Blood flowed across the deck of the ship floating on the sea.
Though the pirate flag still fluttered from the mast in the wind, the people aboard the pirate ship no longer moved.
"Pant... pant..."
The little girl's frail body leaned against the rail as she gasped violently. Her clothes were torn in several places, and the blood staining her body belonged partly to the pirates and partly to herself.
"A child's body really is too much of a burden."
She muttered to herself, "I almost thought I was going to die here."
But fortunately.
She raised the Den Den Mushi in her hand—the one she had taken from the pirates—and laboriously lifted her hand to dial.
After a brief silence, the call connected.
"Who is this? How did you know this number?"
"It's me, Gion. I escaped. Track my signal immediately. I think I've found the location of the NEO Marines' headquarters."
Mary Geoise.
The Five Elders convened in an emergency meeting.
They had only just arrived at the office when a figure in a white coat and mask came forward to meet them.
"The technical division's analysis has yielded results. We can now roughly determine Vice Admiral Momousagi's location."
The CP0 agent spoke hurriedly. "If Vice Admiral Momousagi's account of her escape route contains no errors, then the location of the NEO Marines' headquarters..."
He took out a sea chart.
"It's here."
A red circle had already been drawn on the chart, enclosing a certain island.
"Where is this?"
The bearded Five Elder asked impatiently.
"My apologies, esteemed Five Elders."
CP0 said, "It is an unnamed deserted island. Its existence is not even recorded on most versions of the nautical charts commonly used at sea."
"No wonder. Zephyr wouldn't be seeking attention, of course."
The bald Five Elder