Admirals Decision: Enlisting the three brothers

The Five Elders were a little stunned to hear Sengoku's words.

Sengoku the Buddha, the former Fleet Admiral, had always been known for his strict adherence to the chain of command. He never opposed their directives directly.

What's going on now? Several of them had already ordered the new Admiral, Luo Ye, to return to Marineford, and yet Sengoku refused to comply?

Wasn't it always Garp who behaved this recklessly? Since when did Sengoku start acting the same way?

The Elders exchanged glances, confused and growing uneasy.

Sengoku himself sighed heavily after speaking.

He finally understood why Garp had refused promotions and why Luo Ye never blindly obeyed orders from above.

The weight of being an Admiral or a Fleet Admiral was exhausting. The constant political pressure, the moral compromises—it drained the soul.

Now he saw it clearly: freedom, like Garp's, was rare within the Marines.

Thinking of all this, Sengoku gritted his teeth and said into the Den Den Mushi:

"I can't reach Luo Ye at the moment. Why don't you try calling him yourselves and tell him to return to Marineford?"

This response confirmed everything for the Five Elders. Sengoku had changed.

To hear such defiance from him, of all people, was previously unthinkable.

They didn't bother arguing further with him.

If Sengoku had reached this point, nothing they said would reverse his decision.

It seemed they would have to act themselves.

If Sengoku knew what they were planning, he'd probably laugh.

He had taken the brunt of the heat for Luo Ye's actions, making the Five Elders assume everything had been under his orders.

That way, no matter what Luo Ye did in Dressrosa, they wouldn't punish him directly, because doing so would mean challenging the former Fleet Admiral himself.

As for Sengoku—he'd spent decades in command. The Five Elders would not dare cross him without serious consequences.

And after all these years, he finally had a chance to avenge Rosinante—his adoptive son, the man who died infiltrating the Donquixote Family.

There was no way he would let this opportunity pass.

And besides… Luo Ye? That boy never followed orders from the Five Elders anyway.

On the other end, the Five Elders didn't hesitate. They immediately called the warship assigned to Luo Ye.

When the line connected, one of them spoke bluntly into the Den Den Mushi:

"Luo Ye, this is the Five Elders. Regardless of Sengoku's instructions, you are to return to Marineford immediately. Do not take any action against Dressrosa!"

Vice Admiral Momousagi, standing near the transponder snail, blinked in confusion.

After a pause, she answered honestly:

"Silver Eagle Admiral Luo Ye is not aboard. He's already entered Dressrosa."

Click.

The line cut off abruptly. Momousagi frowned at the dial tone.

"Sengoku acted without clearance…" she murmured.

"Luo Ye may be young, but his strength is on par with the Yonko Commanders. Doflamingo won't be able to stand against him."

"I only hope he doesn't go so far as to expose everything…"

—

At that moment, Luo Ye had already arrived at the Royal Palace of Dressrosa.

Beside him stood Portgas D. Ace and Sabo, brothers-in-arms and powerful allies.

With his advanced Observation Haki, Luo Ye sensed the presence inside the palace long before they entered.

"Hmph… Doflamingo's still here. Didn't even try to escape," he said with a half-smile.

The Silver Eagle Admiral couldn't help but scoff at the man's arrogance.

Typical of a former Celestial Dragon—ruthless, entitled, delusional.

Surely Doflamingo had seen the sixteen Marine warships now encircling the island.

Yet he didn't budge.

What was he betting on?

"Silver Eagle Admiral, Luo Ye."

Doflamingo's voice echoed across the room as he emerged from the shadows, sunglasses still firmly on. His usual grin faltered for a split second when he locked eyes with the Admiral.

He might be fearless, but he wasn't stupid.

A man strong enough to be named Admiral by the World Government would never be a pushover.

"I'm curious," Luo Ye said, resting his hand casually on the hilt of his saber.

"You knew I was coming. You knew sixteen Marine warships are parked outside your island. And yet… you stayed."

"Fufufufufu…"

Doflamingo chuckled darkly, the eerie sound echoing in the hall.

Then his grin twisted.

"You mean the Five Elders didn't tell you to retreat?" he asked with sharp interest.

Luo Ye shook his head slightly, unfazed.

"Does your confidence lie in the Five Elders?"

He didn't even receive their order, and even if he had—he wouldn't have cared.

If Doflamingo was betting on political protection, he was about to lose everything.

Doflamingo's eyes narrowed behind his shades.

A quiet fury burned inside him.

Those five decrepit fools.

They actually let this brat invade his territory—after everything he had done for them, after the secrets he held.

Still, this wasn't the time to rage at the Elders.

Right now, he had to figure out how to deal with the monster standing in front of him.

Doflamingo raised one hand slowly, threads glinting between his fingers.

"Heh… They say that every prey you've hunted has met the same fate. No escape."

Luo Ye's smile faded. He drew his blade, its silver edge catching the sun.

"Not before," he said coldly.

"And never will be."