Buru-buru—
The urgent ring of a Transponder Snail filled the Marine Headquarters communications room.
East Blue 16th Branch Colonel Nezumi, confirmed dead.
Killer, his own branch's lieutenant colonel, Rayne Hawk.
Like a thunderclap, the news spread swiftly through Headquarters.
A branch colonel's death was not rare, but dying at the hands of a direct subordinate was a grave trampling of Marine discipline.
Intelligence moved fast. The full chain of events was quickly compiled and placed before the Marines' highest leader, the Fleet Admiral.
Bang.
Current Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed a fist onto the hard desk, making the papers tremble.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku
"Outrageous."
"Insulting a superior and ignoring the law."
"Immediately strip that lieutenant colonel named Hawk of his rank. Bring him back to Headquarters. Hand him over to a court-martial."
Sengoku's voice boomed around the office.
On the other side sat an elderly woman with gray hair and a calm air, holding a cup of hot tea.
Marine Headquarters Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral, Paramecia-class Wash-Wash Fruit user — Tsuru.
Vice Admiral Tsuru
She blew lightly on the steam. Her tone was even, yet carried a power that pierced to the heart.
"Sengoku, calm down."
"According to the preliminary report, that Nezumi was corrupt and colluded with pirates. The evidence is solid."
"Such parasites within the Marines should have been cleared out."
Her eyes were sharp as they skimmed the report. "In this era of great pirates, the seas are in turmoil."
"If we chain ourselves to strict rules in every last matter, how are the soldiers below supposed to unleash themselves to carry out justice."
"Sometimes rules that are too rigid only bind those who truly want to get things done."
Sengoku's brows knit. His anger eased, but his face stayed heavy.
He understood Tsuru's point, yet discipline mattered just as much.
Insulting a superior, whatever the reason, challenged Marine order.
He pondered a moment and made his decision.
"This matter is no trifle."
"Convene a high-level meeting at once."
"Kizaru is on patrol in the New World and can't return."
"Notify Sakazuki and Kuzan to report to the conference room immediately."
Orders flew.
Soon the highest conference room at Marine Headquarters took on a solemn air.
The heavy doors swung open.
In strode Sakazuki in a crimson suit, face set and heat seeming to roll off him.
Right behind came the tall Kuzan, an eye mask over one eye, his steps carrying a lazy air.
The two top combat powers of Headquarters, Admiral Akainu and Admiral Aokiji, took their seats on either side of the long table.
Sengoku sat at the head. Chief of Staff Tsuru sat beside him.
"The meeting begins."
…
East Blue, Arlong Park.
"Hah—"
Smoker eyed Hawk with interest. "A Marine branch lieutenant colonel butchered his direct superior."
He himself took little stock of rules, but even in the East Blue's backwaters someone had gone further.
He didn't know the details, yet the fish-man corpses strewn across the ground, the man-shaped blood print on the wall, and the colonel's uniform on the floor were eloquent.
Couple that with the rumors he'd heard about the 16th Branch.
Smoker had a rough picture.
A corrupt superior in league with pirates, cleaned up by a competent, hard-driving subordinate.
Nicely done.
It absolutely didn't fit the rules those old men in the Marines loved.
But he was Smoker.
A man who'd even talk back to the Fleet Admiral. Marine rules.
To him, not worth a damn.
Kid, Hawk, you did fine.
But he wasn't here to clap.
Because that kid had killed the pirates of the East Blue to near extinction, leaving Smoker staring at the sea in Loguetown for three months, feeling the wind for three months, and polishing his Seastone jitte for three months.
Today he had to cut the boy down to size.
With that thought his face darkened. Cigars clenched, his gaze sharpened and locked onto Hawk.
"…"
"Colonel Smoker."
"It's Loguetown's White Hunter, Colonel Smoker."
The 16th Branch marines recognized him and broke into a stir, faces tense and wary.
A Headquarters colonel.
Headquarters officers and branch officers were two different worlds.
Power, rank, authority, all far beyond a branch.
And this one was the famed rule-breaker, the White Hunter.
Bad.
Lieutenant Colonel Hawk had personally killed Nezumi and had been caught red-handed by Colonel Smoker.
This was big trouble.
Insulting a superior was a crime that could land you before a court-martial.
No.
Even a Headquarters colonel couldn't just walk off with Lieutenant Colonel Hawk.
Nezumi had been killed by the lieutenant colonel, but everyone here had consented to it and even taken part.
If there was punishment, they would shoulder it together.
Swish.
Major Dane's eyes hardened. Without hesitation he stepped forward first, placing himself between Hawk and Smoker.
He squared his shoulders, right hand on his hilt, and met Smoker's gaze without flinching.
Clatter.
As if on a silent order, the 16th Branch marines all stepped forward in the same instant.
They gathered behind Dane and formed a human wall, Hawk at its center.
Their movements were in perfect sync and carried a stark, do-or-die air.
The atmosphere turned heavy and lethal.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Tashigi barked, gripping her sword tight, eyes tense behind her red-rimmed glasses.
The marines from Loguetown who had come with Smoker raised their weapons as well, watching their clearly hostile colleagues with care.
Step.
Hawk took a step forward and set a calm gaze on Smoker's face.
Smoker, disciple of the Marines' chief instructor Zephyr and friend of Admiral Kuzan.
Guardian of Loguetown, the gatekeeper from the East Blue to the Grand Line.
Aside from being a little weak, Smoker was a good marine.
What was he doing here instead of at Loguetown.
And with his temperament, he should have had no interest in meddling with clearing out a parasite like Nezumi.
So why the long face.
Smoker looked at Hawk, then at the soldiers behind him standing shoulder to shoulder. The corner of his mouth tugged as if he meant to speak.
Just then—
Rustle.
Footfalls and muffled cries came from the edge of the park.
"Look, it's the Marines."
"Arlong Park… Arlong Park has been destroyed."
"That's… Arlong."
The villagers of Cocoyasi, drawn by the great commotion, plucked up their courage and gathered.
When they saw the flattened ruin of Arlong Park, the fish-man corpses scattered everywhere, and especially Arlong lifeless on the wall, they were dumbstruck.
Shock gave way to wild joy and excitement.
"Arlong is dead."
"We're saved."
The nightmare that had hung over their heads for years had finally shattered.
Some of the braver villagers even burst into tears.
Soon their eyes turned to the two Marine groups facing off.
They saw Smoker, the emblem of Headquarters, and they saw the 16th Branch marines clustered around Hawk.
"Protect Lieutenant Colonel Hawk."