The news of Tatsuki being taken away by CP0 quickly reached the ears of the Marine top brass.
Fleet Admiral's Office.
Kong slammed his fist on the desk, making the teacups rattle.
"Bastards! Those CP jerks actually took someone right from under my nose!"
Sengoku pushed up his glasses, his expression equally grave. "They carry the Gorosei's orders, we have no right to interfere."
"What do those five old geezers want?" Garp picked his nose with an indifferent look, but a hint of worry flashed deep in his eyes.
"That kid Tatsuki might have a bit of a foul mouth, but his heart is in the right place."
Sengoku glanced at Garp, who was still speaking well of Tatsuki, and sighed in his heart.
He knew things were far from that simple. A summons from the Gorosei was always a test.
Pass, and you'd soar to the heavens.
Fail...
"I hope that kid understands what should be said and what... shouldn't."
Sengoku looked out the window at the stretch of sea leading to the Red Line, which at this moment seemed exceptionally deep.
— — —
A while ago.
Holy Land Mary Geoise, Room of Authority.
This is the pinnacle of the world, a room that allows no direct sunlight.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the sea of clouds churned, but the curtains were tightly drawn, leaving only a few gaps that projected oppressive beams of light, making the dust floating in the air clearly visible.
Five figures were scattered on the sofas.
"Kong seems to be becoming increasingly opinionated."
Saint Topman Warcury, the Warrior God of Finance, who had a long white beard and a dot-like scar on his forehead, tapped the carpet lightly with his cane, his voice devoid of warmth.
"The proposal to cut basic military spending to supplement the 'Heavenly Tribute' was rejected by him again."
"His prestige is too high."
A bald swordsman in a white dōgi, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, held Shodai Kitetsu in his arms, eyes closed, thumb rubbing the tsuba.
"He has dealt with Roger, Whitebeard, and that lot for too long. He has probably forgotten who his master is. It's time for him to move." The voice of the giant blond man, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, rumbled like thunder.
"The position of Commander-in-Chief has been vacant. Give him a supreme honorary title and invite him to the Holy Land to spend his retirement. This will also wake up the Marines."
"A good proposal." Nusjuro's thumb slowly rubbed the tsuba of Shodai Kitetsu. "Then, what about the position of Fleet Admiral?"
"Sengoku?" Warcury mused.
"Although he also talks about justice, at least he understands 'order' and sees the big picture."
"Unlike that bastard Garp, who listens to nothing but fighting. If his reputation weren't still useful, he should have been dealt with long ago."
"Zephyr is also nearing his end, thinking only of retiring to teach, having lost his edge." Saint Shepherd Ju Peter concluded. "Our influence over the Marine high command is weakening."
The room returned to silence.
They were the kings of the world, yet the Marines, their sharpest blade, showed signs of slipping from their control. This made them very uncomfortable.
Click.
Nusjuro sheathed his sword, the crisp sound like a verdict on some destiny.
"We need fresh blood. Drive a new nail into the heart of the Marines for us."
This proposal drew the eyes of the other four.
"Speaking of which..."
Nusjuro's voice echoed eerily. "That newcomer named Tatsuki."
Child of the Storm, Tatsuki.
As soon as this name was mentioned, the atmosphere in the air became subtle.
"That stupid bird Morgans is quite good at coming up with nicknames." Peter said, tapping his finger on the armrest of the sofa.
"His resume is very clean—a Marine orphan, born and bred in the system. But his rise has been too fast."
Saturn's gaze was scrutinizing. "The key is his ability, the Logia Storm-Storm Fruit. This fruit has been missing since eight hundred years ago, with only the phrase 'walking natural disaster' left in the encyclopedia."
"Developed to its limit, one person is an army, even comparable to an Ancient Weapon. To think it was eaten by such a kid."
"Precisely because of this, we must be vigilant." Saint Marcus Mars, the Warrior God of Agriculture, said in a low voice.
"His reputation is too high. Look at his speech at the decoration ceremony."
Nusjuro picked up a newspaper from his side.
On the front page was Tatsuki's radiant profile as he gave his speech, with the headline "The Soul of the Marines, the Torch of the New Era!".
"'Break free from the cold air and just move upward'?"
"'If there is no torch after this, I will be the only light'?"
Nusjuro read these two lines, his voice carrying undisguised mockery.
"Well written, very inflammatory. However, guys with an excess of justice are the most troublesome."
"The only light?"
Saturn sneered, his sarcasm blatant, "Arrogant."
"In this world, the only light can only be Imu-sama."
Peter shook his head, as if listening to an unfunny joke. "Justice? On this sea, what we say is justice. A fellow whose head is full of ethereal things—the stronger his power, the greater the threat to 'order'."
"Therefore, this summons is very necessary."
Nusjuro stood up, walked to the huge curtains, and looked down at the mist-shrouded world below.
"Bring him to Mary Geoise, to the center of power."
"Let him see for himself how ridiculous the things he believes in are in the face of the true 'world'."
"Give him a choice."
"If he is smart enough to understand what true 'order' and 'interests' are, we don't mind giving him a chance to soar to the heavens in a single step."
"But if..."
Nusjuro's hand pressed the hilt of Shodai Kitetsu, a cold light flashing in the slits of his eyes.
"He is just a fool full of naive fantasies..."
"Then, before he grows into a second 'Garp', let him disappear in some 'accident' on the Grand Line."
"The fall of a genius can also serve to knock Kong and Garp down a peg."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Seconded."