New World, Black Timber Sea, half a day before the Tea Party begins.
The Black Timber Sea is a small branch sea adjacent to the waters of Totto Land.
Unlike the juice-filled waters of Whole Cake Island, this sea is purely famous for its harsh weather.
But what it's most famous for is the treasure hidden within.
Young pirates might not know, but any old pirate in the New World has heard the legend of Davy Jones.
There are even rumors pointing to the depths of this sea, saying Davy Jones' Locker is somewhere in these waters.
But there are also 'big brain ones' who believe the legend of Davy Jones is false.
They think this place is actually where Rocks D. Xebec buried his treasure.
As for the reason... In his youth, Rocks used the pirate game, Davy Back Fight, to plunder excellent crew members everywhere.
Many times, he lingered in these waters.
Because of this, old-timers in the New World get a headache just hearing the name of that game.
But this further confirms the reliability of the rumor: that Rocks' treasure is buried in these waters.
Today, the Black Timber Sea is shrouded in fog.
Within the vast expanse of mist, many large, blurry figures are faintly visible.
Marine Warship, deck…
Buru buru buru~~
Kong took the Den Den Mushi from the communications soldier and waved for him to leave.
Kacha…
"This is Kong."
"It's me."
The Den Den Mushi suddenly took out a decoration resembling a golden crescent moon from its shell and stuck it to its forehead.
Just by looking at the weird hairstyle, Kong already knew who was on the other end.
"Saint Figarland Garling."
"Is the God's Knights mobilizing this time as well?"
The Den Den Mushi was expressionless, "This Tea Party is a matter of great importance. The gathering of Rocks Pirates' remnants poses a threat to the seas we control."
"If the situation is confirmed, naturally, someone will summon us."
"Before that, the Marines will serve as the vanguard for this Buster Call."
Kong suddenly raised his hand, signaling Garp, who was approaching from behind, to shut his big mouth.
"I understand. Anything else?"
The Den Den Mushi didn't reply and hung up directly.
'Sigh...'
Putting down the Den Den Mushi, Kong leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.
"Garp, what is it now?"
"Are we going to war with the pirates this time?"
"Just the top-tier warships alone, we've deployed 15. Zephyr and I are with the fleet. Sengoku is absent because he went to the West Blue."
Brushing past Kong, Garp stood at the bow, gazing out at the sea, his justice cloak fluttering slightly behind him.
"Only Tsuru and the recruits are guarding headquarters. Are you sure that won't be a problem?"
Kong rubbed his face, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
"That's not a problem for us Marines to consider. Do you want the Five Elders to find another reason to cut our military funding further?"
"30% is already the limit of what we can accept."
"If they cut any more, the future Marine System won't be much different from being paralyzed."
"Then the Five Elders will have a bigger reason to replace the top brass within the Marines."
"Maybe the next Fleet Admiral will be a direct subordinate of some Celestial Dragon. Do you want to see that future?"
Garp fell silent.
Kong stood up and patted his comrade's shoulder.
"This isn't all-out war. The reason you're joining the Buster Call is just to show the Five Elders an attitude."
"And the Rocks Pirates' remnants gathering after nine years... it inevitably makes them think too much."
"Of course, if possible, we should still try to capture those Great Pirates in one net. Maybe after this mission, Twilight can return to the team smoothly."
'Capture in one net...'
Garp shook his head, self-mockingly saying, "Stop joking around, Kong-san. With just us, we can't capture all the Rocks Pirates' remnants."
"Just dealing with Shiki will take a huge amount of our energy."
"Unless the God's Knights participate in full force. But then again…"
"That battle at God Valley nine years ago... the God's Knights were heavily injured. Whether they can even field a full squad now is a question."
"That woman…"
His raised left index finger pointed vaguely towards the ship at the very center of the Buster Call fleet.
"She's the overseer, right? If we don't put in the effort, I'm afraid after this incident, you'll have to wait outside the Room of Authority for a few days again."
"...You know it well."
