Sengoku blinked.
"Oh? He's that strong already? How old is he now—eighteen?"
Garp crunched on a senbei, crumbs at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't underestimate the brat, Sengoku. He's already at the peak of swordsman level. Just half a step from Great Swordsman."
"As for Conqueror's Haki coating, he's one life-or-death battle away from breaking through."
That little runt…
Sengoku fell silent. Conqueror's Haki wasn't something just anyone had. And advanced application—coating—was even harder. If that kid broke through…
He'd be a real monster.
"…Then we need to think carefully about his post once he reports to HQ," Sengoku muttered.
Garp shook his head.
"No use, Sengoku. The World Government already gave instructions last time. They want him stationed at Sabaody Archipelago."
Tsuru sighed.
"They're probably planning to use all that… messy business of his to suppress his spirit. Conqueror's Haki and all that—can't be too careful."
Sengoku's face darkened.
"Those old bastards…"
Garp suddenly burst into laughter, actually putting the senbei down to slap the table.
"BAHAHAHA!"
Sengoku's forehead vein twitched.
"Garp! You think this is funny?! Shut up!"
Garp grinned.
"Relax, Sengoku. That brat's famous for being 'the Marine with no justice.'"
"I'd bet a bag of senbei that when he gets to Sabaody, he'll give those old men a huge surprise."
He paused.
"…Oh. Right. Forgot about that."
Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged a look.
It was true. That kid was the type who ignored common sense even on a good day. There was no telling what he'd do once thrown into that nest of Celestial Dragon mess.
"Maybe he will surprise us…" Sengoku exhaled and let his shoulders relax.
"Fine. Enough about him. Put out the notice for the next Shichibukai after Dracule Mihawk—Fishman Jinbe."
New World, white island Baltigo.
Revolutionary Army HQ.
Dragon sat at his desk, reading the paper.
"Shichibukai…"
He raised his head.
"Kuma. If I ask you to join this 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' system… will you do it?"
The giant man standing before him closed the book in his hands—the Bible he never left behind.
"As long as it benefits the Revolutionary Army, Leader,"Bartholomew Kuma said gently, "my own feelings don't matter."
Looking at that towering, broad-shouldered man, so gentle despite his size, Dragon felt a stab of guilt.
Kuma stood.
"Please don't worry about me, sir. Revolution requires sacrifice."
Dragon sighed.
"Go, then."
"Cooperate with the World Government as much as you can. Obey their orders. Let them lower their guard around you."
"The more sensitive the intel you can bring back, the better."
"…Understood, Leader. I'll go now. Take care."
As Kuma left, Dragon's face hardened. His fist slammed into the desk.
"Damn it. We still have too few top-class fighters…"
East Blue, Loguetown Marine Base.
"Oh? That simp Jinbe made it into the Shichibukai, huh?"
Jin lounged in his chair, newspaper in hand, a cold grin playing at his lips.
"That pack of scum-fish should be on their way soon."
"As soon as I clean them up, I can head to HQ."
"Trash like them… always bullying the weak."
He flicked the ash from his cigarette.
"Come on, then…"
"I've been waiting."
Loguetown harbor.
A Marine Headquarters warship slid into port.
"Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome to the investigators from HQ!"
Kanira fussed around the dock, arranging the "welcome ceremony" he'd planned.
Heh. You're dead, White Ghost. Mess with me, will you? This is what you get.
On deck, a sloppy-looking man with messy hair and a pervy grin leaned on the rail.
"So this is Loguetown, huh? Place of the Pirate King's execution. Where the Great Age of Pirates began…"
Before he could ramble further, a long leg kicked him in the ribs.
"Quit yapping," the woman beside him said flatly. "We deal with this quickly and get back to HQ. We're short on manpower everywhere."
The "pervert" tumbled, clutching his side.
Prison-striped suit, lazy grin, and a sword at his hip—HQ Vice Admiral Tokikake, code name Chaton.
The woman stepped forward first, boots hitting the gangplank.
"Hello. I'm Headquarters Vice Admiral, code-name 'Momousagi.'"
Long legs, fitted coat, figure that could break hearts—Gion.
Kanira saw her and his eyes almost popped out of his skull. That figure. Those legs.
His jaw slackened, a line of drool forming.
"Hmm?"
Gion's brows knitted. Why did this man feel as sleazy as Tokikake?
Kanira snapped out of it and bowed repeatedly.
"S-sorry! My apologies, Vice Admiral Gion!"
"I'm Lieutenant Commander Kanira from this base. The commander sent me to receive you personally."
Gion tilted her head, looking cute and mildly confused.
"Hm. And the one we're here to investigate?"
"He's not with you?"
He's walked right into it himself, Kanira crowed internally. You're finished, White Ghost!
He put on a hurt expression and sighed.
"Unfortunately… Lieutenant Commander Jin refused to come."
"No matter what I said, he wouldn't budge."
"He even told me… 'What's a Headquarters Vice Admiral? You think I'm going to go greet them personally? They don't deserve it.'"
