"Rear Admiral."
Ethan's voice interrupted Lorne's thoughts.
Lorne withdrew his gaze and turned around.
Ethan clutched a note sent from the port's intelligence station, his expression grave.
"What is it?"
"The Red Port intelligence station just received an urgent call for help."
Ethan hurried up to Lorne and lowered his voice.
"The Alabasta Kingdom's ships came under attack on their way to Mary Geoise."
Kuina immediately pressed her hand against the Wado Ichimonji at her waist.
"Alabasta?"
Lorne narrowed his eyes.
"King Cobra's ships?"
Ethan nodded and handed him the note.
"The attackers are an extremist pirate crew with at least three ships."
"According to the distress signal, over half of King Cobra's guards are dead or wounded. They can't hold them off at all."
"What do the pirates want?"
"To kidnap the king and demand the Heavenly Tribute as ransom."
Ethan's expression was grim.
"They specifically chose to strike during the Reverie, betting that the kings' defenses would be weakest while they were traveling."
Lorne held the note and gave it a quick scan.
The distress coordinates were not far from Red Port, about half an hour away on a fast ship at full speed.
"They've got some nerve."
Lorne crumpled the note into a ball and flicked it away.
"Rear Admiral, we should report this to the Security Command Center and let the patrol fleet responsible for the outer waters handle it..."
Before Ethan could finish, Lorne was already striding toward the port.
"By the time the deployment orders come through, Cobra will be cold in his coffin."
Ethan froze for a moment, then followed with a wry smile.
He knew Lorne all too well.
This rear admiral never waited until the living were dead.
"Kuina, come on."
Lorne called without looking back.
Without another word, Kuina hurried