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Chapter 43: The Navy's Top Secret
"You make it sound easy, Tsuru."
"The money? Haven't you seen the headquarters' financial reports?"
Sengoku sat up straight, pointing to the mountain of documents piled on his desk.
"Those are all military expense requests! Every single one has to be audited by those bastards in the World Government! They'd rather split a single Beri in two!"
Grand Staff Officer Tsuru remained as calm as ever. She lifted her teacup and blew gently on the steam.
"A beginner dungeon, one million Beri."
"That's a price we can, just barely, afford."
"One million Beri..." Sengoku muttered, his fingers drumming unconsciously on the desk. "That... is barely within the realm of what we can manage."
"Correct." Tsuru set her cup down, her aged eyes shining with wisdom.
"We can disguise it as a new, high-intensity training program for elite soldiers. One million a session is expensive, but if it can be exchanged for a soldier who achieves a leap in strength, the investment is worth it."
Sengoku's eyes lit up.
He thought of Kuzan's report.
That monster, Six Paths Madara Uchiha. Even if he only existed within a "dungeon," the power he displayed was enough to render a Marine Admiral completely helpless.
If...
If the Marines could use these dungeons to analyze those incredible abilities, or even... obtain a portion of that power.
Then, in the face of the increasingly rampant Great Pirate Era, in the face of the Yonko who ruled the New World, the Marines would have an unprecedented trump card.
This thought made Sengoku's heart pound.
However, this matter could not be known by the World Government for now.
A deep disgust and fear appeared on Sengoku's face.
"Those Celestial Dragons. Those idiots with straw for brains. If they found out about this place..."
He could almost picture it.
A place that could grant eternal life, resurrect the dead, and allow one to experience the power of gods.
What kind of insane things would that trash, who fancied themselves descendants of "gods," do?
That kid, Blake, based on Kuzan's report, was no pushover.
Who would dare provoke an existence that could casually create a monster on the level of Six Paths Madara?
If it was handled poorly, it would be a disaster a hundred times more terrifying than a Yonko rampage!
The information had to be hidden, not just from the World Government, but from the majority of the Marines as well.
They would select a small number of elite Marines to challenge the dungeons.
Sengoku paused, looking at Tsuru with a questioning gaze.
"We'll hide it for now."
He finally made his decision, his voice as heavy as iron.
"All intelligence regarding Blake and the 'dungeons' will be classified as top secret."
"As for the World Government..."
Sengoku's gaze became incredibly deep.
"We'll pretend we know nothing for now. When the time is right, when we've obtained enough power and intelligence from that place, we will report to the Five Elders."
Sengoku let out a long, heavy breath, slumping into the Fleet Admiral's throne.
He looked at his wise old comrade, a bitter smile twisting his lips.
"Tsuru... It's a good thing I have you."
"Otherwise, this Fleet Admiral seat... I wouldn't want to sit in it for even one day."
Sengoku rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling as if his nerves were about to snap.
"Especially that old bastard Garp!"
Sengoku slammed his fist on the table, making the documents jump.
He gritted his teeth, growling.
"If he were half as reliable as you! No! Even just one-tenth! I'd have half as much white hair!"
A faint smile touched Grand Staff Officer Tsuru's lips, as if she'd thought of something.
"If he were truly reliable, he wouldn't be Garp."
"True..."
Sengoku slumped back in his chair, deflated once more.
Yes. That man is the Marine Hero Garp precisely because he never plays by the rules, never lets himself be bound by them.
Sengoku looked at Tsuru's wrinkled, yet still composed, face. The anxiety in his heart miraculously calmed.
With this old comrade here, the sky wouldn't fall.
He sat up straight again, his eyes regaining the sharpness and decisiveness of the Marine Fleet Admiral.
"This matter, we'll do as you say!"
"Select the most elite, most trustworthy Marines. Under the guise of secret training, we will send them to the East Blue in batches!"
"We must seize the advantage before anyone else reacts!"
Meanwhile.
Marine Headquarters, elite training ground.
"Ha!"
With a sharp cry, a flash of sword light cut a steel dummy in half at the waist.
The cut was as smooth as a mirror.
Gion sheathed her sword. Konpira let out a satisfied hum.
She casually grabbed a towel, wiping the sweat from her forehead and neck. Under her short pink hair, her beautiful face was expressionless, but a restless annoyance lingered deep in her ice-blue eyes.
"Tch. Boring men."
She thought of Chatan's grinning, self-satisfied face, and her anger flared. What time is it? The New World is a total mess, and he still has the nerve to bother with romance. It's ridiculous.
At the edge of the training ground, a few resting Marines pointed in her direction, whispering.
"Hey, did you hear? Vice Admiral Chaton got rejected by Vice Admiral Gion again today."
"How many times is that? His perseverance is amazing. If it were me, I'd have given up long ago."
"That's Vice Admiral Gion! The most beautiful swordswoman at Headquarters! An Admiral candidate! If it were me, I'd chase her too!"
"Shh! Keep it down! You want her to hear you? Her temper isn't exactly great!"
Gion's ears twitched. She frowned.
She hated this kind of boring gossip.
She tossed the towel into a nearby basket and, without a word, turned and walked toward her quarters.
Her tall figure cast a long, proud, and straight shadow in the setting sun.
She pushed open the door to her room.
A familiar scent, a mix of clean tea leaves and faint herbs, washed over her.
Gion's footsteps stopped abruptly.
She saw, in her room, the figure she respected more than anyone, sitting calmly at her table, slowly pouring a cup of hot tea.
The sunset streamed through the window, casting a soft, golden light on her aged, serene profile.
"Sister Tsuru, why are you here!"
"Look at you, all sweaty."
Tsuru set down her teacup. Her eyes, which had seen the world change, looked gently at her sharp, spirited "little sister."
"Training should be done in moderation."
"I don't want to hear news that the youngest female Vice Admiral at Headquarters has collapsed from overwork."
.....
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