One Piece: Killer Method 53

"I'm sticking out like a sore thumb," I muttered to no one in particular as I jumped over the ship's railing and landed on Marineford's crescent port, receiving more than a few strange looks from the Marines as I was the only one in civilian clothing.

"It can't be helped... after all, you have yet to get your uniform and official rank," Bogard said as he walked up to me. "You'll fit right in once you're in uniform, I'm sure," he added with a shrug.

"Well, now that you mention it," I said, clearing my throat as I noticed Vice Admiral Garp approaching us from the corner of my vision. "How about you take to get a uniform right now?" I added with an urging expression as I looked at Bogard.

"I can't wait to get--" I went on, stopping halfway through my sentence as the vice admiral closed the distance and cut me off, picking me up by the nape of my jacket.

"Not so fast, brat," Garp said with a beaming grin as he looked down at me. "It's been a while since we got a good recruit... I need to rub it in those damned pirates' noses," he added with a chuckle, and I could only bitterly sigh as I looked at Bogard with an unspoken plea for help.

The vice admiral's aide merely shrugged.

...

The Marineford Tower

The Fleet Admiral's Office

Hearing his door suddenly open, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, Fleet Admiral Sengoku frowned and turned away from the paperwork on his desk, prepared to scold whoever was bold enough to barge into his office without permission.

The fleet admiral's expression only worsened as he watched Vice Admiral Garp leisurely walk into the room with the biggest shit-eating grin splitting his face.

"You're late, Garp," Sengoku said with a frown, pausing again as he saw a blonde, tall young man walk behind the vice admiral. "And who is this young man you brought with you?" he asked, his frown intensifying as the young man smiled sheepishly.

"If you've got a complaint, take it to Impel Down... they didn't open the Gate of Justice," Garp carelessly replied as he opened a cupboard near the wall and retrieved a pack of crackers, much to the Fleet Admiral's annoyance.

"And this here is Cedric... the brat Sicily talked about," the Vice Admiral said, stuffing his mouth full of Sengoku's crackers as he spoke. "Do you want a cracker, by the way?" He asked as he extended the bag toward the Fleet Admiral.

"No, I don't want a goddamn cracker," the Fleet Admiral said, holding his forehead with a bulging vein already showing. "What I want to know is what this young man is doing in my office?" He added, barely holding in the urge to shout.

"I was about to get to that... you see, the brat here is much better than Sicily said," Garp remarked as he forcefully patted the young man's shoulder, causing him to wince in pain. "I'm taking him to the meeting to rub him in those damned pirates' noses," he added, sounding too proud of himself.

"Assuming he's as talented as you think he is... why do you even think showing him off to pirates is a good idea?" The Vice Admiral asked with a resigned sigh, his anger seemingly evaporating, only to be replaced by exasperation.

"That's what I said... I don't wanna be in the same room--" Cedric said, trying to voice his opinion, only to stop halfway through as the Vice Admiral gave him a playful slap on the back.

"Those damned pirates know they can't mess with us right now... we need to show them that they can't mess with us in the future too," Garp said, sounding way too proud of himself. "What do you think? It's a great plan, right?" He asked, puffing his chest, and the Fleet Admiral seemed to consider his words, much to Cedric's horror.

"Please don't listen to him, sir. He only wants to--" Cedric said, pausing again as he was interrupted by another playful slap courtesy of the Vice Admiral, causing him to swallow his words with a depressed expression.

"I make it a point not to listen to fools, young man," the Fleet Admiral said as he turned to Cedric. "But I don't have the time to argue with the one beside you," he added, gesturing toward the Vice Admiral, who merely chuckled, not taking any offense.

"Let's go... the meeting will start soon..."

...

The meeting room

The room was quiet, except for the sharp, cracking noise and dull thuds generated by two Marine captains as they fought each other with horrified expressions, seemingly not in control of their actions.

Kuma The Tyrant watched the two Marine officers fight with zero interest, while Donquixote Doflamingo stood on the balcony, spectating the battle with apparent glee.

"This is your doing, isn't it, Doflamingo?" said one of the captains through gritted teeth. "Do you find this entertaining, you sick bastard?" he asked, still attacking his colleague as he spoke.

"Yes, actually..." Doflamingo shamelessly replied as he leaned over the balcony's railing. "I've grown bored of waiting for this shindig to start, and until it does, you will serve as the entertainment..." He added, his grin deepening as he wiggled his fingers as a puppet master would.

"It is your duty as the host to entertain guests, after all..." Doflamingo added with a chuckle as he watched the two captains draw their swords and prepare to slash each other.

"Enough of your farce, Doflamingo. There's no time for this," suddenly, the sound of three sets of footsteps came from the room's entrance, accompanied by an authoritative exclamation, causing Doflamingo to stop as he turned to investigate.

Doflamingo maintained his grin as he released the captains, watching as Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, and a young man in civilian clothing stepped into the room.

"Now sit down..." the fleet admiral said as he headed for his seat, and Garp did the same, while the young man merely stayed at the entrance, seemingly intent on watching from afar without getting involved.

"We have pressing matters to discuss," Sengoku said as he took his seat, watching the warlord slowly approach the table with his hands in his pocket. "I apologize for the late welcome..." he went on, putting on a mocking smile. "Thank you for coming, scum of the sea..."

"Oh, thank you. So thoughtful of you, using my formal title like that, fleet admiral..." Doflamingo replied with an equally mockery-laced tone as he stood near the table, refusing to sit down.

"Let's begin... I doubt any more of the Warlords plan to attend..." the fleet admiral calmly remarked, ignoring Doflamingo's remark. "To tell the truth, two out of seven is more than I expected..." he added in a disinterested tone.

"Smart man... I didn't plan on showing either..." Doflamingo calmly said as he climbed over the round table. "One of the discussion topics merely happened to be of interest to me, that's all..." He added with a chuckle as he shrugged his shoulders.

"That's enough out of you, pirate..." Garp interjected. "I don't have all day, so let's hurry up and get this over with," he added, resting his feet on the table as he took a pack of crackers and began stuffing his mouth.

"I would also like to begin the meeting as soon as possible..." Kuma said in his calm and soothing voice, raising a few eyebrows as he rarely spoke. "I still have several errands to attend to..." he added, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"If the great hero of the Marines and the Tyrant Kuma say so, then we can only oblige," Doflamingo said with a grin. "But before we begin... who is the brat?" He asked, turning his sharp gaze toward the young man leaning on the wall near the meeting room's entrance.

Sengoku frowned at Doflamingo's words and prepared to reply, but the young man, Cedric, beat him to it, much to Garp's glee. "Cedric Strode, a new marine recruit," he said, instantly drawing a grin from the vice admiral. "I'm just here to watch and learn."

"Watch and learn, you say?" Doflamingo said with a laugh as he held his forehead. "This isn't a place for children to play." He added as he removed his hand, revealing the bulging vein under it.

"Beat it, brat," Doflamingo exclaimed, activating his Conqueror's Haki and unleashing a shockwave that instantly caused the two marine captains' previous fighting to lose consciousness alongside several other officers.

However, despite taking the brunt of the shockwave as he was its primary target, Cedric seemed unfazed, only frowning as he replied. "That's not up to you to decide... if you've got a problem, take it up with Vice Admiral Garp," he added, and at his words, the vice admiral instantly burst into laughter while Sengoku merely palmed his face.

"Not bad, brat," Doflamingo remarked, sounding genuinely amused as he relaxed his expression. "How about it? You want to ditch the Marines and join my family instead?" He asked, leaning his face over his fist, causing Garp and Sengoku to frown at the warlord's audacity.

"Nope."