A bubble on someone's nose suddenly burst.
"Sigh... So the meeting's over, huh."
Garp jolted awake, glanced down at the senbei in his hand, and took a loud, crunching bite. "Oi, oi, Sengoku, hurry up and bring me some donuts. I'm breaking your record today."
The assembled Marine officers: "..."
"Garp, you idiot!" Sengoku roared, practically baring his fangs in frustration.
"Heh~ Garp-san really is as carefree as ever," Borsalino chuckled lightly.
"This fool..." Zephyr shook his head, exasperated.
"Arara~ Garp-san really is an optimist," Kuzan yawned, resting his chin on the table.
"..." Sakazuki raised an eyebrow but stayed silent.
The conference room doors suddenly slammed open.
A Marine officer, coat of justice billowing behind him, dashed inside with urgency in every step.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Something's happened in the East Blue!"
"What?" Sengoku shot to his feet. "What happened?"
The officer dropped to one knee, sweat beading on his forehead. "Just moments ago, at the waters near Mohali Island, Captain Nodori Mori of East Blue's Branch 63 and his two Class-3 warships—totaling 700 men—were completely annihilated."
"What?! Are you certain?!" Zephyr sprang to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Did you confirm with Branch 63?" Sakazuki's body stiffened. His expression was unreadable, but a faint red glow flickered over his frame, and the room's temperature spiked.
"Yes, sir. The last call came from Captain Mori's flagship. I heard the explosions myself. Before the transmission ended, the communications officer tried to report more, but then the radio went silent. I also confirmed with Branch 63: Captain Mori was deployed near Mohali Island."
"How could this happen?"
"The East Blue is the weakest sea—how could a pirate there overpower him?"
"If not for that one incident, he would've already been promoted to Rear Admiral..."
"To think a man like him would die in the East Blue..."
"That reckless guy..."
A stunned silence swept through the room. Even seasoned Vice Admirals looked shaken.
Everyone knew—had Captain Nodori Mori not publicly confronted a Celestial Dragon two years ago in the Sabaody Archipelago, he would never have been demoted to some tiny base in the East Blue. With his strength and combat record, a promotion to Rear Admiral at HQ—or at least Vice Admiral in one of the regional fortresses—was a given. He had once been hailed as a Marine prodigy. For such a man to fall in the so-called "weakest sea"? Unthinkable.
"...You may stand and report."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku took a deep breath, regaining his composure. Still visibly shaken, he asked, "Which pirate crew in the East Blue was responsible? To have that kind of power..."
"The intel was incomplete—the communications officer died before he could finish the report. But from what we did get, it was a new crew calling themselves the Chris Pirates. About 300 members."
The officer stood, holding a file, and reported seriously:
"The captain is Chris T. Aeridar, estimated to be in his early twenties. He's a close-combat specialist, proficient in Rokushiki—at least Geppo and Rankyaku have been confirmed. He's also skilled in Observation Haki, and is a Devil Fruit user—the exact fruit is unknown, but it allows him to unleash shockwaves. According to our intel, Captain Mori was completely overwhelmed."
"Additionally, his first mate, Gilbert Arlan, and their swordsman, Oliver, are reportedly very powerful as well, though details are scarce."
The officer closed the file with a soft snap.
The atmosphere in the room turned grim. Nearly every officer wore a solemn expression. For a pirate crew to emerge with this level of power straight out of the gate was an existential threat. If they survived long enough to mature, they could very well become a scourge of the Grand Line—or even a future Yonko. Even if the odds were slim, the possibility alone made them too dangerous to ignore.
"A Devil Fruit user who can unleash shockwaves, masters Rokushiki, and Observation Haki? Do we have a photograph?" Sengoku's brow furrowed deeply. A fledgling pirate with such overwhelming strength... something didn't add up. "Could he have been trained by a retired pirate captain? Or even... a former Marine?"
"We do," the officer nodded, handing over three photos.
Sengoku took them, glanced at the first, then passed them around.
The first photo showed a black-haired young man standing confidently on the prow of a Marine battleship. His face was bright and youthful, but his aura radiated confidence. He wore a black long coat with white wave patterns and tight black pants with white lining. Gold rings dangled from both ears, engraved with tiny, illegible script.
The second photo depicted a blue-haired youth in a sleek blue suit—handsome enough to be a model.
The third was of a bare-chested man in a white coat. A vicious scar marred his torso. Two katanas hung at his waist. He wore tight black pants and thick-soled round-toe shoes. A hooked nose, thin lips, and half-closed eyes gave him a cold, intimidating air.
"Scary stuff~ Newcomers these days are no joke~," Borsalino said, smirking with feigned fright.
"A pirate rookie with that much potential... If he survives, he'll be a serious threat," Sakazuki muttered, his right hand turning crimson as it touched the table—black smoke curling up where his palm rested.
Nodori Mori had been one of his own—a hardline enforcer of justice. When Mori offended the Celestial Dragons, Sakazuki had worked hard to shield him, stashing him away in the East Blue to lay low. The plan was to bring him back once things cooled down.
But now—just two years later—Mori was dead.
Sakazuki's emotions were unreadable, a maelstrom beneath the surface.
"Sengoku. Initiate Operation Weedkiller. We don't have the luxury of dealing with another powerhouse rookie right now."
Vice Admiral Tsuru, ever composed, offered her counsel. "Besides, we've already deployed four Rear Admirals and over seven thousand Marines to sweep the East Blue. Even if he escapes to the Grand Line, each of the Seven Routes is being patrolled by HQ Vice Admirals. He won't be impossible to eliminate."
"...Very well. Then issue the bounty."
Sengoku sighed. There were just too many pirates these days—far too many with real potential. The Navy was stretched thin.
"Fleet Admiral, how much should the bounty be?" the officer asked cautiously.
"Though he's a rookie, he's extremely dangerous." Sengoku tapped the table with finality.
"Chris T. Aeridar, the one with the golden rings—bounty: 40 million Berries.
First Mate Gilbert Arlan, blue-haired—20 million Berries.
Swordsman Oliver, dual blades—20 million Berries."
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