After tunneling through the earth, the Hunter Pirates finally emerged at the port. The familiar sight of their ship brought a fleeting sense of relief as Te shifted the ground one last time, creating an opening for them to surface.
"We just need to get to the ship, and we're out of here," Koby said, sprinting toward the vessel.
But just as their feet hit the docks, a lazy, almost bored voice spoke behind them. "Oh, where are you heading off to in such a hurry?"
Every head snapped around, and their collective blood ran cold. There stood Admiral Kizaru, hands tucked casually into his pockets, his expression one of mild curiosity as if he'd just stumbled upon an old friend.
Te's eyes narrowed. "You've gotta be kidding me."
Koby's mind raced. '
What the hell? I didn't even sense him with my Observation Haki!'
While Te had been focused on digging, Koby had been tasked with tracking Kizaru's movements. But instead of using his En, he had relied on his Haki—now he regretted that decision. Somehow, Kizaru had completely bypassed his senses.
"Thanks for the heads-up," Te snarked. "Really appreciate it."
"This isn't the time for your baiting," Koby shot back, his eyes still locked on Kizaru. "You wouldn't have sensed him either."
As the brothers bickered, Lila and Ronin stood frozen at the back, their faces pale. Unlike their encounter with Saint Saturn, where they were blissfully unaware of the true depth of his power, this was different. Everyone knew the reputation of the Admirals. Fighting one wasn't just a battle; it was a death sentence unless you were a Yonko or someone of equal strength. And they were nowhere near that level.
Kizaru's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes lazily drifting toward Lila and Ronin. "Hmm, seems your friends back there aren't as confident. Why don't we make this easy? Hand over the weapon you used to destroy half of Sorbet Kingdom and come with me. In return, I'll let them go. I'll even report that they were innocent civilians you forced into this."
Te and Koby exchanged puzzled glances.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Te asked, his tone sharp.
Kizaru tilted his head, his expression almost apologetic. "Oh? Well, from what I hear, the blast left most of Sorbet Kingdom uninhabitable. That kind of destruction isn't something the higher-ups take lightly."
Te crossed his arms, his aura subtly flaring. "That wasn't a weapon. That was me. And if you don't back off, I'll do the same thing to this island."
Kizaru raised his hands in mock surrender, his voice as calm as ever. "Oooh, so scary. But there's no need for that. I'm sure we can resolve this peacefully."
"Peaceful? Your 'peaceful' resolution is us spending the rest of our lives in Impel Down—or worse, being guinea pigs for the government," Te snapped, his voice rising.
Kizaru gave a slow, measured nod. "Mmm, I see where you're coming from. But how about this: answer one question for me, and I'll only take one of you."
"Not a chance in hell," Te growled. "You're not taking any of us without a fight."
Kizaru sighed, shaking his head as if dealing with unruly children. "So quick to anger. You remind me of someone I once knew." His voice softened slightly, a flicker of something—regret? Sadness?—crossing his face before his usual indifference returned.
fter hearing Kizaru's words, a spark of inspiration lit up in Koby's mind—a desperate idea that might just be their ticket out of this mess.
"So you don't know about us?" Koby asked, his voice steady, though the weight of the situation pressed heavily on him.
Kizaru tilted his head slightly, his usual lazy expression now tinged with mild curiosity. "Know about what exactly?" His tone was as nonchalant as ever, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of interest.
"I'm sure the question you had for us is why we look and feel so familiar to you," Koby began, his calm demeanor masking the rapid calculations running through his head. He took a step forward, locking eyes with the admiral. "That person you knew… was Biscuit Krueger, am I correct?"
Kizaru's usually relaxed face twitched, his eyes widening just a fraction. For a moment, the air around him seemed to grow heavier. "Biscuit Krueger…" he repeated slowly, almost as if testing the weight of her name on his tongue. "How do you know that name? She died almost two decades ago."
"She was our mother," Koby stated firmly. "She passed away giving birth to us, but before she died, she left us a letter. In it, she detailed her life and… the identity of our father."
Kizaru's indifferent facade finally cracked. His eyes narrowed, and for the first time in what felt like years, genuine shock crossed his face. His mouth opened slightly as if to speak, but no words came out. The weight of Koby's revelation hit him like a freight train.
