Marine Headquarters —
Inside the highest office,"Still alive!?"
A furious roar nearly shattered the ceiling. Sengoku slammed his desk, eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at the brief report in his hand.
"It's true. That old fool Garp wouldn't joke about something like this."
"That guy's a Devil Fruit user?"
Sengoku steadied himself, rereading the document before asking again, "Any summarized findings?"
"Currently confirmed abilities include: altering the weather, commanding lightning, flight, manipulating weapons to attack while floating, instantaneous movement… and upon entering combat mode, he transforms into something resembling an angel from the Church of the Cross.
"At first, he had a single pair of wings, but according to Garp's latest report, he now manifests two pairs — four wings. It appears his Devil Fruit powers are evolving. Moreover, his physical resilience is extraordinary — in his transformed state, he shrugs off bullets and even cannon fire.
"The most crucial detail: he can resurrect. Even though Red-Haired Shanks personally struck him down — without a doubt killing him — five days later, Ron appeared again in the seas near the Sixteenth Branch.
"It's suspected to be a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, though the exact fruit remains unidentified.
"As for the resurrection ability, it likely comes with harsh conditions and may only function in a specific location."
Vice Admiral Tsuru — one of the Navy's sharpest minds — had pieced together a comprehensive conclusion based purely on the report and her own insight.
"Another troublesome one," Sengoku muttered, his temples throbbing.
Since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, troublesome pirates had been appearing at an ever-increasing rate, putting mounting pressure on the Navy.
But someone like Ron? Cases like his were rare — maybe one in several years, if ever.
No, perhaps it was more accurate to say that no pirate before him had ever caused such massive upheaval.
He hadn't even reached the Grand Line, yet he'd turned the East Blue upside down — annihilating several long-entrenched pirate factions.
He'd even killed Buggy, that deeply hidden schemer, directly provoking Red-Haired Shanks into rampaging into the East Blue.
That in turn triggered a confrontation between an Admiral and a Yonko, leaving Loguetown's terrain completely changed.
In short, even Mihawk's entry into the East Blue and his clash with Garp were ripple effects of Ron's actions.
And because of him, Marine Headquarters had been forced to revise its strategic deployments across the Grand Line's Paradise region.
On the surface, the world looked calm again — with the Red-Haired Pirates returning to the Calm Belt — but beneath that calm, countless undercurrents churned.
Not to mention — Sengoku himself knew the member nations were bombarding the World Government's communication lines nonstop.
Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, had entered the East Blue personally — to kill a single man.
If one Yonko could do it, then what about the others?
Wouldn't that mean all four of the world's most dangerous pirates could storm any sea they wished?
Of course the member nations were terrified — even beginning to doubt the World Government's authority.
The chain reactions were endless.
Sengoku could feel his lifespan shrinking by months from the stress alone.
And then, there was the worst part —Shanks himself had personally struck three times at Loguetown… yet Ron still wasn't dead.
That was what truly frightened him.
"You seem deeply troubled," Tsuru observed.
"Of course I am."
"But judging by his record, this man doesn't seem particularly… pirate-like."
Tsuru calmly poured herself a cup of tea. "Most of the Sixteenth Branch was wiped out — about one-third of its soldiers killed by Demon Ron. But their crimes were very real.
"The Arlong incident's cover-up was only part of it. Ron's own village had suffered years under pirate oppression, shielded by Captain Nezumi's corruption.
"Beyond his revenge, there's no evidence Ron ever attacked civilians.
"In fact, during his three months at sea, he systematically eradicated several of the most dangerous East Blue pirate groups — ones that had never even set foot on the Grand Line."
To be honest, Tsuru had been shocked when she first read the report. Aside from the Sixteenth Branch incident, the Demon Pirates seemed to only target other pirates — acting more like bounty hunters than pirates themselves.
According to the Baratie's investigation, they were a group with a clear moral bottom line — they didn't even acknowledge themselves as pirates, nor did they raise a Jolly Roger.
"Justice is justice, evil is evil. Once that line is crossed — they become enemies of the Navy and the World Government alike."
Sengoku's frown deepened, his voice hard.
"But then, who do you plan to send after him?
