The other branch commanders of the North Blue Navy hadn't expected matters to escalate this way. Unease and hesitation clouded their faces.
Their original plan had been simple: welcome the Inspector with full honors, win his favor, and quietly gauge his stance toward the North Blue Navy before deciding their next steps.
What they never imagined was that the notoriously arrogant and hot-tempered burly captain would pick a fight so brazenly.
Yahn, of course, noticed their shifting expressions.
Some were simply cowards—too afraid to raise a hand against someone from Headquarters.
Some still had enough sense to know that killing a fellow officer was unacceptable, caught in an inner struggle.
And some, no doubt, were content to sit back and watch, letting the burly captain "test" him first.
Yahn couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The Navy was indeed full of rats like "Captain Nezumi," and fools like Captain Morgan, who fancied themselves kings and saw no superiors above them.
Just as Yahn thought it was about time to put an end to this farce, the burly captain lost his patience, seeing the others unmoved.
"You cowards," he barked, "pathetic lot! Frightened just by the title of Navy Headquarters? Let me tell you—your daddy here has connections in Headquarters. Even if something really happens, what's there to fear?"
"Oh?" Yahn's face broke into a bright smile. "Connections? You should've said so earlier. Which officer might that be?"
The captain sneered. "Certainly not someone a mere Headquarters lieutenant like you could ever know."
"Come now," Yahn said lightly, eyes crinkling. "Names, please. Who knows? We might be closer than you think."
The captain gave him a self-satisfied look, convinced he'd seen through Yahn's nerves.
"He's none other than Rear Admiral Camillo—the one they call the 'Falcon.'"
"Hss—" Yahn gave a sharp intake of breath, feigning surprise. "Rear Admiral Camillo? And what exactly is your relationship with him?"
The captain puffed his chest, arrogant as ever.
"We come from the same hometown. Brothers in all but blood. If you so much as offend me, Rear Admiral Camillo could crush you with a flick of his finger."
"Pfft…"
Before Yahn could string him along further, Ensign Hope couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The captain turned and glared at the insignia on Hope's shoulder.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Forgive me," Hope said between chuckles, "I just couldn't hold it in."
At that moment, the faint trill of a Den Den Mushi rang from Hope's coat.
Buru buru—
Ignoring the colonel entirely, Hope hurriedly pulled it out. When he saw the face mimicked on the shell, his expression hardened. He carefully passed it to Yahn.
"Lord Yahn, it's for you."
"Hm?"
Yahn glanced at it and sighed, exasperated.
"This old man again? Does he ever stop? Calling every other day—must be early menopause."
If anyone else had dared insult Fleet Admiral Sengoku like that, Hope—who revered the man deeply—would've lashed out on the spot.
But from Yahn, Sengoku's own son, it was something he had no choice but to pretend not to hear.
Buru buru—
The snail rang again. Yahn, impatient now, picked up the receiver.
"You brat," came Sengoku's steady, commanding voice. "You should've arrived in the North Blue by now, shouldn't you?"
"Stop rushing me. I'm here already," Yahn replied.
Sengoku exploded.
"Rushing you? Look at the schedule! Gion and Tokikake have already reached their posts, already producing results! And you? You stopped half a dozen times along the way like you're on vacation. What do you think you're doing?!"
"Yes, yes…" Yahn muttered, picking at his nails.
"Don't you 'yes, yes' me! I'm warning you, brat—you weren't sent to the North Blue to mess around. You'd better produce results for me. Do I make myself clear?!"
Yahn didn't bother answering.
Sengoku pressed on.
"And another thing—go over every detail of your encounter with Golden Lion Shiki. Did he reveal his next move, his destination—anything?"
At that name, the captain's wary expression melted into open mockery.
Golden Lion Shiki? That legendary pirate? The idea that a mere lieutenant had spoken to him face-to-face? Laughable. One glance from Shiki and this boy would've been blown to pieces.
Clearly, the brat was bluffing, putting on a show to scare him.
Emboldened, the captain strode forward, and while Yan was still distracted by Sengoku's questioning, he snatched the Den Den Mushi from his hand.
"Idiot," the captain snapped at the snail. "You've overplayed your act!"
"???" Sengoku blinked.
"Who are you?" Sengoku demanded. "Identify yourself."
"And who the hell are you?" the captain shot back. "What identity do you have, talking big in front of me?"
In his office at Marineford, Sengoku froze, staring in disbelief at the snail mimicking the captai 's sneering face. He answered reflexively.
"I am Sengoku, Fleet Admiral of the Navy. Who the devil are you?"
"Pfft—"
The captain burst into laughter.
"You? Sengoku? Don't make me laugh. If that's true, then I must be Golden Lion Shiki himself!"
Such blatant disrespect made Ensign Hope's blood boil. He very nearly lunged forward to send the bastard flying.
But Yahn raised an arm, blocking him. His voice was calm.
"Leave it. Let the old man see for himself what the 'spirit' of the North Blue Navy looks like at the ground level."
"…Understood."
Hope ground his teeth, glaring at the arrogant captain. Rage burned in his chest, but under Yahn's order, he forced himself to endure.
---
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