"Buruburuburu..."
The Den Den Mushi's voice rang out, and Zephyr's image appeared.
Borsalino, witnessing this, expressed mild surprise, his gaze shifting towards the warship where Benedict was located.
"The negotiations are about to begin," Borsalino stated calmly.
He answered the Den Den Mushi, and Benedict's voice emerged.
This was not unexpected.
"How about we strike a deal?"
"Borsalino."
Upon hearing Benedict's words, Borsalino gestured with his hands and replied casually, "I don't possess enough authority to make any deals with you, Xuanwu Navy Marshal, Benedict."
Benedict chuckled lightly. His gaze through the Den Den Mushi fell upon Kuzan and Sakazuki, and he said, "Excluding the Admirals, among the Vice Admirals, your strength is by no means inferior. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you the leader of the three."
"I believe Vice Admiral Sakazuki and Vice Admiral Kuzan would certainly agree, wouldn't they?"
Hearing Benedict's words, Sakazuki, despite knowing it was merely a ploy to sow discord, let out a soft snort.
Kuzan remained silent, offering no response.
"Silence implies agreement."
"Therefore, you are the highest commander here."
"So, can our deal proceed?"
Spandain, upon hearing Benedict's words, declared with considerable displeasure, "I am the highest commander of this unit, I am Spandain."
"I am under orders from the Five Elders, representing the World Government. The Navy is merely a canine subordinate to our World Government."
"There will be no deal, and no deal is permitted."
Spandain's voice thundered across the warship.
The surrounding Marines, upon hearing Spandain's words, cast hostile glances his way.
However, Kuzan and the others did not act, and as soldiers, they dared not.
Ultimately, the Navy's development and growth still required substantial material support from the World Government.
Furthermore, they were merely soldiers.
Facing Spandain's contemptuous humiliation, they could only endure it.
"Say that again if you dare?" Sakazuki, enraged, did not tolerate Spandain's insolence and directly reached out, grabbing the completely defenseless Spandain.
Sakazuki's sense of justice would not allow anyone to trample on it and shout defiance.
Therefore, the hot-tempered Sakazuki, who had not yet experienced the harsh realities of society, directly taught Spandain a lesson.
"Let go, I am the highest commander here."
"Are you betraying the World Government?"
"Sakazuki."
Spandain, with Sakazuki's grip on his neck, his face flushed and feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Yet, even so, Spandain showed no remorse and berated Sakazuki furiously.
"Betrayal?"
"I am the Navy. As a dog of the World Government, you have no right to interfere with our actions."
Saying this with utter disdain, he then threw Spandain away.
He was on the verge of losing consciousness.
"I think I've just witnessed something extraordinary."
"So, have you made up your minds?"
Benedict, seated on the deck, held the Den Den Mushi and looked at Zephyr, who stood silently beside him, smiling as he said, "Of course, if you are unwilling to trade, you can also choose to open fire."
"I believe, given the World Government's modus operandi, when someone becomes sufficiently dangerous, they are entirely capable of sacrificing teammates and resorting to any means to achieve victory."
"Even if that teammate is Navy Admiral Zephyr."
"If I recall correctly, many of you are Admiral Zephyr's students."
"To kill me, you would even eliminate your own esteemed mentor, to prevent future trouble."
"So, were you contemplating that just now?"
On the warship, the bodies of Sakazuki and the others trembled slightly.
Although it was Sakazuki's suggestion, Benedict's accurate guess made his heart skip a beat.
More importantly, Benedict was not wrong; they were all Zephyr's students.
"Yo yo, Marshal Benedict really knows how to joke."
"We are the righteous Navy."
"As for the deal..."
"What exactly do you want?"
Borsalino did not want to get involved in this matter at all, and even less did he want to converse directly with Benedict.
However, Sakazuki and Kuzan remained silent at this moment, which left him feeling rather helpless.
"Kill me!"
Soon, a response came from the Den Den Mushi.
However, it was not Benedict who spoke these words, but Zephyr.
Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and the others were jolted once more, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
But upon further thought, it didn't seem entirely incomprehensible.
Their esteemed mentor's loathing for pirates was unwavering.
"You wish to die so badly, Admiral Zephyr?"
"How truly heartless."
"While espousing the pursuit of justice and being a righteous Navy, you simultaneously wish to slaughter defenseless civilians. Are you not experiencing immense inner turmoil and contradiction?"
"You truly have noble aspirations, thinking you can simply die and resolve everything."
"Do you feel no guilt whatsoever?"
"Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino, do you feel no guilt whatsoever?"
"What wrong have they committed? They are merely scholars researching history and archaeology. Whom have they killed? What heinous crimes have they committed that compel you to initiate a Buster Call?"
Benedict's voice echoed through the warship via the Den Den Mushi.
Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino, along with other Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals, all fell silent.
Why?
Were they bound by duty, or did they truly deserve death?
Their confusion and silence did not allow them to find answers immediately.
Benedict's proposed deal also did not allow them to waste much time.
"Withdraw ten nautical miles, and I guarantee that your respected Admiral Zephyr can safely return alive."
"But if you insist on initiating the Buster Call, then Zephyr will die, and you will die as well."
"Do not doubt my capabilities."
Benedict's voice came, neither hurried nor slow, carrying with it a cold, deadly aura.
This was no mere jest.
For a moment, Borsalino and the others fell silent once more.
Some of them even clenched their fists.
"Agree to him!"
At that moment, Onigumo stepped forward, still holding the Den Den Mushi.
It turned out he had been in the corner all along, having contacted Admiral Sengoku and listened to their conversation.
Sengoku's heart was in a great turmoil. On one hand were the orders from his superiors to eradicate Ohara, and on the other hand, there was Navy Admiral Zephyr, the pride of the Navy, and his old comrade.
Ultimately, Sengoku, with his personal inclinations and under immense pressure, made his choice.
Kuzan and Borsalino, hearing Sengoku's voice, like the others, visibly relaxed.
Sakazuki, however, remained silent, his face grim, offering no comment and no objection.
"I refuse!"
"As a special envoy of the World Government, I command that the Buster Call be initiated immediately."
Spandain's voice rang out, resolute and filled with resentment.
Kuzan, Borsalino, and the others' expressions changed dramatically. Sengoku, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, roared, "Spandain, as an Admiral, I forbid the use of the Buster Call."