened, he would have to pay — literally. Another three billion berries gone, just to calm Kaito's wrath.
Across from him, Staff Officer Tsuru calmly observed him fuming. She shook her head slightly. This old man never changes… losing his temper won't undo what's been done.
Just then, the den-den mushi on Sengoku's desk began to ring. He snatched it up immediately. Tsuru paused her meal, her sharp mind already piecing things together — whoever was calling must have been the Marine who angered Kaito.
"Moshi moshi. This is Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"Marshal Sengoku, it's Dalmatian!"
"I know who you are. Did your division offend Kaito?" Sengoku's voice was icy cold, his anger barely restrained.
"Yes…" Dalmatian began, and quickly explained everything that had happened.
"So, it was all because of that Marine — Collins?"
"Yes, sir," Dalmatian answered hesitantly. "He's the nephew of Vice Admiral Onigumo."
"Onigumo again! Another family connection." Sengoku ground his teeth, his temper flaring.
"Marshal Sengoku," Dalmatian continued nervously, "before Kaito left, he left a message…"
"What did he say?"
"He said that by tomorrow morning, before he wakes up, Collins's head must be placed at his door. Otherwise—"
"Otherwise what?" Sengoku snapped.
"Otherwise, he'll destroy our Marine Division in Sabaody Archipelago!"
Sengoku slammed the table, his voice thundering. "Destroy your entire division?! That arrogant brat!"
He was about to order a counterattack when Tsuru suddenly reached over and snatched the den-den mushi from his hand.
"Enough!" she said sharply. Sengoku's temper had crossed the line — he was in no state to command.
Tsuru brought the den-den mushi to her ear, her tone calm but authoritative. "Dalmatian, it's me — Tsuru."
"Staff Officer Tsuru! Hello!"
"Just follow Kaito's instructions. As for Onigumo, leave him to me. Understood?"
"Understood."
The call ended swiftly.
Moments later, Sengoku returned to the office, his fists still clenched tight.
"The order's been given?" he asked.
"Yes," Tsuru replied simply.
"Damn that man! Once this deal is over, I swear I'll make him pay!" Sengoku gritted his teeth, fury trembling through him.
Tsuru sighed. "The division's carelessness just cost us another three billion berries. We'll have to appeal to the Five Elders for funds."
"I'll call Commander Kong tomorrow morning," Sengoku muttered darkly.
"That's the only option. Oh, and send a billion berries to Dalmatian."
"What for?" Sengoku asked, frowning.
Tsuru shook her head. "He'll need it to handle the aftermath. You know as well as I do that Kaito left carrying Jack's body. The package we received last night should be Jack the Drought's head. Dalmatian will need funds to process the bounty exchange."
Sengoku's face darkened further, his jaw tightening. "Understood."
The Next Morning
The morning sun streamed through the window, its golden light falling across Kaito's calm face. He opened his eyes slowly, expression unreadable.
After washing up, he opened the door — and there it was. A large, bloodstained package lay at the threshold, the metallic scent of blood thick in the air.
He didn't even bother opening it. He knew what was inside.
Without a word, Kaito picked up the package and tossed it out the window, as though discarding garbage.
After checking his belongings, he realized he had spent the last of his money. With a sigh, he muttered, "Guess I'll visit the Marine branch again. Time to cash in that bounty."
Marine Division, Sabaody Archipelago
When Kaito appeared again at the division, the entire base fell silent. Marines froze mid-step, eyes wide with dread.
He walked through them as if they were air, and within minutes, emerged from the headquarters carrying a heavy satchel filled with freshly counted bounty money — one billion berries, the official reward for Jack the Drought's head.
Later that day, Kaito and Kaguya could be seen leisurely spending a handful of berries in the nearby town, as though nothing had happened.
But the world outside was already stirring.
New World
News spread like wildfire. Kaido of the Beasts had mobilized his forces. His subordinates scoured every corner of the seas for the murderer of Jack the Drought and Doflamingo.
King was enraged, Queen was on the hunt for information through underground networks, and the entire Beasts Pirates fleet was in motion.
Whispers spread across the seas — the two powerful figures, Jack and Doflamingo, were dead. The underworld trembled.
Speculations ran wild: Was it Marine Headquarters? One of the Four Emperors?
Some pirates blamed the Navy, believing only they possessed the strength and nerve to pull it off.
The tension in the New World reached its peak. Countless pirate crews, fearing the coming storm, began retreating toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
Aboard the Moby Dick
On the vast deck of the largest ship in the seas — the Moby Dick, flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates — an enormous, muscular old man sat on his throne-like chair. His chest was covered in scars, a crescent-shaped white beard hung beneath his nose, and beside him leaned his massive naginata.
A nurse-like woman tended to his IV drips, while his sons laughed and drank around him.
"Gurararara! That Kaido's gone mad again!" Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed across the sea as he lifted a massive sake cup.
"Hardly surprising," Marco said calmly, leaning against the railing. "Jack was his right-hand man. Now that he's dead, of course Kaido's furious."
Whitebeard grinned, his laughter rumbling deep and proud. "The seas are shaking again, eh? Gurararara!"
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