In the Marine Fleet Admiral's office, two heavy smokers were staring expressionlessly at each other.
After a moment, Sakazuki spoke: "You said you just arrested several Marines, including a Commodore?"
"That's right."
Sakazuki fell silent for a moment before responding: "So you went to Sabaody Archipelago, failed to capture the Straw Hat Crew, and instead arrested our own people?"
Was this guy going too far?
Even for a troublemaker, this was excessive.
"They don't deserve to wear this uniform!" Smoker said without hesitation.
Just thinking about what that bastard had done made Smoker tremble with rage.
Oppressing civilians, abusing authority, colluding with pirates... How could such people call themselves Marines?
Sakazuki, who had been observing Smoker's reaction closely, frowned slightly and said: "Tell me exactly what happened." He only knew that Smoker had brought back several Marines, but wasn't clear about the details.
"That Commodore tried to frame a little girl as a pirate spy right in front of me, planning to make her take responsibility for our failure to capture the Straw Hat Crew." Smoker stared directly into Sakazuki's eyes. "And this... was just one of the many things he's done."
Sakazuki paused before asking in a low voice: "What else has he done?"
"He abused his authority as a Marine Commodore to bully civilians, while also colluding with a pirate crew to obtain benefits." Smoker continued. "Of course, these benefits came at the cost of civilian lives."
Upon hearing this, Sakazuki's fingers, which had been lightly tapping the desk, immediately stilled, and his expression darkened.
How could such scum exist in his ranks?
Damn them!
Then Sakazuki said coldly: "Since the investigation is clear, deal with them."
He would never tolerate such trash!
Smoker was momentarily taken aback. "Execute them directly?"
"Otherwise?" Sakazuki countered. "Were you planning to send them to prison?"
"Do they even deserve that?"
As an iron-fisted military man, he couldn't tolerate such impurities in his ranks.
Therefore... these bastards must die!
Smoker fell silent at this. Their Marine Fleet Admiral was even more radical than he was.
But since the other had given the order, he couldn't really object - after all... he did want to personally eliminate these scumbags himself.
Thinking this, Smoker nodded and said: "Understood. I'll deal with them shortly."
With the Fleet Admiral's approval, he wouldn't hold back!
Sakazuki nodded, then pushed a document toward Smoker. "Take a look at this report about the Straw Hat Pirates."
"This is what Sentomaru reported not long ago."
Upon hearing that the information was about the Straw Hat Pirates, Smoker stepped forward and picked up the documents.
After carefully reviewing the contents, Smoker frowned and said, "Two new members?"
"A Ghost Fruit user and a Moku Moku Fruit user?"
"That's right, two new members."
Sakazuki, calmly watching Smoker with a cigarette in his mouth, said, "Do you think this Moku Moku Fruit user... could possibly be that Blood-Eyed Ninja?"
"How could that be?"
Smoker shook his head and replied, "That person was confirmed dead two years ago after causing chaos in Mary Geoise. It couldn't possibly be him."
That was something the World Government had personally verified—how could it be that person? Don't joke around!
"What if I told you that two years ago, the World Government never recovered the Blood-Eyed Ninja's body?" Sakazuki said.
Smoker: ???
Smoker stared at Sakazuki with a mix of shock and doubt, hesitating before asking, "No body?"
"Yes," Sakazuki nodded. "Borsalino once mentioned that after the Blood-Eyed Ninja died, his body was swallowed by Sea Kings."
"What does that prove?" Smoker retorted. "Just because the body wasn't recovered, does that mean we can't confirm whether he's truly dead?"
That sounds a bit far-fetched.
"Not exactly," Sakazuki shook his head. "Borsalino did say he was definitely dead."
Smoker: —
If it's already confirmed, why bring it up?
Perhaps sensing Smoker's confusion, Sakazuki said calmly, "I just have a feeling something isn't right."
But if pressed for evidence, he had none. After all... it was merely a gut feeling.
After a moment of thought, Smoker suggested, "Then why not send someone to investigate this Moku Moku Fruit user's background?"
"I've already done so."
Just then, the door suddenly knocked, and a man's voice came from outside.
"Fleet Admiral, the intelligence you asked me to investigate has been clarified."
"Come in."
The man promptly entered but paused briefly upon seeing Smoker, then respectfully greeted him.
After that, he approached Sakazuki with the documents.
As Sakazuki began reading the materials, the man reported, "This individual became active on the seas six months ago."
"In that time, he has eliminated three pirate crews with bounties exceeding 100 million berries. His strength is considerable."
"Initially, we thought he was a bounty hunter and attempted to recruit him, but we were unable to locate him and eventually gave up."
