"..."
Hawke calmly picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"Buru~ Buru~"
The line connected.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
On the other end came Sengoku's hearty, booming laughter. That unrestrained joy practically spilled out through the Den Den Mushi.
"Hawke, you brat! That business with Vergo—beautifully done!"
"This old man's in an excellent mood right now! Exceptionally good!"
"Tell me, what kind of reward do you want?"
After some thought, Sengoku decided to let Hawke name his own prize.
After all, this old man had just beaten someone up so thoroughly that his mood was soaring—whatever Hawke wanted, he'd give it!
At worst, he'd swallow his pride, march straight to Mary Geoise himself, and make those five old geezers cough up the goods!
If they dared refuse, he'd just transform right there in the Holy Land!
"..."
Hawke fell silent at Sengoku's words.
A reward?
Not only did he have no intention of asking for one, he was actually planning to deliver a "gift" of his own.
However...
Judging by the Fleet Admiral's tone, he'd personally handled Vergo himself?
That meant Sengoku wasn't at Marineford right now?!
This was the perfect opportunity!
If he could invite Sengoku to G-3 Branch to personally see the ship full of gold...
Then, naturally, the responsibility of figuring out how to quietly transport the gold from Skypiea would fall right onto Sengoku's lap.
Flawless.
"Fleet Admiral, I do have one rather... presumptuous request."
Hawke's voice came through the Den Den Mushi steady and respectful.
"Oh? Let's hear it!"
Sengoku, still in high spirits, responded decisively.
"G-3 Branch has just completed its reorganization and is still in a rebuilding phase."
"To help the soldiers bond faster, build morale, and demonstrate to the entire Paradise our Marines' determination to eradicate evil..."
"How about you personally make a trip to G-3 Branch to inspect our work?"
"..."
On the other end, silence lingered for a moment.
Sengoku glanced at Tsuru beside him, raising an eyebrow in silent question.
This brat Hawke not only didn't want a reward but was inviting him for an inspection?
Did his work even need inspecting?!
Still...
With Sakazuki holding down Marineford, nothing critical would happen in his absence.
He had just avenged one of Rosinante's enemies with his own hands.
And honestly, he could use a little break to unwind.
Going to see Hawke didn't sound like a bad idea.
"Fine! This old man will set sail immediately!"
Sengoku finally made his decision.
"Yes, sir!"
"Duu~"
The line cut.
...
Aboard the Fleet Admiral's personal warship in the New World—
"Ha—"
Tsuru looked at the beaming Sengoku and simply smiled without comment.
It hadn't even been that long, yet this stubborn old man's attitude had clearly grown... younger.
Not bad at all.
"Helm, set a new course!"
Sengoku barked at the signalman.
"Destination: G-3 Branch on the Grand Line!"
"Full speed ahead!"
"Yes, sir!"
...
At that same time—
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside Admiral Akainu's office, mountains of paperwork threatened to swallow the massive desk whole.
"..."
Sitting behind it, Akainu's expression was as dark as storm clouds.
He processed one document after another with mechanical precision, but the sweltering heat radiating from him made his foul mood abundantly clear.
How was this paperwork endless?!
When was Sengoku coming back?!
BANG—!
The office door burst open, and several Marines staggered in, carrying stacks of documents taller than themselves.
"Ad-Admiral Akainu..."
Akainu raised his head, his gaze like molten lava. "What is it?"
"T-The Fleet Admiral's adjutant just relayed a message..."
The soldier stammered nervously.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku said he's decided to head to G-3 Branch for an inspection... and... and ordered us to deliver the rest of the documents from his office here for you to handle..."
"..."
"???"
"!!!"
Akainu froze.
Slowly, he repeated, enunciating every word.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku... went to G-3 Branch?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Get out."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The Marines fled the rapidly heating office like their lives depended on it.
The door shut.
Silence.
"..."
Akainu sat unmoving behind his enormous desk, a volcano moments from eruption.
His gaze pierced the window, reaching for the distant horizon.
G-3 Branch...
Hawke...
Hibari...
Sengoku, you old bastard!!!
That brat Hawke had taken up his post, and he still hadn't found the time to check on Hibari himself—
But you went there first?!
And left me here drowning in military paperwork?!
"Huuuhhh..."
Akainu's chest heaved violently, white-hot steam shooting from his nostrils.
No.
He wasn't handling this workload alone.
Sengoku might've run off, but that didn't mean he was out of options.
There were still other "free" people at HQ.
And immediately, a certain face appeared in his mind—the perpetually lazy, perpetually evasive expression of a colleague who always had that infuriatingly smug smirk.
Borsalino...
Old friend. Fellow countryman.
We've known each other for decades.
Good times, bad times—naturally, we share everything.
With that thought, Akainu reached for the Den Den Mushi.
"Notify Borsalino that by order of Acting Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, he is to return to Marineford within the hour."
"Drop everything he's working on."
"Cancel all his leave."
"Get. His. Ass. Back. Here. To. Handle. These. Documents!"
Clack!
He slammed the line shut.
Come, then.
Let the storm hit harder.
After all, he wouldn't be getting soaked alone for much longer.
Kizaru: "Is it too late to disown this 'old friend' of mine?!"
...
A/N: Alright, everyone, I've taken in all the feedback~
Decision made: neither Zoro nor Sanji will eat a Devil Fruit, because we can't play favorites, right?
If they eat, they'll both eat. If they don't, then neither of them will.
Dane: "Thank you, everyone! The Fruit is mine!"