Marine Headquarters,
Marineford, Paradise.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, several individuals were sitting at a round table, and in the centre of the table was a Den Den Mushi with an active call.
"Are you sure he has the Shatter Shatter Fruit?" A serious voice sounded out of the communication snail, and it belonged to the Commander-In-Chief, Kong.
"Yes," The Great Staff Officer of the Marines replied.
"This means that Zargossa is dead." Akainu smiled. "One more scum of that era is gone."
"No wonder we did not hear anything about him and his Crew for the last 12 years." Kizaru lazily smiled.
"Who killed him though?" Kuzan frowned. "Zargossa was a man who was once the rival of the likes of Roger and Whitebeard. His strength was not a joke, and his crew, the Zargossa Pirates, had over two thousand people in their fleet. I don't think a man who sailed for decades on the Evil Sea died to a storm, and we have no leads on any member of his Crew. Does that mean that they are all dead? How?"
His question loomed in the room.
"Only two names come to my mind who had the power to destroy him and his Crew and also had enough bad blood between them to die killing him. It just so happens that we have no leads on them either." Tsuru said, and everyone at the table frowned at her words.
"Golden Lion Shiki, and Warmonger Ragnus." The blue Admiral spoke, and Tsuru and Sengoku nodded their head.
"The Madman cut his own legs to escape Impel Down. I doubt it was him-ne." Kizaru, who was sitting there with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke. "Ragnus has been missing for 15 years now. For all we know, he and his crew are dead too."
There was silence at the table after his words, which lasted for several seconds.
Those who knew and faced Ragnus, felt that it was highly unlikely that someone as powerful as him had died just like that. It was even more outrageous than the fact that Zargossa was dead.
"Don't underestimate Shiki. Even without his legs, he is very much capable of destroying Islands and the strongest of the Fleets." Garp, who picking up his nose, said, and Sengoku nodded to his words.
"Zargossa Pirates killed the rest of his Fleet that survived the Edd War when he was in Impel Down. Shiki likely went after him for revenge."
"The last Intel he had on him was meeting with Whitebeard, a few months after his escape from Impel Down." Akainu reminded them.
"Whitebeard would not join hands with him or anyone." The Fleet Admiral shook his head. "He would never help Shiki get his revenge, and Shiki would never ask him for help either. Both have their prides and they never got along with each other even if they were once on the same Crew."
"You are right. His intentions of meeting Whitebeard are unknown. However, we can say for certainty that Whitebeard or any other Emperor had no part in Zargossa's death." Tsuru said, and everything nodded their heads to her words.
"If Ragnus and Shiki are dead too, good for us. It means that two more scums of that Era are gone." Akainu spoke again, and Sengoku sighed.
"Shiki's Fleet was gone, but Ragnus had his Fleet with him before he disappeared. It's hard to believe that the three big names, three of tthem all died without anyone's knowledge. Besides, the Powers they wielded always attracted attention."
Again, silence loomed in the room for several seconds.
"Sakazuki is right. One more scum of that era is gone. Zargossa is dead. As for Shiki and Ragnus, continue looking for them. But for now, let's get back to the matter at hand." Kong's voice sounded out again. "Why does he want to only give that Fruit to your granddaughter, Tsuru? And why not to someone on his crew?"
The questions made everyone, except for Garp, turn to look at her, and she just calmly sipped on her tea.
"He definitely has some motive, and he is messing with us. I would rather not believe that he wants to bolster the strength of the Marines, but I am not sure what exactly his intentions are." She said.
Kong remained silent after her words, and everyone retracted their eyes, lost in their own thoughts.
"We have some very talented Vice-Admirals who would benefit from that power." The Commander-In-Chief said after a while, and Sakazuki nodded his head.
"The girl is only 17 years old. She can wait. And I still feel that she was promoted ahead of time."
Kuzan frowned at his words.
"She's earned it. Are you not aware of her accomplishments or do you deny that she is talented?"
"She's too young. That's all I am saying. We have officers who deserve that Power more than her and have served us for much longer. What kind of impression would it leave on them if we gave a 17 year old that Devil Fruit over them?"
Akainu's words made them all frown, and they knew that he was not wrong to think that way.
It was indeed quite complicated.
"No one needs to know. We can tell them that Kujaku found the Fruit and consumed it."
