The Next Day.
The Going Merry had arrived in a peaceful climate zone, a stretch of sea where the sun shone gently and the waves rolled with a rhythmic calm.
"Mm~ It looks like we'll reach the next stop soon."
Nami stepped out onto the deck and stretched, her arms reaching for the sky.
Under the reflection of the morning sun, her graceful curves were highlighted perfectly.
Sanji, who was serving breakfast, nearly dropped his tray.
"Wow... Nami-swan figure keeps getting better and better! It's a miracle of this seas!"
Just as Sanji said this, Robin, standing nearby, "accidentally" stretched her lovely body as well, arching her back with cat-like grace.
"Robin-swan is becoming more and more sexy, too! I'm in heaven!" Sanji swooned, eyes turning into hearts.
Hearing Sanji's flattering words, Robin lightly covered her lips with one hand and let out an enchanting laugh.
"Fufufu... Sanji really knows how to please women."
Ray, who was spacing out near the helm, saw the interaction and chuckled inwardly.
If other women displayed this kind of synchronized behavior, it might be interpreted as rivalry or manipulation.
But between Robin and Nami, there was no jealousy.
They had clearly exchanged glances beforehand—a coordinated attack to tease the cook.
However, Ray noticed something odd.
After Sanji complimented them, both women shot a glance toward him.
And that glance... it held a trace of resentment.
Ray blinked.
'Was I too harsh during their private training yesterday?'
'Tsk. Women can really hold grudges.'
That said, Ray still loved this uniquely harmonious morning atmosphere.
It was peaceful.
But his mind was already drifting to Water 7.
After the battle with Aokiji on the nameless island, his fusion rate with the Sesshomaru template had increased to 69%.
If a battle occurred in Water 7—and he knew it would—winning would undoubtedly push it to 70%.
Once it reached 70%... he alone would be equivalent to a Fleet Admiral or a Yonko.
If he were to fight Aokiji again at that level, there would be absolutely no possibility of the Admiral harming the crew while he was present.
There was even the possibility that he could defeat Aokiji easily in a death match.
However, whether a full-scale war would actually occur in Water 7 depended on Marine Headquarters.
'If they don't assist the CP9 ... with the current combat power on that island, who has the qualifications to challenge us?'
...
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.
The atmosphere was heavy enough to crush bone.
Two legends, Sengoku and Garp, sat on the sofa.
Garp was aggressively crunching on rice crackers, the crumbs falling onto his suit.
Sengoku was so agitated he didn't even notice his pet goat chewing on the end of his braided goatee.
Naturally, the source of their stress was the Water 7 situation.
Sengoku snapped back to reality, yanking his slobbery beard from the goat's mouth.
He glared at the animal before turning his fury on his old friend.
"Garp! Your grandson's pirate crew has left us with a monumental problem!"
Although Garp wanted to laugh and say
"Bwahaha! That's my grandson for you!", he looked at Sengoku's bloodshot eyes and wisely remained silent, letting the Fleet Admiral vent.
"That 'Ray' under your grandson's command... according to Kuzan, he has already reached the threshold of world-class powerhouse! Do you know how serious this is?!" Sengoku roared.
"A rookie crew with Admiral-level combat capability?!"
Garp waved his hand dismissively. "You're the Fleet Admiral. You tell me."
"GARP!"
Seeing Sengoku about to have an aneurysm, Garp sighed.
They were comrades who had fought side-by-side for decades; he couldn't keep playing the fool.
"The main problem lies with Nico Robin," Garp said, his voice dropping an octave. "Knowing Luffy as I do... he would absolutely never abandon a comrade. He'd burn the world down first. But those stupid World Goverments..."
"Ahem." Sengoku glared warningly.
"But those... 'great' World Goverment... gag!" Garp physically retched, unable to finish the sentence.
Sengoku ignored the theatrics and stood up, pacing.
"I've been thinking about how to achieve the best of both worlds."
