"Vrrmmm—"
The massive battleship slowly docked, its towering shadow engulfing the ancient stone steps.
Shandora.
The legendary City of Gold lay unveiled before everyone's eyes.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, cascading down onto the city forged entirely of pure gold, reflecting a blinding, breathtaking brilliance.
Shandora.
"..."
Gulp.
The accompanying Marine soldiers, the moment they set foot on this land, collectively swallowed hard.
They had seen blood, they had seen fire, they had faced the most brutal pirates and heard the most desperate screams.
But they had never witnessed something this absurd.
An entire city… made of gold.
Just how many… Belly would this even be worth?!
"Clink—"
The cigar clenched between Smoker's teeth slipped from his mouth and fell to the ground.
The face that was usually carved with irritation and frustration was, at this moment, frozen in pure shock.
That bastard Hawke!
So this was his target from the very start—this Golden City!
But… how did he even know about it?!
This man… his ambition and vision were far beyond anything Smoker could have imagined.
"This…"
"This is…"
Kujaku's knuckles turned pale from gripping her sword hilt too tightly.
As Vice Admiral Tsuru's granddaughter, she immediately understood the terrifying power hidden behind this immense wealth.
Military funding. Weapons. Battleships…
With this fortune, the Marines could completely free themselves from dependence on the World Government.
And the key to all of this… was in Hawke's hands.
No wonder—no wonder Grandma held him in such high regard! Fresh out of headquarters, stepping into his very first mission after arriving at the G-3 Branch…
And he was about to hand Grandma such a massive surprise?!
"..."
"Begin transport."
Hawke's calm voice broke through the golden silence.
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines' bodies jolted as they shouted in unison.
They quickly organized into teams and began entering Shandora, carefully carrying out golden bells, golden pillars, golden bricks, and golden artifacts, piece by piece, back to the giant battleship.
Clang… clang…
Gold clashed against the deck, producing dull yet melodious sounds.
"…"
Hawke silently observed the entire scene.
This shipment of gold was not just wealth—it was a lever powerful enough to shift the future balance of power.
However, the sheer amount of gold on Skypiea, if sent back to headquarters all at once, would inevitably alert the World Government's informants, especially the CP organizations.
Exposing his trump card too early, before he had fully spread his wings, would only invite unnecessary trouble.
Hawke had already thought everything through.
This time, he would only transport a single battleship's worth of gold—and deliver it to the G-3 Branch.
At his own branch, where he held absolute authority, he could avoid the World Government's watchful eyes.
At the same time, this would allow Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the higher-ups to witness the undeniable reality of the Golden City, proving to them the possibility of the Marines breaking free from financial dependence.
As for how the upper brass would discreetly and gradually convert this treasure into Marine strength… that would be their headache, not his.
His job now was to slam this military funding onto their table and tell them:
The money. I've secured it.
The rest… is on you.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Hawke turned around and called over two figures who had just finished their battle.
"Sanji. Zoro."
"Hawke-san!"
Sanji and Zoro approached, one after the other.
Hawke first glanced at Sanji, his gaze carrying a rare note of approval.
"Sanji, you did well this time."
"Combat isn't just about fists and blades."
"Calm analysis and finding the right solution are just as much a part of your strength."
"Yes, sir!"
Sanji instantly straightened his back, pride nearly overflowing from his face after receiving Hawke's praise.
He couldn't resist sneaking a sideways glance at the moss-head beside him, his eyes brimming with open provocation.
See that?!
Hawke acknowledged me!
That's right—tactical misdirection, got it?
Tactics!
Something a muscle-brained swordsman who only knows how to slash wouldn't ever understand!
"When we return to the branch, I'll personally issue your promotion documents."
Hawke dropped the real reward, "Headquarters Lieutenant Commander, Sanji."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Sanji's salute was crisp, his voice trembling slightly from excitement.
Headquarters Lieutenant Commander!
He actually did it!
One rank higher than the moss-head!
Hawke nodded slightly, then turned to Zoro.
"Zoro."
"Your promotion to Lieutenant will also be issued at the same time."
"…"
Zoro froze for a moment upon hearing that.
Though Lieutenant was technically one rank below that smug curly-browed cook, it was still Hawke's recognition.
From Third-Class Seaman straight to Headquarters Lieutenant—that was a promotion most people couldn't even dream of.
Taking a deep breath, Zoro forced down the annoyance in his chest and replied in a deep voice:
"Understood."
This time, he had lost.
Tricked by that damn curly-brow and his underhanded tactics.
But that didn't mean he accepted defeat.
Hmph. Just wait, damn cook. You think you don't have any weaknesses?
Next time, don't blame me for what happens!
"..."
Hawke couldn't help but chuckle inwardly as he watched their starkly different reactions.
This healthy rivalry was exactly what he wanted to see.
He gave a slight nod and said no more.
Thunk—
Before long, the battleship's cargo hold was completely packed with gleaming gold, the weight so immense that the entire ship sank a little lower into the clouds.
The Marines hauling the treasure were drenched in sweat and panting heavily, but their faces were glowing with excitement.
They knew their Commodore well—he would never pocket this gold for himself.
If this treasure wasn't sent to headquarters, it would be reinvested into the G-3 Branch.
Better equipment. Doubled salaries. Luxury training facilities. And, of course, top-tier meals prepared by Chef Sanji himself!
The mere thought of it filled the soldiers with renewed energy.
Serving under Commodore Hawke… was worth it.
"Vrrmmm—"
The massive battleship slowly departed, setting course for Angel Island.
Hibari curiously ran up to Hawke and tugged at his sleeve.
"Hawke-san, aren't we heading straight back to the branch?"
Hawke ruffled her hair.
"Since we're here, we might as well buy some Skypiea specialties to bring back."
"Skypiea shells are excellent stuff!"
...
Meanwhile.
New World, G-5 Branch.
One of the Marines' rare footholds in the New World—and also its most infamous.
Inside the branch commander's office.
Tap—
Vice Admiral Vergo sat at his desk, his fingers rhythmically tapping against the wooden surface.
A half-eaten beef patty clung absurdly to his cheek, giving him a comical appearance. But behind his sunglasses, his hidden gaze was sharp, calculating, and cold.
He was reviewing the latest personnel transfer files sent from headquarters.
"Doffy asked me to find out which Marine dared to provoke him in Paradise…"
Vergo's fingertip stopped on one particular page.
Rayne Hawke.
Former Commander of the 16th Branch of the East Blue, now promoted exceptionally to Commodore at Headquarters, currently serving as the G-3 Branch Base Commander.
"Hm…?"
Vergo's brow furrowed slightly.
Among the newly appointed branch commanders in Paradise, there was only one.
Could it be… the one who provoked Doffy… was Commodore Hawke?
"!!!"
Suddenly, a chilling thought flashed through Vergo's mind—rumors had been circulating among Marine higher-ups lately.
Provoking Commodore Hawke… could shake the entire headquarters.
No…
No way.
But Vergo realized an alarming possibility.
This time… Doffy might've kicked an iron wall!
No.
"We must notify Doffy immediately!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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