The words surprised everyone and they turned to look at Garp.
"That Brat will keep his word. That's how he is. It's either we give it to Kujaku for 1.2 Billion Berries, or we spend 12 Billion Berries on it to give it to some other Marine. I don't supoose you people would like to see that Power fall in the wrong hands if he does sell that Fruit to someone else."
"We don't." Kong affirmed.
"He has refused to pay the Heavenly Tribute, and we have every right to confiscate that Devil Fruit. No need to pay anything to him."
Akainu's words made Sengoku and Kuzan frown, and Garp straight up started laughing when he heard them.
"Do you not realise the consequences of what you suggest?" The Fleet Admiral asked, gritting his teeth. "It will weaken the institution of Warlords, and he won't bear the loss. At worst, he will lose his position as the Warlord, and we will lose thousands of our Marines as well as the people of Drum Island."
"He won't go that far." The red Admiral shook his head.
"He will." Garp confidently said, still laughing, and it irritated Akainu a little.
"Yes, he will." Sengoku grimly said. "If not directly, then indirectly. With his powers, he can eliminate thousands of our Marines without leaving proof that could be used against him. And even if we gather proof, we won't be able to bring back our lost men and would only lose more." He seriously said. "He's the vindictive kind."
"So, we are going to let a Pirate hold us hostage?" Akainu glared at the Fleet Admiral, but lowered his eyes when he saw the coldness that flashed in Sengoku's eyes.
"Behave yourself, Akainu. Garp and Sengoku are right." Kong admonished the Red Admiral. "We don't have to strain our relationship with him, and his presence as a Warlord is important for us."
"He defies us. He has already refused to pay the Heavenly Tribute..."
"He hasn't actually." Tsuru cut in, surprising everyone. "He said that if we insist on it, he will give the Government a very fitting Heavenly Tribute."
"What?" Sengoku frowned, already having a very bad premonition in his heart.
"The Heads of Pirates and Slavers." She smiled, and as soon as Garp heard her words, he started laughing again.
"Shut up, Garp!" The Fleet Admiral irritatedly said. "We will buy those two Fruits for Simca and Kujaku. That's it." He told everyone before looking at Tsuru. "What was he doing in the New World?"
"He didn't say. But he has gathered a few Crew Members on his trip. It is safe to assume that he was likely searching for suitable members."
"And the scientist?"
"He hired him to create crops that can thrive on his Winter Island."
Sengoku, who had already read the report on the Scientist from the North Blue, relaxed after hearing those words.
"The people he has recruited. How dangerous are they?" He lightly asked.
"Only two of them stand out." She said. "Yamato and Lily Enstomach. The former is an Oni, and they are both strong and proficient in Haki."
"There were two more girls who were spotted with him in Water 7."
"Not Pirates." She shook her head. "The redhead is a Businesswoman, and she is with him to explore Paradise. The turquoise-haired girl is an orphan whom he has taken in as his lover. She is friends with the redhead. The only ones who are part of his crew are those two boys from North Blue, Yamato, Lily, and a young man named Vigaro. Sin has also taken in an orphan boy, who is nine years old, called Grount. Maybe he wants to train him to become part of his crew or maybe he intends on making him a future Royal Guard of Winterheim. We can't say anything at this point."
"I see." Sengoku nodded his head and then looked at the Den Den Mushi. "Shall we proceed with the purchase?"
"Yes." Kong answered, and as soon as he said the word, they heard a Den Den Mushi start ringing.
Sengoku stood up and walked over to his desk, took out the Den Den Mushi from the drawer, and his brows furrowed when he saw which one it was.
"Yes, Kalifa?" He asked.
"The Blackstar Crew, except for Boa Hancock, Law, and the two new young boys have left Winterheim after staying here for two weeks. They are going out on a voyage. The scientist has began his research on the crops of the Island." She informed him. "The Warlord has also taken the Princess of Arabasta with him on this Voyage. The red-haired girl, whose name is Desire, has stayed back and is taking interest in the development of the country."
"What about the turquoise-haired girl?"
"Her name is Hiyori, and the Warlord calls her his wife. He has taken her with him."
After the call, Sengoku returned to his seat, and Kong, who had listened to his conversation spoke next.
"He will he back before the Reverie. No need to go after him for the Devil Fruits." He said and ended the call.