"What!!?"
"You're saying the Starry Sky Pirates are fighting Doflamingo and his crew!?"
At Marine Headquarters, in the top office of Marineford, Sengoku suddenly jumped to his feet and shouted loudly into the Den Den Mushi.
"Ah-oo… Ah-oo-oo…"
Sengoku at his desk froze for a moment, unable to believe what he'd just heard. After a long pause, he asked again, his voice still tinged with disbelief:
"You're not joking, right!?"
For the first time, Sengoku doubted the reliability of the government intelligence department, asking such an uncharacteristically informal question.
"Ah-oo… Ah-oo-oo…"
Sengoku's expression gradually turned serious. His gaze shifted to the characters for "Justice" on the wall, his mind spinning furiously. After a while, he finally said into the Den Den Mushi:
"Alright, I understand.
Stay safe!"
"Ah-oo… Ah-oo-oo…"
After hanging up, Sengoku drew in a deep breath, puffing out his chest, his solemn eyes widening as he bellowed:
"Garp~!!!!!!"
"Garp~!!!"
"Garp~!!"
The echoing calls thundered across the entire sky over Marineford.
Marines working nearby paused for a moment, shook their heads, and dismissed the lingering shouts, returning to their tasks.
Inside the top office, Garp lounged on the sofa beside his desk, eating rice crackers lazily. He slowly turned his head toward Sengoku.
"Ah-oo-oo-oo…"
"What is it, Sengoku?"
"Ah-oo-oo-oo…"
"Another big pirate appeared…"
"Ah-oo-oo-oo…"
Garp, being yelled at by Sengoku, suddenly started chewing faster. His cheeks puffed out like balloons, crammed with rice crackers, yet he continued shoving more in, as if afraid Sengoku would snatch them away.
"I…"
Watching Garp like this, Sengoku slammed one hand on the desk and clutched his chest with the other, breathing weakly as if having a heart attack.
A new female employee, Lillian, had just transferred to Marine Headquarters. She was about to knock on the office door when she noticed strange noises.
She leaned back slightly, pressing her ear against the wooden door, curiously eavesdropping.
From the other side came odd sounds.
With Sengoku's physical strength, even a casual shout could reverberate across the entire island.
Now, due to Garp's antics, the heavy breathing and loud chewing penetrated the door easily, reaching Lillian's ears.
"Huff! …Huff! …"
Following the labored breaths were Garp's muffled responses, full of concern:
"Mmm… Mmm…"
"Mmm-mmm-mmm…"
These strange sounds made the young marine's face instantly flush red.
In that instant, she recalled some risqué magazines her roommates had secretly borrowed from male marines while working in the West Blue.
Some images depicted aristocrats abandoning restraint, seeking new thrills—and the voices in those pictures sounded exactly like what she was hearing now!
Recalling recent gossip…
Vice Admiral Sengoku and Marine Hero Garp… their legendary exploits!
It was said they'd been inseparable since joining the Marines. Even now, Sengoku remained unmarried…
Oh, my!
This is so… thrilling!!!
…
Just as the seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl's imagination ran wild, a stern voice suddenly came from behind:
"What are you doing!?"
"Ah!!"
Lillian jumped, spinning around. Seeing the figure, she immediately addressed him with proper etiquette:
"V-Vice Admiral Sakazuki!"
"Hmm…"
Akainu responded in a low voice, eyes scanning the young marine from head to toe.
White uniform, flushed face, trembling body, slightly bent legs…
Could she be a Revolutionary Army spy!?!
No, I must investigate her thoroughly tonight!
I can't let Marine Headquarters' intelligence fall into the wrong hands!
Sakazuki, ever loyal and righteous, thought as he narrowed his gaze.
He raised his strong arm, intending to push past her into Sengoku's office.
Lillian hurriedly blocked him.
Maintaining her superior's dignity was her duty.
If the exploits of the top officers leaked, it would damage the Marines' image.
But how could her delicate frame stop the Marine Admiral Akainu?
Lillian could only grab his hand, but she could not sway him.
Eventually, she had no choice but to follow him, pushing the office door open together.
As the door opened, both Akainu and Lillian saw Sengoku and Garp in the middle of a scuffle!
The two old marines yanked at each other's faces while yelling:
"You marine hero! All you do is eat, look at how fat you've gotten!"
"At this rate, you'd better retire!!"
"Ahaha!"
"How dare you tell me to retire!?"
"Look at your new white hairs! Compare us—who's more fit to retire!?"
"You've got some nerve!"
"Most of my white hairs are from your anger!!!"
"Cut the act!"
Two of the most powerful Marines, in the highest commander's office, acted like children, ignoring all decorum.
Akainu, however, was unbothered.
This was not his first encounter with such behavior.
At first, the Admirals were polite, mindful of rank, knocking before entering.
But after being left outside countless times, they developed the habit of pushing doors open freely.
Today… seemed slightly different.
As they hit the floor, their eyes landed on Admiral Akainu.
Immediately, the fighting and shouting ceased.
The two older marines straightened, smoothing their wrinkled clothes from the scuffle.
This unusual sight left Akainu dumbfounded.
Why were they suddenly so… proper?
He soon found out.
Sengoku and Garp, now smiling with the gentle air of elders, looked warmly at the flushed young marine holding Akainu's hand.
Sengoku spoke kindly:
"Well… well…
Akainu even has a girlfriend!
Good, this is a good thing! I'll announce it to the whole Marine Corps, and we'll all celebrate!"
Garp laughed heartily:
"Hahaha… wonderful!
I thought you'd all be influenced by old Sengoku here and remain single for life…
But I never expected the first step to be taken by you!
Unbelievable… truly unbelievable…"
Rarely, Sengoku did not contradict Garp but nodded in agreement, glancing once more at the two of them.
"Ah!?"
Akainu, stunned by their harmonious banter, froze.
Only when he noticed their gaze did he realize the situation.
The upright Marine Admiral quickly pulled away Lillian's hand, protesting:
"W-wait!!!
This isn't what you think!!!
You're mistaken!!!"
"Ahahaha!"
"Don't be shy!"
Sengoku continued:
"It's fine, Akainu.
This is life!
The Marines support internal marriages. Just keep your health in check and don't let work suffer!"
"I can even grant you a few days off. Take your little lady to the Sabaody Archipelago for a vacation…"
"What do you think, Lillian?"
"Ah!?"
Still lost in her fantasies, Lillian hadn't caught what Sengoku and Garp said.
Now hearing Sengoku's question, she nodded lightly:
"Uh-huh…"
Her flushed cheeks, combined with her daydream, made her look like a shy bride meeting her future in-laws for the first time.
Pfft!!!
Hearing her reply, Akainu felt his blood boil!
What the hell is happening?!
Why is this like this?!
No!
This female marine must be a spy!
Sent to disturb the morale!
Now it's getting… impossible to understand!!!
God, save me!!!
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Completed version available on Patreon P@treon(.)com/Veltoria