"Sengoku, stop!"
"Hawk is the Navy's hope for the next generation, that much is true."
"But if you chain him to headquarters, how will he ever grow?!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice was calm, but it struck Sengoku like a hammer.
"What Hawk wants is to cut down evil and cleanse the seas, not to be buried under paperwork in the Fleet Admiral's office!"
"If you force him to stay here, you will grind away his edge and smother his future."
"..."
Sengoku fell silent.
Of course he knew she was right.
Sheltering someone too tightly only breeds fragile flowers that cannot survive the storm.
But still...
"Tsuru…!"
His chest rose and fell sharply, his voice taut with emotion. "That brat Hawk!"
"His strength is beyond question!"
"His physique, his Haki, his combat instincts, flawless!"
"That alone would be astounding enough, but..."
"He has a mind, a strategist's mind!"
"He just became a brigadier, yet he sees the shifting tides of this sea more clearly than most seasoned vice admirals!"
"The Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords, the Revolutionary Army… he analyzes them sharply, without missing a step!"
"Do you understand? A talent like this may not appear in the Navy for decades!"
"I'm afraid, Tsuru!"
"Afraid that one misstep, one wrong battle, and he'll be lost forever to this ocean!"
"It wouldn't be the first time a branch commander was buried in the Grand Line!"
He paced the office like a caged beast, finally collapsing back into the Fleet Admiral's chair with a sigh heavy with frustration and fear.
"..."
Tsuru let his words settle before replying slowly.
"I understand your concern. But with Hawk's strength, against ordinary pirates, there is little danger."
"Unless one of the Emperors personally moves against him, the chances of the Navy's future hope being cut down early are slim."
Her tone shifted.
"But you are correct about one thing. The forces under his command are too thin."
"Most of those he brought from East Blue's 16th Branch are ordinary soldiers. Loyal, spirited, yes. But on the Grand Line..."
"They are not enough to uphold a strategic stronghold like G-3."
"..."
"What are you suggesting?" Sengoku asked warily.
"Hawk's current rank is Headquarters Brigadier General. He won't be promoted again anytime soon."
"We can't simply assign him a rear admiral or vice admiral as reinforcement. That would break regulations and stir unnecessary resentment."
"But below brigadier rank, we can move some elite officers to strengthen his wings."
"Go on," Sengoku urged.
Tsuru raised two fingers. "Headquarters Colonel Smoker."
"Headquarters Colonel Tashigi."
"..."
Sengoku blinked.
Tsuru continued evenly.
"Smoker is a genuine Logia user, with a fierce sense of justice. He's already crossed paths with Hawk back in East Blue, so they have some understanding of each other."
"Putting him under Hawk will not only strengthen G-3, it will also give Hawk the chance to temper Smoker's rough edges."
"As for Tashigi, she too is among the most promising colonels. Clear-headed, capable, decisive."
"Her presence will both assist Hawk and balance the composition of G-3."
"And more importantly..."
Her eyes glinted meaningfully as she looked at Sengoku.
"Hawk, Smoker, and Tashigi all are the Navy's young generation. Let them grow together, clash together, sharpen each other. For their own futures, and for the Navy's."
"Phew…"
Sengoku exhaled long and hard. "Good. Done."
The decision gave him back his certainty.
He seized his pen and began scribbling commands with swift, heavy strokes.
Headquarters Colonels Smoker and Tashigi, along with their subordinates, were reassigned to G-3.
"One giant warship? Not enough!" he muttered as his pen scratched furiously. "Make it three!"
"Three large warships, expanded to five!"
"Add ten medium-class battleships!"
His pen halted with a snap. He studied the orders.
Even like this, G-3's military power would surpass any other branch base.
But… it still felt insufficient.
He yanked open the lowest drawer of his desk and pulled out a velvet-wrapped bundle.
Unfolding the cloth revealed a golden Den Den Mushi, its shell gleaming brilliantly under the lamplight.
"..."
For the first time, Tsuru's eyes widened.
"Are you truly going that far?" she asked gravely.
"If we are to give Hawk external support," Sengoku said, cradling the golden snail as though it held the Navy's very future, "then let it be complete. The rest will be up to him."
"Ha…"
Tsuru's lips curved into a rare smile, touched with both relief and nostalgia.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you this decisive, Sengoku."
This was no ordinary order.
It was the Fleet Admiral's personal Buster Call.
Its power exceeded even that of an admiral's once activated, thirty Headquarters warships and fifteen vice admirals would mobilize.
Since its creation, it had never once been used.
And now Sengoku was entrusting it to Renn Hawk.
As the new orders raced outward, Sengoku stood by the window, gazing down at orderly Marineford.
"Hawk, boy… you had better not disappoint me."
...
Headquarters, senior officers' dining hall.
Beyond the tall windows, the endless blue of the sea stretched to the horizon.
White cloths draped the tables, silver cutlery gleamed in the morning light.
On Hawk's plate lay a cut of Sea King loin, tender and dripping with juices.
Kuzan, across from him, lazily worked through a stack of pancakes drizzled with syrup, a steaming cup of coffee at his side.
"Hawk!"
A lively voice called out.
Hawk turned to see Yunque jogging over, clutching a small wooden box. Her cheeks were flushed from the run.
"Morning, Yunque. Have you eaten?" Hawk asked.
"I did… but I could eat a little more."
She peeked at the meat on his plate, sticking out her tongue shyly.
"Haha."
Hawk chuckled, pulling out the chair beside him.
She sat down and pushed the wooden box forward.
"By the way, big brother, my dad said to give you this."
Curious, Hawk set down his knife and fork and lifted the lid.
Inside lay a pure golden Den Den Mushi, gleaming coldly in the light.
"..."
Hawk froze.
A Buster Call.
He had just received one from Kuzan not long ago.
And now Akainu had sent another?
Wait… don't tell him… there's more coming?
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