"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you something…"
As he spoke, Sengoku rummaged through his desk drawer, pulled out a document, and tossed it to Yahn.
"That 'Special Combat Force Mobilization Clause' you suggested? It was later revised on Vice Admiral Tsuru's recommendation to include an additional condition. Now, if someone contributes significant merit to the Navy, the combat power requirement can be lowered."
As Sengoku spoke, Yahn quickly skimmed through the document and found the new clause exactly as described.
However, he quickly realized the true intention behind Tsuru's recommendation—using this rule as a bargaining chip to lure powerful pirates into becoming Navy spies.
'That crafty old man… he really thought of everything. No—'
Yahn suddenly recalled Tsuru and Sengoku whispering together during a training session, and the full picture clicked into place.
'So that's it. It must've been Vice Admiral Tsuru who proposed it to Sengoku. No wonder she's the Navy HQ's top strategist—she really knows how to weaponize the rules.'
After reading through the entire document in detail, Yahn clenched his teeth and grabbed onto the last loophole he could find.
"I haven't made any major contributions to the Navy yet."
"That's alright—you're about to," Sengoku said with a cheerful smile.
"Very soon, under the World Government's direction, the Navy will be launching a major operation. You'll participate in it as a free agent and earn some significant merit."
He then turned to look at Kuzan.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, you understand what I'm getting at, don't you?"
Kuzan nodded.
"Admiral Sengoku, it's a bit irregular, but it does comply with Navy procedures. And if it helps strengthen our forces and preserve peace across the seas, I know what needs to be done."
At that moment, Yahn seriously considered rebelling—or just making a break for it.
But this was Marineford.
In the same room with him were two admiral-level powerhouses—Sengoku and Kuzan.
Even if Yahn revealed all his trump cards, his chances of escaping the Navy Headquarters were less than twenty percent… No, fifteen at best.
And in doing so, he'd expose large swaths of intelligence about himself—much of which he had no way of explaining right now.
After weighing the odds, Yahn glared at Sengoku with bitter frustration, then let his fierce gaze fall upon Sengoku's most beloved pet—the white goat.
That look was like someone staring at a fully roasted lamb, and the spiritually-sensitive goat instinctively let out a terrified "Baa!"
"Hey hey hey, you little brat…"
Sengoku panicked and hurriedly barked, "Don't you dare! Hands off my goat!"
"Relax, old man. You know me," Yahn replied with a smile. "I always repay kindness—and grudges."
Sengoku's heart sank at those words, a cold dread creeping in as he suddenly feared he might be saying goodbye to his precious goat forever.
He glared fiercely at Yahn, full of warning. "Anyway, keep your damn hands away from my goat—or you'll regret it."
He waved at Kuzan. "Vice Admiral Kuzan, get this brat out of my sight."
"Yes, sir."
Kuzan answered crisply, then walked over to Yahn.
"Come on, let's go."
Yahn clicked his tongue and dragged his feet, reluctantly following Kuzan toward the door.
Just then, Sengoku's voice called out.
"Yahn!"
"Hm?" Yahn turned back, puzzled.
Sengoku paused, then said quietly, "If you witness something… something that's hard to understand—come talk to me."
He added, "I'm… your father."
Yahn froze for a split second, then smirked slightly and replied nonchalantly, "Tch. Old man."
Without another word, he resumed walking and shut the door behind him. He followed Kuzan down the hall toward Marineford's harbor.
As they walked, Yahn frowned slightly, deep in thought about Sengoku's final words.
"It seems this Navy operation won't be simple… Maybe it involves something that could shake one's belief in justice."
"…Wait a minute."
"An operation organized by the World Government? And… what year is it again?"
Suddenly struck by a realization, Yahn turned to Kuzan and asked, "Vice Admiral Kuzan, where exactly is this operation taking place?"
"What's with the sudden interest?" Kuzan asked.
"Well," Yahn adjusted his glasses with a smile, "I'd like to know where my destination lies before the journey starts."
"Heh. Fair enough," Kuzan replied. As they boarded a massive steel battleship, he finally answered, "The target is in the West Blue."
At those words, Yahn's eyes narrowed, and two names instantly flashed in his mind—Ohara and Buster Call.
'So… the World Government is about to completely erase the archaeological sanctuary of Ohara?'
His mood grew heavy. He knew he still didn't have the strength to change any of this.
From behind his sunglasses, Kuzan silently observed Yahn's reaction and asked, "What's wrong?"
"…Nothing."
Yahn quickly masked his emotions, gave a sheepish smile, and scratched the back of his head.
"I just didn't expect my first mission on a warship to take me all the way to the West Blue…"
After a moment, he added with curiosity, "I've heard there are tons of mafia syndicates in the West Blue. Is that true?"
"That's right," Kuzan said. "If you're interested, we can go bust a few of them after the mission. That would count as merit too."
"Then I'll be counting on you, Vice Admiral Kuzan," Yahn replied smoothly.
As the two of them boarded, other warships docked at the port began loading supplies and preparing to set sail.
Ten colossal steel vessels aligned side by side, like a wall of iron slowly advancing across the sea.
"…It really is a Buster Call."
Standing on deck, Yahn glanced around and muttered to himself, his suspicions all but confirmed.
"So, old man… you're worried that I might waver after seeing all this, huh?"
"Tch… Old man, the reason I agreed to join the Navy in the first place… was because I didn't want to become your enemy."
"As for the darkness of the World Government—how could I not know?"
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