Baratie
The table overflowed with dishes, and Sora's famished crew dove in. Sanji's cooking was, hands-down, the best they'd ever tasted.
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Hours Earlier
Shortly after Sora's crew obliterated Krieg's Pirates, a ripple reached the navy.
Marineford, Navy Headquarters.
The heart of the One Piece world's naval forces, home to its mightiest warriors. Built for war, it loomed as a colossal fortress from afar, its grandeur undeniable up close.
The circular port buzzed with warships of all sizes, teeming with marines. Some ships held chained pirates—small fry with ten-million-beri bounties, even infamous ones boasting seventy or eighty million, or over a hundred million, names often splashed across newspapers.
This was the navy's daily grind: upholding absolute justice by capturing pirates across the seas.
The port's clamor, fueled by rowdy pirates despite their shackles, contrasted sharply with the eerie silence in the Marshal's office, nestled in the fortress's central building.
Three figures sat within.
At the center was Marshal Sengoku, dubbed "Buddha Sengoku" and "Wise General Sengoku." To his left, Vice Admiral Tsuru, the "Great Staff Officer." To his right, Major Brannew, tasked with intelligence reports.
Sengoku, sporting frog-shaped glasses, a braided beard, and a cap adorned with the navy's seagull emblem, studied two photos and documents on his desk, lost in thought.
The images featured Sora's crew: one showed them on the Dreadnaught Sabre's railing, facing Krieg's Pirates; the other captured the Pseudo-Merry slicing through the galleon's wreckage.
"Brannew, your analysis," Sengoku said, looking up.
"Yes, sir!" Brannew, with green curly hair, sunglasses, thick lips, a white-and-blue striped shirt, and a navy cloak, stood. Pointing to a blackboard photo, he said gravely, "Krieg's Pirates, led by a captain with a 17-million-beri bounty, claimed East Blue's strongest."
"Skip that," Sengoku interrupted, hands on the desk, eyes sharp. "Get to the point."
He didn't care about some East Blue pirate like Krieg. A rookie ship rumored to house a great swordsman piqued his interest. Otherwise, why would a marshal bother with fresh sailors? Think I'm that free?
"Yes, sir." Brannew skipped Krieg's bounty, pointing to four photos—two from the desk, plus close-ups of Sora and Kuina, blurry as if snapped from high above. The navy—or rather, the World Government's—intelligence was terrifying.
By chance, a World Government spy seagull was near Sora's battle with Krieg. Within two hours of receiving the photos, the navy had dug up their profiles.
Brannew tapped Sora's photo. "Sora, from Shimotsuki Village near Gaya Kingdom, East Blue. Student of Isshin Dojo. Set sail days ago, purpose unknown." Then Kuina's. "Kuina, also from Shimotsuki, Isshin Dojo, but she's the dojo master's daughter."
He paused, eyeing Sengoku and Tsuru gravely. "Based on intel, Kuina's likely a swordsman, and Sora… possibly a great swordsman."
This demanded attention. Swordsmen were common, but great swordsmen? Rare across the world.
"Any clue on their destination?" Tsuru, white-haired, with green earrings and gold bracelets, leaned forward calmly.
Brannew pointed to an East Blue map. "Their route's a straight shot to Loguetown, bypassing all islands. Likely headed for the Grand Line." He tapped a Pseudo-Merry photo. "No pirate flag, so they might just be tourists."
Sengoku nodded, glancing at Tsuru. "Your take?"
Tsuru mused, then met his gaze. "No threat detected yet. I suggest observation. If they're bound for the Grand Line, their intentions will surface. With their strength, they won't stay obscure."
"Agreed," Sengoku said, turning to Brannew. "Send their photos to East Blue branches. Instruct them: no provocation unless they cause trouble."
"Yes, sir!" Brannew saluted, exiting.
Alone, Sengoku relaxed, leaning back. "Tsuru, the pirate surge these past two years is palpable."
"Indeed," Tsuru sighed. "Not just the Four Seas—Grand Line's crawling with strong pirates, straining the navy."
"Enough of that." Sengoku rubbed his temples, grimacing. "My headache's Garp's grandson, Ace, challenging Whitebeard."
"That old fool's in the New World now," Tsuru groaned. "Hope he stays out of trouble."
While they fretted over Garp, another headache brewed in East Blue.
Baratie, Navy Warship
Colonel Luster, head of Branch 123, faced his own dilemma.
"What'd you say?" Luster barked at his marines.
"Mr. Zeff wants you at the restaurant," one replied.
"Not that—the other part."
A marine hesitated. "Uh…"
Another cut in. "Suspicious group in the restaurant. Four men, one woman."
"Right!" the first marine jumped in, exaggerating. "The men are dripping in gold jewelry—obviously stolen. Total nouveaux riches."
"Are these them?" Luster handed over a photo.
He'd skipped dining due to urgent base intel and a fax from headquarters, relayed to his ship. His patrol was ending, and he'd thought he'd miss Sora's crew. Yet, here they were.
The marines studied the photo, nodding. "That's them!"
Despite the blur, Sora's silver hair and Kuina's dark blue locks were unmistakable.
Luster's face hardened. After a moment, he ordered, "Set sail for Branch 123. Mission's over."
"But, Colonel, no dinner?" the marines asked, puzzled.
"No." Luster handed them another paper.
They huddled, reading. Their faces paled. A great swordsman among those kids? A Grand Line-tier threat. They'd nearly dragged Luster to confront them.
Shuddering, they exhaled, relieved no clash had occurred.
"We'll prepare the ship," they said, bolting from the captain's quarters.
Luster sighed. Headquarters said avoid them, so he'd steer clear. Not scared—just strategic. Plenty of pirates needed his attention. No time for non-pirate kids.
Nodding to himself, he leaned back.
(End of Chapter)