"The World Goverment want Nico Robin. They won't take no for an answer. And because of Morgans, the whole world knows Luffy has her. We have to engage them in battle to save face."
Garp nodded.
He understood. But the tactical reality was a nightmare.
"To engage the current Straw Hat Pirates and guarantee victory," Garp mused, "we'd need to send two Admirals. But Sakazuki is in the New World, and Borsalino is handling the Sabaody sector. Aside from Kuzan, who refuses to go back, we're stretched thin."
"Or perhaps," Sengoku countered, "One Admiral plus two elite Vice Admirals candidates like Chatton (Tokikake) and Momousagi (Gion). But if they show the slightest carelessness against Ray... we might lose two future Admirals."
Sengoku stopped pacing and looked at Garp.
"Alternatively... Garp, you go!"
PFFT!
Garp spat his tea all over Sengoku's desk. He wiped his mouth, his expression turning stony.
"You know if I go, I won't actually capture them. I can't."
"And I can't guarantee I'd win against that Ray kid if I'm holding back," Garp added quietly.
"As for Kuzan, I don't recommend sending him again. The Marine can't afford to lose an Admiral right now over a single pirate crew."
Sengoku sighed, wiping tea off a report.
"I agree."
Then, a shrewd glint appeared in the Fleet Admiral's eyes.
"All the above plans are based on the premise that we must win. But... why do we have to win?"
Garp's eyes widened.
"Do you realize the potential consequences of doing that? The World Goverment, the fucking elders will scream."
Sengoku walked to the window, clasping his hands behind his back.
He looked out at the sea, his Justice coat swaying.
"Choose the lesser of two evils. Maximize the benefits."
Garp understood immediately.
This was typical Sengoku—"Ruling Justice."
Since engaging the Straw Hat Pirates would deplete Marine forces needed to counter the Yonko, Sengoku would rather risk being criticized by the World Government than sacrifice his heavy hitters.
He would send a force strong enough to look like they were trying, but weak enough that their inevitable defeat wouldn't cripple the Marines.
It was a calculated loss.
"We play deaf and dumb," Sengoku murmured. "We treat them as a standard Shichibukai-level threat. We send a standard Buster Call force if needed, but no Admirals. As for when to truly deal with the Straw Hats... we wait until the Yonko crisis stabilizes."
Garp nodded silently, crunching another cracker.
'This old fox is truly suited to be Fleet Admiral. Much more than I ever was.'
Just as they were about to finalize their plan of "strategic incompetence," the door to the office slammed open.
An uninvited guest strode in.
He was a massive man with purple hair and sunglasses, radiating an aura of intense power and bitterness.
But his most striking feature was his right arm—a massive, terrifying mechanical prosthetic made of Seastone.
The Battle Smasher.
"Black Arm" Zephyr.
Former Admiral.
Current Instructor of the Marines elite training camp.
The burly man took a deep drag from an inhaler and barked a request.
"Sengoku! I need to go to Water 7. I require those shipwrights' assistance for upgrading the training ships. Allocate some funds for me."
Hearing the destination, Sengoku and Garp both froze.
They slowly raised their hands and facepalmed in unison.
"Zephyr..." Sengoku groaned. "Where did you say you're going?"
"Water 7. Is there a problem?" Zephyr frowned, sensing the tension.
Seeing Sengoku hesitate, Zephyr's temper flared.
"Since becoming Fleet Admiral, have you become so stingy?! This is for training the Marine's future talents! Hurry up, give me the damn money!"
Sengoku didn't respond.
He looked like he wanted to cry.
'I just decided NOT to send an Admiral-level fighter, and now a former Admiral volunteers to go there on vacation?!'
Zephyr was speechless.
'Is our budget really that tight?'
He turned to Garp.
"Garp, help me convince this miser."
Garp looked at the ceiling, whistling.
"I don't know anything. I'm just an old man eating crackers."
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