"Then... six months later, he became a member of the Straw Hat Pirates."
By the end, the man's expression turned complicated.
Who would have thought someone who relentlessly hunted pirates would end up becoming one?
"Do we know his name?" Smoker inquired.
"Unknown," the man shook his head. "We only know he's a Moku Moku Fruit user and hails from the West Sea. Beyond that, we have no information."
Smoker fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Sakazuki and said, "It's probably not that person."
"After all, that guy is a ninja. Even without eating a Devil Fruit, he possesses considerable power, so there's no need for him to add a weakness like fear of the sea."
The combat prowess this person displayed during the Summit War was truly terrifying. Would someone like that willingly consume a Devil Fruit that would give him such a weakness?
Moreover, the enhancement this Devil Fruit could provide didn't seem particularly significant. Therefore, he felt it probably wasn't that person.
This time, Sakazuki didn't say anything further but nodded in acceptance of Smoker's suggestion.
After reviewing the materials, Sakazuki also felt he had overthought things.
Then Sakazuki asked, "The other one called Perona, the Ghost Princess, is she Moria's subordinate?"
"Yes."
The man nodded and said, "She's the young woman who has always been by the former Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea Gecko Moria's side."
"Moria's subordinate?"
Smoker was momentarily stunned before asking in confusion, "Why would Moria's subordinate be traveling with the Straw Hat Crew? Shouldn't they be enemies?"
If he remembered correctly, Gecko Moria was defeated by the Straw Hat Boy.
So how did these two groups end up together?
"No, they're not enemies." Sakazuki shook his head. "Two years ago at Sabaody Archipelago, Moria intervened to help the Straw Hat Crew. This was one of the main reasons I failed to capture them back then."
Whenever he recalled what that bastard Moria had done, Sakazuki felt extremely irritated.
If not for Moria's meddling, he would have captured the Straw Hat Crew long ago!
"I see..." Smoker frowned. "That explains why this girl is with the Straw Hat Crew."
"The young woman might be heading to the New World to find Gecko Moria," the man suggested.
Hearing this, Smoker recalled the recent news he'd seen and nodded. "That's possible."
So did that mean the girl wasn't actually part of the Straw Hat Crew? Was the Moku Moku Fruit user the only new member?
"We can't rule out that she might have joined the Straw Hat Pirates," Sakazuki said calmly.
Who knew if Moria had entrusted the woman to the Straw Hat Crew?
Understanding Sakazuki's meaning, Smoker thought for a moment before nodding. "That's indeed possible too."
If Moria had passed some information to this woman or the Straw Hat Crew before his death, it was plausible she might have joined them.
Then Smoker looked up at Sakazuki and said, "Leave her to me as well."
"As well?"
Sakazuki asked, "What are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to the New World to pursue the Straw Hat Crew," Smoker said seriously. "That's actually why I came to see you this time."
The other man's eyebrows twitched upon hearing this. Was this guy really speaking so bluntly to the Fleet Admiral?
Come to think of it, perhaps he shouldn't remain here any longer...
With this thought, the man glanced up at Sakazuki.
Seeing the Fleet Admiral give him a slight nod, he immediately turned and left without hesitation, thoughtfully closing the door quietly behind him.
After the other person had left, Sakazuki continued, "You should be aware of your position, Smoker."
He wasn't angry at Smoker's attitude—after all, this troublemaker had always been like this, and he was long accustomed to it.
But he hoped Smoker would understand what the title of Admiral Candidate truly meant.
"Of course I know," Smoker nodded. "But precisely because of that, I should go to the New World, shouldn't I?"
"Crushing pirates and showcasing the Marines' authority—isn't that what you, the Fleet Admiral, want to see?"
Of course, if Fleet Admiral Sakazuki didn't agree...
Well, he'd go anyway.
Sakazuki fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then said as if realizing something, "You want to be like Vice Admiral Garp."
Smoker didn't refute this, instead calmly watching Sakazuki as he waited for a response.
After staring at Smoker for a while, Sakazuki nodded, clearly understanding Smoker's mindset.
With someone like this, even if he disagreed, there was no stopping him.
As for punishment?
Don't be ridiculous. They'd finally found someone with the potential to replace Borsalino—how could he possibly punish him?
Still... dealing with such a troublemaker was truly exhausting.
At this thought, Sakazuki sighed quietly to himself.
Then he said, "Then hand over your current duties. After that, you'll take up the position of base commander at G-5."
Smoker immediately objected. Wouldn't being a base commander tie him down to a Marine base?
Seeing Smoker's thoughts, Sakazuki said flatly, "Becoming the base commander of G-5 won't restrict your freedom."
