"A meeting? About what?"
Inside an office of Marineford's main building, a stern-faced man sat beneath the plaque reading "Absolute Justice."
A cigar burned between his teeth.
Before this, he had just completed a special escort mission — delivering Tom, the shipwright who built the Oro Jackson, to Enies Lobby.
Naturally, he had completely missed the recruitment season.
"The meeting is mostly about rotating several Base Commanders across the Four Seas…
And the matter of the new recruit, Laurentina, who killed a Supernova."
"A recruit strong enough to kill a Supernova…?"
Sakazuki's brows lifted.
Marineford had recruited someone like that without him present?
Across from him, Vice Admiral Doberman nodded and continued.
"Yes. The girl was outstanding during the recruitment exams — first place among all elite recruits."
As one of the core pillars of the hawkish faction, Doberman's narrow mustache twitched.
"And she even defeated Bastille. Her strength is… astonishing."
Sakazuki actually smiled — a rare sight.
Justice had gaind another powerful weapon.
But then a thought hit him. He bit down on the cigar, narrowing his eyes.
"…You didn't assign her to Kuzan, did you?"
Doberman's face froze.
He slowly looked out the window.
Silence said everything.
"Tch. What a waste. Let's go. I need to see her."
Sakazuki swung on his red coat.
Before leaving, he pinned a celebratory flower to his suit — though no one could tell if it was sarcasm or ceremony.
A perfect seed of Marine justice — handed to that lazy man?
Ridiculous.
If she were under him, he would train her ruthlessly, forge her into a warrior of pure, unyielding justice who would purge the New World.
Kuzan, by contrast, often traind his subordinates even less seriously than Borsalino.
At least Kizaru pretended to do his job — Kuzan would simply go take a nap.
"How can justice be upheld surrounded by such indolence?" Sakazuki muttered.
High Command Meeting
Marineford's upper-level conference hall.
Major Brannew, the "Meeting King," tapped a bounty poster on the wall — the one belonging to the Mad Lion Pirates — and spoke casually.
"The issue is simple:
Do we publicly announce the Supernova's death?"
"This is a good thing," Sakazuki immediately said. "We should publicize it strongly."
Once he spoke, the hawkish officers like Doberman and Onigumo echoed in agreement.
"But she's just a recruit. And her guardians are still in Loguetown…"
Smoker, two cigars in his mouth, raised a concern.
The room fell into heavy silence.
All eyes turned toward Zephyr.
Everyone knew:
Zephyr's family had been slaughtered because his identity became public.
No one dared speak carelessly now.
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded.
"Smoker has a point. But the death of a Supernova must still be reported."
Silence returned.
They needed a balance between protecting Laurentina and upholding justice.
At that moment, Tashigi stepped forward.
"That child's name is similar to mine.
Her identity can be placed under mine."
Tsuru paused, then nodded thoughtfully.
"That is workable.
We can create a decoy identity under Officer Tashigi — but we must first ask the girl's consent."
The decision passed quickly.
As soon as the meeting ended, Tashigi went straight to Laurentina to explain.
By transferring her public identity under Tashigi's name, any pirate seeking revenge would target Tashigi first — not Laurentina's adoptive parents in Loguetown.
As for the hair color difference…
Well, Germa 66 had children in multiple different colors, and Ulti and Page One were siblings with opposite shades.
No one would think too much about it.
Laurentina thought for a moment, then asked Tashigi to call Loguetown Marine Base.
She explaind everything to Father Andon and Sister Shiel.
Once she had their reassurance, Laurentina agreed.
Sworn Sisters
"Tashigi is very happy! From today onward, we're officially sisters!"
Tashigi bit onto an orange-flavored pocky stick, hugging Laurentina tightly while rubbing her hair.
Nearby recruits froze mid-step.
"Look, look! Beautiful girl hugging another beautiful girl!"
"I don't know who to envy… Tashigi? Or Laurentina?"
"They definitely look like sisters — both gorgeous, both strong!"
The whispers were not loud — but Tashigi heard every syllable with her Observation Haki.
Instead of baing displeased, she let out a relieved breath.
If even Marines believed it…
Then convincing pirates would be easy.
A few joint patrols, some staged photo ops, a newspaper column or two — the illusion would solidify.
Perfect.
After giving Laurentina a few final words of encouragement, Tashigi went off to find her superior, Kuzan, to inform him of the plan.
Elite Training — The Unlucky Girl
Meanwhile, Laurentina continued with training — today was an 80-kilometer endurance run.
As the top recruit, she had an additional responsibility:
to assist any falling-behind recruits.
Thud.
She turned.
It was the same familiar blonde girl… again.
Several recruits turned their heads too — unable to hide their concern or amusement.
"How many times is that now?"
"Eighth? Ninth? I've lost count."
"Twenty kilometers in and she's fallen this many times…?"
"I heard she wants to be a ship doctor. Isn't that dangerous?"
"Imagine mixing up medicines, or stitching wrong limbs—"
Laurentina glared over her shoulder.
Silence instantly fell.
"You okay?"
Laurentina bent down, offering her hand with a gentle smile.
"Th-thank you…"
The blonde girl, Alice, adjusted her white hairband, eyes watery with embarrassment.
"It's alright, Alice. If you can't keep up, I'll stay with you."
Laurentina brushed dust off her uniform and signaled to Ain, their squad lead, to continue ahead.
A week of training had brought her and Ain much closer — to the point they brought meals home for each other.
Alice, meanwhile, was on the verge of tears.
Ever since her bad-luck streak became known, most recruits avoided her — except Laurentina, who never once showed frustration.
Alice grabbed her hand tightly.
"Thank you… thank you…"
But the universe had other plans.
Her foot stepped on a loose pebble.
Thud.
Alice crashed down again, dizzy, limbs spread out.
Laurentina froze.
"…Did her bad luck evolve into trip-and-fall mode…?"
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