The training area was in motion when Hancock arrived. The sound of dry impacts echoed through the air as Marigold dodged a spinning strike from Sandersonia and countered with an open palm. Both stopped training the moment they noticed their older sister's presence.
"Older sister?" Sandersonia straightened her posture immediately.
Marigold took a deep breath, slightly surprised by the sudden visit.
Hancock walked toward them with the natural balance she had always carried. No rigidity, but with the authority that only she possessed.
"We need to talk."
The two approached, still adjusting their breathing from the exercise. Hancock watched her sisters for a moment, measuring how to say what needed to be said.
"It's about the Tenryuubito."
Sandersonia froze. Marigold instinctively looked away. Their bodies reacted before their minds. The past was still there, pressed against their skin like an old reflex. But the vampiric blood, warm and full of drive, diluted part of that old response.
Hancock stepped forward.
"Listen." Her tone was firm, but not harsh. "We are going to end them."
Marigold tried to remain calm.
"Older sister… are you sure about this?"
"I am."
Sandersonia breathed more deeply, trying to steady herself.
"But… fighting them… after everything…"
Hancock gently held Sandersonia's forearm, drawing her closer.
"You are not those girls anymore." Her voice was direct. "And you do not need to live in fear anymore."
Marigold slowly raised her head.
"Is this… is this really possible now?"
"Yes." Hancock did not hesitate. "My husband has already prepared everything."
Marigold was the first to speak, still trying to contain her unexpected excitement.
"Master Riser really is impressive." She straightened her posture, firmer than before.
Sandersonia added, with the energy she always tried to restrain.
"He changes everything, older sister. Everything."
Hancock answered with a smile of pride and affection.
"That's right. My husband is incredible."
Her words struck both of them like an impulse that came not only from admiration, but from the security they now carried. It was the first time they spoke of the past without the weight dragging them back.
Hancock continued.
"You are coming with me. No exceptions."
Sandersonia hesitated for a moment.
"Even if… even if something happens?"
"Nothing will happen." Hancock touched her shoulder in a direct gesture. "You will not face anything alone again."
Marigold slowly lifted her chest.
"Older sister, if it's with you… I can fight."
Sandersonia nodded right after.
"I can too. I want to fight."
Hancock looked at both with approval.
"Believe me, my sisters. We will take revenge. After so long… no more fear."
The sentence struck exactly where it needed to. Marigold clenched her fists firmly.
"I am ready."
Sandersonia stepped forward.
"I am too. No more running."
Hancock kept her calm tone.
"Then it's the three of us."
Marigold took a deep breath.
"We will fight for ourselves."
Sandersonia completed without hesitation.
"And for what was taken from us."
"Yes." Hancock confirmed.
The three fell silent for a few seconds, now not because of pain, but because of decision.
Hancock raised her hand.
"We seal this now."
Marigold placed her hand on top.
"Yes."
Sandersonia joined hers immediately after.
"We are together."
Hancock concluded without raising her voice.
"Then our revenge is decided."
The three remained united, firm, closing the pact they had waited for their entire lives.
The Den Den Mushi slowly closed its eyes before shutting off with the dry click of "Katcha". The room fell quiet for a few seconds. Sengoku kept his hand over the snail, still absorbing the weight of the information he had just received.
Garp sat to the right, far too relaxed for the tone of the meeting. Kizaru watched with no clear expression, while Kuzan leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. Fujitora waited in silence, his head slightly inclined. Tsuru was the only one with a rigid posture besides Sengoku himself.
Sengoku removed his hand from the Den Den Mushi and took a deep breath.
"This does not leave this room."
The military tone cut through the air immediately. Even Kizaru straightened his back slowly.
Sengoku looked at each of them one by one, until stopping on Garp.
Garp raised an eyebrow as if expecting the reprimand.
Sengoku continued.
"Anyone, anyone at all who repeats what is heard here will be treated as a direct threat to the World Government."
Garp let out a muffled laugh.
"So the rumor was true. Hahahaha…"
Sengoku slammed his palm on the table.
"Garp."
The laughter stopped, but the smile remained.
Tsuru tilted her head.
"Is it really that serious?"
Sengoku confirmed with a single nod.
"The Gorosei are dead."
The sentence did not come wrapped in drama. It simply fell into the center of the room like a verdict.
