A few minutes ago, the Rear Admirals of Marine Headquarters had already rushed to the main gate of Fish-Man Island to command and coordinate the fleet, ensuring that ten warships docked in an orderly manner.
Only one temporary medic was left behind—Kuzan, responsible for tending to the only injured individual.
Sakazuki was somewhat confused. Although ice packs were an effective emergency treatment, it seemed that the current situation had long surpassed the scope of treatment and blood clotting.
Within just a few minutes, Kuzan had been intermittently spraying him with blasts of cold air, to the extent that his entire body, from head to ankles, was now covered in a layer of frost.
"You're not just playing around, are you, Kuzan?" Sakazuki couldn't help but ask. At this moment, he was completely frozen to his seat. He couldn't see behind his head, but with his Observation Haki, he sensed that his junior was apparently engaging in his nth round of artistic sculpting on the chair.
It seemed like he was having a great time.
Sakazuki couldn't help but subtly remind him with a few words: "Make sure you transcribe a copy of the navigation log I recorded during my time on Fish-Man Island."
"Mhm~ Mhm~"
"..."
That certain grown man, who suddenly developed a playful streak, agreed at lightning speed. However, his feet remained rooted to the spot as if they had taken root. Seeing this, the injured man could only think of another way.
"His Majesty Neptune..."
"Rear Admiral Onigumo has already gone to notify him personally~"
"Kuzan, you can actually take a short break..." Sakazuki sighed helplessly. But after thinking about it, he ultimately allowed his junior to indulge himself this time, though he couldn't shake the feeling that the little brat was taking revenge.
Was it really just because he had made him a target half a month ago? Surely, it wouldn't go this far...
When Gion led the medical team over in a hurry, what appeared before them was a massive chair sculpted entirely out of ice.
The chair's backrest was towering, its solid ice intricately formed, evoking the imagery of an eternal glacier. The deep blue sheen gradually transitioned into the transparent crystal-like structure of the chair below, with frost delicately covering the lower part—where a certain general seemed to be in deep slumber.
MMP, this was the only thought the patient, now sealed inside, had at the moment.
If it weren't for the fact that Sakazuki was considering Kuzan's daring reinforcement and couldn't find a valid excuse to take action against him, he would have already been tempted to break the bird-legged bastard's legs.
"What a beautiful piece of art. Is this the masterpiece of Mr. Kuzan? Excuse me, where is Vice Admiral Sakazuki?" said a certain oblivious navy doctor. But before he could finish speaking, he was knocked off balance by the head physician, a tall man.
"Watson, shut up. You're lowering the intelligence level of the entire medical team. Isn't Vice Admiral Sakazuki right there, inside the ice?" The head physician, whose face was somewhat long and narrow, scolded.
Swiftly, he pulled a stethoscope from the deep pocket of his wide coat, placed it over his ears, and leaned in close to Sakazuki's ear.
"Vice Admiral, please melt this ice so I can perform a diagnosis."
The burly general slowly opened his eyes.
The head physician, who was standing close, saw two burning flames flash across Sakazuki's pupils.
Without any warning, the ice—reputed to be capable of freezing the sea for weeks—began to melt at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The frost that had enveloped Sakazuki's body suddenly dissolved. Before it could even turn into water, it instantly vaporized.
Sakazuki glanced at Kuzan, who was looking at the melting ice with a face full of regret, before shifting his gaze to the navy doctor next to him, who at least seemed more reliable.
"Chief Medical Officer Strange of Marine Headquarters, at your service."
The tall and thin man had a pair of beautifully dexterous hands, with slender fingers that often led people to mistake him for a talented pianist.
Now fully in professional mode, the Chief Medical Officer gently pressed the diaphragm of the stethoscope against Sakazuki's lower waist and abdomen.
He lingered briefly over a few key organs, carefully distinguishing any abnormal sounds.
The previously scolded navy doctor also quickly stepped forward. Judging by his movements, he was preparing to check Sakazuki's eyelids, but unfortunately, "Vice Admiral, please bend forward a little, I can't reach..."
"Watson, congratulations on identifying the blind spot," the head physician retorted sarcastically.
"Blind spot?" The short and stocky navy doctor, who looked somewhat old, was confused.
Chief Medical Officer Strange gave him a look filled with pity.
