"Reporting to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Rear Admiral Drake has regained consciousness. Vice Admiral Jando has asked you to come to the hospital." The messenger reported from the office doorway.
"Oh, is that so? Looks like we finally have some good news!" Sengoku's tightly furrowed brows relaxed. He glanced at the document in his hand, bearing the image of a longsword in the mist, handed it to the goat beside him that was munching away incessantly, and strode out.
By the time Sengoku arrived at Drake's private treatment room, several Marine vice admirals were already waiting inside. There was even someone he found particularly displeasing—clad head to toe in a white robe and wearing a strange mask. It was none other than CP0, the World Government's highest-ranking secret intelligence agency.
Although CP0's appearance showed that the World Government attached great importance to the fall of Dongdong Island, this was ultimately an internal Marine affair. What kind of sense did it make for a CP0 agent to interfere?
Still, Sengoku was loyal to the World Government. Though he frowned at the scene before him, he rationally chose not to say anything.
In truth, it was not only the World Government—even within the Marines, the fall of Dongdong Island was widely viewed with suspicion. In their minds, only major forces with established names on the Grand Line possessed the strength to breach the Dongdong Island base. Yet according to their surveillance, there had been no sign of any powerful force appearing in the North Blue.
Do not mistake Dongdong Island's defenses for being weak. A Headquarters Rear Admiral and five Headquarters Colonels were more than enough to handle most situations. This was an isolated region of the North Blue; stationing an elite rear admiral there for decades was already an extravagance.
Moreover, Dongdong