West Sea, Navy Branch 201.
"What did you just say?!"
Admiral Sengoku, stationed here for a classified mission, shot to his feet, knocking over the steaming tea on his desk.
The Den Den Mushi on the table projected a weary face, repeating the report.
"Those filthy pirates!" Sengoku slammed his fist on the desk, veins bulging on his arm. "Who took Sauro? Weren't you sent to hunt down those scholars?!"
"Reporting, Admiral. After we shelled the scholars' ship, we were attacked by a pink-haired girl."
"And she was fast—knocked out Vice Admiral Sauro with a single blow. Her strength… it was unreal!"
The Den Den Mushi faithfully relayed the soldier's expression and words, plunging Sengoku into deep thought.
Pink hair… monstrous strength… Garp… Roger!
"Wait, it's that kid from Roger's crew!"
Sengoku yanked open a drawer, rummaging through bounties related to Roger's crew.
After turning his office upside down, he found nothing.
Panting heavily, Sengoku suddenly remembered—the kids on Roger's ship were too young to have bounties issued.
"Damn it!"
He smashed his desk to splinters with a single punch and stormed toward the branch's strategy room.
"Get me headquarters! I want that kid on a wanted poster, now!"
…
"Achoo!"
In the darkness, Sauro felt a chill and sneezed.
"Kuzan, quit messing around with your powers!"
Grumbling about his colleague, Sauro tried to roll over, only to feel restrained.
Wait, hold on. Didn't some little girl knock me out?
"Ugh!"
The giant writhed, trying to sit up, but found himself firmly frozen to the deck.
"Hey, he's awake! Go get Sakura!"
A scholar guarding Sauro noticed his movement and rushed into the ship's cabin.
Soon, a girl with cherry-blossom pink hair appeared before Sauro.
[Notification: Achievement unlocked—Kidnapped a Marine, Now I'm Wanted! Earned 100 achievement points.]
"You… are you a Giant?"
Sauro tilted his head, exhaling a puff of white breath.
"Nah, I don't think so. Giants are way bigger than me, right?"
Thrilled by the influx of achievement points, Sakura hopped onto Sauro's stomach in a few quick steps, settling into a comfy spot.
"Then what about you guys? Are you trying to awaken the ancient weapons?"
Sauro, seemingly convinced by her response, turned to Nico Olvia nearby.
"No way that's true!"
Her life's work slandered and branded as warmongering by the World Government, Nico Olvia couldn't hold back her outrage.
"History is humanity's treasure! One day, our children will need its light to guide them forward!"
"If we let it be twisted or erased, our descendants will repeat the mistakes of the past until everything's destroyed!"
"If you're here to punish us without even that much resolve, then you're just a coward afraid of history!"
"Dereshishishi!"
Sauro's booming voice, louder than the scholars', stirred a gust of wind, his laughter echoing endlessly.
"You think I don't know I'm slaughtering unarmed scholars?!"
His heavy breaths filled the silent deck, his massive form tormented by the justice in his heart.
Nico Olvia lowered her head. Trading accusations with this Marine was pointless.
Because she knew the real culprit was always the World Government, forcing them into this cycle of harm.
Silence spread. Neither side could compromise on their ideals, yet both understood the other's cause was just.
"How about we take a break, then? You're my captive now, anyway!"
As the tension thickened, a clear voice cut through.
Sauro felt a pat on his stomach.
Straining to look up, he saw the girl perched on him, grinning brightly.
"Hey, Giant, do you know any Elbaf techniques?"
Caught by Sakura's eager expression, the massive Marine averted his eyes sheepishly.
"Well… I, uh…"
Sauro fumbled, unsure how to respond.
Raised in the South Blue, he'd never been fond of fighting and didn't mesh with Elbaf's barbaric warriors.
As an adult, he set out to sea alone and later joined the Navy under Sister Carmel's influence, rising to Vice Admiral with his Giant-born talents.
As for impressive Giant combat techniques… did his wild punches count?
"Wait, where'd you learn Giant techniques?!"
He suddenly recalled the fist she'd thrown at him. It lacked the fierce will of Elbaf's strongest warriors.
But that stance… it was unmistakably the starting pose of Elbaf's Great Spear!
"Ugh, I picked it up from some ruins, but I can't replicate the power of those ancient masters."
Sakura spread her hands helplessly.
Even with her sharp memory, she could recall every move etched into the ruin's murals.
But the force, the flow of will, the mindset—she couldn't grasp any of it.
"The Spear of Elbaf is an advanced technique. Even among Giants, only a few can master it."
"And, uh… I don't know it either!"
Sauro turned his head, looking utterly dejected.
"Ugh, you're useless!"
"Mind your own business!"
"Alright, how about this!" Sakura stood up on Sauro's stomach, hopping to his neck and planting a foot on his chin. "Giant, I need you to help me train!"
"Huh?!"
Sauro's massive body went pale with shock.
Meanwhile, on the Grand Line, Navy Headquarters, Marineford…
A woman with slightly graying hair hung up the Den Den Mushi and grabbed her Justice cloak from the rack.
With the rustle of her sleeves, she stepped out of her office.
Coming toward her was a man balancing a tray of donuts, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.
"Hey, Tsuru! I swiped some primo tea from Marshal Kong's office. Wanna share?"
Looking at her goofy old friend, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Navy Headquarters strategist, sighed.
"Garp, Sengoku sent a support request from the West Sea. You coming?"
"West Sea? Nah, I'm on vacation!"
Garp stuck out his pinky, digging at his nose.
"The government's covert op hit a snag. They want us to send reinforcements to team up with CP."
"Apparently, a kid from Roger's crew captured a Giant Vice Admiral in the West Sea."
Tsuru crossed her arms, smirking at her old comrade.
Sure enough, the mention of Roger's name wiped the goofy air off Garp.
A sharp glint flashed in his aging eyes, though it quickly faded.
"Those government scumbags."
Garp cursed, flicking a booger off his finger.
"Forget it. Roger's long gone. Chasing after some kid for the government? Boring~"
Waving dismissively, Garp brushed past Tsuru, acting carefree.
But as his figure neared the end of the corridor, Tsuru's Observation Haki caught a faint question.
"That kid… what's her name?"
"Sakura Haruno!"
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