A few days later.
When Admiral Tsuru returned to Marineford, her body bandaged and badly wounded, the entire Navy headquarters erupted in alarm.
"Is that… Admiral Tsuru? How could she be hurt that badly?"
"She was sent by Fleet Admiral Sengoku to investigate Kaido's Beasts Pirates in the New World—don't tell me Kaido himself attacked her?"
"If it was Kaido, then it makes sense… he is the world's strongest creature, after all!"
But the Marines who limped back with Tsuru soon spoke words that silenced the whole base.
"It wasn't Kaido," one of them said hoarsely.
"It was two of his subordinates—two of the Tobi Roppo—that did this."
A vice admiral paled in disbelief.
"Two of the Tobi Roppo? Their bounties don't even reach five hundred million! Even two-on-one, Tsuru should have handled them easily—how could she end up like this?"
The shaken marine only lowered his head.
"We don't believe it either, sir… but it's the truth. And… the Heavenly Tribute was stolen."
"What did you say?!"
The vice admiral's eyes went wide with horror.
The Heavenly Tribute, the wealth offered annually to the Celestial Dragons, had been taken? The World Nobles would fly into a rage—and the Five Elders' wrath would be catastrophic.
Even Tsuru's rank might not shield her. Even Sengoku himself could face punishment.
The War Room
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, nearly all of Marine Headquarters' top brass were present—Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero Garp, and the three Admirals: Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru. Every top-tier Marine was in attendance.
"Tsuru," Sengoku said evenly, fighting to contain his anger, "tell us exactly what happened."
Tsuru exhaled slowly. Despite the bandages, fear still flickered behind her calm eyes.
"After reaching the New World, I became concerned for the safety of the Heavenly Tribute convoy. I decided to oversee its escort personally. That was when we encountered members of the Beasts Pirates."
"Who led the attack?" Sengoku asked. "One of the Calamities? Or two of them together?"
"Neither," Tsuru replied bitterly. "Only two of the Tobi Roppo—Ulti and Page One."
"What?!"
All five men shot to their feet in shock.
Two of the youngest officers under Kaido—defeating Tsuru? Unthinkable.
"At first I was confident," Tsuru said with a weary laugh. "But I soon realized something was very wrong. That boy, Page One—barely twenty years old—matched me blow for blow. His power rivaled a Calamity's! And his sister, Ulti… she was even stronger. Her forehead gleamed gold, harder than diamond, and she could fire shockwaves! Her Ancient Zoan had somehow evolved—it felt like a Mythical Zoan!"
The room went dead quiet.
Sengoku, Garp, and the Admirals could hardly process it.
A youth with a bounty under three hundred million—stronger than a Calamity?
An Ancient Zoan user displaying Mythical-level abilities?
It defied reason. It shattered everything they thought they knew about Devil Fruits and power scaling.
If Tsuru were anyone else, Sengoku would have accused her of exaggeration.
"Damn that Kaido," Akainu growled, slamming his fist down. Lava hissed through his skin, and the table vaporized in a burst of molten heat.
"Enough is enough! Sengoku, let me lead an assault on Wano. We can't let the Beasts Pirates keep acting with impunity!"
"Sakazuki." Sengoku raised a hand, voice sharp but controlled. "Don't be reckless. We don't yet understand why their strength has spiked—and you alone couldn't take Wano. Its terrain is fortress-tight, and Kaido guards it personally. You'd be trapped before you reached the mainland."
If the Navy launched an all-out attack, the other Emperors would strike their exposed flanks. Marineford could not afford that risk.
"He's right," Aokiji murmured. "Before we move, we need to know why they got stronger."
"Exactly," Sengoku said, nodding toward him. "That's the priority. Tsuru—did you learn anything about the cause?"
Tsuru nodded.
"I captured one of their crew alive. He told me their sudden growth came from something Kaido's son-in-law invented. They called it… a 'Mutant Cell.'"
"Kaido's son-in-law?" Sengoku blinked.
"And what on earth is a Mutant Cell?"
"I don't know," Tsuru admitted. "But the prisoner who told me had eaten one himself. I suggest we send him to Vegapunk for analysis."
"Do it," Sengoku sighed, rubbing his temples. His mind ached with the weight of it all.
"And prepare a full report for the Five Elders. They won't take this lightly."
Meanwhile — On Onigashima
While Marineford reeled, Onigashima celebrated.
Mountains of gold and jewels glittered under torchlight—the spoils of Ulti and Page One's legendary raid.
"Lord Consort!" Page One beamed. "Will this much be enough?"
Luo Xing eyed the treasure mountain and chuckled.
"More than enough. Still, you brat… I can't believe you actually robbed the Heavenly Tribute. You've got guts."
Page One grinned, scratching his head.
"If not for the Lord Consort's Mutant Cells, I'd have the guts but not the strength! So really, it's all thanks to you!"
Luo Xing laughed inwardly.
Smooth little flatterer. He hadn't forgotten the promise he'd made to "upgrade" Page One someday.
"Don't worry, kid," he said, patting Page One's shoulder.
"I haven't forgotten. Soon I'll invent a Gravity Chamber—it'll push your training to the next level."
Page One's eyes shone with excitement, unaware that Luo Xing's mind was already racing ahead—toward the next invention that would shake the world.
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