At this moment, Sean was somewhat bewildered.
He had already braced himself for the old man Sengoku or "Old Kong" to come looking for trouble. He had even planned out exactly how to handle them. After all, Morgans had already reported that he had made a deal with Dragon to release Belo Betty.
Yet, several days had passed, and absolutely nothing had happened. Even if they had seen through his intentions, shouldn't they have reacted? Why was everything so quiet?
'Knock, knock, knock...'
"Come in!"
"Rear Admiral!"
"Lucci, what is it?"
"We have news regarding Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Hmm? Where is he?"
Sean's expression immediately turned serious. It wasn't that he was desperate to kill Luffy, but the brat had escaped from his grasp—he felt that some form of accountability was necessary.
"Based on their current position, their next stop should be Alabasta!"
Alabasta...
'So, after Dragon rescued him, he just dropped him straight into the Grand Line?'
"Wait, they... the kid has companions?"
"According to the intelligence, there are two of them."
"Oh? He actually found some friends. Who is the other one?" Sean asked with interest.
Normally, by this point in the journey, Luffy would have already recruited Zoro, Usopp, Nami, Sanji, and Chopper. However, because of Sean's interference, Luffy had skipped his journey through the East Blue entirely. In other words, the original main crew was currently non-existent, except perhaps for Chopper. As for Robin, she wouldn't join unless Crocodile was dealt with.
So, who was this person? Could it be Chopper?
But that seemed strange. If it were Chopper, Lucci probably wouldn't have used the word "person" to describe him.
"Their identity is still unclear. The report describes a blond youth wearing noble attire and a top hat, approximately seventeen or eighteen years old. Additionally, he has a scar on his left cheek."
Sean's eyes widened.
That description—wasn't that Sabo?
But Sabo was supposed to be with the Revolutionary Army, holding the position of Chief of Staff. No matter how much Dragon loved his son, he wouldn't let Sabo just tag along with Luffy, would he?
Wait...
Suddenly, Sean realized a major oversight. The Sabo of this timeline wasn't the same as the one in the original story. At this point, he shouldn't have become the Chief of Staff yet. At most, he was likely just Dragon's disciple.
If the two had met early because Dragon had rescued Luffy, it wasn't impossible for Sabo's memories to have returned ahead of schedule. And once his memories returned, it made perfect sense for him to set out on an adventure with Luffy.
"Is there any other intelligence?"
"There is one more detail, though I'm not sure if it's significant."
"Let's hear it."
"The two are accompanied by a pet—it appears to be a young reindeer."
'Well, no need to guess anymore. That's definitely Chopper.'
"Lucci, how is the recruitment for the Pirate Guerilla Force progressing?"
"Of the current three squadrons, forty-eight people have been selected to form a brand new squadron. The remaining personnel have been reorganized into two squadrons, still under the command of Kaku and Jabra, responsible for patrolling the East Blue."
"A squadron size of forty-eight? That seems a bit small..."
"Rear Admiral, we only have fewer than two hundred Marines in active service. Once you subtract logistics, intelligence, and support staff..."
"I know. Notify Kaku and Jabra that their two squadrons will also participate this time. Leave the East Blue to old man Sanders; consider it practical combat training for the recruits."
"Understood!"
Lucci nodded, offering no objection. Though they were called recruits, over a hundred of them were from the batch that had failed their graduation exam and were repeating the year. Despite failing the exam, their actual strength was far from lacking. Currently, each of them had at least 300 Doriki, with some even exceeding 400. Dealing with some East Blue pirates would be a walk in the park.
"Right, Rear Admiral, one more thing!"
Just as Lucci was about to leave, he remembered something and spoke up again.
"What is it?"
"Regarding Roronoa Zoro. You mentioned letting him stay here for the time being, but it's already been over half a month..."
"Uh..."
Good grief. If Lucci hadn't reminded him, Sean would have forgotten about Zoro entirely. He had been so preoccupied with the Revolutionary Army business lately that he hadn't had a spare moment to think about the swordsman.
"Fine. Tell him to come to the training grounds at three this afternoon."
"Understood!"
'''
Three o'clock in the afternoon.
The branch training grounds.
As soon as Sean stepped out of the headquarters building, he saw the green-haired man with three swords hanging from his waist. Even without having clashed, Sean could tell that the current Zoro was...
A bit weak.
He was so weak that Sean couldn't even bring himself to get excited. But then again, this was two years before the original story began. Even at the start of the original series, Zoro was relatively weak, let alone now.
"Sean Campbell?"
"That's me!"
Seeing Sean approach, Zoro spoke. Sean simply nodded.
"I heard you're the strongest swordsman in the East Blue. I've been waiting for you for twenty days."
"My apologies. Unlike a bounty hunter like yourself, I'm quite busy every day."
"It doesn't matter. What matters is that you're standing in front of me now. That's enough!"
'Clang...'
As he spoke, Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji and clamped it between his teeth.
"Hold on, that's incredibly unhygienic. It's practically immoral!" Sean exclaimed. "How is this any different from those people who spray saliva all over a dish just to claim the food at the dinner table?"
"Hmm, it's a fine blade, but the next owner is probably going to... 'gag'!!"
Zoro, who was about to draw his remaining two swords, was left speechless, a vein popping on his forehead.
'Hey! That's going too far!!'
"Zoro, I heard your goal is to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, right?"
