The first rays of the morning sun pierced through the horizon of the Grand Line. Like streams of molten gold, the light filtered through the sheer white curtains of the ship's master suite. The beams danced across the room, casting a dappled interplay of light and shadow upon the exquisite, hand-polished wooden floorboards.
The atmosphere inside the Captain's quarters of the Conqueror was heavy and calm. The lingering scent of the previous night's intimacy still hung thickly in the air, mixing with the salty tang of the sea breeze drifting in from the window and the faint, sweet fragrance of decorative flowers. It was a peaceful morning, a stark contrast to the violence that usually governed these seas.
Purupuru… Purupuru…
The silence was shattered by a distinctive, rhythmic sound.
On the bedside table, a small, delicate Den Den Mushi began to ring. It was an encrypted model, the kind used by high-ranking officials, and its frantic cry for attention felt incredibly inopportune, breaking the tranquility of the room.
Takuro frowned, his sleep disturbed. He lazily opened his eyes, revealing deep, dark pupils that seemed to glint with an inner light as they caught the golden sun. He took a deep breath, his lungs filling with air as he stretched his powerful arms. He sat up slowly from the disheveled, king-sized round bed. As he moved, the silk sheet slid down from his torso, revealing a chest and set of abdominal muscles that were defined not just by training, but by the genetic perfection of a warrior race.
He turned his head to glance at the woman beside him.
Vice Admiral Gion, known to the world as "Momousagi," was still sound asleep. The Marine who was usually feared by pirates for her swordsmanship and Haki was now curled up like a docile kitten. Her long, dark hair was spread across the white pillow like a fan, shimmering faintly in the morning light. Her sleeping face was serene and unguarded, a stark contrast to her usual sharp, dignified, and dangerous demeanor.
Takuro looked at her for a moment, a faint smirk touching his lips. He gently shook his head, shaking off the last remnants of sleep, and reached out his hand to grab the receiver of the noisy snail.
"Hello?"
His voice was hoarse, rough with sleep and a hint of irritation.
The person on the other end of the line was clearly taken aback by the male voice. There was a brief pause, a silence filled with hesitation, before a calm and wise female voice came through the speaker.
"Is that… Sir Takuro?"
Takuro leaned back against the headboard, scratching his chest. "It's me. Who is this?"
"I am the Chief of Staff for Marine Headquarters. My name is Tsuru. I attempted to call last night."
The Den Den Mushi's face morphed, its eyes narrowing and its mouth setting into a frown to perfectly mimic Vice Admiral Tsuru's serious, aged expression.
"I apologize for disturbing you so early in the day," Tsuru continued, her tone polite but laced with an underlying tension. She paused for a second, seemingly gathering her thoughts, before cautiously steering the conversation toward her true objective. "I would like to inquire about Vice Admiral Gion's situation. Is she… alive?"
Takuro's gaze unconsciously drifted back to Gion. As if she could hear her name being spoken, she mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep. She shifted, snuggling deeper into the soft covers as if pouting at the disturbance, seeking warmth.
"She's fine," Takuro replied. His voice, usually arrogant and commanding, unconsciously softened a few degrees as he watched her.
A faint, audible sigh of relief came from the other end of the connection. "That is good to hear."
Vice Admiral Tsuru seemed to regain her composure. She chose her next words with the precision of a master strategist.
"Sir Takuro, the Marines and the World Government are prepared to negotiate. We hope to redeem Gion and bring her back to Marineford. We are willing to pay a substantial ransom in Berries, or perhaps discuss other terms. The conditions… are yours to name."
"No need," Takuro refused flatly, without a second of hesitation. "I'm not interested in your money."
"Then what—"
"I've taken a liking to this girl," Takuro interrupted, his voice dropping an octave, becoming possessive. "From today onwards, she is mine. She belongs to the Conqueror now."
Just then, Gion turned over in her sleep. She let out a lazy, soft murmur that echoed clearly in the quiet room, breaking the brief silence between the two negotiators.
Vice Admiral Tsuru clearly heard the sound. It was an intimate sound, one that confirmed her suspicions about the nature of Gion's "captivity." However, the Great Staff Officer's tone remained calm, as if she had anticipated this exact outcome.
"In that case…" Tsuru said slowly, her voice tinged with resignation. "I can only hope that Sir Takuro will treat Gion well. She is a valuable person, and a comrade."
"Naturally," Takuro replied, his voice carrying an undeniable confidence and pride. "As my woman, no one in this vast ocean—be it Pirate or Marine—will dare to touch her again. She is under my protection."
He yawned, feeling bored with the conversation. "Is there anything else? If not, I'm hanging up. I have things to do."
There was a brief silence on the line. Takuro was about to place the receiver back when Tsuru spoke up suddenly, her voice sharper than before.
"Please wait! I have one more question."
Takuro paused, his hand hovering over the snail. He was in a surprisingly good mood this morning, so he decided to humor her. "Ask away."
The sound of a deep breath came from the Den Den Mushi. Vice Admiral Tsuru was preparing to ask the question that had troubled Sengoku, the Five Elders, and the entire intelligence network of Marineford for months.
