Babs finished recounting his journey to the Sorbet Kingdom, describing every detail to Sengoku.
Sengoku listened carefully, rubbing his chin as he contemplated the matter. After a short silence, he finally spoke.
"Did a small nation like the Sorbet Kingdom really attract so much attention? I have heard of Spandine. His position within the World Government is not low, but he is not exactly a pleasant man."
Babs nodded in complete agreement. On the way back, he had lost count of how many times he had wanted to throw Spandine into the sea.
Sengoku picked up the stack of documents on his desk, glanced through them one final time, then casually tossed them to the white lamb beside him.
The lamb immediately began chewing on the papers, acting like a living shredder.
Once the lamb gulped down the last sheet, Sengoku gently stroked its head.
"Forget it. The World Government has already made its decision. The rest has nothing to do with us. Babs, is there anything else you need to report?"
Babs brightened instantly. He hurriedly pulled out three neatly prepared resumes from inside his coat and placed them on the desk with great care.
Sengoku leaned back in his chair, eyeing the resumes with curiosity.
"Resumes? Recruitment is Zephyr's responsibility. Why bring these to me?"
"Admiral Sengoku, there are already two Devil Fruit users among them. One of them even possesses a Logia, the Dark Dark Fruit."
"What?! A Logia?!"
Sengoku abruptly sat upright, leaning forward as he scanned through the documents until his gaze stopped on Lloyd's resume.
"The Dark Dark Fruit? Darkness, the natural opposite of Borsalino's Glint Glint Fruit? Babs, this is quite the surprise."
Back in God Valley, Ginny had only spread news about the Paw Paw Fruit and the Fish Fish Fruit. Everything else had been concealed.
The World Government had deliberately withheld details, excluding the Navy entirely from that operation. As a result, aside from the Buddha Buddha Fruit Garp acquired, and the publicly known Fish Fish Fruit and Paw Paw Fruit, Sengoku knew nothing of the others.
Especially the Dark Dark Fruit. That fruit had been taken from Rocks D. Xebec's own collection, guarded more heavily than the rest. The Government intended it as their most precious future weapon. And Lloyd had not revealed its full power in God Valley, which kept Sengoku from realizing its true depth.
All he could feel now was excitement.
With Lloyd, the Navy unexpectedly acquired three Logia Devil Fruits at once: light, darkness, and magma.
Anyone with common sense understood that these elemental forces could not be weak. Once these three users matured, the Navy's strength would expand beyond anything they currently possessed.
Before becoming Fleet Admiral, Sengoku still had the fire of ambition in him. He did not yet have to deal with World Government politics; that was Fleet Admiral Kong's concern. His own focus was strengthening the Navy and defeating pirates.
Looking again at Lloyd's photo, Sengoku's eyes burned with expectation.
Babs, observing Sengoku's uncharacteristic enthusiasm, felt immensely proud. Still, he adopted a troubled expression and said, "Admiral Sengoku, normally, recruits like these would not require your approval. However, Lloyd is only fifteen. This technically violates recruitment regulations. I fear Admiral Zephyr may be displeased."
"Regulations? What regulations?" Sengoku scoffed. "Look at him. Lloyd is already one meter ninety tall. If he is already this size, why should his age matter? Besides, this is the Dark Dark Fruit. Zephyr is not foolish. He knows exactly what this fruit means for the Navy."
Babs nodded with relief. "Then I am reassured, Admiral Sengoku. However, there is something else. Lloyd's background is… unusual. You should have seen how humble that arrogant Spandine acted in front of him."
"Background is not the issue. Since he wishes to join the Navy, it means he is a young man passionate about justice. And really, how deep could his background be? Could he possibly be a Celestial Dragon?"
Sengoku laughed at the idea.
A Celestial Dragon applying to join the Navy? The thought was ridiculous.
He shook his head and put the idea aside, then turned his attention to Kuma's resume.
Paramecia, Paw Paw Fruit.
Sengoku froze. His memory drifted back to God Valley. He recalled how Charlotte Linlin had been stopped by Saint Fingarland, and how the Devil Fruit was eventually eaten by a tall child who disappeared with three others.
He frowned and calculated silently.
Could this Kuma be the same child from back then?
Judging by his height, it was very possible.
Was he once a slave of a Celestial Dragon?
That was troublesome.
But Sengoku never suspected Lloyd. In his eyes, Lloyd's demeanor and Spandine's reaction meant Lloyd must have some kind of Government background. Someone like that would never have been thrown into God Valley as prey.
Sengoku pointed to Kuma's photograph.
"What is the relationship between this Kuma and Lloyd?"
"They are friends. Their relationship seems very close. Kuma and Ginny both call Lloyd-san/kun."
Sengoku was reminded of his own youth with Garp and Tsuru. A faint nostalgia softened his expression.
"I understand. That will be all. Take them to the accommodation area and arrange lodging. Bring them to report to Zephyr in two days."
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku."
"And Babs," Sengoku added, "you did well bringing back such talent. I will personally report your achievements to Fleet Admiral Kong."
"Thank you, Admiral Sengoku!"
Overjoyed, Babs saluted sharply, gathered the resumes, and left in high spirits.
Once he was gone, Sengoku rose from his chair and began pacing slowly with his hands behind his back.
Anything involving the Celestial Dragons was troublesome. If not for Lloyd, Sengoku would never have agreed to let a former slave join the Navy. Even if he would not hand Kuma over to Mary Geoise, he would not have permitted such risk.
But the Dark Dark Fruit changed everything.
It was no exaggeration to call a Logia of that level a human nuclear weapon.
Sengoku did not want Lloyd, this future strategic weapon, developing resentment toward the Navy.
He exhaled slowly and reassured himself.
"There are already plenty of slaves under the Celestial Dragons. And so many years have passed. As long as we are careful, they should never notice…"
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