Whitebeard Makes His Move

Granny Nyon had been so angered by Boa Hancock that she was practically on the verge of high blood pressure.

Meanwhile, on the sea outside Amazon Lily.

Vice Admiral Momonga sat alone aboard a warship, surrounded by petrified Marine soldiers.

Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Momonga's pocket began to ring!!

Beep, beep, beep~~

After answering it.

Sengoku's voice came through. "Hello, this is Sengoku. Ignore Boa Hancock for now. Momonga, return to Marine Headquarters immediately. There should still be time."

"My apologies, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, but I may not be able to return. Every Marine soldier except me has been petrified. I can't operate the warship through the Calm Belt alone," Momonga reported truthfully.

Sengoku said, "What? What is that woman Boa Hancock trying to do? Defy the Marines openly?"

"There aren't any Admirals available right now. Otherwise, I would have sent one to arrest her immediately."

"Momonga, wait for my instructions."

At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Sengoku hung up the call.

He took out another Den Den Mushi, one used to contact Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Not only had they lost the combat strength of Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, but now they were about to lose the strength of a Vice Admiral as well. The coming battle was fraught with enormous risk.

On Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock was arguing with Granny Nyon when her sister, Boa Sandersonia, hurried over with a Den Den Mushi.

Boa Sandersonia quickly said, "Sister, it's a call from Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral of the Marines."

At that, both Granny Nyon and Boa Hancock stopped arguing.

After all, it was a call from Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters. This was no trivial matter.

Boa Hancock picked up the Den Den Mushi and answered it.

The moment Sengoku saw the call connect, he said directly, "Boa Hancock, I order you to release those Marine soldiers outside immediately and let Momonga return to Marine Headquarters."

"Otherwise, even if I have to bear the pressure, I will immediately dispatch an Admiral to Amazon Lily. Don't think I'm joking."

At that moment, Sengoku's tone had become exceptionally forceful. The Marines were under far too much pressure now.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, may I take that as a threat against me?" Boa Hancock's tone turned equally unpleasant.

Sengoku ignored Boa Hancock and continued, "I can overlook your refusal to answer the Seven Warlords of the Sea summons, but you must release those Marine soldiers outside at once."

"Fine. Keeping those men around the outskirts of Amazon Lily has already disgusted me enough." Boa Hancock agreed to Sengoku's proposal.

In truth, whether Sengoku had suggested it or not, Boa Hancock would never have allowed a Marine warship to remain outside Amazon Lily.

That would be extremely unfavorable for Amazon Lily.

After the two sides ended the call.

Granny Nyon said, "Sengoku's tone just now was a bit forceful, but he was already being more than tolerant of what you've done, Hancock."

"It's probably because the Marines are about to face a major battle against the Whitebeard Pirates, so they had no choice but to make concessions."

"But this crisis may only have passed temporarily! Whether the Marines will settle the score afterward is another matter."

"Let the Marines come! If they dare come, we'll wipe them out." Boa Hancock turned and walked toward the door, replying confidently.

On the warship outside Amazon Lily, Momonga became alert when he saw a Kuja Pirates ship sailing toward them.

Once it drew close, Boa Hancock used her Devil Fruit ability. "Release."

As the Love-Love Fruit's power activated, the petrification of the Marine soldiers aboard the warship was undone.

Momonga sighed in relief when he saw his subordinates return to normal.

The newly restored Marine soldiers immediately began staring lustfully at Boa Hancock again.

The sight instantly infuriated Momonga.

This was exactly what had happened before, and it was why they had been petrified by that woman's Devil Fruit ability.

Momonga shouted, "How long are you idiots going to keep embarrassing yourselves? Move it! Return to Marine Headquarters!"

"Yes, Vice Admiral Momonga!" After being reprimanded, the Marine soldiers immediately came to their senses and answered in unison.

As the Marine warship sailed away, Boa Hancock also ordered the female warriors of Amazon Lily to steer their ship back.

On the way back aboard the Kuja Pirates' ship, Boa Hancock kept studying Luo Chen's wanted poster in her hand.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

A Marine soldier rushed anxiously into Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office and reported, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, all twenty warships monitoring the Whitebeard Pirates have lost contact at the same time."

"We now have no way of tracking the Whitebeard Pirates' movements."

"What?" Sengoku sprang to his feet. "Whitebeard, have you finally begun to make your move?"

"Immediately, use every method available. As long as you can discover the Whitebeard Pirates' next move, do it. Understood?"

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku." The Marine soldier answered respectfully, then left the Fleet Admiral's office.

Marine soldiers were constantly entering and leaving the Fleet Admiral's office now, reporting one matter after another.

It could be said that Sengoku was utterly overwhelmed at this time.

By comparison, the Marine Admirals were much freer. They only needed to prepare for the coming battle.

Sengoku stared fiercely at the sea beyond Marineford. "Whitebeard, if you dare come to Marine Headquarters, then no matter the cost, I'll make sure you never leave."

"The Marines need only give the world one answer: the Marines will claim the final victory."