Does he have any real achievements?
Sengoku asked curiously. When Brandnew displayed the photo, Sengoku had already flipped through the report, but nothing stood out.
Brandnew held not just Smoker's report, but another document as well, and read aloud:
"According to Captain Smoker's report, he was once ambushed with Seastone bullets by this man."
"That's it?" Sengoku's expression turned strange. He wasn't questioning the ambush itself, but how a report could contain only one sentence.
"That… that's it." Brandnew hurriedly explained: "You know, Captain Smoker's reports are always vague.
"But I specifically went through the archives and found that, back at the 153rd Branch, he shot and killed a Branch Captain named Morgan… also through an ambush."
"He killed a Branch Captain? Why have I never seen this report?" Sengoku asked casually.
Brandnew explained: "It was covered up."
The death of a Branch Captain wasn't rare, but even so, Headquarters usually read the report.
However, this case was glossed over in the submitted paperwork—filled instead with endless details about Morgan's tyrannical rule and exploitation of the locals.
Clearly, Morgan's conduct had already driven people to fury.
By the time the reports went layer by layer up the chain, they were intercepted by an officer in charge of East Blue affairs.
To avoid blame, the matter was sealed away in the archives.
Brandnew only uncovered it while preparing material for this meeting.
"Hmm, I see." Sengoku nodded. That explained why Smoker had bothered to mention it.
Being able to acquire Seastone bullets in East Blue already showed some ability. Combined with his underhanded fighting style, the man was worth keeping an eye on.
Pushing up his frog-shaped glasses, Sengoku asked: "What about his strength?"
"Uh…" Brandnew hesitated, glancing at the only piece of battle description in the file. The contrast was so ridiculous, he didn't even know how to phrase it.
Everyone stared at him, waiting.
Finally, Brandnew lowered his head and read word for word:
"In the skirmish outside the Alabasta palace…
He hid behind his captain and fired over a dozen shots, injuring…
two soldiers."
…
???
The Vice Admirals froze.
"Hid?"
"Over a dozen shots?"
"Injured two soldiers?"
Which part of that was worth reporting?!
The room went silent for a few seconds—before erupting into laughter.
"Puhahahaha!"
Several Vice Admirals couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Smoker's really lost it, hahaha."
"The great White Hunter… wasting his time on someone like this?"
They had expected someone noteworthy. Instead, this was just a clown. A man who only relied on underhanded tricks—fine against weaklings, but what about against anyone with Observation Haki?
A few battle-hardened Vice Admirals, however, grew thoughtful.
Having seen much, they knew in real combat, anything could happen. Best to keep an eye out.
Still, that was all. A man who could only succeed through ambushes—what waves could he possibly stir?
"Since he killed a Branch Captain, how about 8 million?"
"You said it was Morgan, right? That kind of man dying doesn't even matter."
"We're talking about pirates, not Morgan."
"And it was just an ambush, wasn't it? That's worth 8 million?"
"Exactly. If every small fry gets 8 million, outsiders will think the Marines are desperate."
The voices overlapped, but without much weight.
By now, Rainer had become their comic relief—something to joke about before ending the meeting.
"Enough. Let's just set it at 5 million." Sengoku slapped the table, then stood and barked:
"Meeting adjourned!"
The Vice Admirals instantly straightened, laughter vanishing, postures rigid. The atmosphere became heavy again as a chorus rang out in unison:
"Justice will prevail!!!"
On the Grand Line, aboard the Merry.
At the stern, Nami and Robin were sunbathing in deck chairs.
In front of them, two men lifted massive barbells, each movement showcasing explosive, violent strength.
Beside them, Usopp struggled under a far lighter weight, his arms trembling as sweat poured.
"Hey, Rainer, isn't that a bit excessive?!"
Zoro finally shouted, staring at Rainer's barbell—five tons. It was supposed to be physical training, but the load was already at Zoro's absolute limit.
"We've only been back from Alabasta for less than a week!"
"This has always been my standard weight. Maybe you should reflect on yourself—have you worked two hundred times harder today?"
Rainer sneered. The boost from awakening was terrifying, like when he had first eaten his Devil Fruit.
He couldn't resist showing off in front of Zoro, making the swordsman grit his teeth in frustration.
"Two… two thousand!"
Bang!
"Ughh~ I'm done~" Usopp collapsed, dropping his barbell and lying flat on the deck, gasping for air.
His weight wasn't even a tenth of Zoro's, but after training nearly ten days straight, he had finally managed 2,000 reps.
"Not bad at all, Usopp. Tell Sanji to give you extra meat today." Rainer praised sincerely. Usopp's body had potential—it just needed time to adapt.
He'd never match the crew's top fighters, but reaching superhuman standards wasn't impossible.
After another round, Rainer and Zoro also finished, wiping down with towels.
Rainer buttoned up his blue shirt, lit a cigarette, and slipped into "sage mode."
The Crocodile-Ace fusion template was still incomplete. He hadn't yet crafted a necromancer to fit it.
At first, he thought about molding a Gandalf-style old wizard.
But with his awakened control and Chopper's medical help, he could now craft undead that looked human.
So he thought—why not make a girl instead? Something pleasing to the eye.
His memory drifted through various mage archetypes.
"…Seal—release!"
Wait, no, not a mage. Scratch that.
Then suddenly, another image struck him. He jolted upright, startling Nami.
She glanced over, watching him grin strangely.
Then he raised his hand—
A rift opened in the air.
Out stepped a petite girl with long white twin-tails, pointed ears like an elf, a white cloak, a matching dress, and a staff in hand.
"Ohhh~~ she's adorable!" Nami couldn't help but kneel, examining the girl.
Though her eyes were vacant, her small frame radiated cuteness.
Frieren, the millennia-old sorceress!
"Hmm~ not quite. More like a mirrored Frieren," Rainer muttered, noticing the hollow gaze.
Nami pinched her cheek—it felt just like real skin. She glared at Rainer:
"Hey! If you can make them this pretty, why are your other undead so ugly?! Replace them all, now!"
"What?! Don't talk nonsense!" Rainer barked back. "Your short hair must've shortened your brain, too!"
Of course, he wouldn't replace them. Many of his undead—like the Blue and Red Oni—already had a reputation. Changing them now would be messy.
He had the mage undead (as he now named her) leap onto the railing, facing the sea.
Whoosh!
A flame appeared, drifting outward as it grew into a massive fireball, so huge it dwarfed the Merry itself.
Like a miniature sun, blazing and searing, its radiance forced everyone to stop and stare.
To avoid damaging the ship, Rainer had the undead push it farther out, but the oppressive heat was still unbearable.
"Hahaha! At last—it's complete! My Great Flame Ring: Flame Emperor!" Rainer roared in delight.
He couldn't wait for the day he could unleash his abilities openly—when he would craft this template into equipment. This was one show he had to put on himself!
The blazing sun slowly sank into the sea.
And with it, Rainer started blowing up fish.
"Hey, Rainer, was that your doing?!"
"Wahahaha! That's awesome, Rainer! Make her spit fire again!"