Holy Land Mariejois, Pangea Castle, Hall of Authority
"Bang!"
The sound was like a crack of thunder.
Saint Saturn, his face contorted in a mask of pure, aristocratic rage, slammed his staff onto the ancient table.
The entire, massive slab of polished wood shook, and the terrifying noise echoed through the cold, cavernous hall.
"Outrageous! How dare that fool Sengoku hang up on me?!" Saturn's voice was a shrill, grating shriek.
"How could he?! Does he have no respect for the World Government? No fear of us, the Five Elders?!"
"Unprecedented," Saint Mars spoke, his voice a deep, slow rumble.
He looked more bored than angry, as if dealing with a disobedient pet.
"Where does Sengoku place the dignity of the World Government? This is a gross failure of his station."
"Cut their funding," Saint Shepherd, the warrior with the golden beard, said flatly.
The scar on his chest seemed to twist with his displeasure.
"Agreed. Their budget must be slashed. Severely. They must be reminded of who they serve."
"Seconded," said Saint Topman, the veins on his bald head pulsing.
"The Marines need to be taught a harsh, painful lesson. Not a single berry for the next quarter. Let them see how they fare then."
"So it is decided," Saint Nusjuro, the swordsman, whispered.
His bald head reflected the cold light of the hall as his fingers gently, almost lovingly, traced the edge of his cursed blade, Shodai Kitetsu.
"The Marine must understand who truly rules these seas."
His gaze drifted to Saturn. "On Sabaody Archipelago, the Celestial Dragons were humiliated. The perpetrators must be severely punished. Since the Marine is no longer obedient…"
"CP0," Saint Saturn gritted his teeth, his rage settling into a cold, cruel resolve.
"Send our strongest. Send CP0 to capture the Straw Hat Pirates. And have them deliver the World Government's decision to Marineford personally. Let them all know the consequences of angering us!"
He was practically hissing now.
"Those fools will tighten their belts. They will come to Mariejois, and they will kneel before us and apologize until we are satisfied! Only then will we even consider restoring a fraction of their funding!"
"Agreed," the other four voices echoed in the empty hall, sealing the fate of the old Marines.
....
Sabaody Archipelago
"Woo—"
A long, drawn-out horn sounded as a massive warship slowly pulled away from the docks.
On its deck, the newly minted New Marine Vice Admiral Strawberry stood with his hands clasped behind his back, letting the sea breeze whip his long coat.
Behind him, Jewelry Bonney, the "Big Eater" pirate, was staring wide-eyed, her face a mask of utter disbelief.
"We're just… leaving like this?" she sputtered, pointing back at the chaotic, smoking scene they were leaving behind.
"What about those Celestial Dragons?! We're just… ignoring them?"
She had assumed, as anyone would, that the second a Celestial Dragon was punched, the entire island would be locked down.
She had expected admirals, buster calls, and the immediate on-the-spot execution of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Instead, this Vice Admiral had simply gathered his troops and ordered a full retreat.
This wasn't the Marines she knew. This wasn't the world she knew.
"What else would you have us do?" Strawberry asked, not even bothering to turn around.
His tone was cold and indifferent.
"What do you think the New Marine is? The Celestial Dragons' lapdogs?"
"Well… aren't you?" Bonney muttered under her breath.
"Hah—" Strawberry let out a short, cold laugh. "Once we reach Headquarters, you'll understand. You'll see what the New Marine truly is… and what true Justice means."
He paused, a flash of icy killing intent in his eyes as he glanced back at the island.
"And soon enough, those who strike down the Celestial Dragons… will be us."
"???"
Three giant, invisible question marks seemed to pop into existence above Bonney's head.
Her brain was struggling to catch up.
'The Marines… are going to attack the Celestial Dragons? What is happening? Is the world… ending?'
....
In the distance, atop one of the massive Yarukiman Mangrove roots, a figure stood silently, shaded by the canopy.
He was tall, with a shock of white hair and a beard, wearing simple glasses that did little to hide the prominent scar over his right eye.
"Strange…" Silvers Rayleigh, former right-hand man of the Pirate King, muttered to himself.
His brow was furrowed as he watched the warship depart.
"The Marines… just left?"
This defied all logic.
He had seen this exact scenario play out before.
An attack on a "god" was the one unbreakable taboo.
It always meant an admiral was on the way.
But now? They were withdrawing their forces.
It was a move of such startling decisiveness, and such profound insubordination, that it sent a shiver down his spine.
"The Marines…" Rayleigh thought, his expression grave. "What in the world has changed?"
.....
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
The scratching sound of the pen nib across the paper was the only sound in the conference room.
It felt like a death knell for a bygone era.
The moment Sengoku finished signing his name to the New Marine contract, the crushing, revolutionary tension in the room simply... evaporated.
He leaned back slowly in his chair, which creaked softly, as if sighing in relief alongside him.
His gaze swept across the room.
He saw Akainu's fiery, unbending resolve, Kizaru's lazy nonchalance, Kuzan's quiet calm, Zephyr's deep, profound satisfaction… and the fire of pure, unadulterated joy burning in Garp's eyes.
Finally, his gaze settled on Mike.
The young, smiling architect of it all.
"Mike, boy," Sengoku said, his voice surprisingly steady. "Tell us. What's your plan moving forward? What can us old folks do to help?"
Mike smiled.
He knew Sengoku wasn't just asking for a role; he was asking for the new order of battle.
Mike raised a hand, his fingers splayed, as if presenting a brand new world.
"Military affairs—to Sakazuki."
Let the hawk hunt.
"Civil administration and reconstruction—to Kuzan."
Let the dove build.
"Finance and logistics—to the Old Man," he said, nodding at Kizaru, who grinned.
Let the man who loves money manage the money.
"Education and training—under Instructor Zephyr."
Let the teacher teach.
"As for the New Marine itself," Mike paused, his gaze landing on Sengoku and Tsuru, "we'll need a coordinating division. A strategy hub to oversee all operations. You, the 'Resourceful General,' and Vice Admiral Tsuru, the 'Great Tactician.' One as leader, one as deputy. Your experience is perfect for the role."
"..."
Sengoku didn't respond immediately.
He just studied Mike, a complex whirlwind of emotions in his eyes—respect, awe, and a strange, newfound peace.
"Utilizing each person's greatest strength…" Sengoku said at last, his voice thick with emotion.
"Mike, boy… you continue to impress me. And what about you? Won't you be controlling this New Marine?"
Mike just laughed, a carefree, easy sound that filled the room.
He leaned back in his chair, the picture of a man without a single worry in the world.
"Me? I handle the funding!"
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