"He's already escaped from Garp once. Or are you planning to leave Garp stationed in the East Blue — chasing a pirate who might not even be a pirate?"
Tsuru took a small sip of her tea, sighing softly. "You and I both know that's impossible.
"Garp may be unreliable and lazy, but he gets things done.
"Keeping him stuck in the East Blue hunting Ron — even if he could kill that self-reviving monster — would be a waste of a valuable combat force.
"And you know as well as I do — Ron isn't the only problem we're facing."
"..."
Sengoku fell silent. Tsuru was right.
The Navy might be the world's strongest organization, but its power wasn't limitless.
The three Admirals — one had to guard Headquarters, another the New World, and a third Mary Geoise.
Beneath them, even with over a dozen Vice Admirals, every single one was overloaded with missions — fixed garrisons, sea patrols, pirate hunts, emergency responses from member nations, and more.
If not for Headquarters' proximity to Mary Geoise — and the necessity of keeping a reserve of Admirals and Vice Admirals — they would've been spinning like tops. Even Sengoku himself wouldn't be sitting here.
The truth was simple — their list of enemies was endless.
That was precisely why the "Grand Strategy" existed.
Reverse Mountain — the passage linking the four seas to the Grand Line — remained intact for a reason. If the Navy wasn't blind, why hadn't they destroyed it and ended all pirate dreams?
Because the benefits outweighed the risks.
The Four Seas were too vast. If every pirate stayed in their home waters instead of funneling into the Grand Line, the Navy's forces — even doubled — could never contain them.
Travel distances, garrisons, supply logistics — it was impossible.
The Grand Line, on the other hand, was the perfect outlet — a pressure valve.
Geographically speaking, ignoring trade, the Grand Line was a narrow, hellish corridor: violent weather, unstable magnetic fields, and far smaller sea territory than any single Blue.
Once pirates entered, retreat was impossible.
The Navy only needed to fortify certain choke points — turning the Grand Line into a killing field that whittled pirate numbers down.
And because of the Calm Belt's isolation, those trapped within could only prey upon each other — culling themselves like insects in a jar.
Nine out of ten pirates died before ever leaving Paradise.
Those who reached Sabaody Archipelago faced yet another slaughter — half perishing before even glimpsing Fish-Man Island.
Of those who survived, perhaps one in ten would endure the New World's chaos — where the Navy's hunts were relentless, and the Four Emperors crushed or absorbed any survivors.
In other words, the world's fragile peace rested entirely upon this grand strategy — a funnel of death upheld by the Navy's strength.
And under such strain, they could spare no more power.
"So what are you saying, Tsuru?
"That man survived a Yonko's assault. If we leave him be, who knows how dangerous he'll become?"
After a pause, Sengoku spoke slowly. "A man who's survived an Emperor's blade — that's no ordinary title to hold."
Over twenty years since the Great Pirate Era began, the New World had produced only one Pirate King — and four Emperors.
Even their defeated enemies were monsters in their own right.
And Ron… wasn't even twenty yet.
He had more than one life.
"I'm just thinking," Tsuru murmured, setting down her cup. "If Ron's goal was simply revenge, why go to such lengths to have Ryan transmit the Sixteenth Branch's crimes to Headquarters?
"Maybe he was sending a message — that he doesn't wish to become the Navy's mortal enemy."
"Mortal enemy? He already— no."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. "You mean… the Seven Warlords of the Sea? You want to use him against other pirates?"
"It's only a possibility," Tsuru said with a faint smile. "If I'm wrong, well… isn't the Grand Line the best place to eliminate him? Better that than launching an East Blue campaign and not even knowing who to send."
"Then we'll go with your plan."
Sengoku shook his head.
Of course, there was another option — telling Red-Haired Shanks that Ron had resurrected.
But honestly, they couldn't endure a second incident like that.
Even the World Government would never allow Shanks to invade the East Blue again.
"What about his bounty? He did attack the Sixteenth Branch."
"Hold it for now," Tsuru replied. "At least until Shanks returns to the New World. Otherwise, if he doubles back for a rematch… well, let's just say the East Blue's member nations would lose their minds."
Sengoku sighed deeply.
He was getting old. Another scare like this, and he swore he'd lose another year of his life.
Here we go again…
(End of Chapter)