The office of Admiral Bloodhawk.
Hawk held a cigar between his fingers, flipping through the latest intelligence reports.
With Kizaru personally training Zoro and Sanji, he had no worries about them.
Now, his attention needed to focus on the New World.
Reports indicated that ever since the Marineford War, the New World the hotbed of piracy had grown increasingly unstable.
The two Yonko, "Beast" Kaido and "Big Mom" Linlin, surprisingly made no major moves.
Their fleets remained tucked within their territories, unnervingly quiet.
Meanwhile, another force was rising…
Led by Captain Eustass Kid, joined by "Death Surgeon" Law, "Magician" Hawkins, and "Sea Roar" Apo among other Supernovas, they had formed a massive pirate alliance, stirring up chaos across the New World.
Hawk's gaze lingered on a photo of a red-haired, spiky-haired youth radiating aggression. A faint smile curved his lips.
So the "magnet kid who dodges fate" has learned to stick together.
Just then, there was a firm knock at the office door.
"Knock, knock !"
The door creaked open, and Dain stepped in, flanked by Smoker and Tina.
"Admiral Hawk!"
Dain stepped forward, snapping to attention and delivering a perfect military salute.
Hawk stood, stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, and approached Dain, patting him on the shoulder. "Good work, Dain."
"No need to be so formal between brothers."
Dain's stance straightened further, his eyes betraying an intense mix of excitement and respect.
"Serving justice is never hard work!"
Hawk laughed heartily. He could feel the sword intent emanating from Dain, more focused and weighty than before.
Clearly, he had not slacked off while stationed at the G-3 branch.
"Dain, Zephyr specifically mentioned you to me," Hawk said, meeting his gaze steadily.
"He said your foundation is rock solid…"
"Your swordsmanship is strong, but your constant defensive style and cautiousness leave you lacking flexibility."
"You need a power that can make your movements more fluid. Big brother knows exactly which Devil Fruit suits you."
Dain's pupils constricted sharply.
Once again, his path was being cleared ahead of him.
"…."
He opened his mouth, but words felt inadequate.
In the end, all his gratitude and loyalty condensed into a single salute. "Big brother!"
Hawk smiled and nodded, then turned his attention to the man who had exuded a heavy presence since entering.
"What's the matter, Rear Admiral Smoker?"
Hawk sized him up with a teasing tone. "I heard you were going crazy in Alabasta for missing the Marineford War…"
"Finishing all the royal cigars King Cobra had saved up?"
"Hmph !"
Smoker's face reddened. "You're all so flashy!"
"You and Fleet Admiral Sakazuki need no explanation one wiped out Whitebeard, one wiped out Red-Haired, absolute stars of the war! Fine, I get it!"
Smoker's frustration grew. "Even Kuzan! That lazy fish-face just lifts a leg, freezes some water, and suddenly everyone's impressed! How is that fair?!"
Hawk and Sakazuki's fame was understandable the former decisive and heroic, the latter iron-willed. But Kuzan's half-asleep, lazy demeanor shouldn't earn that many fans.
"If I had been there!"
Smoker gestured excitedly, as if he were in the heart of the Marineford battlefield.
"One White Burst, and none of those pirate scum would even see the road!"
"Then a stylish smoke bomb thrown into dense, flammable fog…"
He clapped his hands. "Boom !"
"Explosions are art!"
"I'd definitely gain a loyal following who appreciates it!"
"Admiral Hawk…"
Tina elegantly adjusted her sunglasses, cutting in ruthlessly. "Simply put, Smoker has been stationed in Alabasta so long…"
"Even the local fanbase he's gathered there can't compare to… the Navy admiral with the fewest fans Kizaru!"
"I feel he's… pitiful!"
"TIINA!!"
Smoker's roar nearly shook the office roof.
Hawk almost spat out his tea.
Kizaru even has fans?!
Hawk's mind immediately pictured that man's lecherous grin and laid-back tone.
Well, that made sense… he had looked pretty impressive taking down Bekman during the Marineford War.
Hawk shook his head, smiling, and clapped his hands. "Since everyone's here, perfect."
He returned to his seat, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.
"The ships are almost done with maintenance."
"Go rest, get yourselves ready."
His voice was calm, but carried undeniable authority.
"In five days, we depart!"
"Destination "
"The New World, G-5 Branch!"
G-3 Branch.
The office of the highest-ranking officer.
Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing everything inside in a warm golden glow.
"Ha ha ha! Sengoku! The last rice cracker is mine!"
Garp pulled the final cracker from the bag and popped it into his mouth.
"You bastard!"
Sengoku's goat beard bristled in anger. "That was meant for Tsuru!"
"Oh, it's fine…"
Tsuru sipped her tea gracefully, a smile of indulgent exasperation on her face. "If Garp wants it, let him have it."
Watching the two old comrades banter like children, her heart felt at peace.
Since stepping back from frontline duties and retiring to G-3, life had grown leisurely and pleasant.
Elsewhere, Zephyr leaned over a desk, meticulously writing in a notebook.
"Development of Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit Abilities Taking the Vampire Form as an Example."
He intended to pass all his life's combat experience and new understanding of Devil Fruits to the Navy's next generation.
The office hummed with a calm sense of hope.
"Chief Tsuru, here is the latest intelligence report from Headquarters."
A junior officer respectfully handed her a stack of papers.
"Thank you for your work."
Tsuru sipped her tea while casually skimming the report.
The New World was heating up. Kid and the Supernova alliance were fiercely contesting the territories left by Whitebeard and Red-Haired.
A bunch of brash kids with no sense of boundaries.
Hawk would soon be heading into the New World.
"Hm…?"
Tsuru's gaze drifted down further.
Suddenly, her hand holding the tea cup froze midair.
The smile on her face faded, replaced by a solemn expression.
"What's wrong, Tsuru?"
Sengoku immediately noticed her change.
Tsuru remained silent, sliding the report across.
"…."
Sengoku frowned, scanning the pages.
The first section was routine updates on the Supernova alliance.
But as his eyes fell on the final core member introduction, his pupils constricted sharply.
"Death Surgeon Trafalgar Law."
"…."
Sengoku shot upright.
He slammed the report onto the desk, golden sunlight flickering across his frame.
"I'm heading to the New World!"