On the deck of the Leviathan, Sakura lay on a beach chair, admiring the beautiful scenery painted by the gradually darkening sunset and the azure sea.
She took a sip of the chilled beer in her hand, her beautiful emerald-green eyes full of contentment.
"Ah, so refreshing!"
After swallowing the cold beer, Sakura let out a burp.
It was like sitting in a car after a busy day, finishing a cigarette, not having to face a nagging wife or a child with endless homework.
The happiest time for a man is the freedom to do whatever he wants, all by himself!
Oh, although it seems the brotherhood of being a man has already left her.
"To brotherhood!"
The girl on the beach chair raised her beer bottle high, toasting her departed brotherhood.
"You had brothers?"
The Silent Man who ate the Nagi Nagi no Mi appeared silently behind Sakura.
"Wah!"
Sakura was startled and jolted, almost throwing the beer bottle in her hand.
"Are you a ghost or something? You really don't make any sound!"
"I can't help it. My ability is silence, after all."
Corazon, leaning against the ship's railing, sat down cross-legged, emanating an innocent aura, though the corners of his mouth were twitching upwards uncontrollably.
"So, what do you want?"
Sakura withdrew her gaze, using her ability to cool the warmed beer again.
"Witch, Haruno Sakura, how exactly did you know my identity and ability?"
Donquixote Rosinante lowered his voice, leaning slightly towards Sakura.
"Fufufu, a Marine openly exposing his identity in front of a pirate… aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Sakura's voice sounded somewhat indifferent, not even bothering to focus on him.
"You won't. You're not the same type of pirate as my brother."
Rubbing his numb shoulder, Corazon lowered his eyes. The puddle on the deck seemed to reflect his brother's cruel image.
"Hmph, as if you know me so well." Sakura lightly tapped her lips with a finger, then forced a smile, "Fine, I'll tell you. I read it in a comic book~"
"Comic... cough!"
Feeling his intelligence insulted, Corazon was about to press further when the creak of the cabin door opening ended the conversation.
"Cora-san, Sakura-san, I'm hungry. Is there any food?"
Law, having regained his mobility, supported himself on the railing as he walked out, his stomach emitting a loud rumble.
"Nope. If you want food, go catch it fresh from the sea!"
Sakura reached out and made a grasping motion in the air. Cold air spread, forming an icy harpoon, which she thrust symbolically a few times.
"Huh?"
Hearing the girl's words, Corazon's eyes went wide.
'Did you hear what you just said? Go catch it fresh from the sea?'
'On a ship with three people total… two are Devil Fruit Users, and one is a seriously ill patient.'
'With this setup, forget catching sea creatures in the sea… even picking up a snail by the river might result in the snail picking us up!'
But the next scene made Corazon's jaw drop open, unable to close.
He saw Sakura spin the harpoon and hurl it violently into the dark sea below!
Boom!!!
The collision of the harpoon and the seawater exploded into a huge splash, the resulting waves even pushing the small boat sideways by dozens of meters.
A few minutes later, a giant sea creature, frozen into an ice block, broke through the surface of the water, its crimson blood dispersing.
"Come help butcher the fish, or you don't get any dinner!"
Sakura steered the Leviathan closer, tossing them two ice knives, and they began dissecting the sea creature.
As the sun completely sank below the horizon, the aroma of roasted meat wafted from the small boat drifting on the sea.
"It's really delicious. I didn't expect you to have this skill."
Corazon only ate a little, giving most of the roasted meat to Law, who was devouring it ravenously.
"If it's not enough, we'll roast more. I wouldn't let a kid starve on my own ship."
Watching the two of them giving each other the last piece of steak, Sakura couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Who's a kid?!"
Unwilling to accept this fact, Law bared his shark-like teeth and roared again.
"Is that so? Then I'll treat you to some juice."
Biting her lip, with her shoulders trembling slightly, Sakura pulled out some juice and handed it to Law.
"Oh! Thank you!"
Law's eyes lit up. He took the juice and drank it in one go.