"You'll understand once you get there."
As Smoker looked like he wanted to say more, Sakazuki frowned and stated, "That's an order!"
Smoker fell silent for a moment, then replied, "Understood."
Without hesitation, he turned and left, clearly intending to wrap up his affairs here as quickly as possible.
Watching him go, Sakazuki rubbed his temples and muttered, "This troublemaker..."
He didn't even bother closing the door on his way out. Seriously.
A moment later, an old man with white hair appeared outside the door, grinning mischievously as he peeked in at Sakazuki.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Sengoku's sly smile, Sakazuki was speechless.
What was this guy doing here?
"Heh, being Fleet Admiral isn't easy, is it?" Sengoku chuckled.
He knew all too well how much of a headache it was to have troublemakers under one's command.
Sakazuki's eye twitched at this, and he replied expressionlessly, "Retirees shouldn't be loitering around here!"
Was he here just to annoy him?
"Hmph, as if I care," Sengoku retorted with a pout. "If I weren't here to see Tsuru and just happened to pass by, I wouldn't bother visiting you."
This childish side of the former Fleet Admiral left Sakazuki utterly silent.
How come he'd never known the old man had this side to him?
After a moment of silence, Sakazuki chose to lower his head and focus on his paperwork, ignoring the old man.
"Tch, boring."
Sengoku curled his lips, then gave up on teasing Sakazuki further, instead casually helping him close the door.
Before leaving, however, Sengoku said, "Keep it up, Sakazuki. The hard days are still ahead."
Sakazuki: ???
"You..."
Slam!
Staring at the tightly shut door, Sakazuki's words caught in his throat.
Damn it, how infuriating!
Outside the door, Sengoku wiped the smile from his face, his eyes gradually growing complex.
That remark of his wasn't just empty words.
The Marines' days ahead would likely be even tougher than before.
But if they could pull through... who knows, the Marines' future might just become brighter!
After a silent sigh, Sengoku composed his expression, reverting to his usual old rascal demeanor.
Then, he turned and headed toward the distant office.
Pushing the door open, Sengoku announced, "Tsuru, I'm back again."
"Get lost!"
"Heh, don't be mad~"
Unfazed by the scolding, Sengoku chuckled and stepped into Vice Admiral Tsuru's office, casually taking a seat nearby.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed in resignation. Why did this troublemaker always insist on dropping by?
With that thought, she teased him, "Shouldn't you be enjoying your retirement? Why are you always hanging around here?"
"Got nothing better to do," Sengoku replied helplessly.
"If you're that bored, go catch some pirates," Vice Admiral Tsuru retorted impatiently.
"No can do."
Sengoku shook his head. "Retirement means acting retired. What's the point of running off to catch pirates?"
That wasn't something a retired old man like him should be doing.
Vice Admiral Tsuru shot him a glare. "So you just keep coming here instead, huh?"
"Garp's off somewhere without me. Who else am I supposed to bother?" Sengoku grumbled.
There were only a handful of people he could chat with—what choice did he have?
Hearing this, Vice Admiral Tsuru set down her pen, amused. "Well, maybe if you didn't keep stealing his senbei."
"Hey, I don't like where this is going," Sengoku pouted. "Hasn't he swiped plenty of my tea?"
"That rascal never leaves my office without taking something."
Just thinking about Garp made his blood boil.
Watching Sengoku's irritated expression, Vice Admiral Tsuru chuckled. "You two really are cut from the same cloth—both acting like overgrown children."
"So what?"
Sengoku muttered, "We're retired—can't we live a little more relaxed?"
If he still had to live all tense... what was the point of retiring?
"Fair enough."
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded, then asked, "So, what brings you here this time?"
"Just here to share some tea with you," Sengoku said, pulling out a packet. "This is the latest batch—even that scoundrel Garp hasn't tried it."
After a pause, he added, "Oh, right. What's Garp up to anyway?"
Though he complained about Garp, deep down, Sengoku wished the old fool would sit down with him for tea and senbei.
"Him..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru's hand holding the documents paused slightly before she remarked casually, "He probably returned to East Blue."
"Returned to East Blue?"
Sengoku asked in confusion, "Why would he go back to East Blue again?"
"Didn't he just go there half a year ago?"
"This time is different," Tsuru said softly.
"How is it different?"
This time, Tsuru didn't respond verbally. Instead, she retrieved a piece of intelligence and slid it across to Sengoku.
Sengoku glanced at her quizzically before picking up the intelligence from the table at her silent urging. "Hm?"
Upon reading the contents, his brow furrowed deeply.
"The Spade Pirates have appeared in East Blue..."
