The ship sank, the bridge broke, and naturally, many people died.
Twenty warships, twenty thousand Navy troops, the Supreme King's Haki had already knocked out the small fry. On one ship, fewer than fifty could remain standing. When Sage's first punch came, even though the Vice Admirals tried to block it, those who stood couldn't hold on and had already fallen.
By the second punch, even the Vice Admirals couldn't hold on. In the second wave of the Buster Call fleet's reinforcements, three Vice Admirals lost consciousness, leaving only two barely standing.
They landed on the wreckage of the warship, watching as at least half of the Navy sank into the seawater, completely stunned.
What happened?
"Why did it turn out like this!"
Flying Squirrel struggled to emerge from the sea surface, barely having time to catch his breath. Seeing this scene, his eyes were bloodshot, and, ignoring his injuries, he quickly swam through the seawater.
"Save the people! Also, contact Enies Lobby and have them send rescue teams quickly, as fast as possible! There's no time!"
While Flying Squirrel was speaking, Yamakaji had already taken the lead in rescuing people.
The two Vice Admirals on the wreckage of the warship reacted and jumped into the water to start rescuing.
However, Ghost Spider and Doberman burst out of the water, landing on the remaining wreckage of this half bridge. One had his helmet shattered, and the other had blood continually oozing from the scars on his face.
Strawberry, who followed later, was not more gravely injured than they were. He hesitated, looking alternately at Flying Squirrel and the others rescuing people, and then at Ghost Spider and the others before rushing from the surface to stand on their side.
Compared to rescuing people, this dangerous fellow in the air needs to be stopped!
Sage slowly descended from the air, lightly stepping onto the other half of the intact bridge. The sea breeze roared in, lifting his white hair, making his ferocious face seem even more menacing.
"You bastard! Do you know what you've done?" Doberman roared.
Twenty thousand Navy troops, at least ten thousand had fallen overboard, leaving seven standing, and even if they all stepped in, they couldn't save many people.
No matter how high the qualities of sea people, if sunk into the sea unconscious and continuously battered by the water, most would perish within twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes?
Even if given two hours, relying on these few, they couldn't save all these ten thousand!
But the more this happens, the angrier Doberman becomes!
In normal times, the central base has few troops; losing ten thousand battle-ready Navy is already a severe loss!
And all this is thanks to this guy called Sage!
"What have I done? Navy kills pirates, pirates kill Navy, the battles at sea have always been this way. What, you feel shocked because more people died this time?"
Sage pointed at them, chuckling softly, "Want to save people? Fine, go call in the Navy from Water Seven, and I'll let you make this last struggle..."
He clenched his fist, Haki reappearing on his hand, forming the same posture as before.
The re-coiling Haki made the three on the bridge show looks of astonishment.
"He can still..." Strawberry said, incredulous.
Being able to land a second blow was astonishing enough.
But now, the Haki's intensity is the same as before, with no weakening!
But strength doesn't lie!
If his Haki level was sufficient, the first strike should have shattered them!
Is it malice?
"Five seconds."
Sage opened the hand coiled with Haki toward them, "I'm giving you just five seconds to decide. If I don't receive news within five seconds that the garrison Navy from Water Seven is retreating, I'll send the rest of the Navy into the sea, and with twenty thousand Navy dying here, that's something you can't explain, can you?"
The Navy's forces are indeed numerous but scattered. A single base doesn't have that many troops, and losing twenty thousand here is unquestionably a significant blow to the Navy.
And it comes with ten Vice Admirals!
Sage has the ability to do it!
The elites among the Vice Admirals are indeed strong. Especially these five, who took a direct hit from the Galaxy Impact and still seem relatively unscathed, but they can't last long, at most three more punches...
In their current state, within three strikes, Sage can destroy everything!
"Justice will never compromise with evil!" Ghost Spider declared firmly, "If we submit to pirates to survive, then justice isn't justice anymore! Subordinates can be recruited again after death, and the same goes for me if I die!"
"Oh? Truly just Navy...but it seems you can't decide, right? Do the others feel the same way?"
Sage dropped a finger, starting to count down, "Four."
Without needing to wait for him to finish counting down, Strawberry had already made his decision. He turned and shouted toward the warship wreckage, "See if there's a Radio Snail!"
Flying Squirrel, who had just finished rescuing people, rummaged through the wreckage and found a Radio Snail unharmed by the impact, throwing it toward Strawberry.
"Strawberry!" Doberman glared over.
"The Buster Call must proceed."
Strawberry replied, picked up the receiver, dialed, and waited for the Radio Snail to open its eyes, emitting the sound of connection.
"This is Strawberry...the Buster Call was stopped by 'Calamity' Sage, heavy casualties incurred, continued support needed. This time, mobilize the Navy from Water Seven for immediate reinforcement. Also, notify Enies Lobby to dispatch people to the Bridge of Hesitation for rescue and arrive within ten minutes!"
