It was the day after receiving news from Kuro about the attack on the Holy Land.
Hack and Mihawk were absent, busy guarding the captured pirate and training promising soldiers. However, the official executives, wearing the symbol of the three-clawed cat, and their assistants were gathered in a conference room.
"...It has been a long time since all the Black Cat executives and our ally Bege gathered here in the castle of Mopuchi," 'Steel Blade' Daz Bonez said, speaking in place of Kuro as the Vice Captain.
"Horo horo horo, we have gained more territory recently, so it can't be helped." The youngest executive, 'Ghost Princess' Perona, laughed, using her powers to sweep the perimeter and check if anyone was eavesdropping.
"I understand Mr. Hack's absence, but it bothers me that Mihawk isn't here..." 'Demon of Ohara' Nico Robin murmured. She was preparing for the meeting by re-reading the documents and messages left by Mihawk, who was currently obsessing over troop training.
"Mihawk seems to think that strengthening our forces is an urgent task. ...Thanks to that, a huge number of soldiers are being blown away right now..."
"Ah, so that's why people in our uniforms were flying in the sky earlier..." Perona noted dryly.
"I question whether throwing people into the sky is good training every time," 'Captain of the Guard' Amisu sighed. She attended the meeting with her squad members, Miakis and Cazarie, standing faithfully to her left and right.
'Admiral of the First Fleet' Boa Hancock spoke next. "I was also told to join the training later. It is most likely Haki training..." She glanced at her sister Sandersonia and the gentle-looking man with glasses standing by her side—who, for some reason, had styled his hair into the shape of the number '3'. Hancock smiled elegantly. "Ufufu, my sister is better at teaching Haki than that man."
"It was about time to strengthen our shipbuilding system... but hearing the situation, it will be hard to increase the numbers as planned," observed 'Internal Affairs Officer' Guild Tesoro. He was gradually getting used to the organization and now handled development plans and tax adjustments.
"Heh heh heh, with your military power, a few missing ships won't stop you," chuckled 'Big Father' Capone Bege. Despite being a mafia boss, the Black Cat ally was starting to wield influence even over the Navy.
If a Marine from the West Blue who knew the Black Cat Pirates well saw this scene, they would be overwhelmed just by looking at the impressive lineup.
"Now then, we shall begin the meeting..." Daz announced, turning his gaze. "Hancock."
"Yes. I am sorry to take up your time, but there is someone I wish to formally introduce to everyone first," Hancock said, standing up from her chair. Though still showing signs of youth, she distinguished herself more than anyone.
"...Galdino."
At her voice, the man with glasses standing behind her stepped forward.
"I have already shown my face to the Vice Captain, Lady Perona, and some of the Guard, but this is the first time meeting the other executives. I am Galdino, and I surrendered to the 'Black Cat' during the recent disturbance."
Daz nodded. "He was the one inciting the Pirate Alliance incident and directing the sabotage afterward. During the human trafficking incident, he surrendered to us. Since then, he has contributed to the reconstruction of Mogwa Kingdom and other places using his ability to create and manipulate wax."
"No, before that, what is with that '3' hairstyle?" Perona muttered. "It was different when we met before."
Hancock almost agreed but held her tongue.
"Since our leader is absent, this is only temporary..." Hancock continued, "but I wish to appoint this man as the Staff Officer of the First Fleet."
"I think that's fine," Perona was the first to agree as Hancock looked around the room. "His ability was incredibly useful for the reconstruction. Plus, we didn't have to worry about fuel for the winter thanks to him."
"I heard about this last night, but why a Staff Officer role?" Amisu asked. She had reservations since he had used human trafficking, but she didn't strongly oppose it because his results were undeniable.
"To put it simply, I wanted someone like Tesoro on my ship," Hancock explained.
The First Fleet was a newly built unit, currently the only one acting separately from the main body. While Hancock and the Guards provided sufficient combat power, she judged that compared to the main unit led by Kuro and Daz, they were vastly inferior in development and planning.
"To act as the Captain's representative, I lack the ability regarding internal affairs. Fatally so," Hancock admitted with rare vulnerability. "I know I must gain experience and improve, but right now, I absolutely need an advisor. However, I cannot take Tesoro or the suitable Guards around with me all the time."
"I see..." Amisu nodded. "So that is why you need a Staff Officer."
"Yes. Naturally, I will make the decisions for the fleet's actions. But if there is someone who can offer advice on options, it will be helpful even in naval battles. And as you know, this man is a Devil Fruit User accustomed to battle. He has enough power to at least defend himself during fleet actions."
Amisu and the accompanying Guards were convinced, and the other executives generally agreed. Hancock knew this, but Galdino had been diligent in making introductions and laying groundwork even when treated as a prisoner. Tesoro particularly appreciated his efficiency.
"...So, as Perona said," Hancock turned to her new subordinate, "Galdino, what really happened to your hair?"
"I discussed it with your sister," Galdino replied calmly, "but setting aside the Guard, my rank within the fleet is third."
"...Is that why?"
"If the impression of being the 'third man' remains strong among my colleagues, it gives me peace of mind too."
"...Are you advertising that you have no intention of rebelling because you have been given a sufficient rank?" Hancock smiled, finding it shrewd. "You are a cunning man as always." But that makes him reliable, she thought, looking at Daz.
The Vice Captain nodded slightly. "Galdino. I appoint you provisionally as the Staff Officer of the First Fleet. Join the meeting as you are."
"Understood. ...So, I have already heard the main topic of today from the Admiral..."
"Yes." Daz's expression darkened. The atmosphere, which had brightened slightly, instantly became heavy. "As announced the other day, Captain Kuro engaged the pirate 'Golden Lion' at the Holy Land."
