"It's just a coincidence," Kaito said with a grin, spreading his hands.
In truth, it had been an accident. He'd come to the back mountain simply to test his newly acquired, fine-quality blade and experiment with the Rasengan ability gifted by his mysterious system. Kaito hadn't even known the Marines were there until he stumbled upon them.
Rocks studied Kaito closely, his sharp eyes glinting. "Hahaha… It's remarkable how much you've improved in such a short time." Rocks' mastery of Observation Haki allowed him to see the changes in Kaito's strength. It was clear that Kaito had grown significantly since the day he joined the crew.
"Thanks to your guidance, Captain Rocks," Kaito replied respectfully.
Rocks nodded. "As you know, in this crew, strength determines status. You've come far, and you're nearing the level of a cadre. Keep training hard, and you'll earn your place."
Rocks' words were measured. While the disturbance Kaito caused was on par with a cadre-level fight, Rocks hadn't witnessed it firsthand. For now, he chose to wait until he could assess Kaito's power directly before granting him the official title of cadre.
"I understand, Captain. I'll keep pushing forward," Kaito said with determination.
"Good." Rocks turned his gaze to the other crew members who had gathered. "It's time to leave this island. The Marines will send reinforcements. Staying here any longer would be pointless."
Even though Rocks didn't fear Marine forces, he had no intention of wasting resources or risking unnecessary losses. A retreat would serve the crew better in the long run.
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the New World…
Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Tsuru had safely escaped the island, ensuring there were no pursuers. Once they confirmed their safety, they immediately reported the incident to Vice Admiral Kong, who was stationed at Naval Headquarters.
When Kong received the news, he wasted no time contacting Marine Marshal Brownie, who called for an urgent summit with the Five Elders in the Holy Land of Mariejois.
Red Line, Holy Land Mariejois
Within the highest meeting room of the World Government, the upper echelon of the Marines and World Government officials gathered, their expressions tense.
Marine Marshal Brownie addressed the room. "Kong, report the information collected on the Rocks Pirates. The matter is urgent, and I will personally take it to the Five Elders."
Kong stood and began. "The Rocks Pirates appeared in a certain New World territory. We dispatched Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Tsuru to gather intelligence. However, the operation ran into unexpected complications…" Kong's expression turned grave.
Before Kong could finish, one of the World Government's senior officials slammed a hand on the table. "Why are four-star Marines being sent on such high-risk missions? They are supposed to represent the future of Marine power! How could you risk them like this?"
Another official joined in. "If anything had happened to those four, the damage to Marine prestige would have been incalculable! Who authorized such a reckless decision?"
Kong held his ground against the criticism. He knew that the four young Marines were strong, but the Rocks Pirates were another level of dangerous. "Garp was injured," he continued. "He fought a member of the Rocks crew—"
"A cadre?" asked Admiral Zhenwu, his face darkening. "Garp losing to a cadre isn't unheard of. Why call for a summit over this?"
"Not a cadre," Kong corrected. "The one who defeated Garp… was Kaito."
The room fell silent.
"Kaito?" Zhenwu repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Kaito… the pirate with a 100-million-berry bounty? The one they claimed was still green?"
"Yes," Kong confirmed. "That Kaito. Garp engaged him in battle and was defeated."
Zhenwu leaned back, his expression skeptical. "So you're telling me that a hundred-million-berry rookie managed to take down one of our most promising future Admirals? That's ridiculous."
"He is far from ordinary," Kong said gravely. "He's a member of the Rocks Pirates. His power, his potential—it's not what our previous reports suggested. The bounty is misleading. His strength is terrifying, even for someone so young."
A murmur spread through the room as officials exchanged worried looks. The idea that Kaito could defeat Garp made them realize how dangerous the Rocks crew had become. If a relative newcomer like Kaito was already this strong, the rest of the crew—especially under Rocks' leadership—was a threat that couldn't be ignored.
Kong glanced at Brownie. "The implications are clear. The Rocks Pirates are not just a thorn in our side—they're a rapidly growing menace. We need to revise our approach to their operations. Kaito's presence changes everything."