"That's right!"
"Wait a second. First, can you explain how you can speak so clearly while biting a sword?"
'???'
'Weren't we talking about the World's Greatest Swordsman? Why did it suddenly become about this?' Zoro felt like he couldn't keep up with Sean's train of thought.
"Cough, I'm getting sidetracked!"
"Since your goal is to be the greatest, do you know what conditions are required to reach that level—or rather, to possess the strength to even challenge that position?"
"Betting your life!"
"And?"
"Betting your life!"
"No, I mean, besides betting your life, what else?"
"Ignoring life and death entirely!"
...
'Do I feel like I'm playing a lute to a cow?' Sean was speechless.
"Third-rate swordsman, second-rate swordsman, first-rate swordsman, Swordsman, Great Swordsman... and as for the World's Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk, he is the existence that stands at the peak of all Great Swordsmen."
"Your current strength is barely that of a second-rate swordsman," Sean said coldly. "Forget being a Great Swordsman; even a regular master could kill you in a single strike."
"Do you really believe that simply staking your life is enough to become the World's Greatest Swordsman? You're insulting the way of the sword."
'Boom!!!'
The sword was drawn, swung, and brought down in one fluid motion.
A crescent-shaped, azure slash tore through the air, skimming the ground and racing into the distance. Sean had carefully controlled his power, aiming the strike away from any buildings. Despite the restraint, the attack carved a trench a meter deep into the earth, only dissipating once it reached the outer defensive walls.
Even so, Zoro's eyes widened in shock. He didn't even realize the Wado Ichimonji had slipped from his grip and clattered to the ground.
To Zoro, swordsmanship was about close-quarters combat. But what had he just witnessed? Sean had simply waved his hand, and...
'Was that actually a sword technique?'
"What... what did you just do?"
"That is the slash of a master. And the man you wish to challenge—the one who stands atop all Great Swordsmen, Hawkeye—do you really think he can be reached simply by 'staking your life'?"
Sean's single strike had completely shaken Zoro. Such power existed far beyond his current understanding.
Suddenly, Zoro remembered Sean's earlier words: 'Do you really believe that simply staking your life is enough to become the World's Greatest Swordsman? You're insulting the way of the sword.'
In truth, Sean almost admired the boy's ignorance, though not in a complimentary way. He recalled the original story—how Zoro had seen Hawkeye split Don Krieg's Dreadnaught Saber in half with one swing, yet still had the audacity to challenge him.
How was that any different from a suicide mission? If he weren't a member of the main protagonist's group, Zoro would be just like Luffy—someone who wouldn't survive a single episode.
Furthermore, Sean couldn't help but wonder if Koshiro's teaching methods were abysmal. Zoro had studied under him for ten years and only managed to reach a second-rate level. Even after all the fights he went through before the time skip, he had only just barely stepped into the ranks of first class swordsmen.
Such a promising seed had been stunted by Koshiro. Even Koshiro's own daughter, whose natural talent for the sword was even higher than Zoro's, believed that women could never become Great Swordsmen due to a lack of physical strength.
Koshiro was a complete disaster as a teacher.
Compare that to Hawkeye, who, in just two years after the Paramount War, had forged Zoro into a powerhouse. Now that was true efficiency.
'Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!'
Several figures quickly arrived on the scene.
"Rear Admiral, did something happen?" Lucci asked, glancing around. The commotion had been far too large to ignore.
"It's nothing. Fall back!"
"Yes, Rear Admiral!"
Sean turned his gaze back to Zoro, who was still standing there in a daze.
"Zoro, I'll give you two choices," Sean stated.
"First, continue challenging me. I will give you the duel you crave—a fight where we both stake our lives. The winner lives; the loser dies."
"Second, become my disciple. In two years, I can give you the power to defeat Hawkeye."
Death... or apprenticeship. It was as simple as that.
Sean didn't mind which path Zoro chose. If the boy insisted on seeking death, so be it. Of course, Sean might not actually kill him if he won, as Zoro wasn't a pirate or a villain. However, if he chose that path, his value to Sean would be completely lost.
But if he became his disciple...
With proper training and the addition of Sea King meat from the branch's stores, it wouldn't be difficult to push him to Hawkeye's level within two years. More importantly, Sean would have another powerhouse under his command. For the goals Sean had in mind for the future, one could never have too many strong allies.
'A Great Swordsman combined with a Zanpakutō... now that would be impressive.'
"Can you really make me strong enough to defeat Hawkeye in two years?"
"I can."
Zoro slowly picked up the Wado Ichimonji from the ground and sheathed it. Then...
'Thump!'
'''
The next day, a massive warship was prepared for departure.
Sean had three objectives for this voyage. First, naturally, was to recapture Luffy. Second, he needed to handle the situation in Alabasta and, if possible, track down Pluton. Third, he was going to Sky Island to make some money.
"Brother Sean... I mean, Rear Admiral Sean! Preparations are complete. Shall we depart?" Nami shouted as she ran toward him.
She actually looked the part. Now serving as Sean's official navigator, she was solely responsible for the course of this massive warship.
"Set sail!"
"Yes, Rear Admiral Sean!"
A short while later, the warship slowly left the harbor.
At that moment, Luffy was nearly arriving in Alabasta, and Crocodile was busy sowing chaos across the kingdom. Neither of them knew that their good days... were about to come to an end.