"Tap—"
Sengoku walked side by side with Hawke along the docks of the G-3 Branch.
The sea breeze tugged at Sengoku's pure-white cloak.
His sharp gaze swept across the rows of neatly lined-up Marine soldiers on the pier.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
The aura these soldiers carried—their spirit, their murderous intent.
Impressive.
This kid Hawke was, without a doubt, a born commander.
Sengoku knew better than anyone how complicated the G-3 Branch's personnel composition was.
The veterans from the original branch, the Headquarters elites brought in by Smoker and Hina, and Hawke's own loyal men from the East Blue.
Three different forces, each with their own pride, their own habits.
Anyone else in command would have needed months just to unify them.
But Hawke… this kid had managed to forge the entire G-3 Branch into an unbreakable wall of steel in such a short amount of time.
A promising youngster indeed!
"Hmm…"
A few steps behind them, Vice Admiral Tsuru's gaze fell on Hibari and her own granddaughter, Kujaku.
Both girls had changed.
The pampered aura they once carried was gone, tempered away through fire and blood—the unmistakable marks of battle experience.
Good.
Sending them to Hawke had been the right decision.
...
"Hawke…"
Sengoku was the first to break the silence.
"You brat, you sure made a huge mess at Mock Town!"
"Fleet Admiral, I was only fulfilling my duty."
"Haha! Fulfilling your duty, huh?"
"Do you know why a place like Mock Town has been allowed to exist in Paradise all this time?"
Before Hawke could reply, Sengoku began explaining on his own.
"That place is nothing but a filthy cesspit, but to certain people in the World Government, it serves as a necessary 'release valve.'"
"There are too many pirates in the first half of the Grand Line—too many and too chaotic."
"Rather than letting them roam around causing bigger problems, it's better to give them a place where they can vent their chaos and desires freely."
"So Mock Town's existence… has long been tacitly approved by multiple parties."
"You wiping it out completely… was basically a slap across a lot of faces."
Sengoku's tone shifted suddenly, and a confident smile crept onto his face. "But…"
So what if you wiped them out?"
"Any pressure from above, you don't need to worry about. I'll take full responsibility for you!"
Sengoku turned his head, his gaze sharp and burning as he locked eyes with Hawke.
"Sakazuki has already reported your plan to me."
"Within a year, you intend to purge the entire Paradise!"
"Hawke, unleash everything you've got. Go all out for me!"
"Marine Headquarters will be your strongest backing!"
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing this, Hawke felt his heart settle.
This was why he had rushed to invite Sengoku here before even fully digesting the spoils of his recent campaigns.
The Marine higher-ups had placed their hopes for the future—hopes of reshaping the entire seascape—squarely on his shoulders.
And what he had to do was simple: repay that trust in kind.
...
"Tap—"
They arrived at the mess hall.
Hawke stepped slightly aside and made a polite gesture.
"Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral Tsuru, please."
"You've had a long journey—let's have a simple meal first."
Before long, the meal was done, food and drinks enjoyed to satisfaction.
Sengoku leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach contentedly before letting out a satisfied burp.
He picked up his teacup, gently blowing at the steam.
"Alright."
"You've turned the G-3 Branch into an impenetrable fortress. The soldiers' morale is soaring, logistics are solid—this branch is practically a model for all Marines."
"But you didn't call me all the way here just so I could inspect the place and enjoy a free meal, did you?"
"Come on, what are you really up to?"
"Hmm…"
Tsuru, sitting nearby, nodded in agreement.
She, too, believed that this young man wasn't the type to waste people's time on superficial gestures.
There had to be something more important at play.
"Yes…"
Hawke stood up, his expression serious. "I've prepared a 'gift' for the entire Marine organization."
"Oh? A gift?"
Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes, they saw the same spark of deep curiosity.
"Lead the way, then."
"Yes, sir."
Hawke led the two out of the mess hall, passing through several heavily guarded checkpoints before finally stopping in front of a massive warehouse.
On the door hung a large sign written in bold red letters:
[Confidential Warehouse No. 1]
"Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral Tsuru, this way, please."
Hawke signaled the soldiers to open the door.
"Screeeech—"
The heavy steel doors creaked open slowly.
At first, just a narrow gap.
But even through that narrow gap, an overwhelming, dazzling golden light burst forth!
Sengoku and Tsuru instinctively narrowed their eyes against the glare.
"This is…"
As the doors fully opened, the entire interior of the warehouse came into view.
Time seemed to freeze.
Even the air felt heavy and still.
This wasn't just light.
This was the glow of unimaginable wealth.
"..."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku—the "Buddha" who had commanded the Marines for decades and witnessed countless storms—found his expression completely frozen.
His iconic round-frame glasses nearly slid off the bridge of his nose.
What did he see?
Mountains.
Mountains made of gold.
Gold coins piled like shimmering sand dunes.
Gold bars stacked like massive bricks, forming towering walls.
And further in, countless golden artifacts of every shape and design.
"!!!"
Sengoku's mind short-circuited for an instant before roaring back to life, working faster than it ever had.
This gold…
Hundreds of billions!
A fortune worth hundreds of billions of Belly!
With this money, what couldn't the Marines accomplish?
How many state-of-the-art warships could they build?
How many soldiers could they outfit with the finest gear?
How much better could they improve the welfare and treatment of every Marine?
They could even…
Thump-thump-thump—
Sengoku's heartbeat accelerated wildly, pounding against his ribs.
They could even… gradually free themselves from the World Government's financial leash!
Make the Marines… an independent military force!
This wasn't just wealth anymore.
This was power.
This was freedom.
This was—Justice!!!
"Tap—"
Sengoku unconsciously stepped forward, his foot faltering mid-step.
Beside him, Vice Admiral Tsuru calmly reached out to steady his arm.
Her shock was no less than Sengoku's.
But as the Marines' "Great Staff Officer," she understood immediately.
If Hawke had brought them here to witness this… it meant he intended to turn over this gold to Marine Headquarters.
Tsuru fixed her gaze on Hawke, silently waiting for his explanation.
"Hawke…"
Sengoku's voice came out hoarse and dry, his throat tight as he swallowed hard.
"This… what in the world is going on here?"
"Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral Tsuru."
Hawke gestured toward the blindingly golden vault ahead of them.
"This… is just the appetizer."