"Tsk..."
Borsalino sat lazily, his tone mocking as he said, "Young people these days are truly terrifying~." Sakazuki, with a stern expression, declared firmly, "For absolute justice, we must mobilize immediately and eradicate these damn pirates."
Doberman nodded in agreement, "Vice Admiral Sakazuki is right. We cannot turn a blind eye to these ruthless scum. I propose dispatching a headquarters captain to the East Blue to handle this matter quickly."
Onigumo clenched a cigarette between his teeth and growled, "Pirates these days are getting more and more arrogant. They don't even fear the Marines anymore. For the sake of justice, we must act decisively without hesitation." The other high-ranking officers nodded one after another, expressing their support.
Kuzan, who had remained silent until now, yawned and said, "The East Blue is too far. By the time we get there, the pirates will have long escaped."
Yamakaji nodded and added, "Vice Admiral Kuzan is right. Distant water can't put out a nearby fire. These pirates aren't just going to sit around waiting for us."
"Chris is a promising young man, but he doesn't warrant such a large-scale mobilization from headquarters," Tsuru said solemnly, her expression unreadable as she observed the gathered officers.
Momousagi sat quietly, offering no opinion, but inwardly, she felt a surge of excitement. "Chris has finally entered the Marines' radar. Next, it's just a matter of seeing how high his bounty will go."
In their previous conversation, Chris had told her that before becoming a Warlord, he needed to establish his reputation. After all, if an unknown figure suddenly took down Crocodile, there might be suspicions of collusion. If the Marines used that as an excuse to deny him the Warlord position, it would be a huge loss. But now, there was no need to worry. Chris had drawn the attention of Marine Headquarters. As long as he defeated Crocodile, the Warlord position would be his for sure!
"Let me share my thoughts."
At this moment, Vice Admiral Tsuru clasped her hands under her chin, her eyes gleaming with wisdom as she spoke slowly. As usual, the moment she spoke, everyone fell silent, turning their attention to her, awaiting her analysis.
The reputation of the "Great Staff Officer" was well-deserved.
"Tsuru's about to share her insights again, yohohoho~!" Garp laughed heartily, his demeanor as carefree as ever.
Ignoring the old man, Tsuru continued calmly, "The Chris Pirates clearly planned their debut meticulously. The crew doesn't behave like rookies—they fight with the experience of veterans who've been through the Grand Line. The Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the Paramecia-type Barrier-Barrier Fruit are both incredibly powerful Devil Fruits."
She paused, her tone growing more serious. "According to the intelligence, these men are ruthless, killing without hesitation. Yet, they obey Chris without question. This suggests that Chris's strength is extraordinary."
"Doberman suggested sending a headquarters captain to deal with them, but if I'm not mistaken, that would be a mistake. This crew's strength demands at least a rear admiral—possibly even a vice admiral."
"In my opinion, even a rear admiral would have a tough time against them. There's a real risk of defeat."
When Tsuru mentioned his name, Doberman was the first to speak up, frowning. "These trash-tier pirates haven't even set foot in the Grand Line. They've been completely unknown until now."
"To mobilize headquarters' elite forces for their first appearance—isn't that overkill?"
Onigumo took a drag from his cigarette and nodded. "I agree it's an overreaction. There's no need for such measures against a rookie crew that hasn't even entered the Grand Line. Deploying elite forces would only send the wrong message—that the Marines are incompetent against pirates!"
Borsalino leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, arms folded, and said in his usual lazy tone, "Young people these days are really scary~. It's enough to give this old man a fright."
Kuzan, who rarely spoke up, unexpectedly voiced his support. "Vice Admiral Tsuru's analysis is spot-on. We should take this more seriously."
Sakazuki nodded as well. "This isn't an overreaction. This crew is clearly different from the usual rabble. Rather than risking failure with a weaker force, we should send a vice admiral to capture them all in one sweep."
Garp slammed the table and laughed. "Then send this old man! I'll take care of them while visiting my hometown—"
Before he could finish, Sengoku cut him off sharply. "Damn it, Garp! You just want an excuse to go back to the East Blue! Not a chance! Stay put at headquarters!"
At this point, Sakazuki interjected, his expression grave. "Deploying a vice admiral might seem excessive, but for the sake of absolute justice, it's justified."
"These scum must be crushed with overwhelming force, leaving no room for escape."
Sengoku nodded solemnly, addressing the officers. "This crew is too strong, and their potential is immense. If they enter the Grand Line, they'll become another headache for us. We must strike preemptively before they grow stronger."
"Now, who's willing to take on this mission?"
Sengoku glared at Garp and added coldly, "You don't need to volunteer. Stay where you are."
Garp burst into laughter. "Sengoku, stop picking on me! My back's been acting up lately—no way I'd go back to the East Blue now, yohohoho~!"
The other officers exchanged glances, none of them eager to step forward.
This mission was thankless.
The journey from Marine Headquarters to the East Blue was long and arduous. By the time they arrived, the pirates might already be gone.
And the Chris Pirates weren't just sitting ducks. If they decided to flee, it could turn into a prolonged chase.
In short, this assignment was a hassle, and no one wanted it.
"Tsuru-neesan is as sharp as ever… But we're no longer the sisters we used to be. Sigh..."
Momousagi watched silently, her heart heavy. She held immense respect for the wise elder, Tsuru. Though not blood-related, their bond had once been closer than real sisters. Tsuru had always treated her like a younger sister.
But now, Momousagi had betrayed the Marines, siding with the pirates. They were enemies.
Yet, Momousagi felt no regret. She believed in her path.
"The Celestial Dragons trample over the world, acting as gods among men... This era must change. What I'm doing—it's all for justice."
----------
T/N:
Access 55 chapters in advance on my Patreon: [email protected]//OnePieceChronicles
+5 Advance chapters available to all free members !