That morning, Brian had spent some time in Kong's office, but by noon, he'd vanished.
Vanished along with him—was Tea Dolphin.
"Marshal, we've searched the entire Headquarters, but we still can't find either of the vice admirals…"
Reporting to Kong at that moment was Strawberry, though his current rank was only Lieutenant Colonel.
"Why do those two even exist in the Navy…"
Kong rubbed his temples, a pounding headache brewing. Tea Dolphin had once fought at his side, and punishing an old comrade-in-arms would be awkward.
But if he didn't punish him, then with Tea Dolphin hanging around Brian… those two were surely running wild at some casino, nightclub, or sauna somewhere.
If the press got pictures of that and it made the papers, the Navy's reputation would be dragged through the mud.
"Marshal, should I expand the search area?" Strawberry asked cautiously.
"Ugh." Kong scratched at his Mohawk in frustration before sighing. "Go to the Sabaody Archipelago. Bring those two bastards back to me."
"The Sabaody Archipelago?" Strawberry frowned.
"They're probably at a casino right now. Make sure they don't cause any trouble!"
Kong's words were an order—but also laced with helplessness.
"Yes, sir. I'll head for the Sabaody Archipelago immediately."
Strawberry gave a crisp, textbook salute and turned smartly to leave.
"If every marine were as dutiful as Strawberry," Kong muttered with a wry smile, "what a wonderful Navy we'd have."
But his sigh didn't go unheard—Sengoku, who had just walked in, caught it.
Sengoku chuckled. "Brian causing trouble again?"
Kong replied, "What trouble could he cause here in Headquarters? Not unless he wants to be lynched."
"True enough," Sengoku said, handing over a document. "This is the nomination list for the new Governor of the West Blue."
Kong skimmed the list. The candidates were all middling choices—aging rear admirals with little room for promotion at Headquarters. Sending them to the West Blue as governors made enough sense on paper.
But Kong tore the list in half and tossed it into the bin.
"Unsuitable?" Sengoku asked.
Kong nodded. "Too weak. They can't suppress the West Blue."
Sengoku scratched his head and sighed. "But that's the best Headquarters can muster."
"I know," Kong said, "but pirates aren't just multiplying—they're getting stronger. The West Blue's a mess right now. Blaze Astona and Gerald are raiding all over—destroying fortresses and branch bases. Add to that the Nasia Kingdom's civil war, Greenland Kingdom joining the fight, Nasia's ports collapsing, trade paralyzed, refugees flooding in, bandits rising up… damn it, I really underestimated Brian. That bastard struck right at the heart of it."
Sengoku suggested, "Then why not send Borsalino to hunt down Astona? Once he's captured, the situation in the West Blue should stabilize, at least temporarily."
Kong snorted. "Temporarily? You're underestimating Brian. The reason he dared come back to Headquarters was because he knew no one would take over that mess. To truly pacify the West Blue and restore its trade, we'd have to forcibly intervene and suppress the war—and civilian casualties would be inevitable."
He didn't need to finish the sentence. The meaning was clear.
Suppressing a war meant killing people. Killing innocent civilians required a pretext. Without that pretext, even if the World Government ordered it, the Navy would face immense public condemnation.
Which meant that Borsalino—an ambitious and image-conscious vice admiral—would never stain his career with such a mission.
"So when you put it that way," Sengoku said, smiling bitterly, "there really isn't a suitable candidate."
Kong sighed as well. Suppression missions were the dirtiest kind of work. Any officer who valued his reputation wouldn't touch it. Suppression meant slaughter—and slaughter meant being branded a butcher.
That kind of stain followed you for life.
"Exactly. There's no one fit for the job. And now the Five Elders are pressing me to send someone to the West Blue as soon as possible… they're doing this on purpose, trying to make things difficult for us."
"At least they didn't directly appoint Brian as governor again."
"Maybe," Kong said with a faint smile. "That might be the only good news for now. But it won't last long."
He tossed his pen aside and leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
Sabaody Archipelago — Royal Hippodrome.
"One million Berries on Number Six! I'm sure of it—it's definitely gonna win!"
Tea Dolphin shouted excitedly to the staff, then turned to Brian.
"Brian, lend me another million Berries. I swear I'll win it back this time!"
Brian glanced at the horses on the track and shook his head.
"Tea Dolphin, you're sure about Number Six? Looks like a long shot to me."
"You don't get it! Look at Number Six's eyes—they're burning with fighting spirit!"
"I think you're just drunk again. You'd say the same thing if it were a donkey out there."
Brian teased him, but still pulled out two million Berries and handed them over to the betting clerk.
"One million on Number Six, one million on Number One."
"Yes, Vice Admiral, sir."
The clerk—a young woman—smiled sweetly. Seeing Brian's handsome face and generous manner, she couldn't help but toss him a flirtatious wink.
Holding his betting slips, Tea Dolphin muttered resentfully, "Why do women always flock to him?"
"Because I'm handsome," Brian said casually, "and rich."
Tea Dolphin wisely chose silence—no need to take a second hit.
They made their way to the premium seats—fifty thousand Berries apiece—but while Tea Dolphin was glued to his chosen horse, Brian's attention drifted toward the frontmost VIP section.
Only Celestial Dragons had the right to sit there.
"You really missed out on Number Six," Tea Dolphin rambled on. "Did you see how Horses Five and Seven won't even go near it? It's practically glowing with victory—"
But when Brian didn't respond, Tea Dolphin followed his gaze—and saw what he was looking at.
In the VIP section sat a large family: an elderly couple, three men, and two women.
All wore the signature glass bubbles over their heads and the extravagant robes of the Celestial Dragons.
Around them knelt a crowd of slaves and their armed guards.
Suddenly, Brian withdrew his gaze and smirked.
"I've never slept with a female Celestial Dragon before. Wonder if it feels any different… kinda curious, honestly."
"You—are you crazy?! Do you have a death wish?!"
Tea Dolphin's heart nearly leapt into his throat.
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