At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, inside the conference hall...
Dozens of high-ranking Marine officers were gathered around the long table.
Everyone stared silently at the document lying before them, leaving the room shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere.
"Those damned Five Elders have gone too far!"
Garp slammed his palm onto the table, the loud bang echoing throughout the hall.
"Didn’t they agree to put this matter on hold?"
Seeing the normally carefree Garp lose his temper so openly caught many of the officers by surprise.
But after reading the mobilization order issued by the Five Elders, everyone felt the same frustration boiling inside them.
"Garp, I already voiced my objections to the Five Elders three days ago."
Sengoku’s face darkened as he held the official order in his hand.
"I thought they might reconsider."
"But they’ve insisted that the recent movements of the Four Emperors have become increasingly abnormal, the Revolutionary Army has been causing endless trouble, and the fall of Enies Lobby has become the final catalyst."
"They believe the World Government needs to restore its authority."
"So they’ve ordered us to carry out the mobilization ahead of schedule."
"Besides..."
"This decision is closely tied to Vegapunk’s SSG Project."
"I’m afraid this isn’t a mission we can refuse."
He slowly scanned the room.
"The question now is..."
"Who will carry it out?"
The dozens of Marine officers immediately lowered their heads.
No one wanted to meet Sengoku’s gaze.
As Marines, none of them feared death.
But this mission...
It involved their former instructor.
No one wanted to take on such a thankless assignment.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, Sengoku’s expression grew even uglier.
He slammed the document onto the table.
"Damn it!"
"Normally you all fight each other over missions!"
"But now that something difficult comes along, none of you will say a word?"
"Do I have to go personally as Fleet Admiral?"
"If that’s the case, what do I even need all of you for?"
His furious voice reverberated through the conference hall.
The officers lowered their heads even farther.
Tsuru let out a quiet sigh.
"Sengoku, don’t blame them."
"This mission really is asking too much."
"Give them some time to think."
She glanced toward the Den Den Mushi resting nearby.
"Lucas has called more than ten times already."
"Aren’t you going to answer?"
"Answer him?"
Sengoku, already looking for somewhere to vent his anger, shot an irritated glance at the now-silent Den Den Mushi.
"Whenever that brat calls, it’s either about raising his salary or increasing his performance bonus."
"The Five Elders’ mobilization order is already giving me enough of a headache."
"If I answer his call now, I’ll probably lose my mind."
"Fortunately, he’s busy hunting down CP9."
"He shouldn’t have time to bother me for another week or so."
"At least I can enjoy a little peace."
As he said those words, the frustration on Sengoku’s face finally eased a little.
Unfortunately...
The moment his brow relaxed, Tsuru accepted an intelligence report from her aide and quietly placed it on the table.
Seeing that, Sengoku’s expression instantly changed.
"Tsuru..."
"What are you doing?"
"I ignored that brat’s calls."
"Don’t tell me he caused another disaster while I wasn’t answering."
"A disaster?"
Tsuru coughed lightly after glancing at the report.
"Not exactly."
"According to Ain and Isuka’s report, Admiral Lucas landed on Grove No. 3."
"He persuaded CP9 to surrender voluntarily."
The room immediately stirred.
CP9...
Had surrendered?
"But..."
Tsuru continued.
"Pica, one of the Donquixote Family’s top executives under Seven Warlord Doflamingo, interfered with Marine law enforcement."
"To be more precise..."
"He attacked an Admiral."
"He was subsequently defeated and seriously injured by Lucas."
The conference hall fell silent once again.
"And then..."
"Three CP0 agents..."
She paused.
"Or rather..."
"Three people claiming to be CP0 suddenly appeared."
"They attempted to bribe the Admiral with a Devil Fruit."
"Lucas refused."
"They were also severely injured..."
"...and brought back together with Pica."
"Judging by the timing..."
"They should already be here."
Everyone present went numb.
What kind of report was this?
They had only just recovered from the shock of CP9 surrendering.
Now they were being told that Lucas had even dragged back one of the Seven Warlords’ executives...
Along with CP0.
Wasn’t that completely insane?
Bang!
The conference hall doors swung open.
Lucas strolled inside leisurely with a wine gourd in one hand.
Ain and Isuka followed behind him.
Trailing them were the captured members of CP9...
Along with the "packaged" CP0 agents and Pica.
Unlike CP9, however...
The three CP0 agents and Pica were all lying on stretchers, wrapped from head to toe in bandages.
The miserable sight made everyone’s eyelids twitch.
Just what had they done...
To end up beaten into this condition?
Pica had interfered with Marine law enforcement?
The three had pretended to be CP0?
Sengoku stared at the four battered figures.
His face had turned completely green.
His eyes slowly shifted toward the Den Den Mushi he had ignored moments earlier.
After a long silence, he forced out each word through gritted teeth.
"Admiral Lucas..."
"From now on..."
"I’ll answer every single one of your calls."
"Couldn’t you have called me a few more times?!"
"A few more?"
Lucas took another sip of strong liquor before casually dropping into his Admiral’s seat.
"Forget it."
"You’re busy with important matters every day, old man."
"I figured I’d just come back in person and give you a surprise."
"I’ve brought CP9 back."
"While I was at it, I also packaged up one of the Seven Warlords’ subordinates for interfering with Marine law enforcement..."
"...along with three fake CP0 agents."
"If there’s no problem..."
"Help me calculate how much bounty reward they’re worth."
"I’ve been a little short on cash lately."
"If you could add another one or two million Berries, that’d be even better."
The gathered Marine officers were completely dumbfounded.
The four people lying on those stretchers...
Were individuals that would normally give any of them a massive headache.
Yet in Lucas’s eyes...
They were simply worth another million or two in bounty money.
The contrast was absurd.
"S-Sengoku!"
Spandine struggled upright on his stretcher, tearing the bandages from his mouth.
"I want to file a complaint!"
"I’m formally accusing your new Marine Admiral—Admiral Glutton Lucas—of assaulting CP0!"
"When the Five Elders hear about this, Marine Headquarters will pay dearly!"
Lucas turned around and glanced at the furious Spandine.
He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with an innocent expression.
"He’s really CP0?"
"I’m new here."
"I don’t know who anyone is."
The entire conference hall fell silent.
Even Ain and Isuka were speechless.
They had seen plenty of people lie through their teeth before.
But someone who could tell such an outrageous lie...
With such a sincere and innocent expression...
That was a first.
"Hahaha!"
Garp burst into laughter.
"Well, CP0, that’s your own fault."
"You knew Lucas was new."
"When you coordinated the mission, why didn’t you ask Sengoku for some identification documents?"
"If you’d done that, Lucas wouldn’t have arrested the wrong people."
"You’ve only wasted one of our Admirals’ valuable time."
Spandine nearly fainted from rage.
So getting beaten up is somehow my fault?
You old bastard... you’re unbelievable.
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