I chuckled in response, dodging a counterattack from Vergo. "I'll hold you to that, but for now, let's focus on the task at hand," I retorted, launching another series of attacks.
"Soru," I whispered, flickering past Vergo in a blur of motion. Before he could react, I materialized right behind him. Instinctively, Vergo spun around, crossing his arms in front of him and summoning every ounce of Armament Haki he could muster to defend against my blow.
"Rokuogan!" I bellowed, unleashing a devastating shock wave attack aimed directly at his ribs. Despite his best efforts, Vergo was unable to withstand the force of my assault. The impact sent him hurtling through the air, launching him nearly twenty meters away. Despite the ferocity of the blow, Vergo managed to pick himself up, his mythical Zoan powers aiding his recovery despite the Sea Stone's constraints.
Spitting defiantly, Vergo shot me a smirk, as if to taunt me for the effort. I couldn't help but return his smile with an evil grin, knowing that our spar was far from over. For the next thirty minutes, I unleashed a relentless onslaught, overwhelming Vergo with a barrage of attacks until he lay sprawled on the ground, nearly half-dead from exhaustion.
"You've got potential, Vergo, but you still have a long way to go," Zephyr remarked, extending a hand to help Vergo up from the ground. "And with my guidance, I know you can reach your full potential."
Accepting Zephyr's assistance, Vergo's expression wavered between exhaustion and determination. "Thanks, Ross. I'll keep pushing myself, no matter what it takes," he replied, his gaze meeting mine as he reaffirmed his resolve despite his defeat.
A Marine officer hastily approached Admiral Zephyr with urgent news: "Admiral Zephyr, the Fleet Admiral has called for an emergency meeting." Zephyr, without a second thought, turned towards the headquarters.
I wasted no time and fell into step behind Zephyr as he briskly made his way towards Kong's office. Meanwhile, Vergo was instructed to continue his training. As we strode through the corridors of the Marine base, tension hung thick in the air. Zephyr's brow furrowed with concern, his mind undoubtedly racing with the possibilities of what could warrant such an urgent summons. I kept pace beside him, ready to assist in any way necessary, or rather, wanting to eavesdrop on what exactly was happening.
"What's the matter?" Zephyr inquired sharply as we moved with purpose through the bustling corridors.
The officer replied breathlessly, "We've received intelligence about the Roger Pirates clashing with the entire Armada of the Golden Lion's fleet."
Zephyr's expression darkened at the news, his jaw tightening with determination. "Roger Pirates... Golden Lion's fleet... This is serious," he muttered, his voice laced with urgency. "Let's not keep the Fleet Admiral waiting."
"Yes, Admiral. He's awaiting your arrival in his office," the subordinate confirmed. Upon reaching Kong's office, Zephyr wasted no time in entering, his demeanor composed yet brimming with concern. Inside, Kong sat at his desk, his expression grave as he reviewed the latest intelligence reports.
"Zephyr, thank you for coming," Kong greeted, his voice carrying the weight of the situation. "We've received troubling news regarding the clash between the Roger Pirates and the Golden Lion's fleet. It appears that their confrontation has escalated rapidly, and we need to assess the potential ramifications."
"I fear this may lead to a full-blown war." Vice Admiral Tsuru couldn't help but comment.
I stood stationed just outside Kong's office, aware that my rank wasn't yet sufficient to warrant inclusion in such high-profile meetings. Nonetheless, my proximity allowed me to catch even the faintest of whispers that emanated from within the room.
Inside, a formidable gathering of Marine brass had convened. Fleet Admiral Kong presided over the meeting, flanked by two admirals, Sengoku and Zephyr. More than a dozen vice admirals were also present, among them the venerable Vice Admiral Tsuru. Notably absent was Vice Admiral Garp, though I suspected he would soon join once word of the matter involving the Roger Pirates reached his ears.
For now, I bided my time, knowing that my role lay in waiting until called upon or until Garp's inevitable arrival signaled a critical juncture in the proceedings.
"Where is Garp?" Kong's gaze swept across the room, frustration etched on the Fleet Admiral's face at the absence of his most formidable asset.
With a resigned sigh, Kong continued, "Forget him for now. I'll address him separately later. Do any of you have suggestions on how to tackle this matter?" The urgency in his voice was palpable as he sought input from his subordinates. "As Vice Admiral Tsuru has mentioned, this could escalate into a full-blown war between two overlords of the New World, and there's a high likelihood that Whitebeard may become involved. We cannot afford to let the entirety of the New World descend into chaos."
A Vice Admiral spoke up, proposing a mobilization of Marine forces to stabilize the situation within the New World. "We could dispatch both admirals to quell the conflict," they suggested. "Even if Whitebeard intervenes, with Garp's presence, we can repel any threats."
However, it was Tsuru who offered a counterargument. "I don't think such a mobilization is feasible anymore," she stated. "After the recent attack on the World Nobles, the Marines have been ordered to retain at least one Admiral stationed near Mary Geoise to safeguard the World Nobles in case of emergency."
Kong's expression darkened at the reminder of this recent headache. The pressure from the elders to fill the vacant position that he held for Garp only added to his concerns. Without a third Admiral, the options for mobilizing forces became significantly constrained, complicating their response to the escalating conflict in the New World.
As the room fell silent, contemplating the constraints of their current situation, Vice Admiral Tsuru cleared her throat, garnering the attention of the gathered officers.
"Perhaps," she began, her voice measured, "we can turn this potential crisis to our advantage. If we allow the Roger Pirates and the Golden Lion's fleet to clash and weaken each other, the Marines can step in to pick up the pieces."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, with many nodding in acknowledgment of the strategic advantage in allowing the two pirate forces to exhaust themselves.
