On Drum Island's eastern coast, three Navy warships sped along the shoreline toward the island's south.
In Akainu's office, Akainu sat in his chair with a Den Den Mushi resting in his palm. His expression was conflicted and hesitant, with a hint of embarrassment.
Akainu cared quite a bit about his reputation. This time, he had lost far too much face. When he had left Marine Headquarters, he had made his promise with absolute confidence.
But no matter how hesitant he was, he still had to report it. If the person in charge did not report upward, the higher-ups would call to ask anyway.
In the end, Akainu dialed the Den Den Mushi connected to the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Hello, this is the Navy Secretariat."
"This is Sakazuki. I have an important matter to report. Please notify Fleet Admiral Kong immediately."
"Understood. Please wait."
A few breaths later, the deep, resonant voice of Fleet Admiral Kong, who was about to be promoted to Fleet Admiral of the Three Armies, sounded through the line.
"This is Kong. Sakazuki, how is the situation?"
"Fleet... Fleet Admiral, I have failed your trust and the Navy's training. This operation has failed." Akainu's face was as red as a monkey's backside, and he had to grit his teeth to force out those words.
"Hm? How could it have failed? What exactly happened?" Kong's tone had already turned stern, carrying a trace of anger.
"This is what happened. I believe the Navy fell into their scheme from the very beginning..."
Akainu had more or less pieced together the entire sequence of events. From the Navy's fruitless dragnet search of the waters near Drum Island, to their landing at the island's docks, the attack on the Navy warships, his gathering of the Navy to surround Drum Island