When Strawberry led the majority of his subordinates to the dock in Grove 21, Strawberry and the others expected to see a fierce battle between Borsalino and Alucard, or perhaps that Borsalino had already apprehended Alucard. But the scene before them left everyone stunned.
There were countless corpses of Marines, their heads blown open, along with a few pirate bodies. Other than that, nothing had happened. Where was the promised battle?
However, Strawberry, as a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters, didn’t lose his composure. He quickly commanded, "Check for other casualties! Immediately begin rescue efforts for anyone who can be saved! Thoroughly search the pirate ships at the dock, especially looking for any steel-hulled pirate ships! Move it!"
After the Marine soldiers began their tasks, Strawberry spoke to another subordinate, "Bring me a Den Den Mushi. I need to contact Vice Admiral Borsalino."
"R-report! Vice Admiral Borsalino’s Den Den Mushi was left on the warship before he deployed and he didn’t bring it!" a Marine answered, still shaken.
"Why at this precise moment...?" Strawberry gritted his teeth. While he knew Borsalino was often unreliable, was it just a coincidence that his Den Den Mushi was left behind at this critical juncture?
Meanwhile, in Grove 23.
"It’s Marine Vice Admiral Borsalino!"
Grove 23, being one of the concentrated areas for outlaws, had many pirates who had landed on the island there. The pirates shrieked in fear and fled, but Borsalino didn’t immediately pursue. Instead, he folded his arms and frowned in confusion. "How strange, ne~ I’ve looked everywhere, but he’s nowhere to be found~?"
He looked up ahead, then extended a hand to fire a laser beam, sending dozens of pirates to their demise, and muttered to himself, "Well, never mind. I might as well deal with the pirates here first."
Borsalino wasn’t as absolutely dedicated to completing missions as Sakazuki. He had a wavering personality, often not delivering fatal blows to pirates, and his many indecisive actions greatly displeased Zephyr.
Over an hour later, on Grove 21, a Master Chief Petty Officer reported to Strawberry: "Rear Admiral! Only four soldiers survived. They’ve all been taken back for treatment. Most sustained gunshot wounds, and the chances of survival are slim. Also, there were a total of seven pirate ships docked in this area, but none of them belonged to target Alucard."
"Did he leave before Borsalino arrived? But where is Vice Admiral Borsalino now?" Strawberry muttered to himself, frowning.
Just then, a golden flash descended from the sky, gradually coalescing into a human form. It was Borsalino.
"Vice Admiral Borsalino! Where have you been?" the Master Chief Petty Officer asked urgently upon seeing Borsalino appear.
"Oh, I heard from three escaping Lieutenants that Alucard fled towards Grove 23. Why isn’t he there?"
"Hmm?" Strawberry heard this, turned, and faced Borsalino. "Escaping Lieutenants? What were their names?"
"How would I know the names of people from a local branch?" Borsalino waved his hand innocently.
"Rear Admiral Strawberry, could it be... treason?" the Master Chief Petty Officer speculated.
"We can’t rule out that possibility," Strawberry said gravely. Treason was a major taboo for the Marines. "Continue the search!"
Ten hours later, Marine Headquarters Marineford.
Although many pirates had been captured and sent to Impel Down, the primary target, Alucard, had not been apprehended. Not only was he not captured, but Borsalino and his forces hadn’t even found him.
Admiral Sengoku sat grim-faced behind his desk, while Borsalino and Strawberry stood before him, having just finished reporting the detailed situation.
"So, you suspect that branch Lieutenant committed treason?" Sengoku asked, his face ashen.
"Yes, that’s the most likely possibility," Strawberry nodded. "However, as Borsalino said, he doesn’t clearly remember the Lieutenant’s appearance at the time, so we can’t rule out the possibility that Alucard’s subordinate stripped a Marine uniform and wore it to deceive."
Sengoku massaged his temples. "Any other information?"
Strawberry reported, "According to information provided by the mechanics who were supposed to coat Alucard’s ship, his ship hasn’t been successfully coated. This means he either remained on Sabaody Archipelago or returned to the first half of the Grand Line. Those are the two possibilities."
"Is that so? That’s a silver lining in an unfortunate situation," Sengoku said, his tense expression relaxing slightly upon hearing this.
"Borsalino, regardless, your deception is a serious issue. I order you to remain stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago branch for two months, effective immediately," Sengoku ordered coldly.
"Understood, Sengoku-san." Borsalino readily accepted the order. Such a punishment was nothing. He also understood that Sengoku’s deeper purpose in doing this was to have him remain there to ambush Alucard.
After Borsalino left, Strawberry reported again, "There’s one more thing I believe is worth noting, Sengoku-san."
"According to our timeline, the Roger Pirates should also be approaching Sabaody Archipelago soon..."
"Roger." Sengoku’s brows furrowed. "To attract two troubles at the same time."
After pondering for a moment, Sengoku said, "Keep Garp on standby at all times. Of course, I’m ready to sortie at any moment myself!"
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