At the entrance to the New World, Marine Headquarters, New Marineford, appeared as peaceful as ever. Standing on the calm sea, the steel fortress surveyed its domain with the majesty of an overlord.
"How unusual. You've actually made up your minds to go to war with the Straw Hat Crew."
A gentle breeze lifted the milky-white gauze curtains. Sunlight passed through the half-closed glass window and fell across a brown wooden desk, where stacks of documents lay neatly in one corner. Only a telephone sat in the otherwise empty center.
A burly man in a red suit leaned back in his chair, a cigar clenched between his teeth. Sakazuki's voice was low, his gaze faintly contemptuous as he looked at the Den Den Mushi sitting casually on the desk.
"I thought you'd spent so long on your lofty perches that you'd forgotten how turbulent these seas could be."
"Enough of that, Sakazuki. This operation is of great importance. As Fleet Admiral, you should know that once certain matters become entangled, things grow more complicated than you might imagine."
"Vegapunk holds a pivotal position, not only for the World Government, but for the entire world. His dangerous ideas must be eradicated completely. No force can be allowed to interfere with this plan."
The voice on the other end showed no anger at his remarks. Its flat tone sounded like a notification rather than a discussion.
"We still haven't received definite intelligence from Hachinosu. As a precaution, the Marines must begin mobilizing in advance. This time, I'll give you authorization to deploy troops at your discretion. The military operation will be left to you."
"Authorization to deploy troops at my discretion? Heh. If you hadn't mentioned it, I might have forgotten I was the Fleet Admiral."
Sakazuki's sarcastic reply carried a