The alarms at Marineford's harbor began to shriek.
Their piercing cries cut through the thick sea fog, echoing over the entire fortress.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's Office on the fortress's top floor, Sengoku snatched up the Den Den Mushi rattling on his desk.
A field officer from the advance fleet shouted through it, his voice cracking:
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral!"
"The Red Hair Pirates have forced their way through the outer perimeter!"
"Their flagship is heading straight for the harbor at full speed!"
Sengoku's face turned livid, and he shot to his feet from his broad office chair.
"Shanks just had to show up and meddle at a time like this!"
Sengoku rubbed his temples hard as he paced back and forth.
"The Whitebeard Pirates' main force hasn't even appeared, and one of the Four Emperors is already here!"
Garp sat on a nearby sofa, stuffing rice crackers into his mouth and crunching noisily.
"Ahahahaha! Sengoku, you look awful right now."
Garp brushed the crumbs from his hands, showing none of the tension of facing a formidable enemy.
"That brat Shanks never plays by the rules. Maybe he just came for a couple of cups of tea."
"Shut up, Garp!"
Sengoku snapped, veins throbbing at his temples.
"Is this any time for jokes?"
"Whitebeard alone is enough to demand everything headquarters has. If Red Hair gets involved too, the battle will spiral completely out of control!"
Just as Sengoku was about to order every unit onto full alert, the office door swung open.
Zhao Hai strode in, his white rear admiral's coat swaying gently with his steps.
"Fleet Admiral, please allow me to lead a force to the harbor front."
Zhao Hai raised his hand in a crisp military salute, his expression composed.
Sengoku paused, looking the recently promoted young man