"One isn't enough," Finn said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We should have at least three people embedded from the start. Are there any other suitable candidates?"
Zephyr shook his head. "He's the only one I have right now. Does anyone else have someone in mind?"
Sakazuki immediately shook his head, his expression resolute. His subordinates were all hawks, men and women who lived and breathed absolute justice. The idea of any of them playing pirate was laughable.
Kuzan waved one hand lazily. "I've always been a loner. No one under me fits the bill."
"Neither do I," Borsalino added bluntly. "The Science Unit isn't exactly breeding pirate material."
Finn's gaze shifted across the table and landed on Tsuru. She also shook her head. "I don't have anyone suitable either."
But Finn didn't look away. His eyes remained fixed on her, waiting.
Tsuru blinked, confused for a moment. Then her expression shifted to alarm. "Finn, don't you dare. I've been a respected Marine officer for decades. Who in their right mind would believe it if I suddenly became a Warlord? Don't use this as an excuse for petty revenge! Everyone's watching!"
Finn's lips twitched with barely suppressed amusement.
He had to admit, Tsuru's personality would actually fit. She had a certain reckless streak, not unlike Garp's, hidden beneath her strategic mind and composed exterior. The kind of person who could pull off a dramatic exit if needed.
But as she'd said, she was far too well-known. A Marine officer with her reputation suddenly going rogue would raise every alarm from here to the New World.
Finn clicked his tongue in mock disappointment, then smiled innocently. "How could you think that? Am I, Finn, the kind of person who holds grudges? Hahaha... Hahahahahaha!"
"That laugh is way too suspicious!" Tsuru shot back, glaring at him. "It's obviously true!"
Laughter rippled through the room.
Everyone here knew about the complicated history between Tsuru and Finn, a tangle of emotions and unspoken tension that neither of them had ever fully addressed. But they also knew that despite the occasional barb, neither would actually sabotage the other. Over the years, the two had traded insults and biting remarks, but they'd never once come to blows.
For all their friction, they were still professionals.
"Alright, alright, you two, enough," Zephyr said, chuckling as he rapped his knuckles on the table. His weathered face softened with amusement. After the laughter died down, he continued, "Let's send Smoker out first as a test case. After that, I'll keep an eye out for other promising candidates. I'll focus on cultivating the right kind of seedlings for this." He glanced around the table. "The rest of you should do the same. Keep this in mind."
"That works," Sengoku agreed, nodding. "This plan isn't even approved yet. And even after it's implemented, it'll take years to fully mature. We have time."
"Then that's settled," Kong said decisively.
Though Zephyr had officially retired from active duty, he still held the rank of Admiral. Combined with Kong and Sengoku's authority, when the three of them spoke in agreement, the matter was as good as law.
Finn and the others nodded in acceptance.
Finn took a slow sip from his teacup, then set it down with a soft clink. "Now, using the Warlord issue as leverage, we should try to extract concessions from the higher-ups. They definitely don't want a full confrontation with us right now. As long as we don't push too hard on the Warlord front, they'll likely give ground on other matters."
Tsuru's sharp eyes studied him. "You want to force the World Government into further concessions?"
"That's the plan," Finn replied evenly. "First and foremost, I want to push for an increase in military funding."
Before anyone could respond, Kong spoke up. "The Five Elders have already offered a consolation prize. Military spending will increase by fifteen percent annually for the next three years."
Surprise flickered across several faces.
Finn's expression didn't change, but his eyes gleamed. "That proves my point. As long as we don't overreach on the Warlord issue, the World Government is willing to negotiate on everything else. Perfect."
"Do you have other demands?" Sengoku asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Originally, I wanted to push for more financial autonomy, the ability to self-fund certain operations. But now, if we arrange the Warlords the way we discussed, there's no need." Finn smiled faintly. "That channel will handle itself."
Sengoku nodded approvingly. "Good. We should stay measured on that front. It'll reassure the World Government that we're not planning a rebellion."
Finn's smile widened, taking on a distinctly greedy edge. "Which brings me to my personal ambitions."
"Oh?" Kong said, his tone laced with knowing amusement. The others wore similar expressions.
Finn didn't bother with false modesty. "As far as I know, the World Government has been blocking promotions within the Marines. I want everyone here to work together to break that blockade. That way, I can be promoted to Admiral, and Sakazuki and the others can receive the Admiral Candidate designation they've earned."
"Go on," Sengoku said, smiling openly now.
It was exactly what he and Kong had suspected. Finn had his own plan and didn't need the old guard to pave the way for him.
Finn nodded. "My approach is two-pronged. First, we negotiate. Peace talks. If the Five Elders are willing to concede, then perfect. No further action needed."
"And if they refuse?" Kong asked.
"Do you plan to stage a military protest?" Sengoku added, his tone half-joking.
"Absolutely not," Finn said, waving the idea away. "If they refuse, then we make the Warlord issue difficult for them. But we do it slowly. We'll publicly approve the plan and let the World Government implement it. Then we'll see who they choose." He paused, his smile turning cold. "Whoever they pick, I'll hunt down and kill. Let's see who gives in first."