At that moment, Koby stepped forward, arms crossed with a faint smirk. "Judging by that expression, I think you've connected the dots by now." His voice carried a teasing edge. "You're our father."
Kizaru's mind raced, the usually unflappable admiral now deeply shaken. His hands, which had been casually tucked into his pockets, clenched slightly before relaxing again. The woman he thought he'd lost forever, whose death had been a heavy but buried wound, had not only survived longer than he'd believed but had left behind something—someone.
His children.
Kizaru was thrown into a whirlpool of emotions. His usual calm was now a storm of conflicting thoughts. He hadn't wanted to come here in the first place; he found chasing rookie pirates beneath him, a chore ordered by the Gorosei. But now, if what Koby said was true, his mission had turned into something far more personal—and infinitely more painful.
Sending these two to their deaths, or worse, imprisoning them under the World Government's cruel experiments, would mean erasing the last remnants of Bisky. And despite the years and the hardened persona he'd built, the pain of losing her once already weighed heavily on him.
His jaw tightened as flashes of the past surfaced—memories of Bisky's sharp wit, her indomitable strength, and the rare moments of vulnerability they had shared. Kizaru had harbored resentment toward the World Government for what happened to her. He'd buried it under layers of duty and detachment, but now, that old wound had reopened.
After a long silence, Kizaru took a deep breath. Slowly, he slipped his hands back into his pockets, his gaze softening just a bit as he stared at the two young men in front of him.
Come," he said finally, his voice low but firm.
Koby's eyes flickered with uncertainty as he processed Kizaru's words. The weight of their revelation had visibly unsettled the admiral, but his final command carried an unmistakable authority.
Te crossed his arms, his smirk fading. "Come?" he echoed, his voice laced with suspicion. "Come where exactly?"
Kizaru tilted his head slightly, his usual lazy demeanor slipping back into place. His hands remained casually in his pockets as he took a slow step forward. The air around him seemed to hum with tension, his presence alone enough to make the space feel heavier.
"To fight, of course," Kizaru said, his tone light, almost bored, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp intensity. "Family or not, orders are orders. If you two are as dangerous as the Gorosei think, then I have no choice but to take you down here and now."
The casual threat sent a chill through the air. Lila and Ronin, standing slightly behind the brothers, exchanged worried glances.
"Wait, you're serious?" Te said, his grin returning, though there was a more dangerous edge to it now. "You want to fight us after all that heartfelt family reunion talk?"
Kizaru shrugged. "Whether you're my sons or not changes nothing in the eyes of the World Government. You're threats. And threats need to be eliminated."
Koby stepped forward, his fists clenched, his voice calm but firm. "You don't have to do this."
"Oh, but I do," Kizaru replied, his tone almost apologetic. "You see, the Gorosei will be very upset if I return empty-handed. And I'd rather not deal with their… disappointment."
The ground beneath them seemed to tremble slightly as the tension mounted. Koby's mind raced, weighing their options. Facing an admiral, especially one like Kizaru, was no small task. Even with their strength, this was a battle they had hoped to avoid.
Te, however, cracked his knuckles, his grin widening. "Well, if you insist, old man," he said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and defiance. "Let's see if you're as tough as the stories say."
Koby hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he weighed their options. It wasn't fear that held him back—at least, not entirely. His mind was calculating every possible move, every scenario where they might survive this encounter. The idea of fighting an admiral wasn't just daunting; it was borderline suicidal. But Te, as usual, didn't share his cautious approach.
Te's posture was loose, almost casual, but Koby could see the underlying tension in his frame—the readiness to spring into action at any moment. His brother's eyes held a glint of mischief, the kind that appeared whenever Te had a plan he was itching to execute.
Koby's gaze flickered to Kizaru, who stood with his hands lazily stuffed in his pockets, radiating an aura of nonchalance. Yet, there was a weight to his presence, a quiet menace beneath the surface. His expression was eerily similar to Garp's during Marineford: a stoic mask hiding a storm of inner conflict. Despite his reputation for cold efficiency, Koby could sense the hesitation in the admiral's eyes, the faint shadow of a man who didn't want to be here.
