"This brat is far too arrogant."
At that moment, a meeting regarding Shirakawa was being held at Marine Headquarters.
Fleet Admiral Kong sat at the head of the table, and behind him, Shirakawa's wanted poster was pinned to the board.
"How many years has it been since anyone dared attack a Marine branch? Yet this brat dares to act so wildly. Just as expected of someone who came off that bastard Roger's ship."
A Marine Vice Admiral slammed the table, his anger plain for all to see.
"I have some impression of this guy. I fought him once before."
At that moment, Momonga, seated near the far end of the meeting table, spoke up. He remembered Shirakawa very clearly.
"I remember him too. He's the one with the ability to make swords appear in the sky, right?"
The Marine officers who had fought the Roger Pirates last time all began sharing their impressions.
"Oh, it's him!"
Sitting near the front of the table, Garp suddenly slapped his palm and exclaimed in realization.
"Rayleigh seemed to think highly of that brat. I didn't expect Roger would actually let him leave."
"You only figured that out now, Garp?"
Sengoku, seated across from him, roared angrily. What kind of person was this? How could his memory be so terrible?
"We absolutely cannot allow someone this dangerous to roam free. Who is willing to go capture him and send him to Impel Down?"
The moment Fleet Admiral Kong said that, silence instantly fell over the room.
The Vice Admirals simply did not think much of a "small pirate" like Shirakawa. It was a waste of time.
Even someone like Sakazuki, who hated evil with all his being, did not want to waste time on Shirakawa.
He would much rather aim at a pirate of real strength, and if it were someone like Whitebeard or Roger, then all the better.
Borsalino, the fastest man in the Navy, merely spread his hands, clearly showing that he had no interest in getting involved.
As for Kuzan, there was even less need to mention him. If he happened to be passing through, that was one thing. But if they expected him to go out of his way, then the target would have to be someone he personally cared about.
Shirakawa was obviously not in that category.
Right now, Shirakawa occupied a very awkward position among pirates.
He was not enough to interest the top Marine forces, but he was strong enough that the lower-level Marine forces were afraid they could not beat him.
"Then this time, let me go."
After a long while, Momonga stood up and spoke to Kong.
"Fine, but that isn't enough. We must capture him completely and deal a heavy blow to the Roger Pirates, even if he is only a former member."
Originally, the Marines' target had been Bullet.
But Bullet's current strength was already terrifying, and if the Marines wanted to capture him, the casualties would be no small matter.
Then Shirakawa happened to enter their sight and became Bullet's substitute.
"Since no one else is willing to go, then I'll assign someone myself."
Kong slowly swept his gaze across the officers present, waiting to see if anyone else would volunteer.
"Since that's the case, then I suppose I'll assign someone."
Kong's eyes landed on Kuzan.
"Why are you looking at me? You're not seriously thinking of sending me, are you?"
At that moment, every gaze in the room landed squarely on Kuzan.
"Yes. You."
"Why? You could just send another Rear Admiral. Besides, Rear Admiral Momonga is strong enough. I think he can handle this mission on his own."
"No. To guarantee absolute success, you must go. And if we want to deal a painful blow to the Roger Pirates, then you must go as well."
"I..."
Kuzan was still trying to find more words to argue back, when someone interrupted him.
"You should go this time, Kuzan."
The one who said it was Garp.
"Then... alright."
Kuzan let out a helpless answer.
Garp had shown him kindness, and at this point Garp was the person he admired most. So most of the time, Kuzan listened very seriously to whatever Garp said.
"Good. Meeting adjourned."
The moment the order was given, the officers in the meeting room gradually filed out, leaving only Garp, Sengoku, and Kong seated there.
"Has the decision finally been made up there to move against the Roger Pirates?"
Once everyone else had gone, Garp turned to Kong and asked.
"No. This is my own decision."
"I see."
After that, Garp also got up and left.
"That Garp..."
Watching Garp's back as he walked away, Sengoku felt a splitting headache.
Everyone seated there was smart enough to know exactly what Garp had meant by that question.
"Alright, you should head off too. Make your preparations well during this period. I probably won't be Fleet Admiral for much longer."
"Yes."
Sengoku had already been privately chosen as the next Fleet Admiral's successor. In fact, there were now very few people in the Marines even capable of competing with him for the position.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, we'll be troubling you this time."
At Marine Headquarters' harbor, Vice Admiral Kuzan and Vice Admiral Momonga boarded the same warship.
Ordinarily, any officer of their rank could command a warship alone.
But since the enemy appeared to be nothing more than a tiny two-man group, there was no need to waste military resources.
There were also several dozen soldiers aboard. Even if some unexpected situation arose, that should still be enough.
But at this moment, Shirakawa knew nothing of what was happening on the Marines' side.
And even if he did know, he would not have cared.
Having just broken through to Great Swordsman, he was feeling absurdly inflated with confidence. He could not wait to find someone to test his strength on.
Meanwhile, Jora and Orr were inside the house, discussing something between themselves.
Ever since seeing Jora's wanted poster, Orr had become somewhat silent.
As for Shirakawa, he was currently out in the yard, practicing and familiarizing himself with his new strength.
The people in the village at the foot of the mountain had also all seen Jora's wanted poster.
But none of them reacted with disgust.
Instead, just as always, they remained warm and enthusiastic toward them.
Looking at the people of this village, Shirakawa was reminded of Luffy's village, Foosha Village.
The people there had been the same. After learning that Luffy had been given a bounty, they had been overjoyed, even drinking and celebrating, as if sharing in his glory themselves.
"Have you made your decision?"
Orr and Jora sat kneeling face to face, and Orr asked in a solemn tone.
"Yes. I also want to go out to sea like Senior Brother and search for my own path of swordsmanship."
Jora had entered under Orr much later than Mihawk.
Mihawk had started learning the sword around the age of five or six.
Jora, meanwhile, had only started at ten.
Although Jora was several years younger than Mihawk, he had no intention of always remaining behind him.
He wanted to surpass him too.
But if he stayed by his master's side forever, then while his strength would certainly continue growing steadily, he would still ultimately lack certain opportunities.
"Good. I won't stop you. I only hope that in the future, you won't disappoint me and won't disgrace our school."
"Don't worry, Master. I will definitely carry our swordsmanship forward and make it flourish."
"Then have you thought about how you want to proceed?"
"I want to leave with Shirakawa. He gives me a very special feeling. If I stay with him, I believe my strength will improve much faster."
"That's fine too. If you follow him, at least you'll be safer. But before you leave, I'll teach you one last secret art."
"What secret art?"
Jora immediately asked with excitement.
"Shadow Step."
/-\
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