Kizaru took two seconds before reacting, as always.
"Ohhhh… that's pretty problematic, isn't it…"
Sengoku did not respond. He simply waited for the full impact of the information to settle on the others.
Kuzan scratched the back of his neck, unhurried.
"So someone really did it. Hm… what a situation."
It sounded like indifference, but it was not disrespect. It was his way of dealing with catastrophes.
Fujitora remained motionless. His silence felt heavier than any words.
Tsuru stepped forward.
"Are you absolutely certain, Sengoku?"
"Confirmed by multiple sources. Confirmed from the top. And confirmed by someone who does not usually make mistakes."
Garp leaned forward.
"And how…? All five?"
Sengoku kept his voice firm.
"All five. No exceptions. No survivors. No doubts."
Kizaru rubbed his chin, thoughtful.
"Then… whoever did this must be truly terrifying. That kind of thing doesn't happen every day."
Kuzan added vaguely.
"Not every century either."
Tsuru frowned, processing the information.
"And the Government? How are they reacting?"
Sengoku answered coldly.
"Hiding everything."
Garp let out another short laugh.
"As always."
Sengoku ignored him.
"The Government is trying to act as if nothing happened. But the movement of the Tenryuubito leaves no room for doubt."
Tsuru understood before the others.
"They are returning to Mary Geoise."
"All of them." Sengoku confirmed. "No exceptions."
Kizaru waved a finger in the air as if they were facing a mathematical demonstration.
"So chaos is about to begin. The nobles without anyone holding the leash…"
Kuzan added.
"And the entire world about to realize the top is gone."
Sengoku continued.
"The Government is about to lose control. And when that happens, they will try to use the Navy as a shield."
Tsuru clenched her fist.
"And they want us to maintain world order while the center collapses."
"Yes."
Garp snorted as if it were entertainment.
"This world never changes."
Sengoku looked at him.
"And now it's going to get worse."
Silence.
Fujitora finally lifted his face slightly.
"Even without sight, I can feel the weight of this, Sengoku. If the leaders have fallen… the people will be the first to suffer."
It was his only sentence. It was enough.
Sengoku ran his fingers over the reports on the table.
"What is about to happen is not a political dispute. It is the collapse of a millennia old structure."
Tsuru nodded.
"And the Government will ask us to hold it up."
"They will." Sengoku confirmed. "And that is why you are here."
He straightened his posture.
"From this moment on, none of you, absolutely none, are permitted to accept external missions."
Kizaru tilted his head with his usual tone.
"Oooooh… so we can't go play around the world?"
Sengoku ignored him again.
"Kizaru, Kuzan, Fujitora. You three are too essential. If each of you is in a different place when a war starts, we will lose everything before we can even react."
Kuzan muttered quietly, but did not argue.
"So we stay on standby."
Fujitora nodded silently.
"Kizaru as well."
Kizaru raised his hands calmly.
"If the old man is asking… I suppose I can stay around for a while."
Sengoku continued, firmer than before.
"This is not a request. It is an order from the World Government. And an order from me."
Garp laughed again.
"So chaos really is coming. Hahaha…"
"Garp, control yourself." Tsuru cut in.
"Ah, Tsuru… you know I've seen the world end about three times already."
"And it was never like this." she replied.
Sengoku confirmed.
"This time is different. The target was not an admiral. Not a Yonko. Not a sea of pirates. It was the center of global power."
Kuzan stayed still for a few seconds.
"Whoever did this… is not someone we can face with ordinary strategy."
Kizaru completed.
"Nor with ordinary force."
Sengoku took a heavy breath.
"That is why, until further notice, none of you are going anywhere. No missions. No external requests. No matter where they come from."
Tsuru analyzed the set of information and reached the inevitable conclusion.
"The Navy is now… an army on standby."
"Exactly."
Garp slapped his hand on his leg, amused.
"A huge war is going to explode and we're going to sit and watch? Hahaha!"
Tsuru answered without humor.
"If we move… there will be no one left to stop total collapse."
Sengoku closed the report in front of him.
"Prepare yourselves. The world will change long before dawn. And this room will be summoned when the war begins."
The meeting ended without farewells.
There was nothing more to say.
Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22
Thank you so much for reading - see you in the next chapter!