"Sir Takuro… what exactly do you intend to do?"
Takuro blinked. "I don't understand what you mean."
"Do not play dumb," Tsuru said, her voice growing increasingly solemn and authoritative. "You are secretly developing advanced technology that surpasses Vegapunk's. You are effectively controlling the entire North Blue underworld. You are collaborating with the 'Devil Child,' Nico Robin, a criminal wanted for destroying the world."
The Den Den Mushi's expression became severe. "You are digging for those forbidden Poneglyphs at all costs. You are even willing to go against the Marines and the World Government openly. What is your ultimate goal? Is it conquest? Destruction?"
Takuro chuckled lightly. "Oh, that? You're overthinking it."
He shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning his broad back against the wooden headboard. He looked out the window at the endless blue sea.
"There's nothing I can't tell you," he said casually. "Me? I just want to find the 'Dragon Balls' to wish for eternal life. Then, I'll build the best spaceship this world has ever seen and fly out to the wider universe. That's all."
"…Dragon Balls?" Tsuru's voice was filled with genuine confusion. The term was completely foreign to her. "What are those?"
"They are what you people call the 'One Piece'," Takuro explained, dropping a bombshell of information with the casual tone of someone discussing the weather. "That ultimate treasure rumored to grant any wish. It's just that in the Void Century, eight hundred years ago, its true name was the 'Dragon Balls'."
"!!!"
Even through the transmission of the Den Den Mushi, Vice Admiral Tsuru's shock was palpable. The snail's mimicked expression went slack, its jaw dropping as if it had heard something out of a fairy tale.
"One… The One Piece is… is such a thing?!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's heart was in turmoil. Her mind raced, connecting dots she hadn't realized were connected. Given Takuro's mysterious identity and his overwhelming strength—a power that rivaled the Yonko—there seemed to be no reason for him to lie about such a thing. Moreover, he had Nico Robin, the only person who could read the Poneglyphs. He was researching the Void Century. He must know more about the truth than she did.
At the same time, she suddenly understood why the World Government would go to such terrifying lengths to prevent anyone from studying history. It turned out that behind the cover-up lay a secret so world-shattering!
An object that could grant any wish… it was simply unimaginable. If it fell into the wrong hands, it could rewrite reality itself.
But new questions immediately arose in her tactical mind: 'If that is true, why didn't Gol D. Roger use the One Piece after he found it? Why did he just laugh? And why didn't the World Government seek it out themselves? Is there some unknown restriction? Or perhaps a cost?'
Unable to figure it out in the moment, Vice Admiral Tsuru decided to change her approach. She cleared her throat, pushing down her shock, and began her final attempt at dissuasion.
"Sir Takuro, with all due respect," she began, her voice grave. "If you continue to oppose the World Government, excavate forbidden history, and undermine the established rule… it will undoubtedly cause irreparable turmoil in this ocean. The world has only just achieved a fragile stability after the Great Pirate Era began!"
She paused, trying to appeal to his reason. "Don't you think it would be best to let such a dangerous thing remain buried in history forever? Some doors should not be opened."
"Turmoil?"
Takuro sneered. The sound was cold and full of disdain. "Old hag, from what I understand, isn't this world ruled by you people already tumultuous enough? Pirates pillaging, slavery, corruption."
His voice suddenly turned freezing cold, causing the air in the room to drop in temperature. "And those Celestial Dragons… those pieces of trash who only know how to lord over others from the top of the Red Line. They have the nerve to talk about 'ruling the world'?"
A sharp, terrifying killing intent flashed in Takuro's eyes. It was a pressure so intense that even through the phone line, miles away, Vice Admiral Tsuru could feel the chill run down her spine.
"When I have time… sooner or later, I will go to Mary Geoise. And I will slaughter every last one of those disgusting pigs."
"Do you… do you want to overthrow the World Government?!" Tsuru exclaimed in shock, her voice losing its calm facade. "Do you know what consequences that would bring to this world?! Total anarchy!"
"Consequences?" Takuro's tone was matter-of-fact, as if stating a law of physics. "This planet should rightfully belong to the strong. It should belong to me. Cleaning out the pests in my own house… isn't that a perfectly normal thing to do?"
He didn't wait for her to answer. He changed the subject, turning the interrogation back on her.
"I'd like to ask you, old hag. You are a smart woman. From what I understand, those Celestial Dragons are worse than scum. They are weak, pathetic, and cruel. And you… as the Marines, who constantly espouse 'Absolute Justice'… why do you still protect them? Why does your justice serve pigs?"
This simple, blunt question left Vice Admiral Tsuru completely speechless.
It was the contradiction that every moral Marine struggled with, but hearing it spoken so plainly by a man who sought to conquer the world was jarring. A long, heavy silence fell over the Den Den Mushi. Only the faint, static-filled sound of breathing was audible.
The sunlight in the room grew brighter as the morning progressed. Dust motes danced in the light beams, swirling in the silence. Takuro watched Gion, still sound asleep beside him, completely unaware of the geopolitical shift happening over the phone. His fingers unconsciously reached out, twirling a strand of her soft, black hair.
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