202 With the Justice System

Marine Headquarters.

Inside the office of Blood Hawk.

"Hu—"

Hawke held a cigar between his fingers as he continued flipping through the latest intelligence summary.

With Kizaru personally training Zoro and Sanji, he had nothing to worry about there.

What really needed attention now was the movement in the New World.

According to intelligence, ever since the Summit War, the situation in that den of evil known as the New World had become increasingly bizarre.

"Beast" Kaido and "Big Mom" Linlin—those two sea emperors—had surprisingly shown no major movements.

Their fleets had all withdrawn deep into their territories, remaining eerily quiet.

At the same time, however, another force was rising from the shadows...

Led by "Captain" Eustass Kid, a coalition of supernovas including "Surgeon of Death" Law, "Magician" Hawkins, and "Roar of the Sea" Apoo had formed an immense pirate alliance, stirring chaos across the New World.

"Swish—"

Hawke turned the page, his gaze landing on a photo of a red-haired punk with a vicious look on his face.

He chuckled faintly.

Wasn't this the "magnet brat" who once said, 'God avoid me? I won't avoid him!'?

So now he'd learned how to huddle for warmth, huh?

Just then—

Knock, knock!

The door resounded with a firm, steady rhythm.

"Enter."

Creak—

The door opened, and Dane walked in. Behind him were Smoker and Hina.

"Admiral Hawke!"

Dane stepped forward and gave a textbook-perfect salute.

Tap—

Hawke stood up and crushed his cigar into the ashtray.

He walked up to Dane, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Good work, Dane."

"No need to be so formal between brothers!"

Dane's posture became even straighter, his eyes burning with barely contained emotion and reverence.

"Serving justice is no hardship!"

"Hahaha!"

Hawke laughed heartily. He could clearly sense that the aura of sword intent around Dane had become even more solid and condensed than before.

It seemed that during his post at the G-3 Branch, he hadn't slacked off one bit.

"Dane, old man Zephyr specifically mentioned you to me."

"He said your foundation is rock solid…"

"Your swordsmanship is strong and precise—but being too defensive and steady makes you lack a certain spark."

Hawke looked Dane directly in the eyes, speaking each word with weight.

"You need a power that will bring agility to your form."

"And I already have the perfect Devil Fruit in mind for you."

"!!!"

Dane's pupils shrank sharply.

Once again, he had laid the road ahead for him!

"..."

Dane opened his mouth but realized any words would only sound pale and useless.

In the end, all his gratitude and loyalty condensed into one firm salute.

"Mm."

Hawke smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze toward the man beside him, who'd been radiating dark energy ever since entering the room.

"What's wrong, Commodore Smoker?"

Hawke looked him up and down, amusement flickering in his tone.

"I heard that because you missed the Summit War, you were so frustrated in Alabasta that you smoked through all the royal cigars King Cobra had been saving?"

"Hmph!"

Smoker's expression twisted as if struck right where it hurt most.

"You guys all got to look so damn cool!"

"You and Fleet Admiral Sakazuki were absolute stars of the war—one took down Whitebeard, the other took down Red-Hair. No wonder you two are so popular!"

Smoker's voice rose with indignation. "Even that guy Kuzan!"

"That dead face of his just lifts a leg, freezes the ocean, and boom—he's everyone's favorite! How's that fair?!"

"Ah?!"

He just couldn't get it!

Admiral Hawke was decisive and bold, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki was tough and uncompromising—sure, people liking them made sense.

But Kuzan? That lazy half-dead face of his—why did he get so many fans?!

"If I'd been there!"

Smoker's arms waved passionately as if he were standing on the battlefield of Marineford itself.

"I'd have blasted a 'White Out' straight through those pirate bastards—none of them would've even seen what hit 'em!"

"Then I'd flick my cigar into the cloud of high-density flammable smoke..."

He clapped his hands together sharply.

"BOOM!!!"

"Explosion—that's art, damn it!"

"I'd have gained an army of loyal fans who truly understand the beauty of art!"

"Heh—"

"Admiral Hawke…"

Hina elegantly adjusted her sunglasses, delivering a merciless jab.

"In simple terms, Smoker's been stationed in Alabasta so long…"

"…that his local fanbase doesn't even surpass the Marine with the fewest fans in the upper ranks—Admiral Kizaru."

"Hina thinks he's… quite pitiful."

"Hina!!!"

Smoker's roar nearly lifted the roof off the office.

"Pfft—"

Hawke had just raised his teacup when he heard that, and nearly spat his drink all over.

Huh?!

Even Kizaru had fans?!

In his mind, Hawke instantly pictured that lecherous grin and lazy drawl.

Well… maybe fair enough.

When he killed Beckman during the war, that was pretty cool.

"Alright, enough."

Hawke chuckled, clapped his hands, and straightened up.

"Now that everyone's here, perfect timing."

He returned to his seat, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

"The warship maintenance is almost complete."

"Go rest and adjust yourselves."

His tone was calm yet carried undeniable authority.

"Five days from now—we depart."

"Destination—"

"The New World. G-5 Branch."

"Yes, sir!"

...

G-3 Branch.

Inside the office of the highest-ranking officers.

Sunlight poured in through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, coating the room in a warm golden hue.

"Bwahahaha! Sengoku! This last senbei is mine!"

Garp snatched the final rice cracker from the bag and popped it into his mouth.

"You bastard!"

Sengoku's mustache bristled with rage.

"I was saving that one for Tsuru!"

"Ah, it's fine…"

Tsuru gracefully lifted her teacup and took a light sip, smiling with fond exasperation.

"If Garp likes it, let him have it."

She looked at the two old fools bickering like children and felt a wave of peace wash over her.

How nice.

Ever since stepping down from their positions and moving here to the G-3 Branch, life had been quiet and comfortable.

Across the room, Zephyr sat at his desk, meticulously writing in his notebook.

"The Development of Mythical Zoan-Type Devil Fruit Abilities — A Case Study on the Vampire Form."

He intended to pass on all his battle experience and his newfound understanding of Devil Fruits to the new generation of Marines.

The atmosphere in the office flowed with tranquility and hope.

"Report."

"Great Staff Officer Tsuru, here's the latest intelligence from Headquarters."

A Marine officer respectfully handed her a thick folder of reports.

"Thank you."

Tsuru took it with one hand, sipping tea with the other as she leafed through the pages casually.

The New World had been lively lately—a pirate alliance led by Kid and joined by other supernovas was fiercely seizing territories once held by Whitebeard and Red-Hair.

A bunch of reckless brats who didn't know their place!

Hawke would be heading there soon.

"Hmm…?"

Tsuru's eyes moved further down the page—

Then her hand froze midair, the teacup trembling slightly.

Her gentle smile faded, replaced by a grave expression.

"What is it, Tsuru?"

Sengoku immediately sensed something was wrong.

Without a word, Tsuru handed him the report.

"..."

Sengoku took it, puzzled, and began reading.

The first half was the usual intelligence on the Supernova Alliance.

But when his gaze reached the end of the member list—his pupils suddenly contracted.

"'Surgeon of Death'—Trafalgar Law."

"..."

Bang—

Sengoku shot to his feet.

He slammed the report onto the desk, and a flash of golden Buddha light flickered over his body.

"I'm going to the New World!"