Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In the Marshal's office, Sengoku slammed his fist on the desk, causing a few drops of tea to spill from the cup.
Two wanted posters lay side by side on the table. Luffy's grinning photo and Tsukasa Yuu's sinister profile formed a stark contrast.
The two report papers in his hands were already crumpled.
One depicted the Straw Hat Pirates' battle against the Arlong Pirates, with a description of their victory below.
The other showed a photo of Colonel Mouse, stripped naked and hung on the gate of the Navy branch!
And that arrogant warning left by Tsukasa Yuu…
"Watchdog?! This Tsukasa Yuu… is utterly lawless!" Sengoku's voice was low and furious, veins bulging on his forehead.
"How dare a rookie pirate provoke me so blatantly!"
Garp, sitting on the sofa, munched on senbei, looking up with a nonchalant smile: "Hahaha, Sengoku, why so angry? He's just a newcomer. There are at least 800 new pirates setting sail every year. Can't you let the underlings handle it?"
"Garp!" Sengoku spun around, glaring at his old comrade.
"Do you know what he did? In just one week, he not only destroyed two pirate crews and killed over a dozen marines but also stripped our people naked and hung them on the branch gate!"
"Now the entire East Blue Navy branch is buzzing with this news. The Navy's prestige is in tatters!"
Garp chewed his senbei, mumbling, "Isn't that good? That rat was a pest anyway. Should've been dealt with long ago."
"You!!!" Sengoku was so angry he nearly tore the report in his hand. "That's not the point! The point is that Tsukasa Yuu's actions have seriously challenged the Navy's authority!"
"If we let this slide, other pirates will follow suit, and the entire Navy will be in chaos!"
The door to the Marshal's office opened, and Kizaru strolled in lazily, holding a steaming cup of coffee.
He pushed up his sunglasses and said slowly, "Oh, Marshal Sengoku, getting so worked up early in the morning isn't good for your health~"
"Kizaru!" Sengoku glared at him. "You're just in time! Have you heard about Tsukasa Yuu?"
Kizaru sipped his coffee and nodded casually.
"I heard, I heard. That new pirate from East Blue, what's his name? Shadow Pirates? Seems quite interesting~"
"Interesting?" Sengoku nearly flipped the table. "He's slapping the Navy in the face! As an Admiral, don't you think you should do something?"
Kizaru shrugged, his tone still languid: "Marshal Sengoku, you know I'm busy with New World matters lately. I really can't spare the time~"
"How about sending Akainu? Isn't he free these days?"
"Akainu?" Sengoku snorted. "If he goes, East Blue will probably be burned to ashes! I don't want to clean up that mess again!"
Garp burst into laughter: "Hahaha! Sengoku, aren't you making this hard for me? Kizaru doesn't want to go, and we're afraid Akainu will wreck things. So what's your plan? You're not sending an old man like me, are you?"
Sengoku stared at Garp, a glint in his eyes: "Garp, you're exactly right."
Garp's smile froze, and the senbei nearly fell from his hand: "Wait, Sengoku, you're not serious?"
"Of course!" Sengoku slammed the table, resolute: "Morgan escaped from our hands, and East Blue is your hometown. It's only fitting you handle this!"
Garp waved his hands frantically: "No, no, no, Sengoku, I'm about to retire. Leave this troublesome stuff to the youngsters!"
"Retire?" Sengoku sneered. "When did you officially retire?"
"Is it because your grandson Luffy is there too? Don't try to dodge this time!"
Garp: "Hahaha! Luffy's just like his brother… doesn't listen to me. I wanted him to join the Navy!"
Kizaru gloated: "Vice Admiral Garp, seems it's most fitting for you to handle this~"
Garp glared at Kizaru, grumbling, "Stop with the sarcasm, kid!"
"Garp! This is no small matter. You must take it seriously!" Sengoku said.
"Let's not even talk about Tsukasa Yuu's strength for now. The fact that he knows how to use public opinion to undermine the Navy's prestige makes him a huge threat! He's a ticking time bomb!"
"Besides, no one knows what he'll do next. By then, it might be too late to deal with him!"
Garp sighed, shaking his head helplessly: "Alright, alright, I'll go. But Sengoku, you owe me one thing."
"What?" Sengoku asked, frowning.
Garp grinned, showing his white teeth: "When I get back, you're treating me to senbei for a month!"
Sengoku was stunned, then smiled wryly: "Fine, as long as you catch Tsukasa Yuu, not just a month's worth of senbei…"
"Two months is fine!" Garp said, disappointed.
"You're so stingy. I thought you'd say a year!"
Kizaru interjected: "Vice Admiral Garp, don't be careless. I heard Tsukasa Yuu is a bit sinister. His strength shouldn't be underestimated~"
Garp waved dismissively: "Don't worry, he's just a rookie. He can't make big waves."
"Besides, my iron fist isn't vegetarian!"
Sengoku nodded, his tone serious: "Garp, this mission isn't just about capturing Tsukasa Yuu. More importantly, it's about restoring the Navy's prestige in East Blue. Don't be careless."
Garp stood, brushing senbei crumbs off himself, and smiled: "Don't worry, Sengoku. I'll show that brat the consequences of provoking the Navy!"
With that, he strode out of the office, humming a tune.
Kizaru watched Garp's departing figure, shook his head, and muttered: "Vice Admiral Garp's still strong in his old age~"
Sengoku sat back, rubbing his temples and sighing: "I hope this resolves smoothly…"
Sengoku sent Garp to handle the East Blue incident to give him face. If it were someone else, they wouldn't be so lenient with Straw Hat Luffy.
"Have his deputy, Bogart, tell that old bastard to write a 'Reflection on the Education of Grandchildren' before setting off. If he lets family shame drift to the Grand Line again… it'll be a mess…"
Kizaru sipped his coffee, a meaningful smile on his lips: "Marshal Sengoku, do you think… Tsukasa Yuu might be more trouble than we thought? I checked his bounty—it's 20 million Berries."
Though 20 million Berries is high for a rookie just setting sail!
Compared to Luffy's 30 million Berries, he seems a greater threat and an unstable factor…
Sengoku didn't answer, staring at the report and bounty poster on the table with a frown.
"I know what you mean. From today, triple his bounty."
"60 million Berries!?"
"Yes! Dead or alive!"
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