Chapter 14: 14. Headquarters Meeting

Naval Headquarters Marineford This was the legendary bastion of justice, a fortress renowned worldwide as the stronghold against the scourge of pirates. At this moment, in the office of the newly appointed Fleet Admiral, Sengoku the Buddha, tension ran high. "Have they still not found her?!" Sengoku demanded, anxiety clear in his voice. The Vice Admiral who had entered to report could only offer a strained smile. "We've deployed nearby warships to search the area, but there's still no trace of Rear Admiral Gion." The situation was far from ideal. Based on their analysis, the enemy possessed the Float-Float Fruit, allowing them to travel not just by sea but also through the elusive skies, making tracking nearly impossible—like searching for a needle in the ocean. "Now, Sengoku," Garp chimed in, trying to ease the tension as he observed the Vice Admiral's discomfort under Sengoku's scrutiny, "the enemy's a Float-Float user. Their movements are just as unpredictable as those of Shiki back in the day. You and I both know how slippery they can be." Sengoku's expression tightened. "It's that jailer from Impel Down a few years ago. The one who somehow managed to obtain the Float-Float Fruit ability!" His voice grew heavier, burdened with frustration. "I didn't think that unassuming jailer from back then would grow strong enough to defeat Gion without so much as a scratch. Are we on the verge of facing a new 'Flying Admiral'?" "And he didn't just defeat her," Sengoku continued with rising anger. "He abducted a Rear Admiral from Naval Headquarters itself! How could someone with the Float-Float ability act so brazenly?" If Alex had been present, he might have retorted that the power of the Float-Float Fruit was indeed meant to defy limits—but he wasn't there to quip. And in the fury of the Fleet Admiral's office, no one else dared to test Sengoku's patience, except for his old friends who had stood by him through countless battles. "There's likely no immediate danger to Gion," came the calm voice of Chief of Staff Tsuru. Her tone remained steady, yet those familiar with her knew how deeply worried she must have been. Gion's close relationship with Tsuru was well-known within Marineford, and Tsuru's words carried extra weight. "The fact that she was taken rather than injured suggests they may want something specific," Tsuru continued. Sengoku's shoulders eased slightly, though he remained tense. "Tsuru, what do you think their goal could be? Could it have something to do with the Shichibukai proposal?" With the onset of the Great Pirate Era, the government had recently introduced the Shichibukai system—a policy that offered pirates limited legality in exchange for their cooperation. Sengoku couldn't help but wonder if this stranger had some ulterior motive connected to it; after all, it wasn't unusual these days to hear pirates boasting about their aspirations to join the Shichibukai. Tsuru shook her head thoughtfully. "It's hard to say. But if they want something, I expect we'll receive a call from a Den Den Mushi soon enough." There was an unspoken thought lingering in Tsuru's mind—one she didn't share aloud. The possibility that Gion had been taken hostage, or that someone could use her image as a disguise, was a troubling scenario. Given her experience with the world's darker dealings, she knew the lengths to which enemies might go. But this was Gion, someone dear to her, and she didn't want to dwell on that possibility. At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from outside the office, and a Marine's voice broke through before he even reached the door. "Report to the Fleet Admiral! We received a Den Den Mushi call from Rear Admiral Gion!" Sengoku sprang up immediately. "Bring it in! Now!" The Marine quickly handed the branch's Den Den Mushi to Sengoku, then stepped back outside, leaving the trio in tense silence. The Den Den Mushi stayed silent for a moment before Tsuru, unable to wait any longer, called out, "Gion?" The Den Den Mushi suddenly came to life with a familiar, clear voice. "Sister Tsuru, it's me." Tsuru's heart eased a bit, though concern still edged her tone. "Gion, are you alright? What happened?" Gion replied, "He let me go. I'm on Boarmei Island, near Sabaody." Both Sengoku and Tsuru echoed her response in disbelief, "He let you go?!" "I don't know why," Gion answered, sounding equally puzzled. "When I woke up, I was just... here, on this island." The trio exchanged looks of surprise. No one had expected this. Tsuru regained her composure first and instructed, "Understood. Stay put there, Gion. We'll send a warship to pick you up. We'll discuss everything in detail once you're back." "Understood," Gion replied, and the Den Den Mushi call ended with a soft click. With Gion's safety confirmed, the office settled back into the familiar trio's discussion. Sengoku was the first to break the silence. "What do you make of Gion's account?" "What's there to think?" Garp replied, relaxed now. "Didn't she say that brat left her on the island while she was unconscious?" His easy tone contrasted with the tension in the room, and he casually leaned back on the couch, picking his nose without a care. Tsuru crossed her arms, frowning. "Garp's right. I raised Gion myself. Are you really doubting her, Sengoku?" Sengoku sighed, realizing he'd let his concern color his words. "No, of course not. Gion's as much a part of our Marine family as any of us. I was only trying to understand why Alex would do this." "We're not all-knowing, Sengoku," Tsuru said calmly. "We can only piece together as much truth as we're given." Garp chuckled, adding, "Yeah, like how Roger turned himself in just to spark his own crazy 'Era of Pirates.'" "Garp, you idiot, if you're going to speak, try to make sense!" Sengoku snapped, snatching a rice cracker from Garp's hand, looking irritated and baffled. Tsuru watched her lifelong friends, two high-ranking officers who still managed to bicker like old times. Shaking her head with a sigh, she turned to leave the office but paused to offer a final word of caution. "Since Gion's unharmed, our next focus should be on Alex. With the Float-Float ability, Conqueror's Haki, and formidable swordsmanship, he's like the second coming of the Golden Lion—and younger, too. From here, there's no telling how far he could rise."