Te smirked. He recognized that look too. Kizaru might've been here under orders, but he wasn't fully committed to capturing them—at least, not in the way the World Government would expect. This wasn't about survival for Te; it was about making a statement.
"Koby," Te said, his tone lighter than the gravity of the situation warranted, "let me handle this. You take the others and get to the ship. Make sure everything's ready for us to leave."
Koby's jaw tightened. "Are you insane? You can't handle an admiral on your own."
Te shrugged, his grin widening. "Oh, I know that. But come on, you can't hog all the boss fights. Sharing is caring, right?"
Koby sighed, exasperation lacing his voice. "This isn't a game, Te. If things go south—"
"They won't," Te interrupted, his confidence unshaken. "Look, worst-case scenario, I get a few bruises, maybe a black eye. But trust me, he's not taking us in. Kizaru's got more bark than bite when it comes to 'family matters.'" He winked, adding a layer of teasing to his otherwise serious statement.
Koby's eyes narrowed. "Fine," he relented, though the tension in his voice remained. "But if it looks like you're about to get yourself killed, I'm stepping in."
Te nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Fair deal. But hey, only if I'm down for the count, alright?"
Koby clenched his fists, taking a step back. He hated this part—trusting Te's reckless instincts—but he knew his brother well enough to understand there was no changing his mind. With a sharp nod, he turned toward Lila and Ronin, who were already on edge.
"Let's move," Koby commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
As the trio sprinted toward the ship, Te rolled his shoulders, stepping forward to face Kizaru. The admiral's indifferent gaze followed them for a moment before settling back on Te.
"Well, aren't you brave," Kizaru drawled, his voice as lazy as ever. "Or maybe just foolish. Either way, it's entertaining."
Te chuckled, his Nen flaring as he readied himself. "Let's see if I can keep you entertained, old man."
The father and son Duo stood apart from each other on the dock.
Te stood firm, his feet planted firmly on the ground as his aura flared out like a raging inferno. The air around him grew heavy, the pressure warping the ground beneath his feet. Small pebbles lifted off the ground, trembling in the overwhelming force radiating from his body. His eyes locked onto Kizaru, who stood lazily across from him, hands still tucked casually in his pockets.
Kizaru tilted his head, observing Te with a faint smirk. "Ohhh, scary. You've got quite the presence, kid."
Te didn't respond, his focus razor-sharp. The tension between them grew, thick enough to cut with a blade. Then, without warning, both figures shot forward at blinding speeds, their fists colliding in the middle with a thunderous BOOM.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the area, the ground beneath them cracking and splintering. Sparks flew from their clashing Haki, lighting up the space between them like a firework display. The force of their clash sent gusts of wind whipping around them, scattering dust and debris in every direction.
Neither side gave an inch. Their clash obliterated the dock beneath their feet, yet, defying all logic, they remained suspended in the air, fists locked in a battle of raw power. Sparks of Haki crackled around them, illuminating their fierce determination. The surrounding air seemed to vibrate with their intensity, a testament to the strength of their wills.
Te, feeling the moment shift, combined Soru and Geppo in a seamless motion, vanishing from his position only to reappear above Kizaru. His leg arced downward, aiming a devastating kick at the Admiral.
Kizaru, ever calm, raised his arm to intercept the blow. The impact rang out like a cannon, the force propelling Kizaru toward the water below. But just as his body seemed destined to crash into the sea, his form shattered into particles of light, reforming effortlessly back on solid ground.
Te clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tch… slippery as ever."
Kizaru stood with his usual nonchalance, brushing nonexistent dust off his sleeve. "Ohhh, you're quite fast. But let's see how well you handle a bit of light."
Without missing a beat, Te shot forward, his speed unmatched. Kizaru responded with a volley of light beams, each one a concentrated spear of energy aimed to pin Te down. Yet, Te's mastery over Haki allowed him to weave through the barrage, dodging with fluid precision.
As Te closed the gap, his hands moved in a blur, using Equivalent Exchange to manifest a sleek, metallic sword. The blade gleamed with a dull, deadly glow as Te infused it with his aura.
