Moments later, the air in Relf's once spacious office was thick with the scent of wood and metal. The room was now completely filled with several massive, overflowing money chests. The polished wooden containers gleamed enticingly, silently announcing the incredible wealth they held.
Relf, the Vice Admiral, wore a nearly fawning smile as he looked at the black-haired youth seated casually in his exclusive chair. "Mr. Takuro," he said respectfully, "the tally is complete. You have 'apprehended' a total of two hundred and fifty-nine criminals this time, and their combined bounties come to five hundred and sixty million Berries. All the Berries are right here. Do you... need to count them yourself?"
Robin, who was standing nearby, took a small step forward, ready to perform her duty as the crew's financial manager. However, Takuro merely waved his hand to dismiss the thought.
"No need," he said, his voice relaxed and full of confidence. "I believe that Vice Admiral Relf, you are a sensible person. You certainly wouldn't try to trick me over such a small matter." As he spoke, he gave Relf, who was standing stiffly in front of the desk, a meaningful glance, a slight, half-smile on his lips. "You agree, don't you, Vice Admiral Relf?"
"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" Relf hastily pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, using it to wipe away the cold sweat that was continuously beading on his forehead. His smile became even more obsequious.
To be perfectly honest, when faced with such an enormous pile of Berries, a fleeting, wicked thought had crossed Relf's mind. But that dangerous idea was immediately and completely smothered by his powerful will to survive the encounter. He loved money, but he valued his life even more! There was no way his skull was any harder than 'Black Arm' Zephyr's iron fist. It now seemed that his quick decision to 'submit' had, fortunately, saved him. Relf secretly swore in his heart that, from now on, no matter the situation, 'preserving his life' would always come first.
"Alright, then," Takuro said, standing up with a stretch. "We've got the money, so we won't bother you any longer."
Tiger, acting as the most loyal guard, naturally stepped forward. He effortlessly hoisted the several incredibly heavy money chests onto his shoulders. To the Fishman's astonishing strength, the sheer weight was nothing at all.
"Mr. Takuro! Please take care!" Relf's face was bursting with enthusiastic smiles as he personally escorted the trio from the office all the way to the gate of the Marine base.
As they were leaving, Takuro even gave him a 'cordial' pat on the shoulder. "I see you, kid. You're pretty sensible," he said casually. "How about this: if things don't work out for you in the Marines, you can consider trying your luck with me."
Relf didn't dare to respond. He just kept smiling obsequiously until the figures of Takuro and his two companions vanished completely at the end of the street. Only then did his tightly wound nerves finally relax.
"Phew... Phew..." He panted heavily, feeling as if he had just walked back from the very gates of hell. "Finally... I've gotten rid of that jinx!" When he had only looked at the wanted poster, he hadn't felt it. But only when truly facing such a legendary 'monster' could a person personally experience that suffocating, abyssal pressure.
His adjutant, who was staring blankly down the street, hesitantly spoke, "Sir... did you just let them go like that?"
"What else was I supposed to do?" Relf glared at him irritably. "Or would you like to go and try to catch him yourself?"
"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!" The adjutant waved his hands repeatedly in fright. Like officer, like soldier—this adjutant's cowardice was even greater than Relf's.
The two stood in silence for a moment before turning to go back into the base. Relf secretly calculated in his heart: 'Once I report this 'achievement'... maybe I can use this opportunity to be transferred back to Marineford. Sabaody is peaceful, but Marineford is still the safest place of all.'
The State of the Marines
Meanwhile, at Marineford, the atmosphere in the Fleet Admiral's office was exceptionally grim.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice was low and weary, as if he carried the entire burden of the Marines on his shoulders. "You should all know what happened," he began, looking around at the high-ranking Marine officers present. "Regarding 'Strange Tail' Takuro's sudden appearance on Sabaody Archipelago and his almost complete eradication of the criminals entrenched on the island... What are your thoughts?"
Inside the office, everyone's expressions were very strange. When they first heard the news, they thought someone was playing an April Fool's joke. Only after repeated confirmation did they have no choice but to accept the absurd fact.
"Cough!" Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Great Staff Officer, broke the silence with a light cough. "From my perspective... this incident has completely cleared up the public order on Sabaody Archipelago. Overall, I'd say it's a good thing."
"Tsuru!" Sengoku sighed heavily. "You know that's not what I meant." His fingers unconsciously tapped the desk, revealing his inner anxiety. "I want to know: what is Takuro's purpose for suddenly appearing on Sabaody?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru, however, countered, "Sengoku, haven't we already talked about him? Takuro's current strength isn't something we can easily deal with. As long as he doesn't do anything truly outrageous, we should just ignore him and let him be." Takuro's strength is, according to the Unified Power Rankings , firmly within Tier 4: Galactic Emperors & Yonko. His sheer power puts him on a similar level as the Four Emperors (Yonko) of the New World.
Sengoku stared at Tsuru's expression, his face serious. Then, his gaze swept over the other high-ranking Marine officers in the room one by one.
Garp had fallen asleep on the sofa at some point. A large snot bubble inflated and deflated on his nose with every breath, showing his cheerful and naive personality. Zephyr looked as if he wanted to speak but stopped himself, his head bowed, lost in thought. His once resolute eyes were now filled with complex, conflicting emotions. Kuzan remained silent, his mind wandering, as if he were once again pondering the ultimate, abstract meaning of life. As for Kizaru... Sengoku didn't even want to mention him right now.
He sighed deeply again, a strong sense of powerlessness welling up within him. 'This morale... it's completely scattered! This team... it's impossible to lead!'
More than half of those present had either been thoroughly taught a lesson by Takuro or had been influenced by his unconventional 'strongest theory.' Now, each of them seemed completely indifferent to Takuro's actions. In the entire vast Marine organization, was there truly no one who could rein in that lawless fellow?!
Just then, Sengoku suddenly remembered something and spoke up.
"Oh, right." His voice was exceptionally clear in the silent office. "...Sakazuki... has he returned?"
This question caused the few still-conscious generals present to involuntarily straighten their backs. Akainu Sakazuki, the man who upheld 'Absolute Justice,' his return might change the current situation. But it might also make things even more complicated.
Sengoku's fingers unconsciously tapped the desk again, his gaze passing through the window and out to the distant horizon. That vast ocean was always full of surprises and unpredictable variables, and 'Strange Tail' Takuro was undoubtedly one of the biggest variables to appear in recent years.
Finally, Sengoku made up his mind. "Issue an order for Sakazuki to lead a fleet to Sabaody Archipelago."
Vice Admiral Tsuru's expression changed slightly. "Sengoku, this..."
Just as she was about to say something, Sengoku waved his hand, cutting her off. "Don't worry, Tsuru, I'm not declaring war with Takuro. I'm sending Sakazuki merely to maintain order; if any unforeseen incidents occur, he can handle them."
As he spoke, Sengoku gave Kuzan and Borsalino an annoyed glare. These two good-for-nothings!
The two admirals looked left and right, with visible guilty expressions.
Vice Admiral Tsuru did not try to argue further. Instead, she said, "Sakazuki's personality is too rigid, so I will arrange for someone to advise him at critical moments."
"Who?"
"It will be Gion."
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