The Fleet Admiral's office was unusually crowded.
Normally, only one or two high-ranking officers would be summoned at a time. Today was different. The air itself felt heavy, dense with pressure and anticipation, as some of the Marines' strongest forces stood gathered in one place.
Admiral Aokiji leaned casually against the wall, hands tucked into his pockets, eyes half-lidded as if he were about to fall asleep. Near the center stood Vice Admirals Tsuru, Gion, and Tokikake. Tsuru's expression was calm but sharp, her experienced eyes missing nothing. Gion rested a hand lightly on the hilt of her golden saber, relaxed but ready. Tokikake rolled his shoulders, already throwing slow practice punches into the air, grinning to himself.
Closer to the door were Rear Admirals Strawberry, Momonga, and T-Bone. Strawberry stood stiff and attentive, Momonga's posture was straight and disciplined, his hand never straying far from his sword, while T-Bone stood like a statue, radiating stern resolve.
Aokiji finally broke the silence.
"Huh… Fleet Admiral Sengoku," he said lazily. "Mind telling us why so many of us are gathered here?"
Gion nodded. "I was thinking the same thing, Admiral Aokiji. This kind of lineup isn't normal."
She glanced around the room.
"It almost feels like an attack team is being prepared."
Sengoku sat calmly behind his desk, fingers interlocked, expression serious.
"Well," he said evenly, "that's because an attack team is being assembled."
Gion blinked. "Huh? Are we going after an Emperor?"
Tokikake's eyes lit up. He started shadowboxing faster, fists cutting through the air as he laughed.
"This is what I've been waiting for my entire life!" he said excitedly. "Kaido, Big Mom, Whitebeard, doesn't matter! None of them are ready for these punches!"
Sengoku sighed, already feeling a headache coming on.
"It's not an Emperor," he said. "But it's not someone to underestimate either."
The room quieted.
"The target," Sengoku continued, "is Shanks… and his crew. Shanks is a remnant of the Roger Pirates."
Shock rippled through the room instantly.
Tsuru's eyes narrowed. "So… the Roger Pirates are forming again," she said slowly. "How infuriating."
"No," Sengoku replied. "Shanks isn't rebuilding the old crew. He's building an entirely new one."
He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle.
"And among the confirmed members of his crew… is the infamous Benn Beckman."
Gion's breath caught, sweat forming at her temple. "Benn Beckman? Right from the start?" she said. "Wasn't he the man who fought Charlotte Katakuri to a draw?"
"Exactly," Sengoku confirmed.
"And that's not all," Sengoku added. "There's also one named Giovanni."
Aokiji finally lifted his head slightly. "That kid?" he said.
"He's the one Kuzan believes has the potential of an Emperor," Sengoku continued.
Every gaze in the room snapped toward Aokiji.
Momonga turned sharply. "Is that true, Admiral Kuzan?"
Aokiji shrugged, lifting his shoulders lazily. "I like to think I'm pretty accurate when judging potential," he said. "Whether he reaches it or not… that's another story."
Gion clenched her fist. "We can't take that chance," she said firmly. "At this rate, Shanks' crew already has three pirates with Emperor-level potential."
Momonga's hand closed tightly around the hilt of his sword. "No matter what," he said, voice filled with resolve, "I will capture this Giovanni."
Gion drew her golden saber partway from its sheath, its surface gleaming. "Then I'll join you on that mission, Vice Admiral Momonga."
Sengoku nodded slowly. "You see the problem now," he said. "Shanks building a new crew puts us at a severe disadvantage. We don't know their full capabilities, their numbers, or what they're hiding."
He looked around the room.
"That's why I assembled this attack team. I believe it's balanced enough to handle the threat."
"I agree," Gion said. "This should be sufficient, Fleet Admiral."
Aokiji raised a finger. "Hold on," he said. "You're talking like you already know exactly where they are."
Sengoku nodded. "I do."
Tsuru tilted her head. "Oh?"
"They just crossed the Red Mountain," Sengoku said. "And according to Captain Smoker of Loguetown… they're headed straight for our neighbors."
"Sabaody Archipelago."
Rear Admiral Strawberry frowned. "How much can we trust this Captain Smoker?" he asked. "Deploying this many officers could cause serious gaps elsewhere. If the information is false, the consequences would be severe."
Aokiji spoke up calmly. "Don't worry. Smoker can be trusted."
Sengoku nodded. "I agree. He wouldn't lie."
Tsuru folded her arms. "Then what's the plan, Sengoku?"
"Sabaody Archipelago is massive," Sengoku said. "You six will split up and cover different areas. Keep watch for their ship."
He leaned forward.
"Do not engage immediately. Once you confirm their presence, contact the others and regroup. Then…"
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"…you strike together. A devastating surprise attack."
Everyone in the room saluted sharply, everyone except Aokiji, who simply gave a lazy wave.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
Sengoku nodded. "I'm counting on you."
One by one, they turned and left the office.
Tsuru, now left alone with Sengoku, stood calmly, eyes narrowing in curiosity.
"So, Sengoku," she said, voice calm but inquisitive, "what did you call me in for?"
Sengoku, shuffling through a stack of papers with deliberate care, glanced at her before answering.
"Yes," he said slowly, "I wanted your help in deciding the bounties for Shanks and his crew. At least, for the members we know so far."
Tsuru pulled a chair out and sat gracefully, crossing one leg over the other. "Oh," she murmured, tilting her head. "And what were you thinking?"
Sengoku exhaled through his nose, placing a hand on his chin. "Benn Beckman," he began, "managed to fight Charlotte Katakuri who has a bounty of 436 million Berry to a standstill. That would place him roughly in the same ballpark, wouldn't it?"
Tsuru paused, considering carefully. "Thinking like that makes sense on paper," she replied. "But remember, Beckman is a new pirate. He hasn't committed nearly as many crimes as Katakuri. You cannot justify giving them the same bounty right now. Not yet."
Sengoku nodded slowly. "So… what do you think, Tsuru?"
"I'll give you my opinion," Tsuru said, leaning slightly forward, eyes sharp. "Starting with the boy Kuzan mentioned, Giovanni. If his potential is as terrifying as Kuzan claims, then we cannot afford to underestimate him. He needs a bounty high enough to attract seasoned bounty hunters… something that would make even experienced Pirates think twice. I'd suggest around seventy-eight million Berry."
Sengoku considered her words carefully, then wrote the number down with a deliberate stroke of his pen. "That makes sense," he said, nodding.
Tsuru continued without hesitation. "As for Benn Beckman, let's put him at half of Katakuri's bounty. That would make it… two hundred eighteen million Berry. And Shanks," she said, a slight smirk tugging at her lips, "as a remnant of the Roger Pirates, his combat valuation must be equal to, if not stronger than, Beckman's. And just his status as a former member of the Roger Pirates alone… that's enough to justify at least a three hundred million Berry bounty."
Sengoku chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's remarkable," he said, eyes glinting, "that Pirates who have yet to accomplish anything significant are already forcing us to devote so many resources to their capture."
Tsuru let out a soft laugh in agreement. "I'll never underestimate anyone who's been part of Roger's crew," she said, almost reverently. "They have a way of leaving their mark… even before doing anything else."
She tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face. "Have you decided what to call their crew?" she asked. "Do they even have a name?"
Sengoku paused, eyes distant as he tapped a finger against his temple. "Their captain has red hair," he murmured thoughtfully. "Let's just call them… the Red-Haired Pirates."
Tsuru chuckled softly, shaking her head. "How simple," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Typical of you, Sengoku. Straightforward, yet effective."