A few days ago.
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! You're saying you want me to go to the West Blue as part of an inspection team?!" A pair of fair, slender hands slapped the desk.
A middle-aged man wearing frog-eye glasses, with a black beard braided into a twist, and a seagull perched on his white Marine cap, sat formally in front of her.
Looking at the young woman before him, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He rubbed his temples and still explained,
"Little Gion, this is also Tsuru's idea."
"You're about to participate in this year's Marine Training Camp, and that kid Allen is also on the invitation list."
"You understand what I mean, right?"
Facing his old comrade's favorite younger sister, Sengoku wondered, how many people in Marine Headquarters dare to speak to me like this?
The young woman, called Gion, frowned tightly, a hint of confusion and contemplation in her beautiful eyes.
"You mean that notorious Marine outcast who gained a bad reputation in just three short years?" She asked with obvious disdain and doubt in her tone.
Sengoku, standing nearby, nodded slightly in affirmation.
Gion's expression grew even more serious as she continued,
"Does such a scumbag deserve to enter the Marine Training Camp? Has the Marine fallen to such a state?"
Sengoku didn't immediately answer Gion's question. Instead, he pushed a thick stack of documents across the desk to her.
His gaze was deep and serious as he slowly began,
"Gion, he's not as simple as he appears. Take a look first; I believe you'll understand what I mean after reading it…"
For Sengoku, Allen was undoubtedly a rare talent.
Despite his poor reputation, his demonstrated abilities and political acumen were undeniable.
Gion picked up the stack of documents suspiciously and began to flip through them.
Her initially tense expression gradually turned to surprise.
In just half a year, the number of pirate incidents involving burning, killing, and looting, as well as the number of pirates heading to the Grand Line, had dropped to an all-time low in the West Blue.
Gion took the documents; the top page read:
Name: Bernadotte Allen
Age: 17
Origin: West Blue, Orphan
Position: Highest Commander of the West Blue 104th Branch (Temporary)
Rank: Marine Branch Colonel
Abilities:
Unknown (has displayed the ability to control flames);
Suspected Swordsman, possesses a rare style of swordsmanship;
Evaluation:
Outstanding ability, ruthless and merciless against pirates (bounty pirates are generally left no survivors), possesses extremely strong influence in the West Blue; astonishing potential, immense leap in strength over three years, recommended for inclusion in the Marine Officer Training Camp.
Note: This person has an extremely poor reputation within the Marine, with serious issues regarding personal conduct.
The rest of the stack of papers below were all records of pirate suppression achievements over the past three years. As for why it was 'suppression,' Sengoku also wanted to ask.
A photo of a youthful, sunny young man in the upper right corner caught Gion's eye.
Her ruby-like eyes flickered involuntarily.
After reading the introduction, she looked at Sengoku with some confusion.
"Are you sure the photo is of him?"
Gion expressed that she couldn't connect a Marine outcast with someone who looked like a little sun.
Sengoku also spread his hands.
"It is indeed him."
"Putting everything else aside, Allen is indeed an extremely talented Marine."
Sengoku stood up and turned his back to Gion, looking at the map on the wall.
"This inspection and Allen's commission will be entrusted to you."
…
Somewhere in the West Blue.
On the azure sea, a warship bearing a blue seagull emblem slowly sailed.
On the warship's deck.
A tall young woman was browsing documents in her hand, her long black hair blowing in the cool sea breeze.
She wore a cloak of justice, a pink tight-fitting short-sleeved top, and brown shorts that accentuated her long legs with a spider tattoo.
Just then!
A figure wearing a Marine Colonel's cloak suddenly darted out.
What came into view was a unique face, with a slightly lecherous expression, and facial features that were… odd?
He looked like a good person at first glance!
"Qiyuan, accept me, let me kiss you!!" He lunged directly at Qiyuan.
Qiyuan said coldly, "Get lost!"
Facing Gion's rebuke, Kaji paid no heed.
Bang!!!
The next second, the Marines who were watching nearby saw an unknown object flying towards them like a cannonball.
The Marines closest were so scared they collapsed to the ground, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads.
When they came to their senses and looked forward, Kaji's figure was nowhere to be seen. Only Gion was slowly retracting her slender, beautiful leg.
They then noticed Kaji embedded spread-eagled in the wall.
There was a very clear high-heeled shoe print on his face, and his body occasionally twitched.
Gion rubbed her temples and resumed reading the documents in her hand.
Over twenty pages of achievements, accomplished in just three short years.
"Is this kid our mission target? He hasn't even fully matured yet."
Just then, Kaji quickly scurried over, taking two steps at a time, and peered at the documents in Gion's hand.
Gion glanced at Kaji. Faced with someone who was just moments ago pestering and pleading, and now was speaking utter nonsense with a serious expression, she couldn't help but clench her fist.
Suppressing the urge to give Kaji a good beating, she slowly began to explain,
"Don't underestimate him. According to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he has immense influence in the West Blue; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a local emperor."
At this point, Gion paused slightly, then added,
"Also, this is a mission entrusted to me by Fleet Admiral Sengoku. You're the one who insisted on following along, alright?"
After speaking, Gion looked at the guy she couldn't shake off, her face full of helplessness.
Kaji, facing Gion's complaints, didn't care at all, and said with a playful smile,
"Oh, I was just worried you wouldn't be safe alone."
"That Allen has such a bad reputation. If he dares to be disrespectful, I can help you teach him a lesson!"
Kaji touched his hair with one hand and chuckled.
"This guy is just a mere Branch Colonel. Why would Fleet Admiral Sengoku value him so much?"
As a native Headquarters officer, Kaji naturally looked down on a Colonel from a Four Seas Branch.
Who is Fleet Admiral Sengoku?
Known as Sengoku the Buddha, the Strategist, he's an existence on par with Hero Garp, arguably the pinnacle of Marine combat power.
How could he pay so much attention to a mere Marine Branch Colonel?
Gion, hearing this, shook her head.
"Clearly, he might not be simple."
Kaji, hearing Gion praise another man, also wanted to teach Allen a lesson.
"So, if Bernadotte Allen's crimes are confirmed, can we directly take him down?"
As he spoke, he rubbed his fists together, looking eager to act.
"No, our main task is to assess whether he is qualified to enter the Marine Training Camp."
"However, if the situation is true, I will definitely teach him a lesson myself!"