No one spoke. The reinforcements from Marine Headquarters silently watched as the Moby Dick turned its bow and left Fish-Man Island. It wasn't until the massive white whale ship disappeared from view that everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The fleet?" Sakazuki looked up at the dark and deep sea beyond the outer coating with some confusion. Only Kuzan's residual ice remained, drifting alone on the seabed.
Gion stepped forward from behind. She took a small, clean handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped the bloodstains off Sakazuki's face. "The fleet is about ten minutes away. Vice Admiral Kuzan, enduring the immense pressure of the deep sea, has opened a temporary passage on the seafloor leading to Fish-Man Island."
Sakazuki suddenly understood. No wonder Kuzan's breath had been somewhat unsteady earlier. He felt a bit moved—this usually lazy guy had rushed all the way here while using his full strength in the deep sea. That kind of camaraderie between soldiers was something he genuinely appreciated.
"A bunch of fools. Making such a commotion at the bottom of the sea—it's far too risky." Sakazuki sighed slightly as he looked at the rear admirals who didn't seem to take the risk seriously.
The military was a place where a person was forged. Beyond honing one's body and will in harsh environments, beyond fulfilling personal ambitions, the bond formed between comrades who had gone through life-and-death situations together was a treasure beyond measure.
When you end your military career, beyond the glory and honor worth boasting about, what remains the most unforgettable is the comrades you spent your days and nights with—
The shared hardships during intense training, the unity and cooperation in difficult missions, and the exhaustion endured together, both physically and mentally.
For soldiers who had fought in wars and formed life-and-death bonds, they had truly achieved—
Live together, die together.
"Endure a little longer. The medics will be here soon. Vice Admiral Kuzan, could you apply some ice for Sakazuki in the meantime?" The female swordsman frowned slightly. Although this soldier among soldiers still maintained a composed demeanor while discussing the mission, the slight weakness in his voice, along with the scent of blood she caught when he spoke, exposed the fact that Sakazuki was seriously injured.
Kuzan crouched down and lightly touched the ground with his fingertips. The moment his fingers made contact, a crystal-clear ice chair instantly formed beside Sakazuki.
"Gion, help senior up," the Ice-Ice Fruit user casually instructed without even looking back.
The other officers hadn't yet figured out what Gion and Vice Admiral Kuzan were planning, but Sakazuki had already guessed their intentions. He just felt they were making a big deal out of it. He shook his head and refused. "I can still walk. I'll go to the medical unit myself later."
"Your internal organs are injured," Gion stared into Sakazuki's eyes. "Do you even realize how strong the scent of blood in your mouth is when you speak?"
Kuzan shrugged from the side. His senior always had this strange stubbornness. Or perhaps, as the famed "Akainu," did this guy's brain simply have a one-track mind like a dog's?
Sakazuki suddenly turned his head and glared at Kuzan fiercely. "I get the feeling you're thinking something rather rude?"
"Ah la la, must be your imagination. You must've been rattled by Whitebeard's attack," Kuzan skillfully denied.
Gion reached out to support Sakazuki and firmly pressed him into the ice chair. She wasn't one to coax others gently like an ordinary woman. Instead, she coldly and matter-of-factly stated the consequences of not following her advice.
"If you don't want to suffer irreversible aftereffects, sit down and behave. Ice therapy—stop the bleeding, numb the pain."
To her, the fact that Sakazuki was still alive was already fortunate. Pain was merely a normal part of military life.
In her heart, she silently responded to Sakazuki's earlier sigh—No matter how great the risk, compared to losing you, it means nothing.
Gion wasn't good at saying those sappy, romantic words, nor could she rely entirely on her lover like an ordinary woman might.
She remained silent, quietly gazing at Sakazuki's resolute face.
To her, no amount of flowery words of love could compare.
Because she knew, deep in her heart—if Sakazuki had died before her, she would have simply followed in his footsteps, life and death together.
Such a promise of life and death—what need was there to speak it aloud?
Words were too light, unable to bear the weight of such a pledge.
Life and death were too heavy, unworthy of mere words' embellishment.
"[Ice·Capsule]." Kuzan glanced at Sakazuki and exhaled a breath of icy air from his mouth, encasing him in a layer of frost. "I only know basic first aid. This will have to do for now—let the medics handle the rest."
It had to be said—the ice treatment was indeed effective. Even though Sakazuki was now frozen in place, the burning pain in his abdomen had significantly eased.
"Where's Borsalino?" Not seeing that shameless figure around surprised Sakazuki. After all, the Glint-Glint Fruit user's unparalleled speed made him the best support unit.
Kuzan tilted his head. "Speaking of which, this is actually your fault, senior."
Sakazuki didn't quite understand Kuzan's meaning. "My fault?"
"Yep." Kuzan stuffed his hands into his pockets and continued explaining what had happened while Sakazuki was away from Headquarters. "Remember the scientist recruitment by the Marine Science Division?"
"..." Sakazuki recalled the event. At the time, Sengoku and Borsalino had been assigned the task of recruiting Vegapunk.
But due to the top-priority classified mission issued by the Five Elders, he had been forced to set that matter aside temporarily.
"Borsalino has been busy to the point of questioning his own existence lately. First, he ran off to the Future Country—Karakuri Island—to poach talent." Kuzan couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Borsalino's distressed expression.
"Then, he got caught up with assisting the two newly recruited giant leaders in the Marine Giant Squad, heading to the New World's Elbaf for a recruitment campaign."
Kuzan looked down at Sakazuki. "And somehow, all of these things seem to be connected to you, senior."
But Sakazuki wasn't paying attention to his junior's teasing. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the New World.
"You said... he's currently in New World waters?"
"Mm-hmm."
"I want him to help me save someone."
The reason they had successfully repelled Whitebeard this time—thirty percent was his own strength and determination, thirty percent was due to Kuzan and the others arriving in time to support.
But the real factor that shook Whitebeard's resolve and made him decide to retreat to the New World—was Kaido's surprise attack on the island guarded by Marco and the others.
Lindemann had cooperated with him to persuade Kaido into a strategy of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao," leading to the Marines' current foothold on Fish-Man Island.
That one man—almost single-handedly accounted for forty percent of their success.
But now, Sakazuki couldn't think of any brilliant plan to rescue this man, who was constantly under pressure from all sides and operating behind enemy lines—the great spy, Lindemann.
Before planning a mission to "Save Private Lindemann," Sakazuki remembered something else.
"Right," he lifted his head and looked at the Marines surrounding him.
"Contact Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the Commander-in-Chief. Tell them—mission accomplished! Fish-Man Island is under Marine protection!"
_____________________________________________________________________________________
want to stay ahead of the public release ?
join us on patreon where patron read more than 60 advanced chapters plus 2 chapters everyday
link in THE SYNOPSIS