Royal Castle – Later
After Rear Admiral Jenfétro left, King Michiru remained seated for several moments, staring at the closed door.
An uneasy feeling lingered in his chest, as though an invisible shadow had begun to loom over his kingdom.
"I have the feeling something is wrong…" he murmured quietly to himself. "But I can't quite put my finger on it."
The silence in the room seemed to deepen his unease. Even the ticking of the clock echoed loudly in the quiet space.
Finally, he gestured to one of the guards standing near the entrance.
"Send William to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the guard replied before quickly leaving the room.
Nearly ten minutes later, the man arrived.
William was tall and powerfully built, with a commanding presence that demanded respect. Among the king's subordinates, he was known as one of the most reliable and intelligent men in the kingdom. His broad frame could be intimidating to enemies, but his sharp eyes revealed constant vigilance.
"You sent for me, Sire?" William asked while bowing his head slightly.
"Yes. I need your advice," Michiru replied, gesturing toward the couch across from him. "But sit down first. This will require a calm discussion."
William sat without hesitation, resting his large hands on his knees.
A few servants quietly entered the room carrying a tray with wine and glasses. They placed it gently on the table before leaving again.
William poured himself a glass slowly before speaking.
"How may I assist you, Sire?"
Michiru exhaled quietly.
"I have a bad feeling about this situation involving the Marines and the World Government," he said. "Jenfétro seemed far too confident… and I cannot shake the feeling that his intentions are not entirely honest."
William nodded thoughtfully and took a small sip of wine before answering.
"I understand your concern, Sire. And in truth… I share it."
Michiru looked at him.
"I had already planned to keep an eye on the pirates in the city," William continued.
"However, I have noticed something unusual about their behavior."
The king leaned forward slightly.
"What kind of behavior?"
"They are… unusually calm," William said slowly. "Too calm. They are not causing trouble. They are not drawing attention to themselves. It almost feels as if they are waiting for something… or preparing for something."
Michiru narrowed his eyes.
"And what do you believe that means?"
"There are two possible explanations," William replied calmly.
"The first is that they are afraid of the Marines and are choosing to stay quiet."
He paused briefly.
"The second… is that they are planning something and waiting for the right moment to act."
Michiru frowned.
"And which possibility seems more likely to you?"
"The second," William replied without hesitation.
"If they were truly afraid of the Marines, they would never have come here in the first place. Your kingdom offers them no real advantage except the opportunity to boast that they set foot on the Shinobi Continent. That alone would not be worth risking their lives."
Michiru slowly leaned back in his chair.
"So you believe their presence is strategic… that someone else may be supporting them?"
William nodded.
"Exactly. And based on my analysis, their objective could be to strike directly at our kingdom."
He set his glass down.
"Money. Weapons. Devil Fruits… whatever the goal is, I doubt they came here for simple plunder."
The king took a deep breath.
"How confident are you in this theory?"
"About seventy percent," William replied calmly. "But in matters like this, it is always wiser to prepare for the worst and hope for the best."
Michiru slowly clenched his fists.
"Very well. Prepare our soldiers immediately. Keep a close watch on the pirates. We cannot afford to waste time."
William bowed his head.
"As you wish, Sire. I will reinforce patrols and prepare our troops for any possible threat."
Michiru stood up.
"We must act quickly, William. Leave nothing to chance."
William nodded firmly.
"Everything will be ready. You will only need to give the order."
***
Marine Base
The sun was beginning to set over the eastern side of the great port city of the Land of the Moon. The walls of the Marine base cast long shadows across the docks, while the sea gently lapped against the wooden piers. A salty breeze drifted through the air, carrying with it the scent of the ocean and freshly varnished wood.
Compared to the massive Marine installations scattered across the seas, this base was relatively modest. Yet despite its quiet exterior, a subtle tension seemed to linger within its walls.
Jenfétro stepped into his office and casually removed his white Marine coat, letting it fall over the back of his chair before sitting down.
His eyes moved across the room.
Maps of the city were spread across the table. Reports were stacked in small piles. Outside the door, soldiers stood guard.
Standing rigidly before the desk was Jonathan, the highest-ranking Marine under Jenfétro's command. His hands were clasped behind his back, but the seriousness of his expression hinted at a certain unease.
"So," Jenfétro said calmly while studying the map in front of him, "how are the preparations progressing?"
Jonathan hesitated for a brief moment before answering.
"Everything is proceeding as planned, Commander… but…"
He lowered his voice slightly.
"Are you certain this is a good idea?"
Jenfétro slowly lifted his gaze toward him.
A cold smile appeared on his lips.
"There's no need to worry, Jonathan. The people of this kingdom will never know what is happening behind the scenes."
He casually twirled his hat in his hand.
"Besides, I'm merely following orders from the World Government. There's no reason to question them."
Jonathan nodded, though his jaw tightened slightly.
"Yes… Commander. I understand."
"Good," Jenfétro replied, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
His eyes returned to the map.
"Now then… according to your estimates, how long before our… operation can begin?"
Jonathan quickly checked the report in his hands.
"Approximately ten days, Commander."
A quiet chuckle escaped Jenfétro's lips.
"Perfect."
He tapped the map lightly with one finger.
"However, there is one small issue. Our pirates alone will not be enough to break through the king's immediate defenses."
He leaned back again, his eyes gleaming with calculation.
"That's not a problem… but we will have to be subtle."
Jonathan frowned slightly.
"Subtle…? You mean…?"
Jenfétro's smile grew more mysterious.
A heavy silence filled the room.
"Let's just say," he said slowly, "that there are several ways to achieve our objective."
His gaze shifted toward the window overlooking the port.
"And the pirates will never realize they were merely part of the plan."
Jonathan inhaled slowly, clearly sensing the weight behind those words.
"I understand, Commander. Everything will be done according to your instructions."
"Excellent," Jenfétro replied while standing up.
He ran his hand across the map, as if a chess player were calmly studying the positions of his pieces.
"Just remember this, Jonathan: we must remain invisible, silent… and above all, efficient."
Jonathan nodded again, the tension visible in his shoulders.
Meanwhile, Jenfétro turned toward the window and gazed out at the harbor glowing under the orange light of the setting sun.
A thin smile slowly spread across his face.
To him, the danger he was preparing was nothing more than a carefully guarded secret.