Spade... wasn't that Fire Fist Ace's pirate crew?
He understood now!
Setting down the intelligence, Sengoku looked up and said, "So, that guy Garp is..."
"Yes."
Tsuru nodded and continued, "This is the only copy of this intelligence."
Sengoku fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then picked up the intelligence from the table and placed it in the goat's mouth, signaling it to eat.
The goat didn't refuse and habitually began chewing on the intelligence.
Tsuru didn't stop him, tacitly approving Sengoku's actions.
After doing this, Sengoku's expression grew complicated.
Visiting his grandson...
If Rosinante were still alive, his grandson would probably be about the same age as that brat Ace by now.
At this thought, Sengoku sighed quietly to himself.
It was at this moment that the image of the kid Rosinante had saved with his own life surfaced in Sengoku's mind.
Law.
I wonder how that kid is doing now.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
By the seaside outside Windmill Village, a pirate ship was currently anchored.
"This is the place."
Looking at the deeply familiar village before him, Ace's eyes grew slightly moist.
Standing beside him, Sabo's eyes also began glistening with tears.
After all these years, he had finally returned here—
How was that woman who treated them like her own sons doing now?
Watching the two figures standing at the ship's bow, Marco's face showed a touch of emotion.
He then said, "Ace, we'll handle the supplies. You go do what you need to do."
"Alright!"
Ace nodded at Marco's words, then smiled and said to Sabo beside him, "Let's go, Sabo."
It was time to go see Dadan.
"Yeah."
Sabo nodded at Ace before turning to follow him as they ran toward the distant mountains, planning to visit Dadan first.
Watching them leave, Marco remarked with emotion, "Who would have thought the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command would be Ace's brother."
Recalling the events from before, Marco's face filled with sentiment.
About a month ago, they had coincidentally encountered this Revolutionary Army second-in-command named Sabo, and some conflicts had arisen between them.
Just when he thought full-scale combat was inevitable, Ace immediately recognized who this Sabo was, and so... they reconciled.
At this thought, Marco sighed with emotion in his heart, "Fate is truly something elusive."
Just then, a pirate rushed over in a panic, shouting, "Vice Captain Marco, something terrible has happened!"
"What's wrong? Why are you so flustered?" Marco frowned. "Speak slowly."
The pirate took a deep breath before speaking, "We've spotted a warship."
"A warship?"
Marco frowned upon hearing this. "Could it be that the Marines have discovered our presence in East Blue?"
"Most likely," Vista nodded in agreement.
Otherwise, there would be no explanation for a warship appearing there.
After a moment's thought, Marco asked, "Can we confirm who's in command?"
"Unclear, but there's a dog head figurehead on the warship."
Marco:
Hearing about the dog head figurehead left Marco completely speechless.
As the former second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, he knew exactly what that warship represented.
"Should we take any action?" the pirate inquired.
If they were going to fight, he'd immediately rally the crew to attack that warship!
"No need," Marco shook his head. "As long as they don't initiate an attack against us, we'll pretend we didn't see them."
That warship was the personal vessel of Ace's grandfather, so... it was highly unlikely they would attack.
"Understood!"
Marco nodded in acknowledgment before turning to the other crew members. "Head to the village to purchase supplies, then wait for Ace and the others at the tavern."
"But remember, no one is to harass the villagers, understood?"
"Understood!"
The pirates receiving the orders nodded and quickly made their way toward the distant village.
The villagers watched the pirates with curiosity, showing not a trace of fear toward them.
It was as if... they simply didn't care about these pirates.
Taking in their reactions, Vista remarked with admiration, "Truly worthy of being the hometown of the Marine Hero..."
"No pirate would dare cause trouble here," Marco said with a light laugh.
With the title of Marine Hero looming large, who would dare make trouble?
"True enough."
Vista nodded, then turned his gaze toward the direction the pirate had mentioned earlier, murmuring, "I wonder if there are any skilled swordsmen on that ship."
For some reason, he had a feeling there might be a formidable presence there, though he couldn't tell if it was just his imagination.
"What, itching for a fight?" Marco teased.
"Not really, just curious."
"Even if you're curious, there's no need to engage them," Marco said. "Once we return to the New World, you'll have plenty of opponents to fight."
Vista fell silent for a moment before nodding. "You're right."
They had come to East Blue with Ace to visit family, so it was better not to stir up trouble.
With that thought, Vista removed his hand from his sword hilt.
Seeing this, Marco smiled slightly before turning his attention toward the direction where the warship was hidden, thinking to himself: 'I hope they don't come looking for trouble.'
If possible, he truly hoped Ace's family visit would proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile, in the direction he was watching, someone was silently observing them as well.
