A Marine warship cut steadily through the sea, sailing from Spring Queen City toward Marineford.
On the open deck, Vice Admiral Tsuru sat calmly at a small table, enjoying tea and delicate snacks. Across from her rested a Den Den Mushi, its round face animated as it relayed a live call with Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"So, the boy agreed to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Sengoku's voice echoed through the snail.
The Den Den Mushi mimicked Sengoku's stern expression with uncanny accuracy. Tsuru quietly rotated the snail slightly to the side before setting down her teacup.
Sengoku paused.
"...Did you just turn me away?"
Tsuru ignored that.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. However, he has conditions."
"Let me hear them."
"The first concerns North Blue. He wants everything that happened there treated as though it never occurred. Furthermore, no one is to harass the people of Diwen Village for any reason in the future."
Sengoku nodded on the other end. "Reasonable."
"The second condition is that he cannot be invited under the identity of a pirate."
Sengoku gave a low hum. "As expected. That child truly despises pirates. Then under what title does he wish to join? Pirate Hunter?"
"Correct. He insists on joining as a Pirate Hunter. He has even named his group, the Dawn Hunter Pirates."
Sengoku leaned back in thought. "That part is simple enough to arrange. But if he joins as a Pirate Hunter, conflict with the other Warlords is inevitable. Some of them are powerful figures from the New World. He may attract unwanted attention."
"I informed him of that possibility," Tsuru replied. "He seemed unconcerned. He also mentioned that when he formally accepts the Letter of Appointment, he will present us with a gift."
Sengoku fell silent for a moment.
"I have a bad feeling about that. He did not accept immediately?"
"He wants a formal Letter of Appointment. Written documentation. He insisted that certain conditions be included."
"Meticulous for someone his age. What else?"
"There are three official points to be written. First, he joins as the captain of a Pirate Hunter crew. Second, neither the World Government nor the Marines may interfere with his pirate hunting activities in any capacity. Third, he will not accept any missions beyond hunting pirates."
Sengoku tapped his desk thoughtfully. "Clear objectives. Focused entirely on eliminating pirates. That is not a bad thing."
Tsuru gave a small smile. "Let us hope so."
"There are also two additional conditions he emphasized, though they are not to be included in the letter itself."
"Go on."
"The first concerns his bounty. He was dissatisfied with the mere 800 Berries placed on his head and demanded its cancellation."
Sengoku nearly choked.
"Eight hundred Berries?"
"He eventually agreed to retain a bounty for deterrence purposes. However, if it remains, he insists it must be the highest among the Seven Warlords."
Sengoku let out a short laugh. "Competitive. But based solely on his current achievements, destroying Mock Town and defeating the captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, elevating him above all existing Warlords will not be simple."
Tsuru's eyes narrowed slightly. "That is likely where his promised gift comes in."
Sengoku exhaled slowly. "My unease grows."
"And the second condition?" he asked.
"He wants access to the Six Powers."
Sengoku straightened immediately.
"What?"
"More precisely, he wants the training method for Life Return."
Sengoku frowned deeply. "The prerequisite for Life Return is mastery of the Six Powers. So ultimately he still wants access to the Rokushiki training methods. How does a boy like that even know about Rokushiki and Life Return?"
Tsuru took another measured sip of tea.
"I do not believe he intends to rely on Marine combat techniques. He can already fly and move at extraordinary speeds, so he has no need for Geppo or Soru. From my observation, he has awakened both Armament Haki and Observation Haki, and his physical foundation is remarkably solid. Tekkai and Kami-e would add little. As for Rankyaku and Shigan, his flames surpass them in raw power."
Sengoku's brows furrowed further. "Then why request it?"
Tsuru's smile deepened faintly.
"When he arrived at Spring Queen City, he brought with him a brother and sister. Investigation confirms they are chefs, the champion and runner-up of this month's culinary competition on Gourmet Island."
"I am aware of that."
"Before recruiting them, he spent five consecutive days eating across the island. He earned the local nickname Devouring Youth."
There was a pause on the line.
Sengoku sighed slowly.
"So he wants Life Return to accelerate digestion."
"That is my suspicion."
"Hm. An extreme hatred of pirates and an extreme love of food," Sengoku muttered. "Quite the combination."
"Have you settled the time and place for the formal acceptance?"
"Yes. Before the end of the year, at the Sabaody Archipelago."
"And the exact time?"
"He answered in riddles. He said we would know when he approaches Sabaody."
Sengoku chuckled quietly. "Very well. You have done excellent work, Tsuru. Take some rest once you return."
Tsuru shook her head slightly. "I will rest after the Letter of Appointment is delivered and the matter is fully concluded."
"Understood. I will prepare the document and await your arrival at Marineford."
The Den Den Mushi went silent.
At that same time in Spring Queen City, Ash Thalos rejoined the Kirk siblings after they finished saying farewell to Aunt Martha.
Saff suddenly leaned closer and sniffed.
"Ash, why do you smell like tea?"
Ash lowered his head and inhaled lightly. He detected nothing unusual.
"I met an elder at a teahouse," he replied casually. "It reminded me of the village elders who enjoy tea, so I purchased several varieties."
Saff's eyes lit up. "I know special methods for roasting tea leaves. When we return, I can prepare some for the village elders you mentioned."
Ash smiled. "They will be fortunate."
Kirk folded his arms. "Where to next?"
"Originally, I intended to purchase a Log Pose for Shift Station. However, I found an Eternal Pose to Water 7 here instead. That simplifies matters."
He continued calmly, "As for daily necessities for the village's relocation, I have already purchased several hundred sets. There should be no shortage."
"In that case," Kirk said, "we return directly to Jaya to regroup."
"By my estimate, Bro Sali's fleet should arrive soon."
Kirk laughed. "You are the captain, so your word stands, even if you still do not own a ship."
Ash gave him a sideways glance.
"I simply have not found a vessel worthy of me. An ordinary ship is beneath my standards."
He looked toward the sea, eyes steady.
"Besides, with the three of us traveling together, do we even require one?"