Kong pressed down Garp's pointing hand, "Don't worry about her. Our mission this time is just to disrupt the Great Pirates' gathering. As long as we prevent them from coming together, that's enough."
"As for whether a fight breaks out in the end… it depends on whether those pirates are tactful or not."
"If I accidentally die here, Garp, go back and tell Sengoku he is to become the next Fleet Admiral!"
Before Garp could refute, Kong continued, "You're not suited to be Fleet Admiral, Garp."
"You are not a qualified politician. You don't understand what it means to compromise and obey. In this regard, Sengoku is much better than you."
"Even though you are both awakened Conqueror's Haki users, what you excel at is charging into battle."
"Vice Admiral is the most suitable position for you. With us old comrades watching your back, no one will dare to target you."
"I have already discussed this with Sengoku in advance."
"Your task is to assist him in ending this era and returning justice to these seas!"
Garp laughed a few times, "Justice? Don't joke, Kong-san!"
"?"
"As long as those Celestial Dragons are alive, true justice will never come to these seas!"
"At best, it's order, and even then, it's the supreme order of the Celestial Dragons."
Kong didn't refute him, nor could he.
Because it was the truth.
Compared to the entire sea, sacrificing a small number of innocents to exchange for world peace… This was the world those five rulers wanted to see.
They didn't need pirates… they didn't need anything that opposed their existence.
The Marines were, frankly, just an armed organization draped in the cloak of justice, nothing more.
The justice of the Marines could only be realized within limited boundaries.
Once it crossed a certain height, that justice would cease to be justice.
It would become evil.
According to the words of the Five Elders…
Those prey killed by the Celestial Dragons were merely a means for the World Government to balance the sea's population.
Dying for order was their honor.
This, was the Celestial Dragons. This, was the utterly inhuman Five Elders!
Kong, who knew this well, didn't speak out.
Those who knew didn't need him to say it, and those who didn't know, saying it was useless.
Sengoku and Tsuru could both see this.
But Garp could not.
He only knew the Celestial Dragons were despicable, doing many things he disliked seeing.
Due to his position, Garp couldn't say much, but he expressed his silent protest by refusing promotion to Admiral.
Becoming an Admiral came with the responsibility of escorting sailing Celestial Dragons.
In the entire Marine's promotion system, if you wanted free justice, then Vice Admiral was the end of the line.
Because going any higher, your life and freedom were no longer your own.
Whenever a Celestial Dragon had any trouble outside, it was always an Admiral leading the team to respond.
No matter who the enemy was, the Marines were only responsible for eliminating those who dared attack their superiors.
"Go prepare, Garp. The battle is about to begin."
Garp left with a stern face, the justice cloak behind him drooping listlessly.
"Is this alright, Fleet Admiral?"
From the shadows of the cabin, Zephyr, wearing glasses, slowly emerged, his expression complex.
"Garp is the purest Marine among us."
"He doesn't judge a person's goodness or badness based on external evaluations, just like his justice."
"Self-centered justice... truly willful."
Whoosh~!!
A fierce wind howled, showing signs of scattering the great fog.
"The wind is picking up. It seems it's time to charge into the pirates' territory..."
Right at that moment, the sails of the fifteen warships billowed like fully drawn bows.
They simultaneously sailed towards the distant juice-filled waters.
"Zephyr, where do you think our journey will end?"
Kong crossed his arms. At this moment, he didn't resemble the imposing Marine Fleet Admiral.
He was more like a white-haired old man standing at the village entrance.
"I don't know. No one cares about that sort of thing."
Zephyr turned and walked towards the depths of the cabin, only a sorrowful murmur drifting into Kong's heart.
"But my life…"
"Ended the day my family was killed by pirates."
"What remains is merely a lingering shell. My body is still alive, but my soul has already died."
"It died on that island full of regret."
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho~~~
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho~~~
Going to deliver Binks' Sake~
Today, and tomorrow, our dreams through the night~
Waving our goodbyes, we'll never meet again~
An aged and desolate hum escaped Zephyr's lips, carried by the wind towards the boundless horizon.
"Zephyr…"