"Fleet Admiral Kong, you called for me?"
"Hm? Hammer, weren't you in Mary Geoise? Why are you back already?"
Seeing Hammer suddenly appear in the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku was equally surprised.
After all, one second ago Hammer had been the topic of discussion, and now he had appeared in person.
"Sengoku, old man, do you really enjoy going to Mary Geoise that much?"
"Then next time the Five Elders summon someone, you go instead."
"Let's see whether those five old geezers beat you up or not."
The merciless mockery instantly darkened Sengoku's face as he viciously glared at Hammer.
"Sengoku, your deduction may have been wrong."
"Hammer didn't reach any agreement with the Five Elders."
"He's also extremely confused by their sudden change in attitude, which is why he came back specifically to ask whether we had done something on our side."
Kong felt like his head was about to explode.
Watching the two men staring each other down made his headache even worse, so he hurriedly explained the situation.
Upon hearing this, Sengoku thought:
'How is that possible? I guessed wrong?'
'That shouldn't be the case.'
'Other than some combat ability and his blacksmithing skills, what does this little bastard Hammer even have?'
'Aside from using forging as a way to conduct subtle transactions, how could he possibly make the Five Elders change their minds?'
"Hammer, what exactly happened?"
"Wasn't it because you used your creations to make some sort of deal with the Five Elders, causing them to approve your promotion?"
Hammer helplessly shook his head.
"That was originally my plan."
"But the Five Elders never even gave me the opportunity."
"As for why they later approved my promotion… it was completely inexplicable."
"I thought you guys had pulled some strings on your end, but apparently not."
"Sengoku, old man, come on, use that strategic brain of yours and figure this out."
"If we don't analyze this properly, I'm going to feel uneasy as hell."
Those were the Five Elders, after all.
The highest-ranking Celestial Dragons who devoured people without even spitting out bones.
Even though there was still Imu above them, those five were publicly acknowledged as the pinnacle of power in the world.
Such a drastic shift in attitude, of course Hammer felt nervous.
"This is strange."
"If it wasn't because of your abilities…"
"Then why would the Five Elders back down?"
For the first time, even Sengoku couldn't grasp the Five Elders' intentions.
"Oh right."
"The Five Elders also granted me unrestricted access to Mary Geoise."
"And they arranged a residence for me too. A pretty grand palace, actually."
"They even gave me ten servants."
"That scared me so much I immediately ran away."
Hammer suddenly dropped another bombshell.
Kong and Sengoku were stunned.
'Hammer's residence?'
'In Mary Geoise?'
'He wasn't a Celestial Dragon, so how could he possibly live there?'
At that moment, Sengoku suddenly felt Hammer's image grow infinitely taller.
This bastard absolutely had to stay in the Marines.
Among Marines, only Fleet Admirals and Admirals could set foot in Mary Geoise.
Hammer was probably the first Marine in history to possess such privileges.
And on top of that, he was the beloved Master Ornn of the Celestial Dragons.
If Hammer handled the Celestial Dragons in the future, wouldn't the Marines rise to unprecedented heights?
"Sengoku, old man, what's with that look?"
"I already know what you're thinking."
"I'm telling you right now, don't even think about it."
"You deal with those idiots wearing glass helmets yourself."
"I'm absolutely not staying in Mary Geoise."
Sengoku's expression of incoming joy instantly collapsed.
"Hammer, regardless of the reason behind all this…"
"The fact that the Five Elders value you is real."
"At least for now."
"So you don't need to worry too much."
Hearing this, Hammer finally felt a little better.
'Right.'
'The Five Elders must've just gone crazy.'
'What did that have to do with me?'
'Yeah!'
Thinking about it that way made him feel much more comfortable.
"That's more like it."
"It's definitely those five old geezers' problem."
"Alright then, if that's the case, I'm heading back to G1 Branch."
"Lance and the others are still waiting for me there."
"Wait, Hammer! My exclusive weapon!"
Before Sengoku could finish speaking, Hammer once again activated the Cloud Armor.
Huge wings appeared behind him.
With a single flap, he smashed through the window and flew away.
Leaving the two old veterans choking on dust.
….....
Several days later, New World, Dressrosa waters.
"Hammer, are you seriously planning to stay permanently in Dressrosa?"
"Hmph, what would you know?"
"Dressrosa possesses the finest wrought iron in the entire sea."
"I already asked Onigumo and the others from the Marines to negotiate cooperation with King Riku."
"Then why not just stay at Headquarters and wait?"
"Forget it. With your brain, even if you thought until your head exploded, you still wouldn't understand."
Hammer had his own plans.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call them ambitions.
Those ambitions forced him to set foot upon Dressrosa's soil.
Even if it meant facing Scarlett again, he couldn't retreat.
The Warhammer successfully docked at Dressrosa's harbor.
Hammer ordered Lance and the others to settle in while he personally headed alone to the King's Plateau, where he smoothly met King Riku.
"Long time no see, King Riku."
King Riku silently nodded while observing the now even more refined Hammer before him.
Truthfully speaking, at Hammer's age, possessing such strength and status really did make him one of the sea's rare young heroes.
"Hammer, what brings you to Dressrosa this time?"
"Earlier, your Marine Rear Admiral Onigumo already reached an agreement with me."
"You can rest assured regarding the wrought iron. Mining operations have already begun."
'Oh?'
'They moved quickly.'
'Not bad.'
Unfortunately, Hammer's goal this time was even greater.
And with his next sentence, King Riku was completely shocked.
"King Riku…"
"I want to station myself at Green Bit beside Dressrosa."
"And establish my personal branch base there."
"What?! Say that again!"
"I want to establish a Marine Branch at Green Bit."
"Of course, it would be my personal branch."
Seeing Hammer's serious expression, King Riku knew he wasn't joking.
'But why Green Bit?'
'Could it be…'
'He already knew?'
"King Riku, you know my abilities and strength."
"I know what exists on Green Bit."
"The Tontatta Kingdom of the dwarves, right?"
King Riku was even more shocked.
He couldn't understand how Hammer knew things so clearly.
"Back when I first went to Green Bit, my Observation Haki already sensed something."
"And combined with Dressrosa's fairy legends…"
"King Riku, there's no need to hide it."
"I'm a Marine, not a pirate."
"Even if I want the dwarves' assistance, I'll offer corresponding compensation."
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
"Then what exactly does the famous Vice Admiral Hammer intend to offer in exchange for the Tontatta Tribe's trust?"
A cold female voice suddenly rang out from outside.
Hammer's entire body trembled.
Because he knew perfectly well who had arrived.
It was none other than Dressrosa's princess, Scarlett.
"Long time no see, Princess Scarlett."
"Hmph! I'd rather never see you again, bastard Hammer!"
Hammer: 'Another person calling me a bastard.'