Then, he watched as Kuzan, who had been ignored all this time, suddenly lifted Watson by the armpits and held him high above his head.
...
With an expression of despair, Navy Doctor Watson reluctantly examined Sakazuki's head for any signs of internal bleeding.
After conducting a preliminary check, Chief Medical Officer Strange lifted his head and looked at Sakazuki.
"You do have multiple contusions on your body, but thanks to your formidable physique, injuries that would have sent an ordinary person straight to the emergency room are barely noticeable on you. However, please move inside the warship so we can administer proper treatment."
Before Sakazuki could nod in agreement, Chief Physician Strange suddenly snapped in a somewhat neurotic manner, sharply reprimanding,
"Watson, shut up! When it comes to internal medicine and neurology, I am the authority here!"
The stocky military doctor, who had been caught in the verbal crossfire, wore an innocent expression.
"Let's be reasonable! I haven't even said anything yet!"
"You said it in your heart!" Strange replied decisively.
"Can I use a Den Den Mushi while receiving treatment?" Sakazuki lay completely flat on the hospital bed, watching as Doctor Strange administered an injection.
"Of course. Do you also need morphine for the pain?" The chief physician's speech was astonishingly rapid.
Sakazuki smiled calmly.
"Forget it. Pain is an old friend."
He placed his index finger against his lips, signaling everyone in the room to stay silent. Then, he gestured to his junior, who was seated nearby. Kuzan understood immediately, got up, and stepped outside to ensure that no one would disturb Sakazuki's call.
Sakazuki picked up the receiver of the Den Den Mushi and dialed a few numbers.
Upon learning that Kizaru was currently in the New World, he felt a significant weight lift from his shoulders. If everything went smoothly, Lindemann could safely return to headquarters with Borsalino's assistance.
With Kaido's Beasts Pirates out of the equation, although things weren't completely vulnerable, they were at least lacking too many high-ranking officers. The fox couldn't possibly be watched by one of the Three Calamities alone, right? Sakazuki thought to himself.
"Cough, cough… Ichimaru… cough, cough… where are you now?"
The aged voice of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni came through the receiver, weakened from his injuries but ironically fitting an elderly man's tone perfectly.
"Oh my, my~ Old man Yamamoto~" Lindemann was genuinely pleased at this moment. The fact that Vice Admiral Sakazuki was calling now meant their initial plan had indeed worked.
The fox glanced at the massive figure sitting beside him, then smiled and responded,
"Lord Kaido is truly considerate. Knowing that my strength is lacking, he even arranged for one of the Three Calamities—Lord Jack—to personally accompany me."
"..."
Sakazuki's eyelid twitched.
"Well then, you must properly thank Drought Jack."
In truth, Jack's presence wasn't something Kaido had arranged—after all, he was one of the Calamities himself.
While officially, Jack was there to ensure the safety of Ichimaru Gin, in reality, his true mission was to monitor the latter's every move.
This was a clever play by the Beasts Pirates: on the surface, it showed respect toward the envoy from Wano, yet it also ensured they had control over any potential scheming.
Lindemann had to admit that it was a brilliantly executed move—one that left him with no room to refuse.
But even so, the fox was absolutely delighted. Even if he knew he had little chance of escaping, as long as Vice Admiral Sakazuki remained unharmed, his trip would not have been in vain.
Sakazuki still intended to follow the plan.
"Ichimaru, although your mission has officially ended, this is your first time in Wano. You should visit different towns and experience them firsthand. There are many powerful figures on this sea."
"I'll accompany him." A rough voice suddenly cut in. "After all, we can't have the envoy meeting with an accident on our Beasts Pirates' territory, can we?"
"In that case… I'll leave him in your care."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
After all, Kaido had yet to return, and without carrying a Den Den Mushi, that single-minded battle maniac had no way of relaying information back.
In other words, in the eyes of the Three Calamities, Lindemann was still the esteemed envoy of Wano.
That diplomatic title was Lindemann's key to moving freely within the Beasts Pirates' territory.
As long as Lindemann appeared in the designated town, and with Borsalino ready for extraction, even a brute like Jack wouldn't be able to stop him.
Ichimaru Gin gently hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He looked at the woolly mammoth sitting beside him—who was even standing guard outside when he went to the restroom—and couldn't help but chuckle wryly.
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