One piece: I,Akaino will not die easily

The moment they stepped onto the long-lost solid ground, the marine soldiers, who had been sailing on the seas for nearly three months, felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Groups of marines flocked to the headquarters' cafeteria, while many of those with families chose to head straight home to share this warm and heartfelt reunion with their loved ones.

For an ordinary marine at the grassroots level, every voyage was a test. Whether it was combat with pirates, harsh weather at sea, or illnesses, any of these could mean never returning. Thus, marines always cherished the rare moments of rest after a mission. However, for a leading officer like Sakazuki, such leisure was a luxury he couldn't afford.

With a serious expression, Sakazuki was briefing Fleet Admiral Sengoku on the intelligence and information gathered during this voyage. Sitting on the same couch as him was the headquarters' strategist, Tsuru. She was a veteran Vice Admiral of Sengoku's era alongside Garp and Zephyr, renowned for her formidable strength and the power of the Paramecia-type Wash-Wash Fruit, said to cleanse even the hearts of pirates.

What made her most famous, however, was her sharp intellect and the ingenious strategies she devised. Before the Great Pirate Era, countless pirates feared this marine beauty like the plague. Many pirates, even before they had truly made a name for themselves, were eradicated by her keen foresight, never growing beyond their infancy. Others were toyed with by her countless stratagems, only to be ensnared in the traps laid by the marines.

At this moment, the three of them bore grim expressions. Based on Sakazuki's earlier summary, combined with reports from the various branches along the seven routes and short-term data from headquarters' dispatched ships, the situation was indeed alarming. Pirates were being hunted and eradicated one after another, yet more bounty posters were being issued, and some pirates were even using the pressure of these pursuits to train and break through their limits.

Vice Admiral Tsuru, her hair now laced with strands of silver, carried an undeniable grace with her sharp intellect and mature charm, despite the wrinkles that had started to show at the corners of her eyes.

The two men sitting opposite her, however, had no time to admire her demeanor. Sengoku and Sakazuki, seated at opposite ends of the couch, were each meticulously reading a branch report.

It was Sengoku who first broke the eerie silence, directing his question to the ever-insightful Tsuru: "Tsuru, what's your take on this?"

Dressed in a light purple suit, Vice Admiral Tsuru leaned back against the couch, crossing her arms in front of her chest, with her hands clasped and her chin resting on her fingers. Her tone was calm: "There's no doubt. Based on the information collected from the branches and captains, the growth trend in pirate numbers is clearly increasing. In fact, we can even hypothesize that this figure will continue to rise over time." She deliberately paused for a moment to draw their attention. "A sharp spike wouldn't be out of the question either."

This, naturally, was a bombshell. Sengoku's eyelids twitched involuntarily. Currently, far too much of the Navy's resources were devoted to chasing down pirates and maintaining order. Were it not for the need to guard against retaliatory strikes from the pirates of the New World, Sengoku would have long wished to personally step in to restore maritime order and capture these pirates, as numerous as grains of sand.

For a fleeting moment, Sengoku felt envious of Garp. The rank of Vice Admiral represented the highest level of freedom granted to a marine officer. Garp had repeatedly refused promotion to Admiral, not because of a lack of strength, but because the rank of Vice Admiral allowed him to roam freely at sea.

Sengoku felt powerless. The Navy was almost exhausting itself in its efforts to capture these vermin, yet pirates seemed to reproduce like rats—endless and indestructible.

As a Fleet Admiral, Sengoku's role might seem prestigious, but without the approval of the Five Elders or Commander-in-Chief Kong, he couldn't even leave Marineford. He was confined to the military base, guarding the gateway to the New World and ensuring the safety of the nearby Celestial Dragons.

However, Sengoku was no brute like Garp. His reputation as a strategist was well-earned. Nodding, he acknowledged Tsuru's analysis: "I see. I will arrange to propose increasing the number and frequency of naval patrols to the Fleet Commander."

Sengoku hesitated momentarily, casting a glance at Sakazuki, who had remained silent all this time. The man seated before him was the same Vice Admiral who had been the subject of much discussion after the events of the Ohara Buster Call.

Sengoku had refrained from probing how the Fleet Commander and the Five Elders viewed Sakazuki's actions during the incident. Personally, however, he couldn't help but notice a faint resemblance between Sakazuki and an old friend who had long left the position of Admiral.

Despite their starkly contrasting ideologies, Sengoku couldn't deny that Sakazuki bore some of Zephyr's traits. The merciless Sakazuki and the pacifist "Black Arm" Zephyr might have been polar opposites in their methods of dealing with pirates, but their unwavering commitment to their beliefs was strikingly similar.

With a hint of scrutiny, Sengoku turned to Sakazuki and asked, "Sakazuki, as a front-line commander, I'd like to hear your perspective on this matter."

The stoic Vice Admiral finally lifted his gaze from the report in his hands. His perpetually stern face looked even grimmer. "Although the number of pirates in various regions continues to rise, this doesn't mean the work we've done over the past few months was in vain. Large numbers of pirates have perished at sea. Towns have been safeguarded and peace maintained, thanks to the unyielding efforts of the Navy."

Sengoku nodded, affirming the point.

Sakazuki turned his gaze to Vice Admiral Tsuru and continued, "The continued increase in pirate numbers over the years is partly due to Gol D. Roger's influence, which led to the proliferation of pirates. But it also indicates that some aspects of the Navy's current policies are no longer suitable for the present global environment. Adjustments are necessary to adapt to the reality of the situation."

"?" Vice Admiral Tsuru's voice revealed a trace of curiosity. "Be more specific."

Sakazuki chose his words carefully, his tone cautious: "We, as officers tasked with executing missions, dare not question the policies set by the Fleet Admiral and the Admirals..."

Sengoku nodded lightly. "There are no outsiders here, Sakazuki. Speak freely!"

Despite not being considered an outsider by Sengoku, the Vice Admiral felt no joy. If he were an Admiral, he could speak his mind without reservation. As a Vice Admiral, however, such actions bordered on overstepping his authority. Slowing his pace to ensure every word was deliberate, he explained: "Focusing the Navy's efforts on the Grand Line has indeed reduced the number of pirates entering the New World. Along the way, the branches and fortresses established serve as a strong deterrent. However, in my view, this approach seems more like an effort to compensate for past shortcomings."

Pointing to the statistical data in his hands, he added, "Apart from a small portion of pirates born on the islands along the Grand Line, the vast majority originate from the Four Blues. ... I suggest assembling a fleet of dozens of battle-hardened warships to form a grand expeditionary fleet. It would depart from the Grand Line, travel to the Four Blues, and ultimately 'disinfect' those regions."

Sakazuki left his suggestion incomplete. What he truly wanted to express was far more than just organizing a fleet.

Sengoku seemed to catch the undertone in Sakazuki's words. Gazing at him meaningfully for a moment, he chose to remain silent.

Sharing an unspoken understanding with Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru deftly shifted the topic to Sakazuki's adopted daughter, sparing the moment from further tension.