The air in the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters was thick with exhaustion.
Sengoku sat slumped over a mountain of paperwork, the weight of his duties pressing down on him, when the Den Den Mushi on his desk began to ring. He answered it with a tired grunt.
"Hello? What? Shichibukai? A Member Nation?"
Hearing those two words, the Fleet Admiral, who had looked moments from collapsing, sat bolt upright. His posture hardened, and his gaze sharpened on the receiver in his hand. After the recent incident in Alabasta, the World Government was on high alert for anything involving the Seven Warlords and their relationship with allied kingdoms. The implication was immediate and infuriating.
'Not again,' he thought, a grimace tightening his features. 'Not another Alabasta.'
It had to be. Why else would a report from the field mention both a Warlord and a Member Nation in the same breath? Which of them was it? Which of the government-sanctioned pirates had the audacity to make a move right now, while the Marines were stretched thin searching for Vegapunk? This was a direct challenge to the World Government's authority and a slap in the face to Marine justice.
Sengoku had always detested the Shichibukai system, but it was a policy handed down from the highest authority. As Fleet Admiral, he had no choice but to enforce it. But for one of them to cause this kind of trouble now? Didn't they know how busy they were?
A fresh wave of anger cut through his fatigue. His eyes widened behind his circular glasses, and the formidable aura of his office seemed to darken. He suppressed his rage and spoke into the snail, his voice a low, cold growl. "Which Warlord? Who dares to attack a Member Nation at a time like this?"
But the response he received made the anger on his face freeze. His expression shifted to one of confused irritation.
"What do you mean they didn't attack? Then why are you calling me about a Member Nation? If you have wasted my time, I will demote you immediately!" he snapped.
He listened for another moment, as he frowned.
"Recruiting? A Warlord is recruiting workers? In a Member Nation? What for? Don't tell me he's rounding up slaves."
The voice on the other end continued its report, and Sengoku's disbelief grew.
"It really is just recruiting? You've already confirmed this with Captain Smoker and Captain Dante? Then what business is it of ours? The Marines don't manage Warlord hiring practices!"
He pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache beginning to throb in his temples as the full, ridiculous picture became clear.
"So, a Shichibukai offered high wages, room, and board, and the citizens of a Member Nation were actually drawn to the offer. And this upset the local government?"
He leaned back in his chair, his voice rising with exasperation. "What are these kings and nobles playing at? If they cared about their people, they would have treated them better in the first place! They drive them out to fend for themselves, but the moment someone else offers them a better life, they cry foul? What the hell is wrong with them?!"
He was practically shouting now.
"Their own people want to leave voluntarily to work for a pirate, and they have the nerve to ask the Marines for help? Don't they realize we're not their personal cleanup crew? As long as a Shichibukai isn't breaking the terms of their treaty, we have no authority to intervene. Tell them to handle it themselves! They can call us back when a Warlord is actually trying to take over their country!"
With a final shout, Sengoku slammed the receiver down, cutting the connection. He let out a long, frustrated breath and snorted. "These Member Nations are getting more pathetic by the day."
Even if the Marines weren't spread thin, they wouldn't get involved in a Warlord's legitimate recruitment efforts. He wasn't attacking the country or enslaving its people. There was simply nothing for them to do. Besides, what would a Warlord even want with so many workers? Were the nobles worried he'd empty their entire country?
As his anger subsided, Sengoku's focus returned to the room. He looked up to see Garp sitting across from him, leisurely stuffing a handful of rice crackers into his mouth.
Having calmed himself, Sengoku finally noticed the activity across from him. He looked up to see Garp leisurely stuffing snacks into his mouth. "Don't you know the Marines are busy right now, you old fool?" he grumbled, dissatisfied. "Can't you do some work for me?"
"Don't you have any work to do, you old fool?" Sengoku grumbled. "The entire Marine Headquarters is in an uproar, and you're just sitting there."
"Relax, Sengoku. I can't make that much of a difference," Garp said cheerfully, his mouth full. He swallowed with a loud gulp. "Besides, you should try some of these. The tangerine wine is decent, but these crackers are really something else. I think there are even some special yogurt-flavored ones in the bag."
