Wright nodded. "Red-Haired Shanks once stayed in the East Blue for a long time."
"Was that during the time Garp rushed back to search the entire East Blue in a frenzy? I remember you were dealing with the Germa at that time."
Sengoku nodded. That time, Shanks had made the Marines look utterly foolish—staying in the East Blue for over a year without anyone noticing!
However, Shanks had returned missing an arm, leaving everyone utterly baffled.
"No, it was even earlier... before Red-Haired had even established his pirate crew!"
"You mean..."
Sengoku looked at Wright in surprise, while Tsuru smiled with interest.
"That's right. When I had just finished my apprenticeship and set out to sea for the first time, I met a young Shanks."
Wright winked. "Back then, he was searching for crewmates alone in the East Blue. We fought once, and he invited me to be his ship's doctor—but I turned him down!"
"Ship's doctor..."
Sengoku covered his forehead, feeling immense relief. If Wright had accepted Shanks' invitation back then, what would the world look like now?
The Red-Haired Pirates—Shanks, Benn Beckman, and Wright—how could anyone oppose that lineup? With Wright's formidable healing abilities, there was no way Shanks would have lost his arm.
A two-armed Shanks... just how powerful would he be now?
"So, you had history with Shanks, which is why you dared to go to the Red-Haired Pirates alone without fear of being attacked?"
Tsuru chuckled, nodding. "You little brat, you've been hiding this from us for years!"
"Who would have thought back then that Shanks would become such a big shot—one of the Pirate King's former crewmates, tsk tsk..."
Wright feigned nonchalance, making Tsuru shake her head helplessly.
"So, you went to Shanks, fought him, and made a deal for him to turn a blind eye to the G-10 Branch incident... but what does this have to do with Teach?"
"When I first met Shanks, and even when he set out from the East Blue with his crew, there were no three scars on his left eye!"
Wright's serious tone stunned both Sengoku and Tsuru. As the Navy's top strategists, they immediately thought of one question—
"Those three scars... were left by that Teach?!"
"That's right. Marshall D. Teach of the Whitebeard Pirates left those three scars on Shanks' eye—and Shanks wasn't careless when it happened!"
Wright tapped the table. "Regardless of Shanks' strength at the time, if Teach could accomplish that, then now, with Shanks as an Emperor... how could Teach still be obscure?"
"I believe this man has been hiding his strength, waiting for something aboard Whitebeard's ship!"
"With Whitebeard's massive territory and strength, if there was something to obtain, the Whitebeard Pirates would have the highest chance of possessing it—aside from the Underworld."
"Now that Teach has obtained that thing, he has shown his true colors—killing and seizing treasure! With the strength to wound Shanks, it wouldn't be difficult to kill Whitebeard's Fourth Division Commander Thatch, especially if he used his position to launch a sneak attack."
"On Whitebeard's ship, killing a crewmate is an unforgivable taboo—especially now that Whitebeard has recovered his health and fears no challenge!"
"This explains the current situation—Marco the Phoenix, Whitebeard's second-in-command, personally leading the hunt!"
"Rosinante's report has filled in the last piece of the puzzle..."
Sengoku pinched the bridge of his nose and said gravely:
"If Teach truly has such strength and patience... then what you just proposed is highly likely!"
"Everything unusual about the Whitebeard Pirates makes sense now!"
"To think, we were planning to capture one of Whitebeard's commanders to lure them into war—yet the first fallen commander was killed by one of their own!"
"Hah, breaking the fortress from within is always easier than attacking from outside, isn't it?" Tsuru said coolly. "Now, there's an opportunity—Marco, chasing Teach alone."
"Teach will definitely flee Whitebeard's territory, and Marco will pursue him!"
"If we capture them both after their battle, we can implement the strategy we discussed."
Sengoku stroked his braided beard thoughtfully and nodded.
"Forget Teach for now—even if we catch him, Whitebeard won't come to save him... or perhaps, Whitebeard might come personally to kill him."
Sengoku snorted. Knowing Whitebeard, he just might.
"But Marco... Whitebeard would definitely come to rescue him!"
"Marco is more than just a division commander—if Whitebeard's crewmates are his 'sons,' then Marco is his 'eldest son.'"
"Having his own son killed by a traitor, then his eldest son captured—Whitebeard might mobilize his entire crew!"
"Especially now, at his peak, Whitebeard fears no challenge—even if it's the entire Marine Headquarters!"
Wright glanced at Tsuru. As expected of the Grand Strategist—she had already pinpointed the key and devised a tactic favorable to the Marines.
"Now, we only need to wait—for Marco to clash with Teach."
Wright paused, emphasizing a point:
"Marco possesses the Phoenix Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, granting flight, extreme mobility, and near-invulnerability. We know nothing of Teach's abilities."
"I suggest we observe their first battle carefully. I trust Marco's experience—he won't risk his life against an unknown opponent, giving us the perfect opportunity."
"Agreed. From now on, keep a close eye on Marco's movements!"
Sengoku made the final decision. "As for Teach—if our deductions are correct, he won't remain obscure for long."
"Based on the strength he displays, we'll formulate our next move!"
...
Time passed in waiting and preparation, ushering in the new year.
At Marine Headquarters, the Ox Bell tolled sixteen times—eight times to give thanks for the past year, and eight times to pray for the new one.
Wright, accompanied by Vice Admiral Rosinante, Vice Admiral Smoker, Rear Admiral Hina, Commodore Kuina, Commodore T. Bone, Captain Portgas D. Ace, Commander Tashigi, and Commander Cavendish, attended the New Year's celebration.
"Indeed... 'The Beginning and End of an Era.' This year will be the year the era runs wild..."
Wright murmured, glancing at his formidable subordinates.
"Everyone has grown stronger through their trials in the New World."
"I can't wait to see how the world—and Luffy's adventure—will unfold in a few months' time..."
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