Garp sat to the side, chewing on a doughnut as he mumbled,
"Who cares."
"Just send someone over to keep an eye on them."
"I'll go with Sengoku. It's been a while since we stretched our legs."
"Hahahahaha!"
Fleet Admiral Kong's veins bulged on his forehead as he roared,
"Don't talk with your mouth full!"
"You idiot!!!"
He wiped his hand and turned to Sengoku.
"What do you think, Sengoku?"
Sengoku nodded and replied,
"Sure. Garp and I will go."
"Let's bring some younger Marines along. It'd be good experience for them."
Kong's eyes lit up, a smile appearing on his face.
"That's a good idea. We've had a burst of talent in recent years."
"They're the future backbone of the Navy."
"Let them see the world for themselves. Let them understand what the most dangerous pirates on the seas are really like."
"Let it grind away some of their arrogance."
Sengoku smiled as well.
"Exactly my thoughts."
Fleet Admiral Kong asked,
"How many warships do you need? I'll have them prepared immediately."
Sengoku thought for a moment.
"Hmm…"
"Two should be enough."
"Garp and I can each command one."
"Just surveillance. No need to engage."
"I don't think they'll fight."
"Pirates are creatures that value profit above all else."
"A war between two Emperors is unlikely."
"I'm more inclined to believe they want to clean up the New World."
"Ever since the idea of the Three Emperors was introduced, the conflicts in the New World have only escalated."
"Even with the power of Knock and Charlotte Linlin's factions, they can't be everywhere at once."
"Countless pirates are aiming for that third Emperor's seat. And stepping over the old guard is the quickest way to the top."
"Their islands have been under constant attack these past few years."
"They're probably sick of it."
"Planning to join forces and purge the New World—make a statement with blood."
Fleet Admiral Kong considered this.
"That's quite possible."
"Then maintain a safe distance and observe."
"Let's see what exactly they're up to."
"Go ahead."
Sengoku nodded, stood up, and dragged the sleeping Garp away.
Vice Admiral Tsuru stood and said,
"Then I'll go handle another mission."
Fleet Admiral Kong grunted,
"Go ahead."
The office fell into silence.
After a moment, Fleet Admiral Kong turned to Morris on the sofa to his right.
"What are you still doing here?"
Morris slumped on the couch.
"Sigh."
"I got called all the way here, didn't even get to say a word, and now I'm just being sent home."
"My dear grandson got sent off by someone, too."
"What's the point of going back to that empty house?"
Dark lines formed on Kong's forehead.
"Hey, hey. Enel left with Sakazuki."
"This whole operation was Sakazuki's idea."
"What's it got to do with me?"
Morris shot a sidelong glance at the Fleet Admiral.
"Sigh~"
"But the order came from you, didn't it?"
Kong stared at this shameless man, taking a deep breath.
"Alright, out with it. What are you after this time?"
Morris lazily said from the couch,
"I heard the government sent out a batch of premium tea to some high-level officials..."
"Just wondering..."
Kong was so furious he actually laughed.
"You've got the nose of an animal, huh? How are you always so well-informed?"
"That's a premium batch. The entire Tea Island only produces about 15-something kilograms a year, and I only got one kilogram."
"How can you even ask!"
Morris groaned dramatically on the sofa.
"Sigh, my head hurts. Sigh, my legs hurt. Sigh, my arms..."
Kong opened a drawer, glanced sideways at Morris—who had suddenly sat up, and let out a snort.
"Here."
He pulled out a small pouch of tea and tossed it to Morris.
Morris's arm flashed like an afterimage, and the tea instantly appeared in his hand. He weighed it.
"Wait a minute… this isn't one kilogram"
"More like 200 grams"
Kong rolled his eyes.
"Be grateful. Plenty of people don't even get to try it."
Vice Admiral Morris stood up with a grin.
"Alright~ I won't bother you anymore."
Fleet Admiral Kong chuckled.
"Yeah, get out of here already."
"Seriously..."
He watched Morris slowly disappear.
Recalling the once stern-faced Morris, and how he'd become more and more playful after having a grandson...
"The power of family, huh…"
"Heh…"
Fleet Admiral Kong chuckled softly, shaking his head and putting the thought aside.
Family and the burden of being a Marine often don't mix.
The best choice is not to build a family at all.
Because if you get greedy and try to have both, it's always the family that suffers.
There are too many pirates in this vast sea, and the Navy has too many enemies...
That's why fewer and fewer high-ranking Marines choose to start families.
But... adopting a child might not be a bad idea.
Fleet Admiral Kong suddenly thought of Sengoku, whose personality had changed somewhat over the years.
...
Evening. Marine Headquarters Port.
Sengoku stood beneath a warship, facing a group of assembled officers.
He opened a booklet in his hand and began calling names.
"Borsalino."
"Here~"
"Kuzan."
"Here."
"Gion."
"Here!"
"Tokikake."
"Here—"
"Doberman."
"Here!!!"
"Momonga."
"Here!!!"
"..."
"..."
After two minutes of roll call, nearly all the Navy's future core members had arrived.
At Sengoku's command, they all boarded the ship.
The warships slowly set sail toward the Red Line.
...
New World.
From a god's-eye view.
The Steam Pirates' fleet was heading toward the territory once designated for the new generation of pirates.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Family's fleet was also sailing out from Whole Cake Island, converging on the same location.
Their intentions were obvious.
Just as Sengoku had said, they were fed up.
Despite being Emperors, they had no authority left. Each day, countless ants attacked their subordinate territories.
This had pushed both of them to the edge.
They had to re-establish the dignity of an Emperor—and only blood could do that.
They had long forgotten their sneers and scorn when the government first coined the term "Emperor."
...
Unknowingly, they had already fallen deep into the trap of fame and power.
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