"Vice Admiral Bogard, should we..."
Bogard gave the marine recruit a puzzled look. Didn't this kid know about the relationship between that pirate crew and Vice Admiral Garp?
Was he a newcomer?
After a brief silence, Bogard said, "Just pretend we didn't see them."
"Let's wait until Vice Admiral Garp returns before discussing anything."
"Understood."
"Hmph, what are you doing here again?" Dadan glared at Garp with clear displeasure.
She had no intention of showing this bastard any courtesy—the same bastard who had stood by and done nothing to save anyone during the Summit War.
"Hm?"
Garp was momentarily taken aback by Dadan's cold demeanor, then seemed to recall something, a trace of helplessness flickering in his eyes.
He then said, "Can't I just come to see you?"
"What's there to see about me?"
Garp fell silent for a moment before replying, "I know you're upset, but I had my reasons."
Those words were like a match, instantly igniting Dadan's fury.
"What reasons could be more important than family?!" Dadan grabbed Garp by the collar, shouting angrily, "Do you even know how close Ace and Luffy came to dying?!"
She had raised only three boys in her life!
One died young, and the other two nearly lost their lives right in front of this bastard Garp...
How could she not be furious?!
This time, Garp said nothing, responding only with silence.
But that very attitude only fueled Dadan's rage further.
In the end, she threw a punch straight at Garp's face, knocking him to the ground.
After that, she ignored the old fool and walked away to sit by herself.
Garp didn't mind, wiping his face as he stood back up.
"Why are you still here?" Dadan said, "There's no food for you here, you—"
Before she could finish, a voice she knew all too well echoed from outside.
"Dadan!"
"We came to see you!"
"Huh?"
Dadan froze at the sound of Ace's voice, then murmured in disbelief, "Is that... Ace?"
"That's right, boss! It's him!"
Her underlings looked thrilled, clearly just as surprised.
"It's really him..." Dadan whispered.
After two years... had that brat finally decided to come back and see her?
She then turned to Garp and asked, "So that's why you're here too? To see your grandsons?"
This time, Garp didn't deny it, silently acknowledging the truth.
Seeing this, Dadan nodded and didn't insist on him leaving right away.
She then walked over to a mirror, tidying her hair, which had become disheveled in her earlier anger.
Once she was done, Dadan stepped outside with a smile on her face.
"Ace..."
"Huh?"
But as she caught sight of the figure standing beside Ace, Dadan froze once more.
"He... he's..."
"Dadan, it's me, Sabo," Sabo said softly.
"It's really you..."
At his confirmation, Dadan's pupils contracted sharply.
Then she asked, "But weren't you... over ten years ago..."
"Yes, I nearly died back then, but I managed to survive against the odds," Sabo explained gently.
"Then why didn't you contact us all these years?"
"I lost my memory because of the severe injuries I suffered," Sabo said with a sigh. "That's why I never came back to find you."
"How did you recover?"
"I've managed to reunite with Ace," Sabo said. "I met him a month ago, and with his help, I regained my memories."
"Otherwise... I wouldn't have remembered that I had two brothers."
As he spoke, a look of relief appeared on Sabo's face, clearly grateful for having recovered those memories.
"I see..."
Dadan nodded, then asked, "What about Luffy?"
"Why didn't that little rascal come back with you?"
At this point, Dadan's expression suddenly changed.
"Could it be that he..."
"Don't worry, he's alive and well," Ace said. "You'll probably see him in the newspapers soon."
Sabo mentioned that Nico Robin would reunite with Luffy and the others in two years, so... it won't be long before they're active on the seas again!
"Alive is good... alive is good..." Dadan sighed in relief.
Then, Dadan said, "Come on, I'll make you a good meal. You both look like you've lost weight."
"I wonder if you two rascals have been eating properly all these years."
"Honestly, you're all grown up now, yet I still have to worry about you. I..."
Hearing Dadan's motherly words, Ace and Sabo fell silent for a moment before saying with moist eyes, "Dadan."
"Thank you..."
Thank you for loving us like a mother all this time.
Upon hearing their words, Dadan's body trembled slightly, and her suppressed emotions finally overflowed.
Looking at their gradually blurring figures, Dadan said with a trembling voice, "It's just so great that you little brats are alive!!!"
This woman, who had played the role of a mother all her life, finally broke down and began to weep uncontrollably.
The other members in the house weren't faring much better, all secretly wiping away their tears.
Then, one of them looked at Garp, who was discreetly wiping the corner of his eye, and asked, "Vice Admiral Garp, won't you... go out and see them?"
Garp remained silent for a moment before shaking his head and saying, "No, let's leave this time to them."