"Who do you think we should send for this mission?" Sengoku asked, his eyes flicking toward Garp, who was, as usual, snoring away in his chair. The Fleet Admiral's brow twitched. This old man cared deeply about East Blue most of the time—yet he had the nerve to fall asleep at a moment like this.
Tsuru sighed, spreading her hands helplessly. "Aokiji is on leave. Akainu is holding down the New World to keep those pirates from moving. At present, only Kizaru is available."
"Kizaru," Sengoku muttered, rubbing his temple. The thought of entrusting something so delicate to that lazy man gave him a headache.
Tsuru offered another suggestion. "What about Momousagi? She's technically only a Vice Admiral, but you know her strength rivals an Admiral's."
After a moment of silence, Sengoku nodded. "Very well. Send Momousagi."
He cast another glance at Garp, who had shifted in his sleep and now drooled slightly onto his coat. Tch. If that idiot weren't napping, he'd be the perfect choice.
That very night, a Marine warship slipped out of headquarters, sailing through wind and wave. Standing on the deck, letting the sea breeze whip through her long dark hair, was a woman of elegance and authority. Vice Admiral Momousagi, her sharp eyes fixed on the horizon, gave off an aura that demanded respect.
…
Ten days had passed since Kaito struck down Rear Admiral Kata Kongbo with a single blow. Though the news had been kept quiet within Marine ranks, it quickly seeped into the underworld.
Kata Kongbo wasn't just any officer. To those in the shadows of East Blue, he was considered its emperor, a man who commanded fear and respect far beyond official Marine channels. If Arlong was the ruthless pirate who conquered in the East Blue, Kata Kongbo was East Blue's ruthless iron fist.
Now, he was gone.
The shockwaves were greater than even Arlong's movements. Whispers spread through taverns, gambling dens, and smuggling routes.
"If Kata Kongbo can be killed in an instant… who in East Blue could stand against this Kaito?"
The underworld grew cautious, some even fearful. All eyes turned toward Turner Village, and toward Marine. Everyone knew they would not let such a killing go unanswered. A higher power would be dispatched—perhaps even the hero of Marine himself, Monkey D. Garp.
Garp, born in East Blue, was its unspoken protector. His presence alone had long kept the sea known as "the weakest" relatively stable. Whenever a pirate grew too bold, Garp crushed them without hesitation.
In a dimly lit chamber, seated on a luxurious leather sofa, East Blue's intelligence chief, Loken, swirled wine lazily in a crystal goblet. His plump face gleamed with smug satisfaction. His network of spies stretched across the sea, and any notable event reached his ears first.
"Lord Loken, urgent report from Loguetown," a young man said as he hurried in, holding a sealed envelope.
Loguetown—gateway between East Blue and the Grand Line. If trouble stirred there, all of East Blue would feel the tremors.
A sharp light flashed in Loken's eyes. He snatched the envelope, tore it open, and scanned the contents with swift precision. His lips curled.
"So, Marine didn't send Garp after all. They sent her. Hmph. A miscalculation on my part."
He sipped his wine and waved the paper lazily. "Spread the word to the other leaders. Let's see how far this woman dares to chase."
"As you command." The youth bowed and left, leaving the room steeped in silence again.
Loken leaned back into the sofa, gaze flickering with calculation. "I hope she leaves once she captures the boy. If she lingers… East Blue's balance may shatter."
…
And so, as the intelligence flowed through the veins of the underworld, East Blue seemed to fall eerily silent. Pirates who had once roamed freely disappeared into hiding. Smuggling routes froze. The seas grew calm, almost peaceful.
But beneath the surface, every eye turned toward a single Marine warship making its way openly from Loguetown toward Turner Village. Its course was clear, its purpose undeniable.
…
At Turner Village, Kaito stood by the shoreline, the waves lapping at his feet. Beside him, Risa's cheerful laughter rang in the air, her presence like a fleeting moment of calm.
Ten days had passed since the fight. Nothing had disturbed the village. No one had come. For a moment, Kaito wondered if those behind Arlong's schemes had truly given up on Turner Village.
Still, he wasn't naïve. Danger often hid in shadows. To be certain, he resolved to travel to Loguetown himself. If any place in East Blue held answers, it was there—the bustling port city, the final stop before the Grand Line.
After deciding, Kaito took Risa to see the village chief. He entrusted her to the man's care, ensuring she would remain safe in his absence.
"Brother Kaito! Come back soon!" Risa called out, waving with a bright smile.
"Got it," Kaito's voice echoed faintly, though his figure had already vanished into the distance.
Not long after, as the chief and Risa turned back, a shadow appeared on the horizon. A warship. Its design was unlike any other vessel in East Blue—sleek, powerful, and bristling with Marines.
As it drew closer, the silhouettes of countless soldiers filled the deck.
The ship docked swiftly, and from it descended a striking woman. She was tall and elegant, with a beauty mark at the corner of her lips and intricate spider tattoos along her legs. Vice Admiral Momousagi's mere presence seemed to quiet the air. Behind her marched disciplined Marines, their expressions firm.
She approached with a disarming smile. "Excuse me, who is the head of this village?"
"I am," Nalo, the village chief, stepped forward, trying to mask his unease.
"I am Vice Admiral Momousagi," she said evenly. "I trust you already know why I'm here."
Nalo swallowed, forcing a calm nod. "It's about Kaito, isn't it?"
"That's right. Is he here?"
"No," Nalo admitted, shaking his head. "He left not long ago for Loguetown. He said he wanted to seek out an intelligence network there."
These were words Kaito himself had instructed him to say.
But even as he spoke, Nalo was unsettled by how quickly the Marines had arrived after Kaito's departure.
A stern officer behind Momousagi frowned. "Impossible. We saw no ship, no traveler along the way."
Nalo forced a smile, pointing skyward. "You wouldn't have. He didn't take a boat. He flew."
The Marines blinked, exchanging uneasy glances.
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