The series of questions Gion had posed were like heavy hammers, striking deep into the heart of Vice Admiral Tsuru on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. A long, suffocating silence filled the line, broken only by the sound of Gion's slightly hurried breathing. Tsuru did not immediately reprimand the younger officer. She knew that much of what Gion had said was the absolute truth—a truth that many Marines with a sense of justice deep down were simply too afraid to confront.
After a long time, a heavy sigh echoed through the receiver. "I understand your feelings, Gion," Tsuru said, her voice sounding weary and full of helplessness. "To be honest, the confusion and anger you feel are things I have experienced as well. It's just..." She paused, choosing her words with extreme care before dropping a bombshell. "Regarding Takuro... the truth is, he had already reached out through certain channels to discuss the possibility of a 'cooperation' with us before."
"What?! You discussed cooperation?!" Gion shouted, nearly dropping the Den Den Mushi. Her eyes went wide with total disbelief. The idea of Takuro, a man of such immense power, discussing terms with the Marines seemed impossible. However, as she was reeling from the shock, a familiar, teasing voice sounded from right behind her.
"Hmm, that's actually true," the voice said.
All the blood in Gion's body seemed to freeze. She whirled around to find Takuro standing in the coral shadows. He had appeared silently, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched her with a leisurely, inscrutable smile. Gion's heart pounded wildly, nearly bursting from her chest. How long had he been there? How much Ki had he been suppressed to go unnoticed? A chill shot from her feet to the top of her head.
Takuro ignored her fear and walked forward. He reached out and took the active Den Den Mushi from Gion's stiff, shaking hands. He greeted the device with a relaxed, casual tone. "Hey, old hag. You're having quite an intense chat over there. It looks like we can finally continue the topic we didn't finish last time."
Back at Marineford, Tsuru didn't look surprised to hear his voice. Instead, a wry, helpless smile appeared on her face. "Lord Takuro," Tsuru said, her voice remaining steady. "How have you been lately?"
"Thanks to you Marines, I've been in a great mood," Takuro replied sarcastically. "You haven't sent any Admiral candidates or high-ranking pests to bother me lately, so life is pretty good."
Tsuru simply smiled and didn't take the bait. After the "profound lessons" the Marines had learned at places like Sabaody Archipelago, the high-ranking officials at Marineford had reached an unwritten consensus. Until they found an absolute counter or a guaranteed way to win, they should not provoke Takuro. He was a monster who could not be judged by the common sense of this world. Maintaining a state of "you don't bother me, I don't bother you" was the only logical choice for both sides.
For the Marines, whose motto was Absolute Justice, this "appeasing" attitude toward a wanted man was a great humiliation. Yet, within the high command, this tolerance was silently accepted. Every conflict with Takuro came at a price that was simply too heavy to pay.
Takuro was done playing mind games and cut straight to the point. "Since we're talking, let's be direct, old hag. Why don't we finish our deal? When I make my move to take down that hellhole known as Mary Geoise, you Marines can come and help. Then, when I rule this world, you can keep your old jobs and maintain order. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"
The blueprint he described was simple, crude, and carried a strange allure. It was a vision of a New World ruled by an absolute powerhouse and maintained by a professional military. The Den Den Mushi went silent for a moment before Tsuru's serious voice returned.
"I admit, your idea sounds very direct and even beautiful in a way," Tsuru said. "But have you seriously considered the turmoil and disaster this would bring to the world?"
"Disaster?" Takuro asked, sounding genuinely confused. "What disaster are you talking about?"
Tsuru took a deep breath. "Even if we succeed, the World Government has ruled for eight hundred years. If it collapses suddenly, it will create a massive power vacuum. Without the deterrence of the top, think of the chaos! Countless pirates, ambitious kings, and criminal organizations in the Four Seas and the Grand Line would go wild. The sea would descend into total darkness. Civilians would suffer ten times more than they do now. Is that not a disaster?"
Her questions were forceful, fueled by her understanding of the cruel reality of the world. However, Takuro's answer was even more direct, carrying a level of confidence that could crush anything in its path. "Don't worry, old hag. With me around, that kind of thing will never happen."
"How can you possibly guarantee that?" Tsuru shot back. "Empty promises are worthless when billions of lives are at stake."
"Guarantee?" Takuro scoffed, as if she had asked the most ridiculous question in the universe. His voice suddenly rose, carrying an arrogant and condescending air. It was the voice of a man who possessed power beyond measure—a Tier 5 or even Tier 6 threat.
"I can guarantee it because I've beaten down your proud Admiral candidates, the ones you call your 'top combat forces,' one by one! I can guarantee it because I beat that old man Whitebeard, the 'Strongest Man in the World,' until he couldn't even get up. Now he willingly brings his entire family to acknowledge me as the boss! I can guarantee it because even that madman Kaido of the Beasts, the 'immortal' Yonko, has to obediently listen to me! Just because my fist is the biggest on this sea! The biggest fist makes the rules, and I'm the one setting them!"
His words were like a heavy drumbeat. Each sentence was filled with a tangible sense of Ki and oppression that slammed into Tsuru's mind through the receiver. "Well? Is that guarantee heavy enough for you?"
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Vice Admiral Tsuru opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her throat felt blocked. All her strategic analyses and risk assessments seemed pale and powerless in the face of Takuro's declaration. His power was pure, formidable, and undeniable. She was, for the first time in a long time, completely speechless.
An endless silence spread across the line. Gion, standing beside Takuro and listening to everything, looked at his broad back with a mix of complex emotions. For the first time, she realized that the path this man walked was a domineering one. He relied entirely on his own individual power to forcibly twist the trajectory of the entire world.
'Perhaps... he really can do it,' Gion thought. The idea emerged from the depths of her heart, and she couldn't push it away.
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