"The Buster Call was..."
The surprised voice from the Radio Snail's side quickly responded, taking the command, "Yes! Vice Admiral Strawberry!"
The power of a Vice Admiral in the Navy is significant, and naturally, orders are directly given rather than requesting instructions.
Strawberry is not as aggressive as Ghost Spider or Doberman, nor as righteous as Flying Squirrel and Yamakaji. He has his own approach.
Using the Buster Call as leverage, no one would find it inappropriate.
"That's more like it, a wise choice."
Sage dispersed the Haki on his hand, his posture returning to normal. He picked up his cloak from the ground, draped it casually over his shoulders, and pulled out a Radio Snail from within to dial a number.
This Radio Snail was brought over from the ship, for this very moment.
Very soon, the Radio Snail was connected, and those snail eyes took on a clear and cold look, the whole face becoming serious and determined, with a hint of aloof silliness...
Hmm, it felt like Lily.
"Sage... is it over?" Lily's voice came through from the Radio Snail.
"Almost, keep an eye out to see if the Navy surrounding Water Seven has budged," Sage said.
"Understood."
Just about two minutes later, a voice came from the Radio Snail, "The battleships have started to retreat, heading in the direction of the Sea Train, likely towards Enies Lobby."
"What about Garp?" Sage continued to ask.
This was his main concern.
Robbery and battle are not the same; the battleships defending Water Seven, once they spot him, will undoubtedly slow the robbery plan. As powerful as Supreme King Haki is, it can't cover all of Water Seven and locate the Navy among so many people.
Besides...
If he really did that, wouldn't he be a babysitter then?
What would he need his subordinates for then?
Of course, this was not the main issue, the main issue was Garp.
The Buster Call was meant to attract troublesome figures like Garp.
If that old guy were around, the plan wouldn't be successfully completed!
The lives of twenty thousand people...
Using himself as bait...
He didn't believe that guy wouldn't come!
He was going to raid Enies Lobby and leave ten Vice Admirals helpless!
If even Vice Admirals of this level were insufficient, only a few people could possibly come.
Admirals generally don't move easily. He's never seen an Admiral dispatched even when Enies Lobby was entirely obliterated, so the only one left to come was that old man wandering around the world!
"I see it, Garp's battleship... is among those battleships," Lily replied.
"Great! Once you can't see Garp's battleship anymore, wait another half hour, then start the raid!"
Sage grinned, hung up the receiver, and placed the Radio Snail back into his cloak.
"It's done!"
He smiled at the Vice Admirals, "I won't interfere with you completing your orders here!"
With that, his body soared and without pause, smoke rings and shock waves dissipated around him in the air, heading straight for the main gate of Enies Lobby.
The setup for the plan was fully prepared, and next, he just had to rush back along the Sea Train tracks.
As for those Vice Admirals, they should be discarded once used, no point wasting time entangling with them here.
Those guys wouldn't bother him either; they were completing their Buster Call mission.
The Navy is like that, orders come first, and everything else takes a back seat. As long as he doesn't obstruct their Buster Call, they won't do much.
By comparison...
Bang bang bang!
The smoke rings created echoing sounds; Sage plummeted down to the tracks in front of the main gate, with seawater up to his ankles, he steadied himself and looked around.
This bit of seawater didn't cause any issues unless it submerged him beyond the waist.
"The Sea Train is gone, it seems the arrival of the Buster Call made many people leave using the Sea Train..."
He turned to look at the main gate; it was fully open, with some hustle and bustle sounds inside, quite lively.
"I can only walk!"
Sage set his feet in motion, sprinting furiously along the tracks.
His original plan was to finish off the Buster Call, then use the Sea Train to get to Water Seven, thus creating a time mismatch with the incoming Navy.
Headquarter is close to Enies Lobby, but Water Seven is a bit further from Enies Lobby.
Even with the Sea Train, it takes two to three hours, and a normal battleship would take at least half a day to reach here.
If he took the Sea Train, by the time he reached Water Seven, the battleships would only be halfway there, and even if Garp wanted to turn back, he would have looted and left by then.
If he relied on his legs...
Anyway, when he sprinted, he was faster than a battleship.
He could probably meet midway, as long as the timing was right, there would be enough time.
Let's see how much Lily can loot!
...
Near Water Seven.
After seeing the group of battleships leave with the Doghead Battleship, Lily waited another half hour, ensuring no Navy was on the sea, then drew her rapier with a metallic sound, pointing straight at Water Seven.
"Set off!"
"Oh!!"
The subordinates, who could no longer restrain themselves, raised their weapons, faces filled with eagerness and ferocity.
In such a big place, they could surely rob many good things!
Hawkins silently drew a few Tarot Cards, glanced at them, and said calmly, "The robbery success rate... 99%, it seems our plan will go without a hitch."