Marine Headquarters, in the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Sakazuki——!!!"
"Nonsense!!!"
Sengoku, furious beyond measure, slammed the report down hard onto his desk.
Nonsense!
Utter nonsense!
Sakazuki, all because of Hawke, personally went all the way to the East Blue...
And the result?!
He directly promoted Hawke to Headquarters Commodore?!
Fine!
Commodore of Headquarters is one thing!
That was a special quota in his own hands—if he wanted to give it to someone, even as Fleet Admiral, Sengoku had no right to interfer e!
But making Hawke the Base Commander of the Grand Line's G-3 Branch—what was that supposed to mean?!
The Grand Line branches—what kind of places are those?
Every single Base Commander there is a battle-hardened Headquarters Vice Admiral of great merit!
"Huu——"
Sengoku's veins bulged with fury. This was no longer a matter about that brat Hawke...
This was about Sakazuki himself!
That man, a Headquarters Admiral, was openly challenging his authority!
Yes, the G-3 Branch had always been under Sakazuki's direct jurisdiction.
But a personnel appointment at the level of Base Commander...
At the very least, he should have given advance notice to the Fleet Admiral, shouldn't he?!
To hand out the Base Commander position without even informing him...
If that wasn't overstepping his authority, if that wasn't insubordination, then what was it?!
But... what could he do about it?!
Drag Sakazuki before a military tribunal?!
If Headquarters suddenly lost an Admiral's combat strength, who would fill that gap?!
"Huu——"
Sengoku inhaled deeply, slumping back into the Fleet Admiral's chair, fuming in silence.
Sakazuki, you bastard, you did this on purpose!
Who can tell me—what sort of spell did this Hawke kid cast on Sakazuki?!
To make him vouch for him like this!
Sengoku could feel his blood pressure skyrocketing.
His whole being was consumed with impotent rage.
"Sengoku, calm down."
Across from him, Vice Admiral Tsuru unhurriedly picked up the report Sengoku had thrown and began reading it carefully.
"Oh?"
Soon, Tsuru's eyes paused—she noticed a detail Sengoku had overlooked.
"Sakazuki is actually preparing to transfer Hibari under Hawke's command?"
Tsuru gently stroked her chin, her gaze thoughtful.
For Sakazuki to use that precious Commodore quota in his hand to protect Hawke—that much was understandable.
Everything Hawke had done in the East Blue radiated a strong hawkish style.
Sakazuki had always admired young men who were decisive, ruthless, and carried out justice without compromise.
But to assign Hibari, his daughter, under Hawke's command...
That was something worth far deeper thought.
This Rayne Hawke kid—what exactly had touched Sakazuki's nerves?
As Headquarters' Chief Strategist, Tsuru's mind quickly spun through the possibilities.
Strength?
Hawke's strength was certainly considerable. Otherwise, Sakazuki would never entrust his daughter to him.
But strength alone wasn't enough.
This concerned Sakazuki's only daughter.
Though Hibari had talent and had chosen the Navy's path, she was still young, still a bit flighty.
Naturally, Sakazuki wanted his daughter to receive the best training and guidance, to grow into a truly excellent Marine.
And yet, he chose Hawke.
That meant, in Sakazuki's judgment, letting Hibari follow Hawke would achieve that goal.
This implied...
Hawke's ability in managing and training subordinates was extremely strong!
Very strong!!!
In an instant, Tsuru drew her conclusion.
This kid Hawke wasn't just strong—his ability to lead and cultivate talent was also strong!
Involuntarily, she thought of her own granddaughter, Kujaku.
Kujaku, that girl...
This year she was already twenty-three, also serving in the Navy.
And truth be told, she wasn't exactly a source of peace of mind either...
"..."
Tsuru's eyes flickered.
It seemed necessary to wait until Sakazuki returned from the East Blue, and then ask him the details.
"Hmm..."
At that moment, Tsuru's gaze fell to the end of the report.
There, a passage was written with clear, powerful strokes.
Her eyes sank as she looked toward Sengoku, who still couldn't suppress his anger.
Tsuru's tone grew heavy. "Sengoku!"
"Clear your head."
"..."
Feeling the weight in her voice, Sengoku forcibly pulled himself out of his fury.
"The Great Pirate Era is surging like a storm."
Tsuru folded her hands, her voice calm yet each word sharp.
"Three years ago, the thirty-three-year-old 'Red-Haired' Shanks rose into the ranks of the Yonko, becoming the youngest of them all."
"The Red-Haired Pirates—their crew has one of the highest average bounties, their strength the most balanced, and their threat immense."
"Two years ago, 'Fire Fist' Ace suddenly emerged, defeating the then Warlord of the Sea."
"After that, he rejected the World Government's offer to join the Seven Warlords, and instead joined the Whitebeard Pirates, becoming the 2nd Division Commander."
"And in recent years, the Revolutionary Army has begun moving in secret."
"Sengoku..."
Tsuru's eyes were as sharp as blades, stabbing into Sengoku.
"Tell me—when our generation of Marines grows old and must retire..."
"When even Sakazuki's generation reaches the age of retirement..."
"Who will lead the Navy's future, the new generation?"
"Smoker?"
"Tashigi?"
"Gion? Or Tokikake?"
Marine Headquarters' candidate Admiral—Gion.
"..."
Sengoku fell silent at her words.
Within the Navy, the older generation—himself, Garp, Tsuru, Zephyr—were already the sunset glow.
The middle generation, the three Admirals—Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji—as well as Momonga, Onigumo, Yamakaji, and the other elite Vice Admirals, were in their prime, the backbone of the Navy.
But the new generation...
As Tsuru said, there was a glaring gap.
Those she named might be talented, but whether in strength, mentality, or potential, they were far behind the older and middle generations.
They could not bear the Navy's future.
They could not carry the banner of Justice!
"Sengoku, you can question Sakazuki's methods."
"But you must never doubt his resolve and dedication to the word 'Justice.'"
Tsuru extended a finger, tapping the end of the report.
"See for yourself..."
"..."
Only then did Sengoku remember—blinded by rage over the G-3 Branch matter, he had never actually read the report to the end.
He picked it up, eyes falling to the last page.
There, in Sakazuki's strong, forceful handwriting, it read:
Rayne Hawke, as a Headquarters Commander of the East Blue Branch, in only a few short months cleansed the East Blue of pirates. His decisiveness in slaughter far surpasses that of most officers in Headquarters.
The 'Justice of Slaughter' he upholds is the most direct and effective iron law for resolving the chaos of this Great Pirate Era!
His strength evaluation has already surpassed that of Headquarters' elite Rear Admirals. His Observation Haki, Armanent Haki, physique, martial arts, and skills are comprehensive and balanced, with no obvious weaknesses.
The soldiers he commands are disciplined, fearless in the face of death. Their morale and overall combat quality already rival the elite forces of Headquarters!
Such talent, if not promoted beyond standard limits and entrusted with heavy responsibility, would miss the optimal period to shape him into a leader of the Navy's new generation!
Signed at the end: "Akainu" — Sakazuki.
"The one making a mess is you, Sengoku."
"You're the one obstructing the rise of the Navy's new generation."
----------------
For each review +1 Chapter
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo