On the warship.
Akainu looked back at the volcano and remained silent for a long time.
He had failed to kill Zephyr, and though he remained unwilling to accept it, he also felt faintly relieved.
Deep down, Akainu did not want to see the man who had devoted his entire life to the Marines die amid tragedy and suffering.
"Heh."
Akainu let out a soft sigh and buried those useless, tender emotions deep within his heart.
Between sentiment and law, he would always choose the law.
Akainu's gaze became sharp and resolute once more, like a cold, keen blade.
"Return!"
At Akainu's command, dozens of Marine warships began to move.
After seizing the NEO Marines' warships, the fleet had grown even larger.
Their billowing white sails stretched endlessly, like a vast white sea.
The fleet gradually sailed away from Volcanic Hot Spring Island, slowly vanishing beyond the horizon where sea met sky as it headed into the boundless deep.
Just then, Akainu received a report from the subordinate in charge of taking over the NEO Marines' warships:
"Admiral Sakazuki!"
"We found prisoners Zephyr had locked up aboard his flagship."
"After identification, most of them are Commodore Smoker and the Marine soldiers under his command, who had been carrying out missions in the New World."
"Smoker?"
"When was he captured by Zephyr?"
Akainu was somewhat surprised.
Surprised or not, Smoker was one of their own. Akainu did not think much of it and was about to order his men to release them.
However, the subordinate added:
"There is something else unexpected."
"Locked up with Commodore Smoker appears to be the Whitebeard Pirates' Fourth Division Commander."
"What?"
Hearing that title, Akainu was utterly stunned.
Whitebeard's Fourth Division Commander was no small fry.
Whitebeard had previously gone to war without hesitation to save