New World, Marine Headquarters.
Akainu stared at Fujitora, his face dark.
"Do you know what you're saying? If you leave Marine Headquarters now, it'll be the same as leaving the Marines. Issho, calm down."
Akainu told Fujitora to calm down, but drops of magma kept falling from his clenched fist.
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, as an elder, how can I stand by after my junior suffered such harm?
Mino-chan has transferred from Impel Down to the Marines to recover those lost memories. So please don't stop me, Fleet Admiral."
Akainu understood how Fujitora felt. He hated Werther to the bone himself, but the Marines absolutely could not get involved.
"The Dragon People have issued orders. The Marines must not move. I hate this order too, but you know what openly defying the World Government would mean."
Fujitora struggled. His convictions stood on one side, his junior on the other. For a moment, he could not choose.
Fujitora now faced the same choice Garp once had.
"Oh, Issho, if you can't go, I'll take some men instead."
The words came in a slow, drawn-out voice. It was Kizaru.
"Borsalino, don't make this worse. Do you want to defy the World Government's orders too? The Dragon Person who gave that order is part of the Royal Family among the Dragon People. Even with your connections, if you act rashly, I won't be able to protect you."
A smile spread across Kizaru's wrinkled face.
"Oh, how scary. Of course I know who gave the order. But another member of the Royal Family gave a different one. I was never on that girl's side to begin with. What can she do to me? Kick me out of the Marines?"
This is the New World. Unexpected things happen here all the time."
With that, Kizaru walked