"Whooosh—"
On the warship slicing through the waves, Sengoku stood at the bow, fists clenched, like a silent statue.
The sea breeze howled, whipping his cloak — the one with the word "Justice" emblazoned on the back — making it snap sharply in the wind.
Beside him, Tsuru stood quietly, her gaze fixed on the endless horizon.
"..."
Neither of them spoke.
The air was heavy, thick with a weight that hinted at a coming shift capable of changing the entire balance of the world.
Back at the G-3 Branch, in front of Rayne Hawke, they had spoken lightly about that grand plan concerning the Navy's future.
But they both knew perfectly well: every single step of this plan was like walking on a blade's edge.
How could they possibly conceal it from the ever-watchful, all-seeing eyes of the World Government?
Even if they placed the gold storage and exchange site within the G-3 Branch, the risks remained enormous.
The World Government's ears and eyes, the CP organization's spies, were spread across every single corner of the seas.
The Navy Headquarters would face unimaginable pressure because of this.
But for the sake of making "Justice" truly independent…
For the sake of breaking free from the chains of money and power…
Everything was worth it.
"Sengoku…"
Tsuru was the first to break the silence.
"About the five elite Vice Admirals permanently stationed at the G-3 Branch…"
"Mm."
Sengoku nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed ahead.
"Now that we need to redeploy elite Vice Admirals to the G-5 Branch as well…"
"Pulling five of the most elite Vice Admirals from Headquarters to station them permanently at G-3 is… quite damaging to our overall strength."
"But fortunately…"
"Kuzan has finally walked out of his haze and shouldered his duties as Admiral again. The pressure on Headquarters has greatly lessened."
The corners of Sengoku's lips curled into a faint smile.
"And with that enormous military budget incoming, even Borsalino, that lazy bastard, will be motivated to work harder for the bonuses."
"As long as we can get through this initial stage, everything will stabilize!"
"..."
Tsuru remained silent, quietly waiting for what came next.
She knew Sengoku's thoughts extended far beyond just this.
From the moment they boarded the ship until now, Sengoku had been silent — like a volcano on the verge of eruption, suppressing an overwhelming fury and iron-willed resolve that could set the entire world ablaze.
He was clearly thinking about something deeper, something far more dangerous than gold or expansion.
And as expected, Sengoku's tone shifted. His voice carried a chilling, absolute resolve.
"Tsuru… to make sure not even a single whisper reaches the World Government…"
"I've decided I'm going to have a proper talk with Sakazuki."
"This time, the Vice Admirals stationed at the G-3 Branch…"
"Every single one of them will be chosen from the Hawk Faction!"
"...!!!"
Tsuru's pupils shrank sharply.
All Hawk Faction Vice Admirals!
She instantly understood the weight behind this decision.
This wasn't just "reinforcing defenses" anymore.
This was forging an impenetrable barrier of the sharpest blades around the G-3 Branch — a wall of absolute deterrence!
Anyone who dared to approach or spy on G-3…
No matter who they were.
No matter where they came from.
They would be crushed, utterly and mercilessly!
And that included agents directly under the World Government — the CP system itself!
This was equivalent to carving out, right in the middle of the first half of the Grand Line, a forbidden zone that belonged solely to the Navy — a place no force would be allowed to touch!
"..."
Tsuru slowly turned her head, her eyes resting on Sengoku's profile — as unshakable and solid as bedrock.
Her voice was soft, almost like a whisper.
"Sengoku… have you already made up your mind?"
"Yes."
Sengoku's answer was a single word, but it carried the weight of a mountain.
An answer?
I've had my answer for a long time.
Sengoku's thoughts, carried by the roaring sea breeze, drifted back across the decades.
From those chaotic days before Roger opened the Great Pirate Era, to this current age — where devils roamed freely, dragging the entire sea into an abyss.
He had lived through it all.
He had witnessed far too many tragedies caused by pirates, seen too many innocent families torn apart, heard too many cries of despair.
This sea… couldn't be allowed to descend into endless chaos any longer.
But was the root cause truly the pirates?
Yes… and no.
The World Government — which valued power and profit above countless innocent lives — was equally to blame!
They permitted the existence of the Shichibukai.
They turned a blind eye to the atrocities of the Celestial Dragons.
And they used the laughable excuse of "maintaining balance" to uphold this twisted world.
And the Navy?
The Navy was nothing more than the World Government's sharpest, most obedient hunting tool.
Enough.
It's enough.
If you so-called "gods" cannot bring true peace and justice to these seas…
If you so-called "leaders" only create more suffering and oppression…
Then so be it.
Let me, Sengoku the Buddha, personally open this path…
The path of the Navy's rebellion!
A path forged through blood and steel, carving out a new meaning for the word "Justice"!
And Rayne Hawke — the young man who brought Golden City, who brought hope —
He was the brightest, most crucial spark to ignite this path of rebellion!
Before Hawke's spark grew into a wildfire blazing across the seas…
It would be this old man — nearing the end of his road — who would shoulder all the storms, sweep away every obstacle, and bear all the burdens for him!
"..."
Tsuru quietly watched Sengoku. From his clenched fists, from the tremor in his shoulders, she could feel the towering fury and unyielding resolve he had suppressed for half a lifetime.
She slowly reached out, gently patting Sengoku's shoulder.
"Don't worry. You're not fighting this war alone."
The Great Pirate Era was indeed terrifying.
But the Navy… the Navy was no longer the Navy of the past.
Freed from the invisible chains of the World Government, the Navy would unleash a power far beyond what its paper strength suggested.
After all…
Conviction — not numbers — was the true source of strength for the most formidable warriors!
However…
Tsuru began calculating silently in her heart.
With Sengoku's plan this insane, the Golden City young Hawke discovered probably wouldn't last for long.
If the Navy truly wanted independence, it needed a sustainable source of revenue.
Was there any other way to generate long-term income for the Navy?
"Clack—"
Sengoku pulled out the Den Den Mushi from his coat.
"Buru buru~"
"Buru buru~"
The other side picked up almost instantly.
"Fleet Admiral's highest directive!"
"Notify all Admirals and top Headquarters officers!"
Sengoku's voice was firm and commanding as he gave his orders into the Den Den Mushi.
"Have them return to Headquarters at once, as fast as possible!"
"Yes, sir!"