Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Sakaski's residence, study.
*Knock, knock, knock—*
"Enter."
Sakaski's voice boomed.
Then, Karrōru pushed the door open and entered:
"Vice Admiral Sakaski, we took over another branch yesterday."
Sakaski grunted in response.
His gaze remained fixed on a young boy at the edge of a wanted poster.
Noticing Sakaski's peculiar behavior, Karrōru stepped forward to examine the poster, finding nothing particularly unusual about it.
However, the date indicated it was a newly issued poster from yesterday.
After a while, Sakaski looked up:
"Karrōru, do we have any useless Devil Fruits lying around?"
Karrōru thought for a moment:
"Hmm... things we've scavenged from pirate ships over the years."
"There are five Zoan types, two Paramecia types, and no Logia types."
Sakaski nodded:
"Just grab three Zoan types and put them on the ship."
"Prepare to set sail."
Karrōru replied:
"Understood."
Sakaski stood up, stretched, and twisted his neck:
"Let's go, we'll go see Enel."
"That kid has been acting mysteriously lately."
"Let's see what he's up to."
Karrōru chuckled:
"I know about that. I heard he's researching some secret weapon."
"He even 'kidnapped' Rocinante, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's adopted son."
"He spends all his time holed up in the laboratory."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is grinding his teeth in anger."
"He finally comes back for a visit, only to not even be able to see Rocinante."
Sakaski smiled:
"That sounds truly amusing."
"Let's go."
Pushing open the study window on the second floor.
*Swish, swish—*
Two sounds of air being cut through the air.
The people in the study vanished without a trace...
---
Marine Headquarters Academy, the room next to the principal's office.
This place had been completely transformed into a laboratory filled with high-tech equipment.
The all-metal style was neat and orderly, with various precision experimental instruments scattered everywhere.
Coupled with Vice Admiral Morris being in the adjacent room,
This was also the safest location; should anything unexpected happen, Vice Admiral Morris could respond immediately.
Inside the laboratory.
Enel's hands crackled with electricity, and his right eye was fitted with a mechanical magnifying lens.
He was adjusting something on a device that resembled a small missile in front of him.
Beside him, Rocinante had his hands on a small mechanical sphere, continuously channeling energy into it.
Several fully charged mechanical spheres were placed nearby.
As Sakaski and Karrōru approached the laboratory door, the mechanical door automatically slid open.
The two were greeted by the sight of the technologically advanced laboratory.
Enel put down the missile in his hand, turned around, and smiled:
"Yo, Uncle."
"Brother Karrōru."
Sakaski smiled at Rocinante, who was looking at him somewhat nervously, and then turned to Enel:
"What secret weapon are you researching?"
He then walked in.
Karrōru followed behind, smiling and waving at Rocinante.
Enel chuckled, picked up the miniature missile next to him.
Then, he produced a Den Den Mushi and handed it to Sakaski.
He then took out another Den Den Mushi himself and walked to a corner of the laboratory, dialing the number on the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
The Den Den Mushi in Sakaski's hand began to ring.
At this moment, Enel spoke:
"Uncle, watch this!"
*Click—*
The miniature missile in his hand was instantly crushed.
It was as if something had been released, yet also as if nothing had.
The Den Den Mushi in Sakaski's hand instantly fell silent, and then its eyes began to spin, its tongue hanging out as if utterly drained.
The Den Den Mushi in Enel's hand experienced the same fate.
Sakaski's eyebrows rose:
"Interesting."
Enel chuckled:
"I devised this based on Rocinante's abilities."
"Magnetic field bombs."
"They utilize high-power microwave directional radiation from electromagnetism."
"Depending on the power output, they can instantly paralyze communications within a certain range."
"It's another form of a Silence-Silence Fruit barrier, in a way."
"After all, if information can't be transmitted, then many things can be done."
Sakaski pondered for a few seconds:
"How many people know about this?"
Enel replied:
"Just us few, and Grandpa Morris."
"As for Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I don't know if Rocinante has told him."
Hearing his name, Rocinante quickly shook his head:
"No, no."
Sakaski nodded:
"Research it well and keep it hidden for now."
"This is already a strategic weapon."
"It must not be exposed."
Enel blinked in surprise; he hadn't thought that far ahead, but he still nodded.
Sakaski said:
"After we set sail, I plan to visit Punk Hazard."
"Are you coming?"
Enel's eyes lit up:
"Sure!"
"I happen to have a few other ideas I can discuss with the professor."
"Rocinante, let's go together!"
Looking at Rocinante, who was hesitating beside him, Enel made the decision:
"Alright, no need to hesitate."
"Tell Grandpa Morris and Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"It's decided."
"Let's go out and have some fun."
Saying that, he grabbed Rocinante and ran out:
"We're going to prepare our things! Remember to close the door!"
Sakaski shook his head and walked towards the exit:
"Karrōru, go and inform Vice Admiral Morris and Fleet Admiral Sengoku later."
"I'll head to the ship first."
Karrōru's face fell:
"Eh!"
"Why do I have to be the one to tell them?"
Sakaski's voice drifted from afar:
"I don't want to face the wrath of two old men..."
Karrōru clutched his forehead:
"This is too much, Vice Admiral Sakaski."
"I don't want to either!!!"
Sakaski's laughter echoed from a distance:
"Young people need to train..."
Evening.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who hadn't seen Rocinante return for a long time, came to visit.
Vice Admiral Morris was also confused, having searched the entire academy without finding the two children.
At this moment, a gatekeeper arrived, stating that Vice Admiral Sakaski had requested that a letter be delivered to them after they had dinner.
The two opened the envelope.
Only a few words were written on the paper.
"I've taken the children out to play for a few days, don't worry. - Sakaski"
In his anger, Sengoku unconsciously crumpled the paper in his hand:
"SAKASKI!!!!!"
---
On Sakaski's warship.
Sakaski was eating in the restaurant when Karrōru approached with a Den Den Mushi, looking somewhat strange.
A bad feeling welled up within him.
Taking the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku's furious voice boomed from the other end...
After a long while, Sakaski hung up the Den Den Mushi with a wry smile.
He glanced at Karrōru and sighed:
"It's nothing, continue eating."
He handed the Den Den Mushi to the bewildered Karrōru.
The moment Karrōru took the Den Den Mushi,
Sakaski suddenly spoke:
"Karrōru, you've become complacent."
"It took you 0.1 seconds longer than usual to take the Den Den Mushi."
"This is a decline in your reaction speed."
"We'll do some extra training later."
"Eat quickly."
Ignoring the stunned Karrōru, Sakaski finished his meal in a flash.
He then headed towards the training room...