Footsteps approached and stopped beside Momonga.
Smack!
A salute.
"Reporting!"
The Messenger's voice snapped Momonga out of his daze. He turned and asked gravely, "What's the situation?"
"Still no luck. We're too far away to make contact by Den Den Mushi." The Messenger looked just as serious. He took a Document Folder from inside his coat and handed it to Momonga.
The words "TOP SECRET" were stamped in crimson on its surface. The Messenger's hands trembled as he held it.
Normally, Momonga's adjutant handled matters like this. But Momonga had left in a hurry and sent his adjutant back to Marine Headquarters to hand over his duties, leaving the job to this Messenger.
I'm a coward, okay!
"These are orders from Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Please take a look."
"Mm. Understood." Momonga's expression did not change. He took the Document Folder.
The Messenger let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, as though a crushing weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Momonga glanced at him and ordered, "The plan stays the same. Full speed ahead!"
"Yes, sir!"
Once the Messenger had gone, Momonga took the Document Folder to a secluded spot on deck and quietly broke the wax seal.
It had been rushed here by Messenger Seagull. That was usually done only when a matter was both urgent and absolutely confidential.
The Messenger had every reason to be that nervous.
The Document Folder held only three things.
Three photographs. Even after he opened them, they still smelled sharply of printing ink. Clearly, they had been developed in a rush, without wasting a minute.
One showed Kuriswia Island from the front as the Ice Spider ravaged it. The photographer must have stood on a mountain across the island to take the shot.
Even from that distance, the enormous Ice Spider stood out