Behind a secluded coral cluster just outside the majestic Ryugu Palace, Vice Admiral Gion paused to ensure she was alone. The colorful sea life of Fish-Man Island flickered past, but her focus was entirely on the small Den Den Mushi tucked within her kimono sleeve. She carefully pulled it out, her fingers trembling slightly.
Buru buru... Buru buru... The snail's shell clicked as the connection went through. Its features shifted, mimicking the calm, weathered face of Vice Admiral Tsuru. "Gion? Is something wrong?" Tsuru's voice crackled through the receiver, her tone carrying a sharp note of inquiry.
"Sister Tsuru!" Gion hissed, keeping her voice low. Even with her efforts to remain professional, she couldn't hide the raw urgency and anxiety bleeding into her words. "I have something extremely important to report! It's urgent—I need to tell you everything immediately!"
On the other end of the line, Tsuru seemed to sense the younger woman's distress. Her own voice remained steady and grounding. "Don't rush yourself. Take a breath and speak slowly. Now, tell me, what happened?"
Gion took a deep, shaky breath, forcing the frantic beating of her heart to slow down. She needed to be clear. "I'm on Fish-Man Island right now, and something earth-shattering has happened. Whitebeard—Edward Newgate—has been defeated. He lost to that man, Takuro. But it's worse than just a loss. He has already led the entire Whitebeard Pirates to surrender. They've joined him."
"What did you just say?" Tsuru's voice wavered for the first time, a clear tremor of shock passing through the line. The news hit her like a massive tsunami. "Whitebeard was defeated? And he surrendered? That's impossible."
"It's not just him, Sister Tsuru!" Gion's speech began to quicken again as the gravity of the situation poured out. "According to Takuro himself, Kaido of the Beasts is already under his command. He even claims that Charlotte Linlin of Totto Land is cooperating with him. He's heading to the New World next to 'invite' her to act alongside them. His goal... his ultimate goal is to gather all these forces and launch a full-scale attack on Mary Geoise!"
She blurted out the core intelligence in one desperate breath, her mind racing. "That's the reality of it! Takuro is practically sweeping up every top-tier pirate force in the New World and bringing them all under his heel!"
The other end of the Den Den Mushi fell into a long, heavy silence. Even the sound of breathing was barely audible over the line. Vice Admiral Tsuru seemed completely overwhelmed by the series of shocking revelations. For a moment, she wondered if she was experiencing auditory hallucinations brought on by her age. Whitebeard defeated? Kaido acting as a subordinate? Big Mom as a collaborator? And a direct move against the Holy Land? Any one of these reports would have triggered an emergency meeting at Marineford, but all of them happening at once was inconceivable.
"...Gion," Tsuru's voice finally returned after a long pause. It carried an unprecedented solemnity and a hint of dryness. "Are you absolutely sure? Regarding Whitebeard—did you witness the defeat with your own eyes? And as for Kaido and Charlotte Linlin... is the source actually reliable? This is just too much to process."
"I witnessed Whitebeard's defeat and his surrender myself. It is absolutely true," Gion replied with total certainty. "As for Kaido and Linlin, it was Takuro himself who stated it. I can't confirm those two with 100% certainty yet, but I have a feeling." She paused, her tone turning incredibly serious. "Based on my observations of him, Takuro is arrogant and overbearing. He acts recklessly, but he isn't the type to boast idly or exaggerate his power. If he dared to state it so clearly, I believe the credibility is extremely high."
Silence fell over the line again—a deathly, oppressive quiet. Tsuru needed time to digest a fact that could overturn the entire world order. When she finally spoke, every word sounded like it weighed a thousand pounds. "If this is true, then the problem is beyond serious. If the forces of Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom are integrated, and you add Fish-Man Island and Takuro's own terrifying strength to the mix... a joint attack on Mary Geoise would be catastrophic."
Tsuru didn't need to finish the thought. The heavy worry transmitted clearly through the snail. Even if the entire might of the Marines gathered at once, the outcome of such a battle would be uncertain. Mary Geoise would suffer unprecedented damage, and the authority of the World Government would face its most direct challenge in history.
"I understand," Tsuru said, her voice regaining its usual professional calm despite the lingering tension. "This matter is too massive for us to handle quietly. I must report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately and convene the highest military council. Gion, stay where you are. Be sure to prioritize your safety and keep this line open."
"Sister Tsuru! Wait!" Gion called out urgently just as Tsuru was about to disconnect.
"Is there something else?" Tsuru asked.
Gion's expression became incredibly complex. She bit her lower lip, caught in the middle of an intense internal struggle. Finally, she made a choice. Her voice was slightly trembling but unusually clear as she asked a question that left Tsuru completely stunned.
"Sister Tsuru... if... and I only mean if... Takuro truly has the ability to overthrow the World Government, and if he can bring a better, more just order to these seas... should we Marines consider joining him?"
The face of the Den Den Mushi froze instantly. It looked petrified, as if Tsuru's shock had physically manifested through the snail's shell.
"???"
Several seconds of agonizing silence passed before Tsuru's voice returned, exploding with disbelief and a hint of genuine anger. "Gion! Do you have any idea what you're saying?! Have you lost your mind? Has some sort of ability affected your psyche?"
Tsuru's reaction was entirely expected. As a Marine Vice Admiral and a member of the inner circle, she knew how rebellious and dangerous it was to even think about "joining pirates." It was especially shocking coming from Gion, an elite officer who was seen as the future of the Marines.
"I am perfectly sober, Sister Tsuru," Gion said, her voice growing firm despite her internal conflict. "I am only saying this after a long period of observation and careful consideration."
Before Tsuru could argue, Gion continued, her thoughts pouring out like water through an open floodgate. "Sister Tsuru, look at the state of the sea! Beneath the surface, there is nothing but chaos and suffering. Countless civilians are struggling just to survive. They are caught between pirates, human traffickers, and corrupt officials. They are living in dire straits! What they need is an order that actually protects them and provides a stable life!"
Tsuru tried to cut in. "Isn't that what we strive for? We uphold justice. We fight the pirates—"
"Yes! I admit that!" Gion interrupted, her voice growing more agitated. "There are many of us who truly believe in justice and work hard every day. But look at the big picture! In the face of the world's chaos, our efforts are just a drop in the bucket!"
Her voice cracked with anguish. "And is the Marine organization really that clean? You know the dark side better than I do. The factional struggles, the corruption, the people acting only for personal gain... it's all there. And what about the World Government that supports us? What do they truly care about? They only care about the high and mighty Celestial Dragons!"
At the mention of the Celestial Dragons, Gion's voice filled with uncontrollable disgust. "Those people call themselves 'gods,' but what have they actually done? They enslave others, trample on lives, and treat murder like it's a game! Is the 'justice' we desperately uphold ultimately just a shield for such scum? Every time I remember that those things stand behind the Marines, I feel sick. Sister Tsuru, I've truly started to doubt whether what we hold onto is actually 'justice' at all!"
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