Kizaru's eyes flicked to the weapon, his smirk widening. "Oh? A swordsman now?" With a lazy flick of his wrist, a radiant blade of pure light materialized in his hand.
Their swords met in a fiery clash, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Sparks flew as metal and light scraped against each other, their combined energies warping the very air. The two combatants blinked in and out of existence, their movements too fast for most eyes to follow.
From the sidelines, Ronin and Lila could only watch in stunned silence. The sheer speed and precision of the battle left them breathless. To them, the fight was a blur of light and metal, punctuated by the deafening sound of each clash.
"Are… are they even human?" Ronin muttered, his eyes wide as he tried to track the fight.
"I can only see their afterimages," Lila replied, gripping her spear tightly, her knuckles white. Her usual composure was shaken, and disbelief etched itself onto her face.
Koby, standing nearby with his arms crossed, kept his focus sharp, his mind racing. 'Kizaru is clearly holding back,' he thought, his keen observation piercing through the chaos. 'He's only reacting to whatever Te throws at him, matching every strike head-on. He hasn't even gone on the offensive yet.'
In terms of sheer physical strength, Te was a monster. His body, honed through the grueling combination of super soldier serums, gravity training, Nen enhancement, Haki mastery, and Biscuit's relentless tutelage, was a powerhouse. And if he needed an extra edge, he could activate the exo-suit Koby had engineered, pushing his physical capabilities even further.
But raw power alone wasn't enough to bridge the gap. Kizaru's overwhelming Haki, combined with centuries of experience, unmatched speed, and the versatility of his devil fruit, placed him in an entirely different league. Yet, despite these advantages, he continued to probe Te, holding back the full weight of his devastating power.
'Guess Kaido was right,' Te thought, his arms trembling and numb from the relentless clashes. 'Haki transcends all.' The pressure of Kizaru's advanced Haki was suffocating, and Te knew he was barely scratching the surface of his father's true strength.
The two fighters separated momentarily, Te breathing heavily as he sought to regain his composure. Each breath burned, his Nen and Haki reserves taking a considerable hit just to keep pace. Yet, his resolve didn't falter.
Kizaru, on the other hand, stood with his usual laid-back demeanor, his hands loosely at his sides. His expression remained calm, almost bored, but a faint sheen of sweat betrayed the effort he was putting in. His arms still rang from the force of Te's monstrous strikes.
'She definitely birthed a monster,' Kizaru thought, his sharp gaze fixed on Te. 'How can someone possess this much physical strength at such a young age? If he's this strong, our other child must be equally dangerous. No older than 16, maybe 15, and yet…'
His eyes narrowed as he considered Koby, who stood unshaken at the edge of the battlefield, his presence calm but his aura sharp. 'If this one's confident enough to interrupt our fight, then he's hiding something even more dangerous.'
Though his expression remained stoic, a flicker of pride stirred within Kizaru. He might not admit it aloud, but seeing Te stand his ground with such power and resolve stirred something paternal in him. 'Rivaling a weaker Yonko commander at this age… If only I'd been there, maybe they could've been Marines.'
Breaking his contemplative silence, Kizaru spoke in his usual lethargic tone. "So, son, did you know… speed is weight?"
Te's eyes widened in recognition, dread creeping up his spine. 'Oh shit,' he thought, his mind immediately flashing back to the stories and videos he'd seen of Kizaru's terrifying speed. Without hesitation, Te focused his Nen entirely on defense, layering his aura to withstand the impending blow.
Kizaru's lazy grin grew ever so slightly. "Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
Before Te could react further, Kizaru's form blurred, his leg already in motion.
CRASH!
The impact was devastating. Te's body was sent hurtling through the air, smashing through multiple buildings before skidding to a halt on the rubble-strewn ground. Dust and debris filled the air as he clutched his chest, gasping for breath, pain radiating from the point of impact.
'Jesus, is he trying to cave my chest in?' Te grimaced, wincing as he pulled himself up. 'Who the hell kicks their own son like that?'
He staggered to his feet, reaching into his pocket for a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid. One of the many concoctions he'd developed on Greed Island, it was designed to rapidly heal wounds and restore a portion of his stamina. Without hesitation, he uncorked it and downed the contents in one gulp.
