Mary Geoise, Room of Authority.
"Purururu—purururu—"
The abrupt ringing of a Den Den Mushi shattered the deathly silence, piercing Saint Figarland Garling's eardrums like a needle.
The newly appointed Five Elder frowned and impatiently reached into his robes, pulling out the entirely gilded Den Den Mushi.
There was a faint, barely noticeable anticipation in his half-lidded eyes—Kizaru had departed three days ago. According to the plan, he should have returned with Vegapunk by now.
But when he saw the Den Den Mushi's face, that anticipation vanished without a trace, like glowing coals doused with ice water.
It was Sengoku.
Saint Garling's expression visibly darkened. He casually answered the Den Den Mushi, the impatience in his voice nearly overflowing.
"Sengoku! What is it?"
"Borsalino—"
"His Vivre Card is still intact. He isn't dead, merely out of contact."
Saint Garling coldly cut him off before he could finish. He could not even be bothered to conceal his perfunctory attitude. In his eyes, this was nothing more than a minor accident—a tool had temporarily lost contact. It was hardly worth making a fuss over.
Yet the voice from the other end carried a volcanic rage he had never heard before.
"I know he isn't dead!"
Sengoku's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping against wood, every word seemingly forced out through clenched teeth.
The Marine Fleet Admiral, who had always obeyed the Five Elders without question—who could even be said to have endured every humiliation—had finally torn away all restraint and patience.
"What gives you the right to bypass me, the Fleet Admiral, and give orders directly to an Admiral!?"
"You bypassed me and sent him alone into a Four Emperor's territory, and now he's gone missing! Tell me, what do you take me, the Fleet Admiral, for!?"
The deafening roar came through the