"The weather today is truly splendid."
Admiral Sengoku sat in his office, gazing out the window.
But after just this brief remark, he lowered his head again.
Busy.
So damn busy.
Ever since the Revolutionary Army and Cross Guild burst onto the scene, the World Government had become unusually active, as if suddenly poked in a sore spot.
Especially after the Celestial Dragons were terrified by Cross Guild, the Five Elders completely sealed off Mariejois, forbidding the Celestial Dragons from leaving.
The World Government, as if temporarily relieved of a great burden, began focusing on other matters.
Such as uniting with various member nations to resist the infiltration of the Revolutionary Army.
But unfortunately... the results were minimal.
The Revolutionary Army hadn't expanded into the Grand Line and the World Government's control over the four seas wasn't as strong as they imagined.
Coupled with the Revolutionary Army's elusive and unpredictable movements.
Over the past two years, the World Government had dispatched CP agents multiple times, coordinating with the Marine to try and corner the Revolutionary Army across the four seas, but each attempt ended in failure.
In the end, they could only increase military funding for the Marine, expanding recruitment in the four seas to squeeze out the Revolutionary Army's living space.
For Sengoku, this was truly a mixed blessing.
The good news was the increased military budget—though he had to recruit vigorously for the four seas, how to use the funds was ultimately up to him.
The bad news...
His workload had skyrocketed!
It had completely shackled him to his office.
Who knew how long he'd been living this monotonous routine between office and home.
At this thought, Sengoku couldn't help but sigh.
He grumbled inwardly.
Those two, Michael and Rosinante, couldn't even bother to visit him once in a while!
The last time he'd seen Michael and Rosinante was when Michael sent Rosinante back to his elder brother as a spy.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on his desk suddenly rang.
"Pururu Pururu, Pururu Pururu..."
Sengoku picked it up without even glancing, continuing to review documents with his other hand.
"Hello? This is Sengoku."
"Hey, old man! It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Michael?" Sengoku abruptly looked up at the Den Den Mushi, which had perfectly mimicked Michael's carefree expression.
"The last time we met was a year ago when you sent Rosinante undercover... So what brings you to call me today, you busy man?"
"Ahem, old man, must you be so sarcastic?" Michael's laughter remained hearty.
"I'm on my way back to Marineford right now. Surprised?"
"So... what scheme are you planning this time?"
From what Sengoku knew of Michael, his return to Marineford was definitely with some scheme in mind.
"It's just that, well... I've managed to convince another batch of recruits to join the marines and I need your approval."
"You're a rear admiral now. You have considerable autonomy in recruitment," Sengoku replied dismissively.
"Back when Stella enlisted, I wanted to say it then—you don't need to report every single new recruit to me in such detail."
"Ahem, of course I understand that..." Michael's smile suddenly took on a strange quality.
"When did I say it was just one or two?"
"...Then how many?"
"One... country."
"That's still just one—wait, what?! A whole country?!" It took Sengoku a moment to process the words.
"Are you telling me an entire nation wants to join the Marines?"
Sengoku immediately set down his paperwork, tossing his pen onto the desk as he grabbed the Den Den Mushi.
"You're not pulling my leg, are you?"
On the other end, Michael remained utterly calm.
"Of course not... but don't worry, it's only the able-bodied youth of this country who will be joining."
"Is that what I should be worried about?!" Sengoku's eye twitched before raising the crucial question.
"You said an entire country wants to join the Marines... which country exactly?"
Sengoku knew this couldn't be a World Government-affiliated nation.
Member nations viewed the Marines as subordinates—why would they "lower their status" like this?
Meaning, it had to be a non-affiliated country.
And knowing Michael's tastes, it was probably some impoverished but fiercely martial land with simple, honest folk.
"Oh, just Amazon Lily in the Calm Belt. You should be very familiar with it."
Michael's words left Sengoku completely frozen in place.
AMAZON LILY?
The Amazon Lily he knew?
Not some other place with the same name?
"You mean... that 'Island of Women' in the Calm Belt? Home to the warrior race, the Kuja, Amazon Lily?"
"Is there another Amazon Lily?"
Michael's laughter echoed through the Den Den Mushi, but Sengoku remained silent for a long time.
Only one thought circled endlessly in his mind...
Wasn't Amazon Lily a pirate nation?!
How the fuck did Michael do that?!
****
"So how did Sengoku react?" Shakky asked softly as Michael set down the Den Den Mushi.
"He must have been shocked by the news."
"What else could his reaction be?" Michael chuckled.
"Delight. If he weren't in his office, he'd probably be popping open champagne to celebrate."
Once Sengoku processed the information, he'd undoubtedly be overjoyed.
As the current de facto leader of the Marines, he had an understanding of the world's power dynamics—including the unique traits of Amazon Lily.
A nation of women who believed "strength equals beauty."
A land where even average warriors could skillfully wield Armament Haki.
The Marines had certainly considered recruiting such exceptional fighters before.
After all, Amazon Lily's warriors were formidable but not indiscriminately violent, primarily targeting pirates and merchant ships near the Calm Belt.
It was precisely this behavior pattern that led to the Kuja Pirates being widely renowned yet hardly ever having bounties placed on them.
Almost all bounties were merely symbolic, issued only for each generation's Empress of the Kuja.
According to intelligence, the previous Empress of the Kuja had passed away from illness and the heir to the throne was still just a child.
In other words...
What kind of pirate nation doesn't even have a single pirate with a bounty?!
Clearly, it was just a civilian nation with overly fierce customs!
Joining the Marines was perfectly reasonable—it was entirely their own choice!
"Leave the next steps to me. Your identity isn't suitable for appearing in Marineford" Michael said, turning to look at Shakky.
"Tell Gloriosa that I've fulfilled my promise to her."
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