"Alright, that's better," Te muttered as the potion's effects kicked in almost instantly. The pain dulled, and his breathing steadied. His lips curled into a smirk as he activated Soru, his form vanishing and reappearing near Kizaru.
"Oh… interesting," Kizaru remarked, his tone still casual but with a hint of curiosity. "Looks like that kick did more healing than harm."
"Yeah, that kick was pretty light," Te shot back, lying through his teeth. His smirk widened as a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. 'If he wants to play with one-liners, let's give him one to remember.'
"Did you know, Father…" Te paused dramatically, raising his hand and snapping his fingers. "…ART IS AN EXPLOSION!!"
Kizaru's laid-back demeanor shifted slightly as a sense of foreboding crept in. He prepared himself, his body tense, but all he saw was Te continuing to snap his fingers rhythmically.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Explosions erupted all around Kizaru, each one precisely timed and strategically placed. The blasts tore through the ground, sending shockwaves and debris in every direction. Flames and smoke filled the air, creating a chaotic battlefield. The sheer force of the detonations rattled nearby structures, causing them to crumble.
Kizaru moved swiftly, using his Pika Pika no Mi to avoid the worst of the explosions. Light particles shimmered as he reappeared on a nearby rooftop, unharmed but visibly intrigued.
"Hmm… impressive," Kizaru murmured, his voice almost drowned out by the chaos. "But it seems like you've got a flair for the dramatic."
Te's grin only widened. "You haven't seen anything yet." He snapped his fingers again, and more explosions erupted, closing in on Kizaru's position. The battlefield was a symphony of destruction, orchestrated by Te's explosive artistry.
Kizaru remained unfazed, observing the mayhem with his usual nonchalant expression. 'Let's see how you handle this,' he thought calmly.
With a flicker of light, 15 identical clones of Kizaru materialized around the battlefield. Each one wielded a glowing light sword, their forms shimmering with deadly precision. The clones moved in unison, charging toward Te at blinding speed, their blades cutting through the air with lethal intent.
Te's cocky grin faltered for a split second as the reality of his situation set in. "I'm fucked," he muttered under his breath, bracing for the inevitable.
Before the first clone could reach him, a sudden surge of electricity lit up the battlefield. CRACK! Bolts of lightning rained down, striking each of Kizaru's clones with pinpoint accuracy. The clones flickered and dissipated into harmless particles of light, the attack neutralized in an instant.
Both Te and Kizaru turned their attention toward the source of the lightning. Standing a short distance away, arms crossed and a smug smile on his face was Koby. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the charged energy crackling in the air around him.
"Having fun without me?" Koby called out, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
"Stay out of this, Koby. I've got it handled!" Te shot back, irritation creeping into his voice.
Koby raised an eyebrow, smirking. "From where I'm standing, it looked like you were about to get skewered."
Kizaru, watching the brothers banter with his usual calm expression, sighed and shook his head slightly. 'Kids these days…' he thought. Realizing this was going nowhere fast, he decided to end the fight on his own terms. Without any visible effort, his form shimmered, and he reappeared on the ground a few feet away, his hands casually stuffed back into his pockets.
"Alright," Kizaru said, his voice as lazy as ever. "I give up."
Te and Koby exchanged a glance, their expressions only mildly surprised. They had already suspected Kizaru had no intention of turning this into a life-or-death battle. They both used Soru, appearing directly in front of him, ready to negotiate.
"So, what do you want, old man?" Te asked bluntly, his tone devoid of any pretense.
Kizaru's lips twitched, his usual calm demeanor slightly tinged with amusement. "So rude," he mused, tilting his head. "Maybe I should kick you one more time, just to teach you some respect."
Te raised both hands as if surrendering. "Alright, alright, I was just joking. No need for round two."
Kizaru chuckled softly before continuing. "Anyway, here's the deal. I'm letting you two go, but under a few conditions." His tone remained casual, but his words carried weight. "First, you must give up being pirates—for a few years, at least. Forever would be ideal, but I'm not holding my breath."
Te and Koby remained silent, listening intently as Kizaru laid out his terms.
