Marine G-2 Branch, New World.
"So, they left in the end? Tsk, tsk... the Op-Op Fruit... what a waste!"
In the office, Borsalino sat on the couch with one leg crossed over the other, a look of deep regret on his face as he shook his head.
"We couldn't do anything about it. Sengoku-san personally agreed to it, so we let them go after stopping for a night at Swallow Island," Cross said, sitting on the opposite couch, a cigar clenched in his mouth as he puffed out smoke and shook his head. "After all, Sengoku-san has no children to this day. Rosinante is his only adopted son, practically his own flesh and blood. After being shot several times and then beaten by Vergo on Minion Island, he nearly died. Naturally, Sengoku-san couldn't refuse Rosinante's request."
"In that case, Sengoku-san has a rough hand. His son ran off, and a subordinate he trusted turned out to be a spy planted by a pirate. Now he'll have to answer to the World Government. I almost feel sorry for Sengoku-san," Borsalino said, pouting as he leisurely lit a cigarette. He took a deep breath, exhaled the smoke, and continued in a slow tone, "But I bet even Sengoku-san didn't expect that while he was planting a spy in the Donquixote Pirates, Doflamingo was planting one in the Marines. What an unexpected coincidence. If it weren't for you this time, things would have gone in a much worse direction. Good job!"
"You're too kind!"
Cross shrugged, maintaining his usual humility.
However, if he hadn't exposed the traitor Vergo ahead of time, no one would have imagined that a pirate would rise to the rank of Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral over a decade later and become the base commander of one of the eight G-branches, G-5.
"Oh, by the way, I heard Bastet did very well this time, too!" Borsalino said with a smile.
"She captured two Donquixote Pirates officers. Tsuru-san said she'd give Bastet a reward when she gets back," Cross said with a laugh.
He had to admit, Bastet made him very proud this time.
"I'll have to see that for myself!"
Borsalino said with interest.
He then remembered something else and rubbed his head in frustration. "Also, what about that little girl you brought back? That little kid in the kimono from last time hasn't left yet, and now you've brought back another one. This isn't an orphanage!"
Cross's face fell into a wry smile. "About that… I thought Baby-5 was just a child who went down the wrong path because of Doflamingo's influence, and she could still be saved. Tsuru-san agreed with me, so we didn't arrest her as a real pirate."
"Later, I wanted Tsuru-san to guide Baby-5 and show her the right way, but who would have thought she'd cling to me and refuse to leave? So, I had no choice but to bring her back."
"So, have you figured out a solution?" Borsalino asked.
"I don't have time to look after kids, so I plan to send both Hirakawa and Baby-5 to the Marine Academy. I want both of these kids to get a full education and, more importantly, to be around people their own age," Cross said after thinking for a moment. "Hirakawa is nine years old, and Baby-5 is eleven. After six years of schooling, one will be fifteen and the other seventeen. At that time, I can bring these two to the G-2 Branch or have them work directly under me. They could be great subordinates."
"Sending them to the Marine Academy is a good idea. I'll make the arrangements," Borsalino said, nodding in agreement with Cross's plan.
"Thanks!"
Cross's expression relaxed, and he let out a silent sigh of relief. He then picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip.
Thud, thud thud.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Borsalino said languidly.
Creak…
The door opened, and Strawberry walked in with a stoic expression.
"Hey, it's been a while!"
Cross greeted him first.
"Vice Admiral Borsalino! Commodore Cross!" Strawberry said seriously. "I just received news that the current empress of the Amazon Lily Kingdom and captain of the Kuja Pirates, 'Pirate Empress' Boa Hancock, has accepted the World Government's invitation and become a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. She has already signed the Seven Warlords of the Sea treaty at Marine Headquarters, Marineford!"
"That's a huge development! I heard Boa Hancock is an incredibly beautiful woman, but her strength is monstrous. How scary!" Borsalino said, perking up and speaking in a slow, drawn-out tone.
"Boa Hancock... So that means there are now three members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!" Cross's expression changed slightly, and his eyes took on a strange look as he spoke to himself. "If I hadn't exposed Vergo, Doflamingo would have become a Seven Warlord of the Sea very soon, too!"
"Huh?! You're saying Doflamingo also wanted to become a Seven Warlord of the Sea?"
Borsalino was slightly taken aback by Cross's muttering and asked in surprise. Strawberry, on the couch in front of him, was also shocked by this news.
"Ah, yes. Doflamingo set up a series of plans. The key to it was that he wanted to hijack the Heavenly Tribute to blackmail the World Government into making him a Seven Warlord of the Sea. But with Rosinante's betrayal and Vergo's capture, all of his plans have been exposed to Marine Headquarters. Admiral Sengoku will surely make preparations to stop him!" Cross said, recovering his composure.
"Hijack the Heavenly Tribute to blackmail the World Government into making him a Seven Warlord of the Sea... What kind of crazy plan is that? Doesn't he fear the Marines will hunt him down?" Borsalino pondered for a moment, unable to understand Doflamingo's thinking.
"Uh... Borsalino-san, Doflamingo's identity is a bit special. If he manages to hijack the Heavenly Tribute to threaten the World Government, it's not certain that we Marines would even be able to go after him," Cross said with some hesitation.
"What do you mean?"
Borsalino frowned, asking in confusion.
"Doflamingo's full name is Donquixote Doflamingo! That's right, the same Donquixote from Mariejois!" Cross didn't hide the truth. He just pointed his finger upwards.
Hiss...
Strawberry, who had been calm up until now, couldn't help but gasp. A look of horror appeared on his face. "You mean Doflamingo is a Celestial Dragon?! How is that possible? A Celestial Dragon becoming a pirate?! You're joking, right?!"
"From what I know, Doflamingo is indeed a fallen Celestial Dragon. And it's precisely because of this that the World Government's actions toward Doflamingo... The situation is very complex. In any case, if Doflamingo manages to hijack the ship carrying the Heavenly Tribute, it's very likely that the World Government would grant him a special exception to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea," Cross said, still a little unsure about some of the details, which made his explanation a bit vague.
"Alright, that's a headache for Sengoku-san to deal with. At least Marine Headquarters now knows all of Doflamingo's plans!" Borsalino said, shaking his head and adopting a posture that showed he had no desire to get involved.
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