Brownie nodded, his expression stern. "The information will be relayed to the Five Elders. This cannot be taken lightly. Prepare a detailed report."
"Yes, sir," Kong replied.
As the meeting continued, one thing was clear: the Marines' understanding of the Rocks Pirates had shifted. The crew's strength was no longer just about Rocks and his main officers—it was about what they were cultivating, what they were becoming.
And Kaito had proven that the new generation of the Rocks crew could not be underestimated.
"Are you saying," Kong began, "that Garp's opponent wasn't a cadre, but a rookie who just joined the Rocks Pirates?"
"Exactly," Kong replied. "And it wasn't just a loss—Garp was crushed."
The room erupted.
"What? That's impossible!" shouted one official, slamming a fist on the table.
"A new recruit crushed Garp? Have you gone mad, Kong?" another demanded.
The officials' disbelief quickly turned to outrage. "If this is a fabrication, it's not just reckless—it's treasonous!" one roared.
Kong stood firm. "This information is entirely accurate. I trust the reports of Sengoku and the others."
The tension in the room thickened as the weight of Kong's words sank in.
"Damn it," a high-ranking official muttered. "If that's true, how far has the Rocks Pirates' influence grown under our noses?"
"And if it's not just one new recruit, but several individuals with that level of potential… then the Rocks Pirates aren't just a powerful crew—they're a breeding ground for monsters. If these recruits mature, it could undermine the very foundation of the World Government!"
The seriousness of the situation was palpable.
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mariejois, the highest council chamber—where only the elite of the World Government held discussions—the Five Elders awaited the Marine Marshal's report.
Mariejois, Highest Council Chamber
Marshal Brownie entered the chamber, the massive doors creaking open to admit him. The five venerable figures known as the Five Elders turned their sharp gazes upon him.
"Make this quick, Brownie," the long-haired Elder said impatiently. "We have no time for trivial matters."
"Indeed," the scarred Elder added. "What could be so urgent that you'd come all the way here?"
Brownie stepped forward, his tone grave. "I wouldn't have come if it wasn't crucial. The situation with the Rocks Pirates has grown more dire than we previously thought."
The Elders exchanged skeptical glances.
"Rocks is already a known threat," the blonde Elder remarked. "This is hardly newsworthy."
"It's not just Rocks," Brownie continued. "It's his crew. They've recruited someone with potential that rivals Rocks himself—possibly even surpasses it in time."
The room fell silent. Even the most hardened among them couldn't ignore such a claim.
"What's this individual's name?" asked the Elder holding the First Generation blade.
"Kaito," Brownie replied.
"And you're certain of his strength?"
"According to our best intelligence, he's already defeated Marine Captain Garp in direct combat—decisively."
That revelation sent a ripple of disbelief through the Elders.
"Garp?" the long-haired Elder repeated. "You mean the young prodigy Marine Headquarters has been grooming for years?"
Brownie nodded. "The very same. And not only that, Kaito is younger than Garp, which means his potential is still untapped. If he grows stronger, he could become a figurehead even more dangerous than Rocks."
The Elders sat in thoughtful silence for a moment before the scarred one finally spoke. "We cannot allow this to continue. If there are more individuals like Kaito among Rocks' crew, they must be eliminated immediately."
"Then it's decided," the blonde Elder said. "Brownie, you'll mobilize your forces. Focus on Kaito and any other new recruits displaying unusual power. Make sure this ends before it begins."
Brownie bowed. "Understood."
Rocks Pirates' Ship
The next day, aboard the Rocks Pirates' vessel, the crew went about their usual activities. The atmosphere was calm, even jovial.
Suddenly, a delivery pigeon soared overhead, scattering a few new bounty posters onto the deck.
Ochoku grabbed the posters, glancing through them casually. But as he flipped to the last page, his eyes widened in surprise. There, on the final bounty notice, was Kaito's face—accompanied by a dramatically increased reward.