"Second," Kizaru continued, "judging by the design of your ship and the weapons on it, I can tell no ordinary shipwright built it. So, I'm going to assume you two are the brains behind it. I'll need a fake schematic of the weapon you 'used' on Sorbet Kingdom."
Koby narrowed his eyes but didn't interrupt.
"And third," Kizaru said, holding up three fingers for emphasis, "we're going to fake your deaths. You'll need to ditch your current ship and use something different. New ship, new identities, new lives. Do that, and I'll turn a blind eye to this whole situation."
Te crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "And if we don't agree?"
Kizaru gave a slow, almost bored shrug. "Then I'll have no choice but to bring you in. The Gorosei are breathing down my neck about Sorbet Kingdom, and I need something to show them. You don't want to know what happens if they think you're still alive and active."
Koby sighed, glancing at his brother. "It's not like we have much of a choice."
Te clenched his jaw but nodded, knowing Koby was right. "Fine. But the ship stays," he said firmly. "We'll just change it while we're here."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow, his usual lazy demeanor giving way to genuine curiosity. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan to change an entire ship on the fly?" His tone, though casual, hinted at intrigue.
Te smirked, vanishing in a blur of Soru as he reappeared near the ship. Standing on the dock, he closed his eyes, focusing intently. His aura flared out, a shimmering wave of energy expanding to cover the entire vessel. The air around him grew heavy with power, and he reached into his pocket, gripping the Philosopher's Stone tightly.
"Let's get to work," Te muttered, his voice low and determined.
With a surge of Nen and the alchemical power of the Philosopher's Stone, the ship began to shift. Its once recognizable exterior rippled like water, the wood changing colors from its previous dark hue to a sleek, polished white with navy accents. The cannons and other weaponry morphed into entirely new designs, appearing more advanced and refined, giving the ship a completely different silhouette. Even the sails transformed, now adorned with a symbol that bore no resemblance to their previous insignia.
Kizaru observed the transformation with mild amusement, his head tilting slightly. "Well, well… you've got some interesting tricks up your sleeve," he commented, his tone still light, but there was an unmistakable note of respect. "You might've missed your calling as a shipwright."
Te reappeared in front of Kizaru, dusting off his hands. "Easy," he said with a cocky grin. "Now it's a brand-new ship. Good luck tracing it back to us."
Koby crossed his arms, glancing at the transformed vessel. "I've gotta admit, that's impressive. But let's hope it's enough to keep the World Government off our backs for a while."
Kizaru, his usual relaxed demeanor intact, let out a soft hum of approval. "I'm curious about your Devil Fruit ability," he said, his voice as nonchalant as ever. "It's not one I've seen before in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."
Te stiffened slightly but kept his cool. "Oh, uh… yeah, I don't actually know the name of it," he said, playing it off with a casual shrug. "But basically, I can morph stuff as long as I've got the right materials."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Interesting. You've certainly been creative with it. If you keep pushing your limits, you might awaken its full potential soon."
"Uh… thanks," Te replied, a little awkwardly. He could feel the weight of the lie but knew it was necessary. Koby and he had spun the same story to Ronin and Lila to avoid any uncomfortable questions about the Philosopher's Stone and their Nen abilities.
"Here," Koby said, stepping forward and handing Kizaru a small stack of papers. "These are the schematics you need to pass along to the government."
Kizaru's eyes briefly scanned the documents, his fingers flipping through the intricate designs. His eyebrow twitched upward ever so slightly as he took in the complexity of the plans. "Quite detailed," he murmured. "What exactly does this machine do?"
"Oh, it's just an oversized coffee maker," Koby deadpanned, his face betraying not even the hint of a smirk.
Kizaru paused, then let out a soft chuckle. "A coffee maker, eh? The government will be thrilled to know they've been chasing cutting-edge caffeine technology."
"Hey, gotta keep the higher-ups energized," Te added with a cheeky grin.
Kizaru tucked the papers into his coat, his expression shifting back to its usual calm. "You two are certainly… resourceful. Let's hope this little performance keeps the higher-ups satisfied. Otherwise…" He trailed off, letting the weight of his words linger.
