Faced with the straightforward and candid high praise and public confession of love from the beautiful woman, Sakazuki's face showed no trace of panic or nervousness, demonstrating his mountain-like steadiness. He even leisurely picked up the glass of lemon water placed on the solid dining table and took a slow sip.
However, under the brim of his hat that shadowed his eyes, someone was discreetly glancing around at the ground, trying to figure out which soft patch of land might be suitable for him to melt through and escape.
While he was certainly an expert at dealing with pirate enemies, on the battlefield of love, he was nothing but a rookie.
"Eh?!" Robin widened her eyes in surprise. The girl lightly tugged at Kuzan's sleeve with her left hand. Kuzan, understanding the gesture, tilted his head slightly, waiting for her to speak.
Although Robin's words seemed to be whispered discreetly, for the three future admiral-level individuals present, her whisper was no different from regular speech, as they could all clearly hear: "Are they dating?"
So, children these days are so precocious? Sakazuki's expression turned serious, and he gave a deep stare at his ally, silently warning him not to speak recklessly.
Kuzan, however, seemed entirely oblivious to his senior's meaningful glance. Well, with your cap on, how am I supposed to see it?
He deliberately placed one hand near his mouth, as if to conceal his voice, and said, "Ah-la-la, so you think so too?"
Then, he sat up straight, placing both hands properly on his lap, and stared blankly at his emotionless senior—waiting to see the cold and protective man explode on the spot.
That's what you get for smacking my head the moment you arrived… Besides, how can something so obvious be called reckless gossip?
"Hey, Onigumo, you're not just talking nonsense, are you?" The speaker, whose left cheek bore a distinct cross-shaped scar, questioned skeptically. His tone suggested both doubt and the desire for clarification. The person he was questioning, however, was clearly not the type to speak frivolously.
Onigumo struck a match and lit the cigarette in his mouth. He shook his wrist to extinguish the flame and took a deep drag. Only after letting the taste of tobacco spread through his mouth did he contentedly exhale the smoke and say, "Hmph. Since when have I ever joked about something like this? But honestly, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it either, Doberman."
This powerhouse vice admiral, who twenty years later would be a scar-covered veteran sporting a signature handlebar mustache, was now only in his twenties. His face had taken on a bronze tone from years of naval voyages.
He shook his head and said, "If someone else had told me about this, I would've assumed they'd lost their mind. Twenty-plus seamen and petty officers, along with a few warrant officers, managed to kill a pirate with a bounty of 20 million Berries. You need to tell me in detail—what exactly did Vice Admiral Sakazuki do?"
Doberman took a deep puff of his cigar, his eyes sparkling as he intently watched Onigumo, who was reclining on the sofa.
"It was an encirclement," Onigumo said, tapping the ashes of his cigarette into the ashtray.
"Encirclement? Of course, it was an encirclement. Did you think they'd go one-on-one with that pirate?" A rear admiral sitting in a padded chair adjusted his tie, ensuring that the pale yellow tie matched his green suit in both coordination and crispness. He gave off an overall impression of streamlined, meticulous precision.
What set him apart, however, was his exceptionally tall, upstanding hair. On closer inspection, the hair merely clung to his unusually prominent, towering skull. His slightly squinted eyes, paired with a neatly trimmed square mustache, perfectly complemented his calm and composed demeanor.
Like the distinct length of his skull, his name was also a bit of a mouthful—Strawberry.
Onigumo, with his thick, long hair draped over his shoulders, carefully recalled the battle scene from that day.
"The soldiers, under Vice Admiral Sakazuki's command, launched their attacks in an organized manner. Instead of swarming the enemy in the usual chaotic fashion, they moved like weaving a tight web, hunting their prey.
"The attacking soldiers simultaneously launched assaults from multiple angles. When the pirate counterattacked, other petty officers were responsible for intercepting and blocking, maintaining an exceptionally rapid tempo of attack.
"Several warrant officers, though not yet proficient, used 'Soru' to carry out harassment and thrusting strikes…"
A skilled general always reviews the battle in their mind afterward, repeatedly scrutinizing their shortcomings and earnestly reflecting on the gains and losses of the engagement.
"Tsk! What a terrifying concept," Doberman hissed, drawing a sharp breath as he mentally simulated the scenario based on Onigumo's description.
"No wonder. When you put it that way, Vice Admiral Sakazuki's command truly sounds like an ingenious masterpiece," Strawberry said, his eyes fully open now, sincerely applauding in admiration.
But he was more concerned about another key issue. "Does this mean that this kind of tactic can be implemented across the entire navy?"
"Unfortunately, Vice Admiral Sakazuki believes that this tactic has yet to undergo sufficient combat testing. Moreover, the battle formation itself has shortcomings. It requires soldiers to work together for an extended period to improve the formation's stability before a formal strategy report can be submitted to the Fleet Admiral," Onigumo explained.
He naturally understood what the two men were contemplating, but rushing things would not lead to success. Tactics or weapons that have not been rigorously tested in various scenarios could, if prematurely implemented fleet-wide, pose risks far beyond just one ship's crew.
Doberman nodded. "That's true. But could we assist Vice Admiral Sakazuki in refining and perfecting this formation? That would undoubtedly improve efficiency."
Doberman was straightforward, but Strawberry thought more comprehensively. "Would Vice Admiral Sakazuki perceive our actions as an attempt to steal his credit?"
The calm rear admiral was deeply thoughtful. As the creator of this ingenious formation, if it were to be widely implemented later, it would grant Sakazuki immense merit. His creation would free up combat strength for other purposes—pirates who previously required field officers could now be handled by warrant officers leading formations. The freed-up officers and commanders would significantly influence the overall battlefield.
If Sakazuki were to be credited as the originator, his achievements would be monumental. Therefore, their current intentions might inevitably appear to be opportunistic.
"No, Strawberry, don't underestimate Vice Admiral Sakazuki's magnanimity. He's not that kind of person," Onigumo firmly replied.
He straightened his posture and said, "The reason I invited you both to my home for a casual conversation today, though it's a customary post-mission routine, is also because Vice Admiral Sakazuki himself hopes that we can work together."
"Such magnanimity! As expected of a model soldier! I, Doberman, am willing to serve under Vice Admiral Sakazuki," declared Doberman, known within Marine Headquarters as the "Fighting Dog," being straightforward and resolute in his support for this practical and effective suggestion.
With his firm and iron-blooded style, Sakazuki was already regarded as a leader among the hawkish faction within the navy. Though he never explicitly formed factions, others inevitably divided themselves accordingly in private.
"All for justice," Strawberry solemnly declared as he stood upright, his posture impeccably military, and saluted Onigumo.
"All for justice!" In the somewhat cramped officer quarters, the three exchanged military salutes, vowing to contribute to the betterment of the mighty Marine Headquarters.