Hawke stared at the Golden Den Den Mushi inside the box and asked, confirming, "Hibari, this is from Admiral Akainu?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Hibari was busy wrestling with the Sea King steak on her plate.
Hearing his words, she looked up, her little face puffed up in frustration.
"You don't know!"
"I spent the whole morning talking my lips off, just to get Dad to give me more stuff."
"But Dad is so stingy! He wouldn't even give me a single giant battleship and just made me bring this over instead."
"Dad's such a cheapskate!"
"Hahaha—"
Hawke laughed and shook his head.
"Hibari, Admiral Akainu's already helped me plenty."
"And besides, this gift… it's really valuable!"
Not to mention his special promotion to Commodore approved by Admiral Akainu, nor his appointment as G-3 Branch Commander.
Just this golden Den Den Mushi alone carried enough weight.
This was a Buster Call!
One of the Marine Headquarters' highest-level military strike authorities.
"But…"
Hawke instinctively touched the box by his right hand.
Inside him, a faintly strange ripple stirred.
He actually had two golden Den Den Mushi now…
One from Admiral Aokiji.
One from Admiral Akainu.
If he were to… press both at the same time?
Would Marine Headquarters send twenty warships and ten Vice Admirals straight away?
That scene…
Tsk tsk, it'd be spectacular.
"Mm-hmm…"
Hibari nodded, pretending to understand, cheeks stuffed with food like a satisfied little hamster.
She didn't really know whether this shiny golden Den Den Mushi was valuable or not.
But she did know that those special cigars in Dad's study must be very valuable!
Before leaving, she'd stuff them all into her little backpack!
"…"
Off to the side, Aokiji couldn't help but chuckle when he overheard Hibari's words.
So this was Sakazuki's daughter — Hibari?
Just as the intel said, her personality was the complete opposite of her magma-tempered father.
However… Sakazuki, huh?
He actually entrusted Hawke with Buster Call authority?
"Well…"
For the first time, Aokiji felt a flicker of approval toward the man he usually butted heads with.
Though he couldn't agree with Sakazuki's brand of "Absolute Justice" nor his ruthless ways…
When it came to judging Hawke's potential…
He and Sakazuki stood on the same side.
Hawke was the Marines' future!
"…"
Just then, a Marine soldier hurried over, clutching a folder, and saluted.
"Admiral Aokiji, sir, this document needs your signature!"
Aokiji took it, flipped it open—
And in the next instant, his eyes widened, pupils slightly contracting.
Huh?
Fleet Admiral Sengoku wants to transfer both Smoker and Tashigi to G-3 Branch?!
Since Smoker belonged to his faction, Aokiji's signature was required for the transfer.
Well… not a bad thing. Better than letting Smoker rot away in Loguetown.
Besides, being under Hawke's command shouldn't be a problem.
But the list after that…
"Tap—"
Aokiji lightly drummed his finger against the paper.
Was Sengoku out of his mind?
The special allocation of battleships to G-3 Branch—
Three brand-new giant battleships?
Five large battleships?
And ten mid-sized warships?
Even Aokiji, an Admiral, was stunned by this configuration.
That's… a lot.
Unconsciously, Aokiji's gaze drifted toward Hawke, who was chatting quietly with Hibari.
This kid… what on earth had he done without anyone knowing?
To make the ever-cautious Fleet Admiral Sengoku bet this big?
"Hmm…?"
Hawke instantly noticed Aokiji's complicated expression, pausing his conversation with Hibari.
"Kuzan-san, something up?"
"…"
Aokiji drew back his gaze, grabbed his pen, and signed his name — Kuzan.
He handed the document back to the soldier and waved.
"Alright, take it back."
The soldier saluted and left quickly.
Only then did Aokiji look back at Hawke.
"Well, for you, it's good news."
He paused briefly, then summarized the document's key points:
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has decided to transfer Headquarters Captain Smoker and Tashigi, along with all the soldiers under their commands, to your G-3 Branch."
"Additionally, Headquarters is granting three brand-new giant battleships, five large battleships, and ten mid-sized warships as G-3 Branch's standard equipment."
"..."
Hawke's expression shifted rapidly as Aokiji spoke — from calmness, to shock, and finally… utter bewilderment.
What the hell?
He hadn't done anything these past few days!
Why would Fleet Admiral Sengoku make such a huge move?!
He couldn't figure it out…
But honestly, with this configuration, G-3 Branch could now sweep through the entire first half of the Grand Line — Paradise!
Forget it. The Fleet Admiral must have his reasons.
Either way, this was good news for him.
"..."
After breakfast ended—
Aokiji stood and patted Hawke on the shoulder. "Hawke, I've got some tricky military affairs to handle."
"Got it!"
Hawke rose as well, watching the Admiral leave.
Then he turned to Hibari.
It was time for him to continue visiting the Vice Admirals.
"..."
...
By afternoon—
Inside Aokiji's office.
"Whew—"
After clearing through a mountain of paperwork, Aokiji stretched lazily.
He stood up, walked over to the sofa, and dialed a Den Den Mushi.
"Buru buru~"
"Buru buru~"
"Buru buru~"
After a long wait, someone finally picked up.
Tashigi's voice came through: "Hello, Admiral Aokiji?"
"Captain Smoker says he's not here."
"..."
Aokiji lounged against the sofa lazily, dragging out his words.
"Maa~ that so?"
"Admiral Aokiji…"
Tashigi's voice dropped to a whisper, as though she had her hand over the receiver.
"Ever since Captain Smoker heard about Commodore Hawke's promotion, he's ready to blow…"
"He's been training like crazy and muttering things like 'I absolutely can't lose'…"
"I think…"
Before she could finish, an explosive roar erupted from the Den Den Mushi.
"TASHIGI!!!"
"What nonsense are you spouting to that bastard Kuzan?!"
"Hahaha—!"
Aokiji grinned broadly. "I heard a certain big shot made headlines in the East Blue recently?"
"A Marine Captain who got surrounded by Cocoyasi Village locals, treated like a villain, and nearly didn't make it back alive?"
"I'm so curious who that could be!"
"What do you think, Captain Smoker~?"
"..."
Dead silence on the other end.
Then suddenly, the Den Den Mushi's face morphed into Smoker's snarling expression.
"Dammit!!"
Smoker's roar nearly blew out the receiver.
"Kuzan! How the hell do you know about that?!"
"Haha, how I know isn't important."
"Smoker, I've got one good news and one bad news."
"Which one do you wanna hear first?"
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