The people here had never met him, but he was a fateful opponent.
He wasn't the main culprit, but he was the biggest reason why the West Blue had been ravaged.
Since their leader Kuro had fought him, he was an enemy they would likely have to fight with all their might someday.
"He succeeded in driving him away, but the Celestial Dragons' food was completely stolen. Naturally, the World Government will try to gather the massive amount of food stored in the Holy Land again."
"...The West Blue was excluded from the food collection for the celebration in the Holy Land a while ago, but I doubt it will go that way this time," Daz warned.
The coldest days of winter had passed. It was still cold, but not so cold that one couldn't go outside.
However, the food problem remained, and Daz and Tesoro were struggling daily with adjusting food distribution.
"Robin, how is the Kanan Kingdom? The original plan was to make that place our granary base," Perona asked.
At Perona's question, Robin stood up. She had been entrusted with the development of the Kanan Kingdom, using their greatest agricultural asset, Mihawk.
"Since we need quantity, we planted as much wheat as we could because it grows fast and doesn't need much care. But... I hope nothing happens until the harvest, but there will inevitably be damage from birds and beasts."
"It depends on how much is lost, huh," Daz noted.
"Yeah. Even if we estimate a large amount of loss, I intend to leave enough for the people of Kanan to eat and secure enough to sell or send to other places..."
Copies of the documents written by Mihawk and Robin, containing current yield predictions and future plans for clearing land and sowing seeds, had already been distributed to everyone.
"...I always wonder if he's really okay with all this, but that guy is really reliable when it comes to farm work," Perona nodded repeatedly in admiration, thinking that he didn't write a book for nothing. She was also satisfied that the master swordsman had made the herb garden she requested exactly as asked.
"The problem is the Navy—no, how the Government moves... right? Hancock," Robin directed the conversation back.
"Yes. Kuzan has also returned to Headquarters. Because of this incident, he can no longer stay stuck in the West Blue."
The Admiral of the Navy HQ, who said he wanted to meet Kuro again if possible, had returned to Marineford as of yesterday.
He said he would probably be assigned to guard the Holy Land, but—
"Excuse me," Tesoro interjected. "As the person in charge of internal affairs, I am concerned about what will happen to the cease-fire agreement with the Navy... Admiral Hancock, what are the Navy's movements after that?"
"There are no notable movements. Command rights were returned from Kuzan to the current Regional Manager of the West Blue, but that is all."
"...So there is no talk of requests for food aid?"
"Yes. ...Well, I haven't spoken to the new commander of the West Blue yet... Currently, the soldiers in Mogwa Kingdom are united under Commodore Taki."
The three Guards who worked in the field looked slightly relieved.
Aside from being a former Marine, Taki was someone they knew from fighting together. Knowing that the trustworthy Commodore Taki held the real power of the West Blue's military was news worth relieved about.
"Kuzan said a successor will arrive in Mogwa in a few days, so we should meet them..." Hancock trailed off.
"Did he look... a little uneasy?" Perona asked.
"I can't say for sure. He really hated that he would probably have to go to the Holy Land first."
"I see..."
At Kuro's request, Tesoro didn't show his face to the Navy much. However, he grasped the situation through reports from the executives and Guards, or the regular reports sent in the format Kuro had established.
"Admiral Hancock," Tesoro said suddenly. "I know you just appointed a Staff Officer, but please let me accompany you on the next trip to Mogwa."
Hancock was slightly surprised by Tesoro's words and glanced at the man she had just appointed as Staff Officer.
She worried slightly if he would be displeased, but he nodded, saying, "Naturally."
"Depending on the movements of the Navy or the Government, there is a possibility of war with them," Tesoro explained. "Just in case, if I don't assess the next opponent directly, I might hesitate in making a split-second decision..."
"Tesoro, do you think it will go as far as war?" Daz frowned more than usual, perhaps unconvinced or fearing that scenario.
"I believe it is certain that the member nations will be forced to bear a considerable burden. If that happens, it wouldn't be strange for them to try to burden non-member nations even more to divert that dissatisfaction… Forced food collection?"
"Or, labor collection, which the Captain managed to get them to withdraw as a condition for negotiation last time," Daz said, lightly tapped his temple with his finger, remembering the face of the annoying official he had glared at in Mogwa last time. "...Just in case, let's prepare to hand over a certain amount of food strictly for when they request cooperation through negotiation. Of course, we will keep the amount within a range that doesn't negatively affect us. Robin, is that okay?"
"Yeah, understood. I'll call Mihawk later and discuss it with Bege and Mr. Tesoro," Robin agreed.
At Robin's words, the Black Cat members and their ally Bege smiled slightly.
They knew well that this girl had been working hard after their leader Kuro went to the Holy Land.
Bege, who had been asked by Kuro to stabilize the sea route connecting the Kanan Kingdom, which Robin was developing, and the unnamed island candidate for a trading base, frequently met with Robin.
"Now then, let's move on to setting goals for reorganizing our forces," Daz commanded. "Currently, combining the two fleets and the island defense forces, we have fourteen battleships, six escort gunships, and five transport ships of various sizes. In addition to this, the ones under construction are—"
The Black Cat meeting continued after that.
They discussed the reorganization of units in preparation for a potential battle with the Navy, the preparation of the insurance business led by Tesoro, the requests for escorting transport convoys as a preliminary step, and development plans.
While half-listening to the situation, Perona thought quietly while manipulating her powers.
...Tch. The number of guys trying to get inside somehow has increased strangely. I'm driving them all away or silencing them, but I'll report it once we reach a stopping point.
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