"Hahaha, see? You're still a kid after all!"
The girl's emerald-green eyes curved into crescents, a triumphant smile of successful mischief on her face.
"Tch!!!"
Just as the two were arguing, the Den Den in Corazon's chest suddenly rang.
Gacha!
The Den Den Mushi's receiver was picked up. A rough voice came from the other end: "Big Senbei!"
"Little Cakes! It's me."
Having matched the code phrase, Corazon lit a cigarette and held it in his mouth.
"Rosinante, it's been a long time since I heard from you. I was worried!"
Mixed with the sounds of chewing senbei and drinking tea, the person on the other end sent concerned greetings.
"Yes, I was just about to report my recent situation to you, Sengoku-san!"
The ember of the cigarette in Corazon's mouth glowed brightly, then a large puff of smoke was exhaled.
"The Amber Lead Syndrome boy I reported to you earlier has received preliminary treatment from the great pirate Sakura. And now we are on her ship."
"Wh... What?!"
Instantly, the other end of the Den Den Mushi exploded into chaos, emitting a series of chaotic noises.
It sounded like a teacup was knocked over, hot tea was spilled on someone's... treasure, and someone fell to the ground...
When it was picked up again, the voice had become extremely urgent: "Where are you? I'm coming to rescue you now!"
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku, now in the Fleet Admiral's office, veins bulging on his arms, slammed his hand down and shattered the desk in front of him.
Garp, who had sneaked in to steal senbei, looked at him in surprise, the senbei in his hand stopping mid-air, forgotten before it could reach his mouth.
"I-"
Before Corazon could finish, a hand intruded into his soundproof barrier and snatched the Den Den Mushi away.
He turned back in astonishment, and saw Sakura, who had just been playing with Law, was now standing behind him.
"Hey, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is the first time I'm talking to you like this~"
Sensing Sengoku's stormy breathing on the other end, promoted to Fleet Admiral earlier because of her, the scent of a 'troublemaker' practically overflowing from Sakura.
"Witch, you..."
Sengoku's threatening words were cut short. After all, the girl on the other end of the line had no intention of listening to this 'idle talk'.
"Cut the small talk. Your son and grandson are in my hands now."
"Esteemed Fleet Admiral Sengoku~ you wouldn't want anything to happen to them, would you~"
With the hand holding the Den Den Mushi was holding Law's waist, while the other hand was pressing Corazon's shoulder, Sakura was laughing wildly.
"You... don't hurt them! Whatever you want, come at me!"
The man seated at the center of power in Marineford revealed a trace of vulnerability.
"Good. Listen, your son brought your grandson to me for treatment. They now owe me 50 million Berry. Send the money quickly, or else... hehehe!"
Gacha!
The sound of the Den Den Mushi hanging up echoed in the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters, plunging the two battle-hardened old Marines into silence.
'Seriously?'
'You kidnap the Fleet Admiral's adopted son and only demand 50 million Berry? What's your angle? It can't really be just for the medical fees, can it?'
"Hahahaha, as expected of someone from Roger's ship!"
The silence was broken by Garp's roaring laughter from the couch. Sengoku's anger rose alongside that old face laughing to tears.
"Garp, you bastard! If you hadn't let her get away in Flevance, would we have all this mess now?!"
Stepping around the fragments on the floor, Sengoku snatched Garp's senbei back and poured them all into his own mouth.
"Ah, my senbei!" Garp reached out dully, "You can't blame me for her getting away. Her ability is too troublesome."
Sengoku shot him an annoyed glare, "Well, what do you suggest we do now?"
"Pay the ransom. Don't you want your son and grandson?" Garp looked at Sengoku with a strange expression, as if saying, 'So you're that kind of person.'
"He's my adopted son! And since when do I have a grandson?! Also, I'm talking about that pirate Haruno Sakura!"
"I don't have time to chase her anyway. But speaking of the North Blue, isn't there someone more suitable than me?"
Garp stuck his pinky finger into his nose and twisted, throwing an old comrade under the bus without hesitation.
"Him? That could work..."