Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the Communications Division
"Tell Kuzan!"
"What I saw was the truth!"
Click!
The Den Den Mushi was slammed shut.
The communications officer holding the receiver had sweat beading on his forehead.
Smoker's report was drastically different from the earlier urgent transmission.
One report claimed a lieutenant commander killed his superior in open rebellion.
The other said the commanding officer had been colluding with pirates, sparking an internal conflict, and the lieutenant commander had stepped in to end the chaos and save the situation.
Which one was true?
The operator swallowed hard. Forget it. Better to hand this straight to the top brass. Let the Fleet Admiral and the higher-ups worry about it.
In the high council chamber, the air was tense.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at the head of the table, his face dark.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sat beside him, calm as ever.
At the table also sat Admiral Sakazuki, known as Akainu, and Admiral Kuzan, known as Aokiji.
Sengoku swept his gaze over the room, his voice heavy with restrained anger.
"You all know the situation by now. Lieutenant Commander Renn Hawk of the Sixteenth Branch openly killed his direct superior officer!"
He slammed his hand on the table.
"Yes, the evidence shows that Captain Nezumi was corrupt, colluding with pirates and extorting civilians. Scum like him must be purged."
"But—" Sengoku's voice rose, his glare sharp as a blade. "The method was wrong! The Navy has rules, oversight departments! Since when do branch officers take justice into their own hands and execute superiors? If that continues, what discipline will the Navy have left?"
For a long moment, Sakazuki had been quietly reading the report. Now he slowly raised his head.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," his voice rumbled, cold and unyielding like solid magma.
"I do not believe this Hawk has committed any crime."
"Scum like Nezumi who consort with pirates stain the very word 'Justice.' Such filth deserves only death."
"Hawk acted decisively. He eliminated corruption in the most direct, effective way possible."
"That is justice."
Sakazuki's eyes burned with conviction as his voice thundered.
"Absolute Justice means eradicating all evil, whether it comes from outside or from within. Hawk's actions are precisely what this Navy needs. I admire him for it."
"Sakazuki!"
Sengoku's fist slammed against the table. His furious eyes locked on the admiral. "You would condone insubordination? If every officer acted this way, what would become of the Navy's chain of command?!"
"Hmph."
Sakazuki didn't back down. He leaned forward, voice sharp as steel. "If that chain of command is infested with vermin like Nezumi… then such a chain isn't worth preserving."
"Sakazuki…!" Sengoku's face flushed with rage. "You are far too extreme!"
The two men glared at each other, the chamber filling with heat as their wills clashed.
Tap. Tap.
Vice Admiral Tsuru gently rapped her knuckles against the table.
The crisp sound cut through the rising tension.
"That's enough. Both of you."
Her gaze drifted past the two men, toward the other end of the table.
There, slouched casually in his chair, was the tall, lanky figure of Admiral Kuzan.
Eyes closed, breathing slow, he looked as though he had already fallen asleep.
But sleeping? Hardly.
Kuzan wasn't like Borsalino, who openly lazed about on duty. He simply couldn't be bothered to join their argument.
Ever since Ohara, too much had changed even his own idea of "Burning Justice." Now, he found his "Lazy Justice" far more fitting.
Just then
Knock knock.
The door opened, and a communications officer hurried in, saluting sharply.
"Report!"
"Regarding the death of Captain Nezumi of the Sixteenth Branch Headquarters Captain Smoker has just sent in his field investigation report."
Sengoku's voice was clipped. "Speak."
"Yes, sir!" The officer quickly relayed the contents.
"According to Captain Smoker, when he arrived on site, he found Captain Nezumi locked in a deadly dispute with the pirate Arlong over stolen money. The two clashed violently, and both perished in the battle."
"Lieutenant Commander Renn Hawk then arrived with his men, wiped out the remnants of Arlong's crew, and protected the civilians upholding justice."
The officer finished his report. Silence descended over the chamber.
"..."
A vein throbbed at Sengoku's temple. Smoker, you bastard. Fabricating events so blatantly?!
"Hmph."
For the first time, the hard lines on Sakazuki's face softened slightly. An almost imperceptible smirk flickered across his mouth before disappearing.
"Hm?"
Kuzan opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the officer. For the first time, his attention sharpened.
The officer, nervous under his stare, recalled Smoker's last words. He hesitated.
Kuzan tilted his head slightly, urging him to continue.
The soldier swallowed and blurted it out: "Captain Smoker also said… 'Tell Kuzan what I saw is the truth!'"
"..."
"Heh."
Kuzan's lips curled into a faint smile. He muttered under his breath, "Smoker, you stubborn fool."
Now things were interesting.
Renn Hawk…
Just what did this lieutenant commander do, to make Smoker personally vouch for him? His old friend was far too proud to lend his name lightly.
And if Smoker vouched for him… then Kuzan would back him.
"..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru sipped her tea, glancing sidelong at Kuzan.
Everyone at the table knew Smoker had long been close to Kuzan. The younger man had caused no shortage of headaches, yet never faced true punishment largely because Kuzan shielded him behind the scenes.
Now, with Smoker's "creative" report so clearly slanted in Hawk's favor, it was no surprise Kuzan was shifting as well.
Sure enough…
Kuzan rose to his feet, stretching lazily before speaking. "Well, Fleet Admiral Sengoku… seems this case might not be so simple after all."
"That blockhead Smoker may be reckless, but his judgment isn't bad. If he says Hawk only came in to clean up the mess, maybe that's the truth."
"Kuzan!" Sengoku barked, glaring at the admiral who so rarely involved himself, yet now defended the lieutenant commander. His frustration spiked. One Sakazuki was enough of a headache now Kuzan was weighing in too?
He scanned the room. Sakazuki openly supported Hawk. Kuzan clearly leaned in his favor. Even Tsuru seemed more interested in verifying the facts than condemning outright.
No matter his own fury, Sengoku couldn't ignore the weight of their combined voices.
"…Huff."
The fleet admiral exhaled slowly, forcing down his anger. "Very well. Since Smoker's report presents a different account, we cannot pass judgment on one story alone."
"Headquarters will dispatch a special envoy to the Sixteenth Branch to investigate this matter thoroughly. The truth must be brought to light."
As soon as he finished, Sakazuki's deep voice cut in.
"Fleet Admiral."
All eyes turned to him. His gaze was firm, intense.
"I will go."
His lips curled faintly. "This young man, Renn Hawk… interests me. I want to see for myself what kind of 'justice' he upholds."
"..."