"Understood," Koby said, his tone serious.
Te gave a mock salute. "We'll keep our noses clean… for now."
Marine Headquarters – Fleet Admiral's Office
The grand Marineford complex bustled with activity, its towering structures and elite soldiers symbolizing the iron grip of justice across the seas. Within the heart of the base, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat behind his imposing desk, poring over a mountain of reports. The goat he always kept by his side munched lazily on some papers.
Sengoku's sharp eyes flicked up as a familiar figure casually strolled into his office. The gleaming light of the setting sun streamed in through the large windows, catching the reflection of Kizaru's iconic yellow coat as he entered.
"Borsalino," Sengoku greeted, his tone measured but stern. "You're late. I expected a report from you hours ago."
Kizaru gave his trademark slow, lazy nod, scratching the back of his head as if the weight of the world had somehow inconvenienced him. "Mmm… my apologies, Fleet Admiral. You know how time flies when you're dealing with... difficult rookies."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. "You mean the Hunter Pirates?"
Kizaru let out a deep sigh, his usual carefree demeanor still intact. "Indeed. Quite the troublesome bunch. But I've taken care of it."
Sengoku leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. "Elaborate."
Kizaru moved closer, pulling a bundle of neatly folded papers from his coat. "First, the schematics." He handed them over to Sengoku, who accepted them with a furrowed brow. "This is what they were using to cause that… unfortunate incident at Sorbet Kingdom."
Sengoku unfolded the documents, his eyes scanning the complex blueprints. His expression hardened as he tried to make sense of the intricate designs. "This looks like… a weaponized energy system. Who designed this?"
Kizaru's lips curved into a faint smile. "The younger one, Koby, apparently a genius in engineering. Quite the dangerous talent if left unchecked."
Sengoku nodded grimly, still scrutinizing the schematics. "And the pirates themselves? The Hunter Twins?"
At this, Kizaru's demeanor shifted slightly. His gaze turned out the window as if recalling a distant memory. "Dead," he said simply.
Sengoku's eyes snapped up, sharp and skeptical. "Dead? Explain."
Kizaru let out another heavy sigh, his tone tinged with mock regret. "I cornered them on an island in the South Blue. They resisted, of course. But their arrogance was their undoing. In the end, I had no choice but to destroy their ship and… well, their bodies are now at the bottom of the sea."
Sengoku's face was unreadable for a moment as he processed the information. "You're certain?"
Kizaru gave a slow nod, his gaze still distant. "Mmm… quite. I even used my full power to ensure there would be no loose ends. The Hunter Pirates have been dealt with."
The room fell silent, the weight of Kizaru's words hanging heavily between them. Sengoku leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "If what you say is true, this is a significant victory. Their potential was too great a threat to ignore."
Kizaru's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing.
"I'll ensure the World Government gets this report," Sengoku continued, his voice low. "The Gorosei will want to know that these schematics are secure and that the Hunter Pirates are no longer a threat."
The Fleet Admiral leaned forward again, his intense gaze meeting Kizaru's. "But let me make one thing clear, Borsalino. If there's even a chance you've missed something, if those pirates resurface—"
Kizaru raised a hand, cutting him off gently. "Mmm… Fleet Admiral, I assure you. There's nothing left of them but whispers in the waves."
Sengoku's frown deepened, but he didn't press further. "Fine. You're dismissed."
Kizaru gave a lazy salute. "Mmm… as you wish, Fleet Admiral."
As he turned to leave, Sengoku's voice stopped him. "Borsalino."
The Admiral paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
"I trust your judgment, but if anything comes back to haunt us from this… it's your responsibility."
Kizaru gave a slow nod, his face unreadable. "Understood."
With that, he left the room, the doors closing softly behind him. Sengoku sat in silence for a moment, his fingers steepled as he stared at the schematics.
"Hunter Pirates, huh?" he muttered under his breath. "Let's hope this chapter is truly closed."
Meanwhile, Kizaru strolled down the hallway, his usual lazy smile firmly in place. His thoughts, however, were far from idle.
'Whispers in the waves,' he thought, the phrase echoing in his mind. For now, the secret was safe.