At the far end of the first half of the Grand Line, near the towering Red Line, stood a vast fortress that pierced the clouds.
This was Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines.
It was the center of world justice, home to the highest-ranking officers and countless elite soldiers. Seated at the peak of its command was the man recognized as the strongest of this generation, Fleet Admiral Brown.
This was long before the Rocks Pirates were disbanded. In these early years, Brown had already carved his place in history through sheer strength and will.
Inside the top floor of Marineford, in the Fleet Admiral's office, Brown sat reviewing classified reports. Standing across from him was Vice Admiral Kong, one of the few men in the Marines who could speak freely in his presence.
Kong would one day succeed Brown as Fleet Admiral after the collapse of the Rocks Pirates. Later still, he would rise even higher, becoming Commander-in-Chief of the entire Marine organization. His reputation was already well-established, not only for his strength but for his strategic mind.
Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door.
Boom, boom.
Brown looked up with a frown. "Come in."
The door creaked open. A Marine officer stepped inside and saluted both Brown and Kong.
Brown rested his chin in his palm. "Report."
The officer was Brown's personal adjutant, and if he had come in person, the situation was serious.
"Fleet Admiral Brown, we've located the Rocks Pirates in the New World."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Brown's mouth.
The Rocks Pirates, at that time, were the most dangerous pirate crew in the world. They were bold, violent, and utterly unrestrained. For the Marines, capturing them was a dream they had yet to fulfill.
For a while now, the Rocks Pirates had gone quiet. No chaos, no major incidents. Just silence. That made them harder to track.
But now, at last, a lead.
"Where are they?" Kong asked calmly.
"According to our intel, they're docked in a ship-repairing nation deep in the New World. If nothing interferes, they're expected to remain there for a short while."
Brown's gaze sharpened. His fingers tapped against the table.
"Rocks, let's see if you can escape me this time. Issue the order. Send an admiral into the New World, gather a strike force, and prepare to wipe them out."
"Yes, sir." The adjutant saluted and turned to leave.
But Kong raised a hand. "Wait."
He looked at Brown with a steady expression. "Fleet Admiral, I advise against rushing in. You know as well as I do that this is no ordinary pirate crew. A reckless assault could cost us far more than we expect."
Brown gave him a thoughtful glance. "You have another idea?"
He trusted Kong's judgment. While Brown had led with sheer force, he had always relied on Kong for sound strategy.
Kong stepped forward. "We need intelligence first. Study the terrain. Find out how their crew is distributed. Understand the island. Then strike when we're in control."
He was right. The Rocks Pirates weren't just one threat, but many. Their top members were monsters in human skin. Charging in without a plan would turn into a bloodbath.
But if the Marines could confirm who was present, where they were located, and when they were vulnerable, then they could strike with precision and avoid major losses.
Brown nodded slowly. "Agreed. Who do you suggest for reconnaissance?"
Kong allowed himself a small smile. "There are four new officers who've been making waves across the Grand Line. Bold, sharp, and full of potential."
"You mean Garp, Sengoku, Tsuru, and Zephyr?" Brown asked.
Those four had joined the Marines not long ago, but their reputation had grown rapidly. Each had already achieved the rank of Colonel, climbing through the system faster than anyone in Marine history. Together, they were known across the ranks as the Four Stars of the Marines.
No pirate in the Grand Line could match them anymore, which was why the Marines had moved them to the New World.
Kong nodded. "They are smart and capable. Assigning them this mission will be a challenge, but I believe they can handle it."
Kong had trained all four as an instructor. He didn't just believe in them as soldiers. He saw them as the future foundation of the Marines.
Brown leaned back in his chair. "They're good. But don't you think it's too soon? Even I value those four. If they're discovered by the Rocks Pirates, they'll die. And if that happens, we lose our best chance at shaping the next generation."
Kong's expression grew more serious.
"The New World is already full of chaos. Sooner or later, they will have to face the Rocks Pirates. Besides, this mission isn't combat. It's reconnaissance. If they die just scouting, then maybe they weren't meant to carry the hopes of the Marines after all."
A long silence followed.
Finally, Brown nodded. "Very well. Assign the mission to them."
He understood the risk. He also knew Kong was right.
In matters of war, Kong saw farther than he did. Brown had never claimed to be the sharpest strategist, but he didn't need to be.
After all, he was Fleet Admiral Brown, a man who led the Marines through the most dangerous age the world had ever seen.