Once he started, he didn't stop.
Strong-arming civilians, taking bribes, crushing colleagues' promotions, lecherous, greedy—he piled it on thick.
Anyway, this was the time to throw every bit of filth he could imagine at the man.
Gion's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Heh. That's right. Frown. Get angry. The more pissed off you are, the better for me.
Kanira was practically giggling inside.
But Gion wasn't frowning because of Jin. Tsuru had already briefed them on him—his "style," his peculiar "justice."
What really bothered her was the man in front of her.
All this, just to climb.
Tokikake trotted up behind.
"Yo. Guy sounds pretty wild," he chuckled. "I'll go teach this 'genius' a lesson."
"Show us the way," Gion said, cutting Kanira's rambling short.
"A-ah, yes! Right away, Vice Admiral, right away!"
Kanira scampered ahead like a lapdog, babbling as he led them toward the base.
They passed through the gates into the courtyard.
Gion and Tokikake both paused, quietly impressed.
For the "weakest sea," the East Blue, these Marines had good posture and spirit. Not HQ-elite level, but definitely near the top of the Blues.
"Heheheh. See, Admirals from HQ, this is my Loguetown unit." Kanira puffed up with pride.
Seeing them nod, he got even more excited.
"These are all elite soldiers who've gone through countless battles with me."
"Whenever pirates come, I'm always at the front, leading them into combat."
"In peacetime, it's also me who guides their training. Only with my methods could they reach this level!"
"Of course, it's all thanks to Base Commander Mao's support as well…"
He shamelessly dragged every bit of credit his way, eyes bright with greed.
Everything good was "me." Everything bad would be "White Ghost."
Tokikake's face darkened with every sentence.
"Gion," he muttered. "If he keeps this up I'm gonna deck him. He's outboasting me."
"Endure it," Gion said under her breath. "Sister Tsuru already warned us about this one."
"You know the type."
Tokikake's expression twisted like he was swallowing a rotten lemon.
"I know… but I really want to hit him…"
"So annoying. No pride at all."
"Hold it in."
Ahead, raised voices echoed down the corridor.
"What's going on up there?" Tokikake asked.
Kanira perked up.
"Ah, that must be White Ghost making trouble again, Vice Admiral Gion."
"He's like this every day—either committing misdeeds or fooling around."
Good. Perfect timing, Kanira thought, eyes shining.
Base Commander Mao walked up and saluted.
"Vice Admiral Gion, Vice Admiral Tokikake. Apologies—I had some urgent paperwork earlier and couldn't greet you personally."
Paperwork, my ass. He'd just been in his office arguing with Jin about how to handle this situation.
Jin had told him:
"Relax, old man. I've already heard—this time they're just here to check a box and drag me to HQ."
"You're retiring anyway."
"Smoker'll be back soon to take over for you. Stop worrying so much and go enjoy your pension."
Then they'd argued for half an hour.
"In that case, don't worry about it, Colonel Mao," Gion said politely. "Duty comes first."
They both respected veterans who'd given their lives to justice, even if the edges of that justice had worn down with age.
"Please, both of you, this way," Kanira urged anxiously.
He was desperate to see Jin's face when he realized he'd been "caught."
Just around the corner, they heard the end of a battle.
Bodies were sprawled everywhere in the training yard.
"Go! Jango, Kuro, knock White Boss down for us!"
"We'll support you with our spirit! We really can't move anymore!"
The two men in question were gasping for air, barely able to lift their arms. Across from them, Jin stood alone, unfazed.
He looked at them like a disappointed coach.
"What's this? You two scared now?"
"You're the only ones left. Hurry it up, I've got things to do."
"Quit looking down on us!"Kuro snarled.
"Jango! Together!"
"Cat Claw… Pierce!"
He leaped, twin claw-blades pressed together, spinning toward Jin like a drill.
"Spiral Assault!"
Jango slurred, clearly still half-drunk.
"Spinning… attack!"
Jin watched them come, face expressionless.
He flicked a hand, casually batting Jango's rings aside.
"Kuro, your biggest weakness is simple."
"You're just too weak."
He drew his right arm back, fist cocked.
"Watch closely."
"Miracle Mega Punch!"
His fist slammed into Kuro's crossed arms.
With a crack, Kuro's half-formed armament shattered, his cat claws snapping off. His eyes rolled as he flew backwards like a rag doll.
Jin vanished with a "shave"—Soru—and appeared in front of Jango.
"Jango, spacing out mid-fight will get you killed."
"Ah—crap!"
Too late.
He crossed his arms and hastily coated them in a faint black sheen.
"Block it…"
"Miracle Mega Kick!"
His foot crashed into Jango's guard. Jango's brain shut off as he sailed away, limbs limp.
Jin planted his hands on his hips and laughed.
"Ahahahaha!"
"You're all pathetic!"
"From tomorrow on, everyone's training load gets doubled!"
"If you can't even take a single hit from me, how are you supposed to go hunt pirates?!"
The yard full of groaning soldiers answered with silence.
Only Kanira laughed.
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