On the shore of Gago'o Island.
Sakazuki sat on a massive rock.
Even here, he could hear the uproar from the island behind him.
Two figures lay at his feet like heaps of mud: Ivankov and Inazuma.
Sakazuki had held back enough not to kill them, but under that tremendous impact...
Their bones had shattered, and they had passed out on the spot.
Pop-
Sakazuki's index finger turned into magma, flames rising from it.
He brought it to his mouth, lit his cigar, and took a drag.
"Phew-"
Smoke curled around him as he gazed quietly out at the sea...
The huge Justice Cape billowed behind him...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's Office.
Though it was late at night, the lights were still blazing.
Sengoku sat at the Fleet Admiral's desk.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, what exactly do the higher-ups mean by this?"
"We're not dealing with them?"
"Based on the information we have, the Revolutionary Army is no small force anymore."
"Government intelligence has already identified dozens of islands, and quite a few affiliated nations are among the countries involved."
Clink-
A crisp sound rang out.
Kong put down his teacup and newspaper.
"There's no need to concern yourself with that for now."
"What matters is how the government defines them."
"I have some idea of what the government is after."
"They simply want to use the Revolutionary Army to reshuffle the affiliated nations."
"Ever since pirates overran the Tahami Kingdom and threatened its king into surrendering the throne..."
"The Five Elders have been very displeased."
"If CP9's agents hadn't killed every last pirate and every soldier being held hostage, the world might have another pirate nation by now."
"Being one of the World Government Member States means being one of the strongest nations in the world."