Garp burst into laughter, slapping the table. "You're that confident, huh?"
"Of course I'm confident," Finn replied smoothly. "The Seven Warlords of the Sea sounds impressive, but to the real powers of the sea, it's just a fancy title for Government lapdogs. I don't believe for a second that people like Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, or Whitebeard would ever accept such a position. And as long as they're not candidates, who's going to stop me?"
Sengoku considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Fair point. Let's proceed that way. You handle the Warlord arrangements. The Marshal and I will travel to Mary Geoise soon to negotiate with the Five Elders."
With that, the inner circle meeting came to a close.
Zephyr stood, setting his teacup down with a quiet clink. "Finn, come find me at the academy later."
"Yes, Instructor," Finn replied respectfully.
One by one, the officers filed out.
Sakazuki approached Finn, his expression thoughtful. "I thought you were going to push harder against the World Government. You held back more than I expected."
"We were planning to push hard," Finn said with a faint smile. "But now we have a better method, don't we?"
"True enough," Sakazuki agreed. "If the Warlords can be developed into a peripheral Marine organization like you described, that would be ideal."
"That's not what I meant," Finn said, his smile widening. "What I'm saying is, I originally thought I'd have to be more aggressive today to win everyone over and undermine the World Government's prestige within the Marines. But I didn't expect Onigumo to stand up and start cursing them out. And once he did, everyone else joined in." He chuckled. "By the time the shouting was over, I didn't need to do anything. The World Government's credibility was already shredded. After that, no one questioned my proposals."
Sakazuki blinked, then touched his chin. A slow smile spread across his face. "You're right. It did play out perfectly."
"Exactly," Finn said. "Without needing to undermine anyone myself, I had full support. Even Kong and Sengoku approved everything I suggested. It went smoother than expected, so there was no need to add unnecessary flourishes."
"What do you think the odds are that the World Government will agree to peaceful concessions?" Sakazuki asked after a pause.
"Very high, actually," Finn replied. "Their decision to block internal promotions was unreasonable from the start. They were probably testing us, or maybe someone whispered the wrong advice in their ear. Either way, it's not sustainable, but they can't back down without losing face. Forcing the issue now gives them an excuse to reverse course. It's a natural exit strategy for both sides."
Sakazuki nodded slowly. That made sense. Now that he thought about it, the Five Elders had likely been trying to assert control over the Marines, waiting for some kind of formal acknowledgment or submission. They'd raised the stakes, expecting a response.
But Sengoku and Kong had simply ignored it. They'd acted as if nothing had happened, refusing to engage with the provocation. If you won't promote us, fine. We won't promote anyone.
That left the Five Elders in an awkward position. They couldn't hold the Marines hostage indefinitely. Sooner or later, they'd have to let go.
"Makes sense," Sakazuki said finally.
"Hahaha, if this works, I'll be an Admiral before you, Sakazuki," Finn said with a grin. "Better work hard."
Sakazuki didn't rise to the bait. He waved one hand dismissively. "If it were anyone else, I'd object. But you're stronger than me, and smarter too. I can accept you going first. There are only three Admiral positions anyway. I don't need to compete with you for that."
Finn's grin faded slightly. His eyes glinted with interest. "Oh?"
Sakazuki reached out and clapped a hand on Finn's shoulder. "But when the time comes to compete for Fleet Admiral, I won't hold back. Not even for you."
"Don't worry," Finn said, his smile returning. "The next Fleet Admiral will be Sengoku. By the time it's our turn, it'll be at least a decade from now. I'll have plenty of time to deal with you. Hahaha."
"We'll see," Sakazuki replied, his tone equally confident.
With that, the two parted ways. Onigumo and a few other officers stood waiting for Sakazuki near the corridor. He gave Finn a final nod, then walked off with his entourage.
Finn turned and headed toward Gion, Momonga, and the others who had been waiting for him.
"How did it go?" Gion asked immediately.
Finn couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. Unlike Sakazuki, who commanded Vice Admirals like Onigumo, Finn's highest-ranking direct subordinate was only a Rear Admiral. Yamakaji could barely be counted as half a Vice Admiral by association, but that was it.
That was why Gion and the others had been dismissed from the inner meeting earlier despite their talents.
"It went smoothly," Finn said simply.
After a brief pause, he added, "Let's head to the academy. Instructor Zephyr asked me to stop by. Should be interesting."
"Interesting how?" Gion asked, tilting her head curiously. "What's happening?"
Finn's smile turned mischievous. "A troublesome cadet at the academy gets scolded by the instructor. In a fit of rage, he storms out and leaves the Marines. He shouts something dramatic like, 'Circumstances change. The one you mock today might surpass you tomorrow!' Then he vows to make the Marines regret losing him. So he becomes a pirate and starts wreaking havoc on the seas. A brilliant Marine prospect transforms into a vicious criminal."
Gion stared at him.
What the hell are you talking about?