"The number of calls coming in is higher than we expected."
"Vane-sama probably didn't expect the commotion to get this big either."
They had only published information on a few dozen children in the newspapers, yet over the past few days, hundreds of families had called in.
All of these families had children who had gone missing. Indeed, over a dozen families matched children currently on Sleeping Island. Some of those children couldn't remember where their homes were and hadn't filled in any information, so their details were never published. Those parents had called just to try their luck—and actually hit the mark.
Of course, far more families were left disappointed.
"We've even received calls from families whose children went missing a year ago."
"I've got one here from two years ago."
Making a phone call didn't cost much. What if they really could find their missing child? That was the mindset of every family who called. So even if two years had already passed, and they knew the timeline didn't quite match, they would still try.
"It feels like the calls are only going to keep pouring in."
"Vane-sama's latest order is to collect all the information provided through these calls, without restricting age, gender, or race."
"We're going to build the largest missing persons database in the world—give every missing person across the globe a glimmer of hope."
Vane realized this was an opportunity to elevate Rocket Team's reputation even further. He wanted ordinary people to understand that they were not the vicious pirates the Navy and the World Government portrayed them to be.
They were a group fighting for a better tomorrow.
With Morgans' help, news of Vane's decision to establish the "Lost and Alone" database spread across most of the world within just a couple of days.
On Sleeping Island, more than thirty literate individuals were assigned to sit in front of Den Den Mushi at all times. Whenever a call came in, they would record the missing person's age, any distinctive physical features, name, gender, location, and a series of other details as required.
In the end, each person's information would be compiled onto a sturdy card-like material, then filed and categorized carefully in the database.
"My son has been missing for seven years. He was only ten back then. If he's still alive, he'd be seventeen now. There's a very noticeable mark behind his left ear…"
"My older brother, he…"
"I'm not calling to register someone missing… to be precise, I'm hoping to see if I can find where my hometown is. I was trafficked as a child and can't remember where I came from. I only know it was somewhere in the South Blue…"
The service was free, so many people called in—some to report missing loved ones, others who were themselves missing persons hoping to find their way home.
...
"Nation-Slayer… truly a hard man to read."
Inside the Navy conference room, a meeting unlike the usual ones was underway.
Fleet Admiral Kong had officially stepped down, handing the position over to Admiral Sengoku without controversy.
This transition of Fleet Admiral saw no fierce struggle. Those qualified to compete with Sengoku had all withdrawn—especially Garp, who didn't even want to be Admiral, let alone Fleet Admiral.
Sengoku's ascension was merely a standard transfer of power. The real major move was expanding the number of Admirals from two to three.
The first thing Sengoku did after becoming Fleet Admiral was submit Vice Admiral Sakazuki's dossier, hoping the Five Elders would approve him as the new Admiral.
In Sengoku's view, the Navy was currently brimming with talent—especially Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino. All three were exceptionally powerful.
The Five Elders quickly approved Sakazuki's promotion to Admiral.
Garp intended to strike while the iron was hot and push Kuzan up as well.
This time, the Five Elders responded that Kuzan would have to wait until the end of the year, after Zephyr retired to the second line, before becoming Admiral.
Seeing that even Kuzan would have to wait, Sengoku decided not to submit Borsalino's dossier for now.
Compared to Kuzan and Sakazuki, Borsalino hadn't served a short time in the Navy, and his strength was solid—but he was simply too lazy.
In terms of achievements, he couldn't compare to Kuzan or Sakazuki. Even among Vice Admirals, he wouldn't rank near the top.
In the original timeline, Borsalino was still a Vice Admiral when he pursued Tiger. It was very possible that only after capturing Tiger did his accomplishments qualify him for Admiral.
Today's meeting was Sengoku's first gathering of all Vice Admirals and above since becoming Fleet Admiral. Everyone currently stationed at Navy Headquarters was present.
Among the familiar faces, only Vice Admiral Tsuru—who was hunting down Doflamingo in the North Blue—was absent.
The newly appointed Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Kuzan, Vice Admiral Borsalino, Vice Admiral Chaton, Vice Admiral Momousagi… and the Hero of the Navy, Garp.
All were renowned figures within the Navy.
Borsalino trimmed his nails with a clipper as he spoke.
"This Nation-Slayer fellow is really doing something quite extraordinary."
Sakazuki said, "A pirate is still a pirate. No matter what he's doing, it doesn't change his nature as a threat to the world!"
Sakazuki was firmly hawkish. His sense of justice was excessively extreme. The greatest stain of his life was during the Ohara Incident, when he opened fire on an evacuation ship carrying ordinary civilians, blowing the entire vessel and its passengers apart at sea.
He had strictly carried out the World Government's order to leave no survivors.
It was precisely because Sengoku recognized Sakazuki's extremism that, during the later Fleet Admiral succession, the more dovish Sengoku recommended Kuzan instead.
Kuzan lifted his sleep mask.
"Ara ara… just let him stay in the New World. Anyway, organizing and registering missing persons is draining their energy. It doesn't really affect our Navy much."
Doesn't affect them much? Sengoku wasn't nearly so optimistic.
"We could also do something similar to weaken the impact of their actions."
"We could… but the effect would be limited. Or rather, we wouldn't be able to completely suppress it."
"When it comes to slaves, the Celestial Dragons won't agree."
The Celestial Dragons relied on the Navy to maintain their rule. They ruled the world so they could live as they pleased, high above everyone else.
If the Navy's anti-pirate policies prevented them from acting as they wished, then what would they need the Navy for? From the Celestial Dragons' perspective, they would never agree to such approach.
"Then we just won't handle that part. Of those who go missing at sea, only a small portion are taken by traffickers. Most disappear for other reasons. We'll focus on that part."
That was true. More people vanished due to natural disasters and accidents than because of traffickers.
It was just that the latter attracted far more attention.
If this were modern news, the former would be treated as mere accidents, while the latter would be headline-grabbing sensations. The difference was obvious at a glance.
Moreover, handling even that portion wouldn't be easy. It required World Government approval, and after that, budget approval as well. The procedures were endlessly troublesome.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo