Just as Hachinosu descended into chaos...
The Justice's blue-and-white hull sliced through the clouds, heading toward Hachinosu.
Marine Headquarters had received the news a little late. To make up for lost time, they had dispatched this airborne vessel modified by Vegapunk.
Inside the bridge, Kizaru sat in the captain's chair with a cup of tea in his hand. One leg rested over the other as he gently turned the cup.
Through the observation window at the front of the bridge, an ominous dark-red glow was already visible on the distant horizon, slowly spreading.
Vice Admirals Tsucha and Ponski, who had accompanied him, sat in the seats on either side, their expressions grave.
Vice Admiral Tsucha was a burly man with muscle beneath a layer of fat. He wore a yellow crew-neck shirt and green military trousers, a white Marine cap pressed over his short black hair. A thick beard covered the lower half of his face, leaving almost nothing but his mouth exposed.
Vice Admiral Ponski was a sturdy, rugged man dressed in a purple double-breasted uniform suit. Wavy, pale-yellow hair fell to his shoulders beneath his white Marine cap. He wore only a mustache, his chin clean-shaven. A long-handled hammer with a large white seashell head rested beside his chair.
"Report!"
A navigator turned from the instrument console and saluted.
"Admiral Borsalino. We're ten minutes from Hachinosu."
Kizaru set down his teacup and answered languidly.
"Oh. We're that close already?"
He turned to Tsucha and Ponski.
"Gentlemen, I'll leave things here to you."
"Understood."
Vice Admiral Tsucha nodded, his voice deep.
"Rest assured."
Vice Admiral Ponski also gave a brief reply.
Kizaru stood and left through the door at the side of the bridge.
...Elsewhere.
In the waters off Hachinosu.
The Rocky Port lay at anchor, keeping some distance