At Marine Headquarters, Marineford—
Thousands of workers were busily repairing the Headquarters building.
After working around the clock for an entire week, they had only managed to restore about five percent of the damage.
"Hahaha, Sengoku, stop looking so miserable."
Garp casually dug at his ear before patting Sengoku on the shoulder.
"It’s only a few hundred million Berries in repair costs. If this year’s military budget isn’t enough, just dip into your retirement fund."
"Shut up!"
Sengoku shot him an annoyed glare.
"You’ve got the nerve to bring up my retirement fund?"
"Do you have any idea how much money you’ve borrowed from me over the years?"
"It adds up to my entire retirement savings."
"If anyone’s paying first, it’ll be you."
He rubbed his throbbing temples with a sigh.
"Honestly... these past few days my eyelids have been twitching nonstop."
"I have a terrible feeling something bad is about to happen."
"I didn’t even feel this uneasy back when we fought Golden Lion Shiki."
The more Sengoku thought about it, the more restless he became.
"Hahaha!"
"No wonder you’ve been trying so hard to get close to me lately."
Zephyr walked over laughing.
"So that’s because Sengoku finally stopped lending you money."
"Looks like refusing your loan requests was the right decision."
As senior Marine officers—and comrades who had fought side by side for decades—the three of them no longer cared much about their salaries.
Both Sengoku and Zephyr regularly used their own pay to support Marine Headquarters and the Marine Recruit Academy.
As a result, neither of them had much money left.
That was why they never took Garp’s shameless borrowing too seriously.
"If you’re really short on cash," Zephyr suggested with a grin,
"why not take a stroll through the New World?"
"Pick a fight with whichever pirate looks the most unpleasant."
"One bounty should cover your expenses."
Garp rolled his eyes.
"I’ll pass."
"If word reaches those old geezers in the World Government, they’ll think I’m farming money for myself."
"What if all I get afterward is a thank-you banner?"
"Lucas already told me..."
’You only work as hard as you’re paid.’
’Taking advantage of others is glorious.’
’Getting taken advantage of is what’s shameful.’
"I’d rather borrow money from Tsuru."
Sengoku and Zephyr both fell silent.
What kind of ridiculous life philosophy was that?
You only work as hard as you’re paid?
Taking advantage of others is glorious?
Being taken advantage of is shameful?
The once carefree Garp had somehow been fed this bizarre "motivational speech" by Lucas.
Convincing him to work hard now would probably be harder than climbing to the heavens.
"Enough."
"Don’t even mention that brat."
Sengoku massaged his temples again.
"It was supposed to be a short escort mission."
"He somehow turned it into a long-term assignment."
"I don’t even know if he’s met up with the escort team yet."
Before Lucas came along, Borsalino—the king of slacking—and Kuzan—the perpetual nap enthusiast—had already given Sengoku enough headaches.
Now there was yet another Admiral who had perfected the art of doing nothing.
Sengoku felt like he’d grown several more white hairs.
"Hahaha!"
"You’re worrying too much."
Garp laughed loudly.
"That’s just how powerful people are."
"And don’t forget..."
"You used to have your own embarrassing nickname before becoming Fleet Admiral."
"You think everyone’s forgotten?"
"Besides..."
"No matter how unreliable Lucas looks..."
"He’s still an Admiral."
"As long as the performance bonus is there..."
"He gets the job done."
"You..."
Sengoku glared at him.
"You really don’t know when to stop bringing up old stories."
He quickly changed the subject.
"I’ll call him later and check in."
"Just talking about that brat is making my eyelids twitch even more."
"Relax."
Zephyr smiled reassuringly.
"If you don’t trust Lucas..."
"Surely you trust the student I personally trained."
"Ain was the most outstanding recruit of her class."
"After... that incident..."
"She’s become much more mature."
"With her there, this escort mission should go smoothly."
As he spoke, the Transponder Snail in his pocket suddenly rang.
"Speak of the devil."
"This should be Ain’s scheduled progress report."
"Now that’s reliability."
Smiling, Zephyr took out the Transponder Snail.
Sengoku immediately leaned closer.
But as the snail spat out a printed report...
Both men froze.
"This..."
"This is a repair estimate?"
"Two warships destroyed?"
"Repair costs..."
"Six hundred million Berries?"
Sengoku’s face darkened instantly.
"Did that brat go out and offend all four Emperors the moment he set sail?"
"How else could two warships be destroyed?"
"Was he attacked by one of the Four Emperors?"
"Those pirates have gotten far too arrogant!"
"Wait."
Zephyr’s expression also turned cold as another report slowly emerged from the Transponder Snail.
"There’s more."
"If those bastards have really gone this far..."
"Then I don’t care if I have to throw away my title as the ’Black Arm’ who refuses to kill."
"I’ll wipe every last one of them out."
"I’ll make them understand..."
"The Marines are not someone they can bully."
Once known as the Black Arm, Zephyr had also earned a reputation for refusing to kill.
But after losing his family...
And watching his students slaughtered...
That reputation had become a bitter irony.
Had he not still believed in the Marines’ justice...
His title might long ago have changed from not killing...
To massacring.
After all...
Lucas was the one Zephyr had personally recommended to become the Marines’ Fourth Admiral.
He was practically one of his own students.
If Lucas’s very first independent mission had ended in disaster...
There was no way Zephyr could swallow that anger.
Even Garp’s expression turned grim.
He tore off the second report the Transponder Snail produced.
"I’d like to see..."
"Which Emperor thinks they can lay a finger on one of my protégés."
"Do they really think I’ve gotten old?"
His voice carried an unmistakable chill.
Without another word, Garp lowered his eyes to the report.
Then...
He froze.
"Garp?"
Seeing his silence, Sengoku frowned.
"Who was it?"
"Whitebeard?"
"Big Mom?"
"Kaido?"
"Or was it that red-haired brat?"
"Just because he’s the youngest of the Four Emperors, does he think he can attack our newly appointed Admiral?"
"If they’re doing this..."
"They’re trying to smash the Marines’ rice bowl!"
"It looks like Marine Headquarters has been quiet for too long."
"They’ve forgotten what us old men are capable of."
Sengoku’s voice dripped with killing intent.
Beside him, Zephyr radiated the same terrifying aura.
Looking at his two old comrades, both ready to march off to war...
Garp awkwardly cleared his throat.
Forcing a stiff smile, he scratched his cheek.
"Well..."
"If that brat knew you two cared this much..."
"I’m sure he’d be touched."
"But..."
"I do have one piece of good news."
"The Marines’ rice bowl wasn’t smashed by the Four Emperors."
"It was..."
"Lucas himself who smashed it."