"Pfft! Hahahahaha…"
Vice Admiral Garp clutched his stomach, roaring with laughter. "Save it, Sengoku! If Pirates could be so easily subdued by us Marines, then every Pirate out there would be a reserve Marine by now!"
"Shirogai is different from other Pirates!" Sengoku countered, his tone serious. "There isn't an unavoidable conflict between him and the Marines."
He pulled a file from his cabinet and tossed it toward Garp. "Although Shirogai Yamikuro has been quite restless lately, I've studied the reports from Aokiji, Kizaru, and Smoker carefully. My conclusion is clear."
He paused, his gaze steady. "He's a good man — one who upholds justice similar to our own."
Garp raised a brow, catching the file but not bothering to look. "A good person, huh? What kind of good person becomes a Pirate and still fights the Marines?" He tossed the file back carelessly and yawned. "Even if there was no conflict before, there sure is now."
"Hmm?" Sengoku's brows furrowed.
"Don't act clueless," Garp said, his voice turning sharp. "You know how that Celestial Dragon died, don't you?"
He gave Sengoku a knowing look of contempt. "After Shirogai fought the Four Emperor, Big Mom, that Celestial Dragon was found dead in her territory. What are you planning to do, pin it on her crew?"
Sengoku stayed calm. "Of course. Saint Simone was killed by a member of Big Mom's Pirates. I've already reported that to the higher-ups in the World Government."
Garp chuckled, shaking his head. "Sengoku, it seems you've got quite the soft spot for that kid. Covering up a Celestial Dragon's death… who would've thought."
Stretching his arms, Garp stood and smirked. "Guess I'll go check in on my grandson. Maybe I'll talk to Shirogai's Vice Captain and convince him to switch careers—from Pirate Emperor to Marine Admiral!"
"I'll leave that matter to you," Sengoku replied with a tired sigh.
He knew that whenever Garp got involved, chaos tended to follow. The man was not only one of the strongest Marines alive — even the Pirates respected him as someone on par with the Four Emperors.
"Still," Garp said, pausing by the door, "if I were you, I wouldn't relax just yet. I'd be worried about one thing…"
Sengoku glanced up. "And what's that?"
Garp's grin widened. "Guess where that troublemaker disappeared to?"
Sengoku's expression tightened.
"He's mastered Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit. His mobility's insane. Why do you think he picked fights with Kaido and Linlin?"
"To warn others," Sengoku muttered.
"Heh, he didn't just warn them," Garp laughed. "He overturned the tiger's den! His reputation's gotten too big — now even the Emperors can't ignore him."
He crossed his arms, grinning proudly. "I like this kid. Not only strong, but smart. He knew he couldn't keep his strength hidden anymore, so instead of hiding, he turned it into a threat — a warning to anyone who might harm his crew or his people. Smart deterrent, don't you think?"
Sengoku quietly sipped his tea. "I think so too. The Gorosei's plan failed the moment he defeated two Emperors in a row. None of them will dare touch his reverse scale now."
Garp smirked. "You think it's over already? You're underestimating Shirogai's youthful vigor."
Sengoku froze mid-sip. "Wait… there are four Emperors."
The realization hit him. "Pfft!"
Tea sprayed across his desk as Sengoku leapt to his feet. He snatched up the Den Den Mushi and barked into it: "Red alert! Warn all nearby Marine warships — stay clear of Whitebeard and Red-Hair's territories! Be on full alert for possible hostilities!"
The Vice Admiral on the other end stammered, "Fleet Admiral, are you saying the Whitebeard and Red-Hair Pirates are about to clash?"
"No!" Sengoku roared. "A certain lunatic might be heading their way!"
"Someone's challenging two of the Four Emperors?!"
"You don't need to know more. Just stay away and report any unusual activity immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
When Sengoku turned back, Garp was gone. Typical.
After a long silence, Sengoku sighed. "If it's Shirogai… he just might do it. Young people truly are full of fire."
"Heh, well, it's fine," a calm voice said suddenly behind him.
Sengoku froze. "Who's there?!"
He turned sharply.
Sitting on the Fleet Admiral's chair, legs crossed, was a young man with jet-black hair and a white coat — smiling like he owned the place.
Sengoku's face darkened. He recognized that face from countless Marine reports.
"Plunderer… Shirogai Yamikuro," he said grimly.
The young man smiled. "Long time no see, Buddha Sengoku."
"You've got guts," Sengoku said coldly. "A Pirate waltzing into Marineford and showing himself before the Fleet Admiral?"
"It's fine," Shirogai said lightly. "This isn't my main body anyway. Even if you destroy this clone, I won't lose anything."
He rose from the chair, strolling around the office and glancing at the decorations. "Hmm. Simpler than I expected. I thought the Fleet Admiral's office would be lavish."
Sengoku straightened his glasses. "The Marines don't waste resources. Every Berry we spend comes from the allied nations' taxes. Not a single coin should be wasted."
Shirogai nodded approvingly. "As expected of the Fleet Admiral. Your sense of duty surpasses most Marines."
"Enough with the flattery," Sengoku replied flatly.
"I'm not here for conflict," Shirogai said, sitting back down casually. "I just came to discuss something."
"I don't usually discuss matters with Pirates," Sengoku said, narrowing his eyes. "But given your… reputation, I'll hear you out."
Shirogai twirled a pen between his fingers. "Someday, I'd like you to pardon someone's crimes."
"Who?"
"For now," he said softly, "you don't need to know."
"No," Sengoku said firmly. "If I don't know what they did, I can't pardon them."
Shirogai smiled faintly. "As expected of Buddha Sengoku — unwavering and righteous to the core. Not even a speck of sand escapes your justice."
He sighed. "But let me give you a warning. When something has the potential to worsen… it will inevitably fall into the abyss."
"Maybe we can still talk face to face," Sengoku offered. "Whatever you seek as a Pirate could be achieved within the Marines."
"Haha, you want to recruit me?" Shirogai laughed. "You can't afford the consequences of that."
"What if I can?" Sengoku pressed. "You talk about ideals — how do you know we can't realize them unless you try?"
"Because…" Shirogai's voice turned calm, eyes sharp as steel. "The justice I pursue is Justice of Born Equality — a world where ordinary people can live in peace. And that's something you can't deliver, though I naturally do not care about people, but it's fun having a goal like that no?"
Sengoku fell silent, frowning. "Justice of Born Equality… admirable, but far too idealistic."
Shirogai shook his head. "Well, If the world doesn't need ideals, then what's the point of the Marines' justice? Isn't justice itself an ideal?"
His body began to fade, turning translucent.
"As long as the Celestial Dragons exist, true equality will never be born. The Marines have become the foundation of their tyranny."
Sengoku didn't move, watching quietly as Shirogai's image vanished into light.
Only his voice lingered.
"The Marines are the greatest obstacle to the world's rebirth."
A pause.
"So, Fleet Admiral…"
His tone turned cold, almost amused.
"Are you and your Marines ready for a death match against the world itself?"
_____
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