New World, Jijinia Island. An island under the purview of the World Government, it functioned as a highly concealed science facility where a contingent of Marine scientists conducted various experiments.
The intelligence from the Theta Intelligence Organization indicated that Caesar Clown was currently conducting research on Jijinia Island.
Bege traveled there at maximum speed, intending to snatch Caesar away.
As a dedicated science island, its defenses were naturally formidable. Marine patrols were visible right from the port, with many more undoubtedly concealed in the shadows.
Under the cover of darkness, Bege infiltrated the island, stealthily making his way towards the experimental base.
Inside a room within the sprawling facility, eight or nine individuals were gathered. Six wore Marine uniforms. Three held the rank of Vice Admiral – specifically, the very same three Bege's crew had clashed with during the battle on the deserted island.
Two others were Rear Admirals. Both were exceptionally tall men. One wore a deep red suit, his face stern and utterly cold; this was Sakazuki, user of the Mag-Mag Fruit, one of the new generation's "monsters" and the future Admiral Akainu. The other, dressed in a yellow pinstripe suit, sat with his legs casually crossed, exuding an air of relaxed nonchalance; this was Borsalino, user of the Glint-Glint Fruit, another "monster" destined to become Admiral Kizaru.
Within the current generation of Marines, three individuals stood out, known collectively as the "Monsters." All were users of Logia Devil Fruits, and each possessed the terrifying potential to dominate the seas: Sakazuki of the Mag-Mag Fruit, Borsalino of the Glint-Glint Fruit, and Kuzan of the Ice-Ice Fruit. Since graduating from the training camps and entering active service, these three had demonstrated astonishing power, rapidly ascending to the rank of Rear Admiral, with the position of Vice Admiral seemingly just a step away.
Bege likely never anticipated encountering three Vice Admirals and two of the Marines' top "Monsters" simultaneously on Jijinia Island.
What he certainly couldn't have foreseen were the other two individuals in the room: clad in immaculate white suits and white cloaks, their faces obscured by comical white masks.
These two hailed from an even more formidable organization – CP0, Cipher Pol Aigis Zero, the World Government's most powerful intelligence agency.
CP0 members possessed not only exceptional intelligence-gathering skills but also combat prowess at least equivalent to a Vice Admiral. Furthermore, the pair present were no ordinary agents; one held the rank of Vice-Commander within CP0, while the other was an elite combatant. A CP0 Vice-Commander's fighting ability was said to rival that of an Admiral, and an elite combatant was comparable to a high-ranking Vice Admiral.
The World Government and the Marines had gathered their forces here, laying a trap with the express purpose of eliminating Capone Bege.
"Is all this really necessary for just one 'Demon Dragon'?" Sakazuki questioned dismissively.
"The Demon Dragon is the man who killed Vice Admirals Mad Tiger and White Lion single-handedly. We cannot afford to be careless," retorted one of the Vice Admirals – the one with braided hair – frowning slightly.
"If we can eliminate a great pirate who poses such a significant threat to the World Government, the methods used are irrelevant," the CP0 Vice-Commander stated calmly.
"Exterminating pirates is the Marines' duty. We are sufficient for the task. CP0 has no need to interfere," Sakazuki scoffed, clearly holding little regard for Cipher Pol. He stood abruptly, pushed open the door, and strode out.
Another Vice Admiral added, "Leave Bege to us Marines first. We will avenge Mad Tiger and White Lion ourselves." The other two Vice Admirals nodded grimly, killing intent radiating from them.
The CP0 Vice-Commander merely shrugged. "It makes no difference to me. My objective is to confirm Capone Bege's death. If you can kill him, all the better. It saves us the effort."
The braided-hair Vice Admiral nodded, then rose to his feet. The other Marines followed suit, leaving the room.
Only the two CP0 members remained.
The elite CP0 combatant let out a strange, eerie chuckle. "Heh heh… Heaven truly wants the Demon Dragon dead this time. Running to the Theta Intelligence Organization for information… Heh heh… That foolish move gave us the perfect opportunity to set this trap."
"With Number Two and myself standing guard, plus three Marine Vice Admirals and their two Monsters… Capone Bege's death is absolutely certain," the combatant declared confidently.
"Enough pointless chatter," the CP0 Vice-Commander cut him off coolly. "We need to proceed as well. Have the scientists in the base evacuated immediately, and ensure Caesar is protected above all else. We may be sacrificing this experimental facility to eliminate Bege, but we cannot afford to lose a single one of those scientists." He stood, his demeanor ice-cold.
Meanwhile, Bege located a lone soldier on his way through the base. After forcefully extracting the location of Caesar's laboratory, he dashed towards it at incredible speed.
He kicked open the reinforced steel door of the lab with a thunderous crash, startling Caesar Clown inside, whose face immediately twisted with fury.
"Who is it?! Which bastard dares interrupt my experiments?!" Caesar shrieked, enraged, clouds of poisonous gas beginning to emanate from his body.
"You're not a Marine… Who the hell are you?!" Caesar didn't recognize Bege; having spent most of his time sequestered in the lab, he was largely ignorant of happenings in the outside world.
"Doesn't matter who you are! Daring to barge into my laboratory means you'll stay here… as my test subject!" Caesar cackled menacingly, the volume of gas surrounding him increasing rapidly, surging towards Bege like a toxic wave.
Caesar was the user of the Logia-type Gas-Gas Fruit. While his direct combat abilities were mediocre, the gas itself was highly poisonous; inhaling even a small amount could cause severe physical distress, making it quite dangerous.
Bege leaped nimbly over the advancing gas cloud, directly towards Caesar.
His fist, hardened with Armament Haki, smashed into Caesar's face, sending the scientist flying backward with a resounding boom. Against a Haki-infused attack, Caesar's Logia intangibility offered no defense.
Caesar crashed heavily against the far wall, his face visibly distorted from the impact.
"Caesar! Finally found you," Bege laughed, walking towards him. Caesar's face paled, realizing he was completely outmatched. He instantly turned his legs into gas and shot upwards, attempting a swift escape.
Bege leaped after him, moving even faster. Just as he was about to grab Caesar, a figure intercepted him in a blur of motion.
The air suddenly grew scorching hot. A massive fist made of molten rock slammed towards Bege. His expression shifted slightly as he instantly drew his sword, slashing the magma fist apart. Swoosh! He retreated rapidly, landing lightly on the ground.
He frowned, his gaze fixed on the tall man now standing before him. Magma dripped from the man's hands, emitting plumes of smoke. Sakazuki stared imperiously back at Bege, arrogance etched onto his features.
"User of the Mag-Mag Fruit… You must be Akainu Sakazuki," Bege stated, his brow furrowed.
In the next instant, Bege's eyes narrowed again as he instinctively dodged sideways. A streak of light flashed where he had just stood, coalescing into the figure of Borsalino, who executed a sweeping kick aimed at Bege's position.
If Bege hadn't reacted with lightning speed, the light-speed kick would have certainly connected.
Bege immediately retaliated, slashing his sword towards Borsalino.
Borsalino's usual lazy expression showed a flicker of surprise. "Ooh, scary~" he drawled, dissolving into countless particles of light that instantly reformed into his shape beside Sakazuki.
"Such a fast sword… Almost got me there," Kizaru remarked with a slight, intrigued smile.