"It's Vice Admiral Borsalino!"

"Thank goodness — Vice Admiral is here!"

"Vice Admiral Borsalino is an invincible Logia user, the wielder of the Glint-Glint Fruit!"

Just moments ago, the marines had been crushed under Rosinante's overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, morale completely shattered. But now, seeing Borsalino arrive, their spirits reignited all at once.

Even the marine rear admiral exhaled in relief.

To be honest, facing the Gray Kingdom — an organization that had directly challenged Marine Headquarters — and Rosinante, the Dragon King himself, he had no confidence in stopping them.

That one blast of Conqueror's Haki alone had already knocked out most of his soldiers. The few who were still standing had been stripped of their fighting spirit. How could they possibly keep fighting like this?

"Hahaha, well, I didn't expect to run into an old friend here either." Rosinante's expression turned serious.

Of the three "Monster Vice Admirals," this was the one he considered the most troublesome.

Some might argue that Sakazuki — the future Fleet Admiral — was the strongest.

But to Rosinante, when it came to being truly troublesome and hard to deal with, Borsalino absolutely ranked first.

As the wielder of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Borsalino possessed top-tier attack power and speed — among all Logia fruits, he was arguably at the very top.

If not for the fact that Borsalino had underestimated him the last time they fought — giving Rosinante a single opening to silence his fruit for an instant and slash him with a devastating blow — Rosinante's "best case scenario" back then would have been rotting away in Impel Down.

Against Sakazuki or even Kuzan, Rosinante might not win, but he had countless ways to escape.

Against Borsalino? He wouldn't even have the chance to run.

Rosinante did have the ability to silence a Devil Fruit's power — but other than that one time against Borsalino, had he ever used it against anyone else?

The reason was simple: silencing a Devil Fruit user required an enormous amount of his "Silence Energy," and even then, the fruit's power could be reawakened by its user. At best, he could only suppress it for a fleeting moment.

Back then, against Borsalino, even if he used every last ounce of power, he had only been able to silence him for a single instant.

That fight had been the most dangerous gamble of Rosinante's life.

One slight mistake — one fraction of a second off — and the result waiting for him would have been a miserable one.

"Well, I'm not a wanted man anymore, am I? Why don't you just pretend you didn't see me, finish your mission, and I'll be on my way," Rosinante said with a faint smile.

"That won't do, you know. The one your men are holding happens to be a target personally named by the World Government. Attacking government ships, raiding Marine branches… I was dispatched specifically to bring him in. If I don't deliver him, I can't exactly explain myself," Borsalino said lazily.

He wasn't lying — this mission really was centered around Bratt. Capturing the Red-Hair Pirates was just a side assignment.

Bratt had simply gone too far.

Few pirates dared to actively attack the Marines — and even fewer would dare attack Marine bases or government ships.

But Bratt? Ever since setting sail, he had attacked everything — pirates, marines, government vessels — anyone and everyone.

One word. One look. Even the slightest provocation was enough to send him into a fight.

He never cared who the other person was or what their status might be. One wrong move, and he attacked without hesitation — a complete madman.

When the World Government learned he had come to Sabaody, they broke out in a cold sweat. They immediately dispatched Borsalino from Mary Geoise with strict orders: kill or capture him at all costs.

Why? Because the Celestial Dragons lived on Sabaody. And lately, more and more of them had been coming here to buy slaves.

Anyone with half a brain would avoid conflict with a Celestial Dragon.

After all, they were World Nobles — harming them would summon an Admiral, and no pirate wanted that.

But Bratt? He was not a man of reason.

And with his temper — and theirs — a clash was inevitable.

Which was why the World Government had scrambled to send Borsalino before disaster struck.

"Huh? Is this really the Borsalino I know? When did you get so serious?" Rosinante asked with a teasing smile.

"Hah… I've always been serious," Borsalino replied in his usual lecherous, lazy tone.

"Yeah right, who are you trying to fool?" Rosinante shot back.

"Little brother, I suggest you hand over that mad dog and leave while you can. I've been looking for you for a long time, you know," Borsalino said, his gaze sharp as it locked on Rosinante.

"Looks like there's no avoiding this fight, then. Come, Borsalino — show me how much you've improved in these two years!" Rosinante said, his own tone now solemn.

Truth be told, if he could avoid a fight with Borsalino, he would.

But he had a sinking feeling — Borsalino might actually be tougher to deal with than Sakazuki.

"Aiyayaya, why is it that good advice always gets ignored, huh? I've been thinking about you for a long time, Rosinante. That slash you gave me back then — it still hurts, you know. If we fight, I won't be able to hold back. The World Government doesn't want to go to war with the Gray Kingdom yet, but your assassinations have been giving them quite the headache! Now… Ame-no-Murakumo!"

As he spoke, Borsalino's hands pulled apart, and a blade of pure light formed between them — his shining sword, Ame-no-Murakumo.

For the past two years, Borsalino had been hunting for Rosinante's whereabouts, eager to repay the wound he had suffered.

That single slash had shaken him deeply, forcing the perpetually lazy man to take his own strength seriously. He had even retrained his physical techniques, preparing himself to one day get his revenge.

During Rosinante's attack on Marineford, Borsalino had been stationed in Mary Geoise — they hadn't crossed paths. This time, he had no intention of letting him slip away.

"Fool someone else, will you? You look like you can't wait to get started. That slash really did change you, huh?" Rosinante said with a mocking smile as he drew the long blade at his waist.

"Arararara~ if you put it that way, I'm in trouble. If the Fleet Admiral and Admirals hear about this, I might get scolded!" Borsalino chuckled.

Even as he spoke, his entire body blazed with light — and in the next instant, he appeared in front of the two Blood Oath Guards holding Bratt.

Ame-no-Murakumo was raised high, gleaming like the sun — and it was about to cleave straight through Bratt, with enough force to cut the two guards holding him in half as well.