"Vice Admiral Momousagi!"
"You only have two questions left. Don't waste them…"
Luo Lan reminded her pointedly.
Don't waste another chance asking something I clearly won't answer.
Hearing that, Momousagi clenched her fists—but soon let out a sigh and loosened them.
"Alright, then for my second question—will you become an enemy of the Navy?"
"That answer doesn't lie with me. It depends on the Navy."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Simple. If the Navy acts in the name of justice, then naturally I won't. But if it strays... then I can't make any promises."
Momousagi's eyes widened in disbelief.
This guy—he's flipping the whole script.
Since when did the Navy have to prove its justice?
They were always the ones upholding justice and striking down evil like pirates. And now he's saying we might be in the wrong?
"Fine, I won't argue that point. Now for the third ques—"
"Hold it right there!"
Before she could finish, Luo Lan cut her off.
"Vice Admiral Momousagi, your three questions are over."
"What??"
Even if you count the one you refused to answer, that's only two! How is that three?
"Ah, let me help you count," Luo Lan said with a completely straight face.
"First question: you asked my name, right?"
Momousagi nodded.
"Second question: you asked whether I would turn against the Navy."
She nodded again.
Yes, that makes two. So where's the third coming from?
"And third," Luo Lan smiled under his mask, "you asked me what I meant by that previous statement."
…That counts?
"In this world, we have to value integrity. Three questions means three questions."
"However… if you really want to ask more, I could be persuaded. Let's say… one question for a hundred million Berries. Sound fair?"
Though Momousagi couldn't see Luo Lan's face beneath the mask, his serious tone almost made her crack her teeth from sheer frustration.
"GET LOST!!"
Losing control of her expression, she roared in fury, then stormed off to the other side and sat down with heavy, heaving breaths.
Leaving Doberman alone standing there, thoroughly awkward.
Luo Lan, meanwhile, was absolutely delighted.
After all these years of being bullied by this madwoman…
Today, revenge had finally been served.
---
Meanwhile…
27 nautical miles from the volcanic island.
Three large sailships were speeding toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
Leading the fleet was the flagship of the Donquixote Family.
On the foredeck, Doflamingo lowered the Den Den Mushi, his face darkened.
"Doffy, did the Gorosei…?"
"No. They won't pursue it further."
"Then what's the issue…?"
"Hmph. They refuse to let go of the Vergo matter."
Doflamingo let out a cold snort.
Just moments ago, he'd been on a call with the Five Elders.
As always, he'd tried to use that secret as leverage.
The results?
Partly successful.
They agreed not to pursue the incident further. His Warlord title wouldn't be revoked either.
But—on the matter of Vergo's arrest—they wouldn't budge an inch.
According to the Gorosei, this case had already made international headlines. If they didn't arrest Vergo, what would happen to the World Government's reputation?
So, Vergo had to be arrested.
And if Doflamingo dared to reveal that secret…
Sure, the World Government would suffer massive fallout.
But Doflamingo? He wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.
The choice was clear:
One Vergo—or the destruction of the entire Donquixote Family.
"So, what now?"
"For now, nothing. Once Akainu arrives at Dressrosa, tell Vergo not to resist. Let him be taken to Impel Down for a while. Once things cool off, I'll figure something out."
"Got it." Diamante nodded and reached for the Den Den Mushi.
Just then—
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
A sharp whistling tore through the sky.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Over a dozen cannon shells exploded near the ships.
None made a direct hit, but two landed close enough to rip open a gash along one ship's hull, letting seawater flood in.
"What the hell?!"
"Doffy, we're under attack!"
"I'm not blind. Who did this? Where did it come from?!"
No one could answer.
They'd seen the direction the shells came from—but looking that way, all they saw was open ocean.
After all, most pirates still thought naval combat happened at ranges of 100–200 meters.
Even the Navy's largest triple-barreled cannons only had a max range of 1–2 kilometers.
Beyond-visual-range bombardment?
They didn't even have the concept.
"I'm going to take them out. Guard the ships!"
"Be careful, Doffy!"
Without a word, Doflamingo soared into the air, using his String-String Fruit to accelerate, aiming straight toward the direction the shells had come from.
---
Over 10 kilometers away...
Four massive steel warships had turned broadside, all pointing their gun decks toward the incoming threat.
On one ship's tower stood a 30-meter-tall steel mast—bare, except for one sailor at the top.
One hand held a telescope. The other, a Den Den Mushi.
He relayed rapid-fire updates into it.
Seconds passed…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
All 16 main cannons roared again.
"Commander! Target One has left the enemy vessel. He's flying toward us—fast!"
Inside the bridge, Hina responded without hesitation.
"Main batteries, follow the spotter's directions. Continue fire!"
"All secondary batteries and heavy machine gun teams—prepare for combat!"
"Relay this to all three other ships!"
Doflamingo coming straight at them?
Unless he had a fruit like the Glint-Glint or Rumble-Rumble—ones with extreme speed—then charging in was suicide.
Even with his String-String Fruit granting faster-than-Geppo movement, it still wasn't that fast.
Between the four warships, they had dozens of dual-purpose guns and over a hundred heavy machine guns.
Hina didn't believe he could break through.
She remembered exactly what Luo Lan had told her:
"All fear stems from insufficient firepower."
Individual strength was only the last line of defense.
Hina, you need to adapt to the new era of warfare.
Not like some barbarian, charging headlong into hand-to-hand combat every time!
She grabbed her Den Den Mushi.
"Ian, Doflamingo is on his way. Tell Baby 5 to get ready!"
"Understood!"
---
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