Renn Hawk watched as King Cobra solemnly swore allegiance before him, the golden light of the desert reflecting faintly off the crown in the king's hand. Hawk nodded slightly.
This outcome had been expected.
He calmly put out his cigar, fingers interlaced as he leaned back, his gaze steady and unreadable.
"King Cobra," he began, his tone measured, "since we're now allies, there are things I can speak to you plainly about."
"The Navy," he said, eyes narrowing slightly, "is changing."
"The Marshal and the Admirals have reached a consensus the old justice, the kind that bowed to corruption and tolerated evil, must end."
"We will rebuild order with iron and blood."
"And to do that, we need allies who are reliable, trustworthy, and have influence within the World Government."
"What the Navy needs now is a channel a way to convert a fortune large enough to reshape the balance of the world into our strength, swiftly and in secret."
Cobra's heart pounded faster with every word.
He had thought the alliance Hawk mentioned was a simple matter perhaps building a base in Alabasta or conducting joint operations against pirates.
But this... this was something far more profound.
Reshape the balance of the world?
That meant the Navy itself was undergoing a transformation a revolution.
And that realization brought with it a ripple of unease.
As remarkable as Hawk was a young Rear Admiral whose power was said to rival an Admiral's he was still just one man, not a policymaker at Marineford.
Could he really represent the entire Navy? Or was this the vision of an aggressive faction within the institution?
Hawk caught the flicker of doubt in Cobra's eyes.
He reached into his coat and placed a Den Den Mushi on the table, dialing without hesitation.
"I was going to report to the Marshal about the Alabasta operation anyway," he said casually.
Buru buru...
The Den Den Mushi's expression shifted, its face morphing into that of an older man with glasses and a neatly braided goatee.
The face of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Hawk, my boy!" Sengoku's booming voice filled the room, tinged with rare excitement. "You've caught me at a good time. I'm on my way back to headquarters with a mountain of cash! What's going on?"
"Marshal," Hawk said evenly, "the Warlord Crocodile was found guilty of conspiracy and high treason against Alabasta. I have executed him on the spot."
Silence.
For a moment, Sengoku didn't respond.
Then came a sigh a mix of regret and resignation.
So he killed him already... what a waste.
Had he been captured alive, Sengoku could've leveraged Crocodile's status to squeeze another generous 'donation' out of those old fossils at the Holy Land.
But then again, he had just bled the World Government for one hundred billion Berries. Asking for more might've been pushing his luck.
Finally, Sengoku's hearty voice rumbled through again.
"You called just to tell me that, boy?"
Then, laughter.
"If it weren't for you, Hawk, the Navy wouldn't be what it is today!"
"From now on, you don't need to report such matters. You have my authorization handle them as you see fit!"
"The Navy will cover for you!"
The words struck like thunder in Cobra's mind.
His eyes widened as he stared at the Den Den Mushi.
Sengoku himself had just given this young Rear Admiral complete authority no oversight, no restraint.
This wasn't mere permission. It was trust.
Hawk's voice remained calm, but there was a gleam in his eyes.
"One more thing, Marshal," he said. "I've found the perfect partner to help us discreetly process... that gold."
A beat of silence.
"Oh?" Sengoku's tone immediately sharpened. "You mean... Alabasta?"
Hawk said nothing, but his faint smile was answer enough.
On the other end, Sengoku went quiet.
His mind began to race.
Of course. Alabasta. The Nefertari family.
One of the twenty royal houses that founded the World Government itself.
Their ancient lineage gave them political legitimacy beyond question.
It was perfect.
If the gold from Skypiea were secretly transported by Kuzan's fleet to G-3, disguised as merchant cargo, and then shipped to Alabasta
There, under the Nefertari name, it could be converted into weapons, supplies, or even liquid Berries then quietly funneled back to Marineford and the branch bases.
G-3. Alabasta. Marine Headquarters.
A perfect Golden Triangle.
A self-sustaining military machine that could dominate Paradise, cut off the Yonko's recruitment routes, and prepare for the final war to come.
Sengoku's grin widened. Hawk had done it again sharp, flawless, pragmatic.
"Have you already secured the alliance?" Sengoku asked.
"Yes," Hawk replied smoothly. "King Cobra is right here beside me."
Cobra drew a deep breath, understanding that now was the moment to speak.
He leaned forward and addressed the Den Den Mushi directly.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku. I am Nefertari D. Cobra, King of Alabasta."
"Alabasta pledges its unwavering allegiance to the Navy. We will stand with justice whatever it takes."
Joy broke through Sengoku's usually measured tone.
"King Cobra, on behalf of the Navy, I thank you. From this moment, Rear Admiral Hawk speaks with my authority. His word is the Navy's will."
That sealed it.
Cobra's final doubts vanished, replaced by solemn conviction.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
"Good," Sengoku said. "Now, Hawk, clear the room. I've got something to discuss with you privately."
Hawk nodded and gestured for Cobra and Vivi to wait outside. Once they had left, he walked to the window, gazing over the endless dunes as the golden sunlight bled across the desert.
When he was sure no one else could hear, Sengoku's tone lowered hushed but brimming with excitement.
"Hawk, listen carefully. I've just come back from the Holy Land... and I managed to pull one hundred billion Berries out of those five decrepit fossils!"
Hawk arched a brow. "You're ruthless as ever, Marshal."
"What's the plan for the funds?" he asked, voice thoughtful. "The Golden City's wealth won't last forever. The Navy's expenditures expanding bases, building ships, paying and compensating soldiers they're astronomical."
Sengoku's voice grew heavy again.
"You're right. We can't keep relying on handouts or backroom deals. The Navy must learn to sustain itself."
"You're the sharpest mind we've got, Hawk. Any ideas?"
For a long moment, Hawk was silent.
He'd been planning something a bold, almost impossible vision for the Navy's future.
Now, with the seed money secured and the Navy's logistical advantage at his disposal... maybe it was time to make it real.
His lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile as he looked out over the burning sands.
"Marshal," he said softly, "have you ever heard of... a submarine?"
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