The Fleet Admiral's fury erupted like a storm, sending tremors through the office and cracking the walls with long, hairline fractures.
Seeing their teacher and superior explode with anger, Sengoku and Zephyr—who had just been butting heads—immediately shut up. They shrank back slightly, exchanged glares, then "obediently" returned to their seats.
"You two idiots... have you no shame?"
Kong finally withdrew his overwhelming presence, rolled his eyes with a huff, and sat back in his chair.
He pulled out a cigar, lit it, took a deep drag, and then turned his gaze to Zephyr. Meeting the man's anxious stare, he let out a long sigh.
"Zephyr, I know you're worried, but calm down... If I'm not wrong, that kid Daren isn't in any immediate danger."
Zephyr blinked, then his eyes lit up.
He had been too caught up in his concern to think clearly, but now that his nerves were calming and with Kong's reminder, things started clicking into place.
"Tsuru, go ahead and explain."
Kong gestured toward Staff Officer Tsuru.
Tsuru gave a small nod, her eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence. She spoke in a calm, steady voice.
"If Kaidou really intended to kill Daren, there was no reason to take him away. He had more than enough time to do it back on the mission island."
Zephyr finally let out a breath of relief, and immediately shot Sengoku a disdainful look, as if to say,
"See? That's what real strategy looks like. And you call yourself the 'Resourceful General'...?"
Sengoku's lips twitched, and he gritted his teeth, but ultimately stayed quiet.
Even if the incident with Daren wasn't directly caused by his orders, there was no denying he owed Zephyr. If he hadn't asked for Daren's involvement, the kid would've still been safe in the training camp, and none of this would've happened.
"So, Tsuru," Zephyr asked suddenly, "what do you think Kaidou's goal is in capturing Daren and Bullet?"
Tsuru considered for a moment, then spoke with cautious seriousness.
"Since the end of that major conflict, the New World's situation has grown increasingly chaotic. Over the past few years, Kaidou has been aggressively expanding—recruiting manpower and consolidating power."
"Right now, his Beasts Pirates have two top officers known as the 'All-Stars'—King the Conflagration and Queen the Plague—and a pirate force numbering in the thousands."
"If my guess is correct, Kaidou intends to recruit both Rogers Daren and Douglas Bullet into his ranks."
"He's spent years targeting powerful individuals with potential, trying to sway them to his side. It's entirely possible he's had his eye on Bullet for a long time."
At this, many of the gathered officers frowned deeply.
"Tsuru, are you certain?" Zephyr asked, his own brows drawn tight.
"I can see why Kaidou would want Bullet. The man wiped out his own country and army—he's a wanted criminal by both the World Government and the Marines."
"Given Kaidou's strength, he might be able to offer him some protection."
"But Daren is a Marine!"
Zephyr couldn't believe it. He shook his head and chuckled in disbelief.
"Kaidou really is an idiot—trying to recruit a Marine?"
"He's my student! The top graduate of the officer training camp! He represents the future of justice! Hahaha—Kaidou's doomed to fail..."
He suddenly stopped, blinking as he realized several people in the room were looking at him with uncomfortable, complicated expressions.
"Um... I heard Commodore Daren didn't have the best reputation in the North Blue..." a Vice Admiral muttered quietly.
Zephyr's smile froze.
"I heard he's... kind of a womanizer. Supposedly had 'inappropriate relationships' with noblewomen and royal princesses from multiple nations..." another Rear Admiral added in a low voice.
Zephyr's eye twitched violently.
"I also heard he throws money around like it's nothing—and owns a fortune no one knows the source of..." another Vice Admiral whispered.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard that too..."
"..."
As they continued chiming in one after another, Zephyr's face had already darkened like the bottom of a scorched pot.
Then Borsalino, still smiling, casually twisted the metaphorical knife with a cheerful remark.
"Well, if you think about it, maybe Commodore Daren is more suited to being an evil pirate than a righteous Marine..."
Zephyr: "..."
He slowly raised one hand and clutched his chest, expression full of silent anguish.
"Alright, that's enough. Cut it out."
Kong pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression twitching as he interrupted the chatter.
"And you—Sengoku! Wipe that grin off your face!"
Sengoku, who had been quietly enjoying the roast, flinched and immediately sat up straight.
"Zephyr, you don't need to worry. I trust that Daren would never betray the Marines,"
Kong said seriously.
"If he were going to fall off the righteous path, he'd have turned pirate back in the North Blue."
"Sure, the kid's... let's say his behavior isn't exactly squeaky clean, but he's a good—well, never mind."
A few pitch-black stress lines floated up on Zephyr's forehead.
Hey, hey, hey—Old man Kong, don't start wavering now.
Kong cleared his throat and shifted the topic.
"Anyway, let's focus on what matters—let's start discussing a plan to rescue them."
He turned back toward Staff Officer Tsuru.
Tsuru gave a small nod.
"We've already begun gathering intel. The Beasts Pirates' territory in the New World—including affiliated forces—spans over thirty islands, both large and small."
Her tone grew more solemn.
"Kaidou is extremely cautious and cunning. The exact location of his base has always been a mystery to us. The only thing we can confirm... is that it's likely not far from Wano Country."
"But as you all know, Wano is a very unique case..."
At that, everyone in the room grew visibly grim. A collective cloud seemed to settle over their faces.
Wano Country—one of the most powerful militarized nations in the New World. A superpower second only to Elbaph, the land of giants.
It boasted a formidable samurai class, was strategically well-defended and nearly impossible to invade, and had remained in an isolationist state for years—openly hostile toward outside forces.
If a Marine warship were to appear near Wano's waters unannounced, it would likely send a very hostile message to the country's leadership.
And that's not even considering the risk of triggering a military clash—the political fallout alone would be enough to make the Navy think twice.
After all, Wano is the world's only producer of Seastone, controlling nearly all its production and processing. The Marines and the World Government's entire supply of Seastone weaponry relies on trade with Wano.
...
(70 Chapters Ahead)
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