"I haven't had a chance to taste anything," Sengoku said flatly, watching Garp devour the snacks. They weren't Garp's, they'd been sent a few days ago by a certain Marine captain from the East Blue. He pursed his lips. "And you can tell that kid of yours that a Marine Captain should be more focused on justice and earning achievements, not on making money. That business in the East Blue was a good start, but he shouldn't disappoint his Sensei Zephyr's expectations."
"Ah, the kid's already gone soft," Garp waved a dismissive hand. "It's only natural he's thinking about money now. Just let him be."
"I think you're the one who's gone soft!" Sengoku shot back, his expression reddening. The old fool would abandon a promising Marine for a bag of snacks.
For weeks, the Marines had been in a state of controlled chaos since Vegapunk's disappearance. On orders from the World Government, nearly every available combat unit had been deployed across the Grand Line and the New World, chasing down leads. And then there was Garp, who had been doing nothing but slacking off at headquarters.
Sengoku let out a sigh. He couldn't truly blame his old friend, he was just venting. This whole mandatory mission was a headache. Vegapunk was vital, of course, but they couldn't keep this frantic, fruitless search up forever. They suspected everyone, the Yonko, the Revolutionary Army, the underworld brokers, but without a shred of proof, they couldn't just storm someone's territory. Did the World Government want to start another war? They couldn't even find the Revolutionary Army's main base. Continuing this way would only destabilize the seas further.
He'd already raised these concerns with the Five Elders. They were displeased but understood the reality of the situation. If Vegapunk wasn't found soon, the large-scale search would have to be called off. After that, it would fall to spies and a newly established science division to pick up the pieces.
"Forget it," Sengoku said, rubbing the space between his eyes. "This whole mess has exhausted me. I don't have time to argue with you. What do you want?"
"Well," Garp began, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I'm due for a vacation. Just came by to get it approved."
Sengoku stared at him. The man knew exactly how busy they were, and he had the gall to ask for time off? 'When was the last time I had a vacation? Why should you enjoy it if I can't!?'
"No," he said through gritted teeth. "Absolutely not. I don't have time to sign your leave form. You're staying here and working."
"That's fine. I'm just letting you know so you don't come looking for me," Garp said, completely unfazed. He popped another cracker in his mouth. "I can always fill out the form when I get back!"
"You bastard..." Sengoku snatched a slip of paper from his desk, scribbled on it, and threw it at him. "Get out of my office. Now."
"Bwahahaha! Thanks, Sengoku!" Garp caught the slip with a laugh and casually tucked it into his pocket. "You keep up the good work. Don't worry, when you finally get a break, I'll take you to Romance Dawn to relax!"
He started for the door, then paused, grabbing one last, huge handful of the unusually colored rice crackers. He turned back, holding them up for Sengoku to see.
"So, what do you think? Pretty tasty, right?"
"Get out! And close the door on your way!"
"Alright, alright!"
*Click.*
As the door shut, the tension in Sengoku's shoulders eased slightly. "Tasty?" he muttered to the empty room. "How would I know? I haven't had any."
His gaze drifted to the sofa, and he noticed a small, uniquely packaged bag of snacks sitting on the cushion, unopened. A small smile touched his lips.
'Thoughtful of you, you old fool,' he thought. 'But after eating that many of my snacks, one bag isn't going to cut it.'
He turned back to his work, pulling another document toward him and setting the leave slip aside. His eyes landed on a file that had arrived a few days prior. The headline was bold and sensational.
[East Blue Overlord Challenges Shichibukai Bartholomew Kuma in a Bid to Revive the Glory of the East Blue!]
He had to admit, this new "Overlord" was certainly making waves. The phrase "Revive the Glory of the East Blue" had given him pause when he first read it, after all, the East Blue was a special sea as birthplace of Roger. 'It's all that bastard Roger's fault again!'
But now, looking at the words again, Sengoku frowned.
'Something about this,' he murmured, tracing the headline with his finger, 'just feels... off.'
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