Sengoku, the wise and seasoned Admiral, raised a hand to interject. "Indeed," he remarked thoughtfully. "Letting these two titans clash could serve our interests. It's a calculated risk, but one that could pay off. We may not have to sacrifice Marine lives directly, and curbing the power of one or both factions could significantly benefit our cause."
Tsuru nodded in agreement, adding, "Reducing the strength of these pirate factions would undoubtedly tilt the balance of power in our favor. However, we must also consider leveraging this upcoming chaos to further weaken the pirate forces."
Curiosity flickered in Kong's eyes as he leaned forward, intrigued by Tsuru's proposal. "How do you suggest we accomplish that, Vice Admiral?" He inquired, his tone measured yet receptive to new ideas.
Tsuru's gaze held steady as she outlined her strategy. "We can use this opportunity to drive the pirates to target each other," she explained. "One way to achieve this is by increasing their bounties. After the recent incident involving the death of a Celestial Dragon, the Elders have granted you, Fleet Admiral Kong, permission to reassess the threat levels of all pirates and establish new bounties accordingly."
Kong's brow furrowed in contemplation, recognizing the potential of Tsuru's suggestion. "Indeed, adjusting the bounty could incentivize rivalries among pirate factions," he acknowledged. "It's a strategy worth considering."
Tsuru nodded, reaching into a stack of documents beside her. "I've already drafted a proposal for the reassessment of pirate bounties," she revealed, sliding the document across the table for the others to review. "I believe it's crucial for us to discuss and finalize these adjustments in light of the current situation."
As Kong flipped through the folder, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. Some of the names listed caught his attention, while others left him puzzled, especially considering the hefty bounty attached to them.
"I have taken into consideration not just one's strength, but their activities, the amount of threat they pose, and especially their future potential in causing chaos," Tsuru explained, noticing Kong's reaction.
The participants in the room continued to peruse their folders, absorbing the information within. The first entry, of course, was for the infamous Roger Pirates:
Gol D. Roger: Dead or Alive: 3,765,900,000 Belly
'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh: Dead or Alive: 2,959,000,000 Belly
Scopper Gaban: Dead or Alive: 1,927,500,000 Belly
Each member of the Roger Pirates was listed individually, reflecting their formidable strength despite their reduced numbers.
The next prominent entry was for the Whitebeard Pirates:
'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate: Dead or Alive: 3,696,800,000 Belly
Kozuki Oden: Dead or Alive: 2,230,600,000 Belly
The bounties reflected the legendary status of Whitebeard and his right-hand man, Oden.
Surprisingly, the next entry listed the third Overlord of the New World:
'The Golden Lion' Shiki: Dead or Alive: 3,702,500,000 Belly
Shiki's bounty was close to Roger's and higher than Whitebeard's due to his destructive nature, which posed a significant threat to Marine forces.
The subsequent entry caught many by surprise. Despite not being as noticeable as the other overlords listed currently , this particular individual had been rated alongside another pirate who had been quietly increasing their influence at an alarming rate , granting them bounties close to 2 billion bellies each. Their only notable achievements to date, it seemed, stemmed from their history as remnants of the infamous Rocks Pirates: however that didn't mean they were nobodies given a few more years they would reach the standards of the true overlords of the New World.
'Big Mom' Charlotte Linlin: Dead or Alive: 1,987,900,000 Belly
'Hundred Beasts' Kaido: Dead or Alive: 1,892,000,000 Belly
Their connection to the Rocks Pirates seemed to justify their substantial bounties, despite their current level of activity.
'Red Count' Patrick Redfield: Dead or Alive: 2,706,500,000 Belly
As the officers absorbed the information before them, a sense of gravity settled over the room. Tsuru's meticulous assessment of the pirate threat had revealed unexpected insights, prompting a reassessment of the challenges facing the Marines in the tumultuous waters of the New World.
As Kong neared the end of the folder, his gaze fell upon a particular bounty that caught his attention:
Donquixote Doflamingo: Dead or Alive: 216,500,000 Belly
Kong was surprised to see such a high bounty attached to Doflamingo, considering him to be of lesser concern compared to the other notorious pirates listed. He suspected that Tsuru had taken it upon herself to target the Donquixote family which confused him because with Tsuru's standard the Donquixote brat was beneath her standard , perhaps she was being influenced by personal motives or past encounters.
Kong hesitated, contemplating the implications of declaring such a high bounty on a former World Noble. The decision to label Doflamingo's bounty as "Dead or Alive" without explicit approval from the World government could potentially draw scrutiny from the Elders, especially given their interest in individuals with ties to the World Nobles. However, for the time being, Kong chose not to question Tsuru's judgment.
Perhaps Tsuru's instinct was correct; he reasoned. Despite Doflamingo's current status as a young teen, there was always the possibility that he could grow into a formidable threat in the future. Kong understood the importance of being proactive in addressing potential dangers, even if they seemed insignificant at the moment.
With a thoughtful nod, Kong made a mental note to monitor Doflamingo's activities closely. The world of piracy was unpredictable, and it was better to err on the side of caution when dealing with potential threats, no matter how small they may appear.
Within a span of ten minutes or so, the entire office had meticulously reviewed their respective folders, absorbing the details of the proposed new bounties.
"Tsuru, this is well done, and the new bounties fall within the limits allowed by the World Government. I foresee no trouble in obtaining approval for this," Kong commended, acknowledging the Vice Admiral's thorough work. "Let's return to the matter at hand between Roger and Shiki."
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