North Blue, waters near Swallow Island.
On deck, as far as the eye could see, stood valiant female Marine officers and soldiers. Fleet Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Tsuru stood before them, methodically assigning the details of the mission.
"Remember, our target this time is clear: only Donquixote Doflamingo and his direct family officers. Ignore any other unexpected situations unless they threaten the core objective. Leave them to the allied ships."
Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice was steady and clear.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Tsuru!" the female soldiers answered in unison, indicating their understanding.
Only Gion, standing near the front of the formation, had a faint flicker in her eyes, clearly harboring other thoughts. She had volunteered to accompany Vice Admiral Tsuru after hearing that "Red the Aloof" Patrick Redfield was highly likely to appear in the mission area.
As a swordswoman determined to climb to the pinnacle of the sword, even as a woman, she desperately wished to witness the bearing of the world's greatest Swordmasters with her own eyes. She believed that even merely observing a battle between swordsmen of that level would bring immeasurable benefits to her Swordsmanship training.
Waters around Minion Island.
The atmosphere on deck was far rougher. Marines from the G5 Branch, famous for their wild style, gathered around their commanding officer, carefully listening to the operational instructions.
Among the crowd, Vergo, sporting a standard mushroom cut and an expressionless face, listened "very attentively" like the other soldiers, without revealing the slightest anomaly.
Seven days later, before dawn, Minion Island.
The frigid sea wind carried fine snowflakes as it battered the desolate shore. A completely yellow submarine silently surfaced from the black waters like a ghost.
The hatch opened, and Adams led Kalifa onto the submarine's wet deck. Kalifa had changed into a black business