Inside the Commander-in-Chief's office at Navarone Base.
Jonathan stood by the window, holding a steaming cup of coffee. He gazed out at the night landscape for a long time in silence. Beside him, his adjutant stood ramrod straight, waiting quietly.
After a long pause, the silence broke.
"Vice Admiral Jonathan, I still don't understand why you insisted that ship was a ghost ship. We were certain—they are clearly the Straw Hat crew!"
Jonathan didn't rush to answer his adjutant's questioning. Instead, he took a slow, methodical sip of his coffee.
"Major, let me ask you: for what purpose do you think they invaded our Navarone?"
"That…"
The Major was momentarily at a loss for words. He thought for a moment and then whispered tentatively, "Could they be here to rescue Crocodile?"
"Heh, I'm surprised you can even say that with a straight face."
Jonathan shook his head helplessly and glanced at his adjutant, his wise eyes narrowing slightly. "Have you already forgotten what Captain Smoker told us a few days ago? The truth behind the Alabasta Incident."
"As the ones who took down the Desert Crocodile, why would they bother coming here to save their own enemy?"
"Uh, true. The Straw Hats definitely wouldn't do that." The Major shook his head, looking a bit embarrassed. But in the next moment, a spark of inspiration seemed to flash through his mind, and his eyes lit up.
"Vice Admiral Jonathan! Vice Admiral Jonathan!" The Major's tone was frantic, radiating the excitement of someone who had found the "correct" answer.
"Could it be… could this group be impersonating the Straw Hats to distract us, while they're actually here to stage a prison break?"
It was fortunate that Rear Admiral Black Raven wasn't here; otherwise, he would have been tripped up by this Marine Major's staggering mental gymnastics.
A peculiar expression crossed Jonathan's face, as if he were seeing his subordinate in a new, strange light. He finished the rest of his coffee in one gulp and walked over to his desk. The surface was impeccably tidy; aside from a few files, there was only a chessboard with the pieces neatly arranged.
"How should I put this…" Jonathan sat in his chair, interlacing his fingers. "I admire your imagination, Major. You really should consider writing novels."
"…" The Marine Major's stoic face was instantly flushed with embarrassment.
"In the kitchen of that small ship, the utensils were arranged with perfect order and were exceptionally well-maintained. Judging by the knife work on the prepared ingredients, their cook must be top-tier."
As he explained, Vice Admiral Jonathan pulled a black chess piece from the board and set it on the desk.
"Incidentally, those kitchen tools were all stamped with a magnificent fleur-de-lis emblem. That is the mark of the Goldglint Trading Company from the East Blue. It proves their cook hails from the East Blue."
"There were a vast number of books in the cabin. Based on the order they were stacked, they likely have a scholar among them who favors archaeology."
Clack— Another piece was placed on the desk.
"Several sea charts were hanging in the room…"
Jonathan continued his analysis, placing pieces as he went. Before long, five black chess pieces were lined up neatly on the desk.
"Add in 'Straw Hat,' 'Pirate Hunter,' and the 'Sorcerer,' and that makes eight in total."
With that, Jonathan placed three more black pieces in a row.
"Aside from a somewhat drastic discrepancy in food consumption, the number of people, the daily necessities on the ship, and the intel previously provided by the White Hunter all match up perfectly. There is no doubt—they are the genuine Straw Hat Pirates. I must say, Smoker's departure was quite timely."
"That's incredible, Vice Admiral Jonathan."
The Major looked on with admiration. He truly hadn't expected his superior to deduce so much useful intelligence from such minor details.
"Then, have you also calculated…?"
"No. I haven't a clue what these pirates are doing here either."
Jonathan gave a wry smile and shook his head. "That's why I insisted it was a ghost ship. On one hand, it was to keep the recruits in the fortress from panicking; on the other, it was so I could wait and see how things develop."
"After all, the best time for 'fishing' is when the water is still."
"I see…" The Major nodded in realization.
"Alright, go get some rest." Jonathan stretched. "As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, take a detachment and assist Rear Admiral Alan and Rear Admiral Fred from the shadows. Remember, assist them covertly."
"Also, if Rear Admiral Black Raven makes any unusual moves, you must inform me immediately."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Jonathan!" The Major gave a respectful, crisp salute and turned to leave.
Left alone in the spacious office, the supreme commander of Navarone Base stroked his mustache. He picked up a white chess piece and toyed with it in his hand.
"Black Raven—Falconi Fred. You're a young man who will stop at nothing to become an Admiral. What kind of scheme are you cooking up this time?"
"Or is this the intention of your family?"
Jonathan murmured to himself. Recalling the various things he had seen and heard during his time at Marine Headquarters, he pondered for a moment and let out a long sigh.
Clack—
He slammed the white piece onto the desk, positioning it directly opposite the eight black pieces.
(Regardless, this fortress is not a place for you to run wild…)
Looking at the nine pieces—eight black and one white—Jonathan chuckled, his eyes flashing with an inscrutable glint.
As time ticked away, the night that had kept many awake finally came to an end. The morning sun rose, and a new day began.
"What did you say?! Captain Smoker left G-8 two days ago?"
The blue-haired, airheaded Marine girl looked on in utter disbelief.
Ever since she had become a proud Marine in the East Blue, Tashigi had been following right on the heels of the White Hunter, from the East Blue all the way to the Grand Line. This was the first time she had been "abandoned" by her superior.
"Yeah. According to that bearded guy, Old Smokey accepted a 'Special Summons' from Headquarters."
Rear Admiral Alan strode down the center of the corridor, glancing left and right as if searching for something while talking to the female Marine behind her.
"Apparently, besides him, that guy whose head is full of nothing but strawberry milk was also summoned by HQ."
"What? Even Vice Admiral Hisoka was summoned?" Tashigi cried out in surprise.
Though she didn't know much about that blonde man with the natural perm, she was certain that the young Vice Admiral—who got along quite poorly with her own superior—possessed strength that was anything but ordinary.
"That's right. The Marines called by this summons are all elites from various regions. Who knows what kind of major event they're planning."
(As I thought, is it because my strength is holding him back?) Tashigi gripped the hilt of Shigure tightly, her fair face clouded with disappointment.
"Alright, alright, look at you. What's so great about that guy who does nothing but smoke cigars?" Seeing this, the black-and-white-haired, twin-tailed Gothic loli rolled her eyes.
"Worst case scenario, you can just be my adjutant from now on. With me covering for you, you can walk sideways through Marine Headquarters!"
"No, no, no, that won't be necessary. I think walking straight is… just fine. Really." Tashigi immediately shook her head like a rattle, leaving Alan with a forehead full of dark lines.
"Tch, have it your way then."
Looking into the distance again, the "expired loli" saw no sign of her target. She huffed, putting her hands on her hips and pouting cutely.
"Dammit, where are those Straw Hat brats hiding? I finally felt like doing something on a whim, so why won't they cooperate?"
"Um, Rear Admiral Alan."
Tashigi gently pushed up her glasses and said sheepishly, "I don't think the Straw Hat crew would be strolling boldly through the corridors of a Marine fortress…"
The airheaded Marine girl actually had a point, but unfortunately, some people simply love to deliver a reality check at the most awkward moments.
"Strange? I feel like I've been to this intersection before…"
Just as Tashigi finished speaking, an incredibly familiar voice drifted from around the corner of the intersection ahead of them.
Then, a green-haired swordsman with three blades tucked into his waist emerged from the side passage, strolling along with complete nonchalance.
Σ(ΟΔΟ)!!! (Θο)!
Tashigi and Alan—one big, one small—both stood there in sheer, wide-eyed bewilderment.
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