Though Great Staff Officer Tsuru was only in her early forties,
the endless demands of Marine Headquarters,
and the fact that Zephyr and Garp so often dumped their responsibilities onto her,
had left their marks on her body and spirit.
Her once glossy black hair was now streaked heavily with silver.
Her slender figure was wrapped in a formal Marine coat,
but fatigue clung to her like a second skin.
Standing at the door of the meeting room,
Tsuru massaged her temples,
watching the ridiculous spectacle unfold before her eyes —
two of the Marine's highest-ranking officers were currently...
grappling with each other like a pair of feral dogs.
Sengoku and Zephyr, both flushed red in the face,
were locked in a chaotic wrestling match,
their hands clawing at each other's uniforms,
their once-impeccable coats wrinkled and torn.
Tsuru said with a sigh,
her voice cool and sharp as the sea breeze,
"what are you fighting about this time?"
She had merely arrived a few minutes late,
having been caught up sorting intelligence reports,
and already these two had managed to turn the conference room into a warzone.
Upon hearing her voice, Sengoku and Zephyr spared her a fleeting glance —
then immediately resumed their scuffle,
grunting and snarling like stubborn old bulls.
"Don't hold me back, Tsuru!
Today I'm finally going to bash this bastard Sengoku into the ground!"
his massive fists swinging wildly.
"You're just in time, Tsuru!"
I'm about to smash Sengoku's stupid glasses and roast his goat for dinner!"
"You dare touch my goat and it'll be the last thing you ever do!!"
Fine — I won't touch your goat.
But Rogers Darren will be coming under my command!!"
"You've already got enough headaches — Darren belongs with me!"
"Borsalino is yours already!!"
Tsuru's temples throbbed harder.
She closed her eyes briefly, inhaling a steadying breath.
From the useless shouting,
she finally pieced together the truth.
veteran heroes of the Marine Headquarters —
were fighting like children over who would get to claim the most brilliant new star to emerge in years:
A political genius who had brought order to the chaotic North Blue.
A monstrous talent whose potential rivaled Sakazuki himself.
A prodigy who had faced none other than Gol D. Roger and survived.
A man who had awakened the rare and fearsome Conqueror's Haki.
A prize so dazzling that no one could afford to ignore him.
Tsuru shook her head,
watching the two of them continue to brawl like rabid dogs.
"You two can fight all you want,"
"Garp already came to me earlier,"
she added, crossing her arms.
"He's already submitted a formal request.
Once Darren graduates from the Marine Officer Training Camp,
he'll be assigned as Garp's adjutant."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Then, in perfect unison, Sengoku and Zephyr exploded:
Their voices boomed through the conference room.
Tsuru smirked faintly,
enjoying the sight of their shocked faces.
"Garp's reasons were very sound,"
she said, almost lazily.
"First — Darren has awakened Conqueror's Haki, and possesses an extraordinarily powerful physique.
Who better to mentor him than Garp?"
with the Rocks Pirates destroyed,
the Roger Pirates have become the Marine's greatest threat."
having already fought Roger face-to-face,
is perfectly suited to join the battle against them."
Hearing this, Sengoku and Zephyr felt their stomachs drop.
If Garp had already put in an official request,
and with such solid logic behind it,
even Fleet Admiral Kong would likely side with him.
They exchanged glances,
silent agreement passing between them.
Sengoku reached out to straighten Zephyr's rumpled tie.
perhaps it's meaningless for us to quarrel ,"
he said with forced dignity.
Zephyr said solemnly,
graciously brushing dust off Sengoku's shoulder.
"As high-ranking Marines,
we must set an example.
Justice, after all, is about freedom and peace."
Sengoku nodded, throwing an arm around Zephyr's shoulders.
"Ultimately, Darren should have the right to choose freely.
We must respect his will."
The two old veterans exchanged stiff, insincere smiles,
each secretly vowing to sabotage the other's plans the moment Darren appeared.
Tsuru watched the performance with dead eyes.
She knew these two too well.
she muttered under her breath.
Glancing around at the empty conference room,
"By the way... where is everyone else?"
the door burst open and a flustered administrative officer stumbled inside, panting heavily.
"R-Reporting, Admiral Sengoku!"
Sengoku's eyes sharpened instantly.
The officer wiped his forehead nervously.
We've located Vice Admiral Garp, Rear Admiral Borsalino, Rear Admiral Sakazuki, and Rear Admiral Dragon."
"...All in one place?"
The officer looked as though he wished he could melt into the floor.
"They're all... at the Marine Hospital."
Had someone been injured?
The realization struck him like a hammer.
His expression twisted into a dark grimace.
Zephyr noticed immediately.
"What is it, Sengoku?"
Sengoku ground his teeth, fists clenching.
Darren's still in the hospital recovering from his battle with Roger!"
Zephyr's face shifted as he grasped the situation instantly.
The two old men locked eyes.
Garp, that insidious old bastard,
had skipped the meeting altogether,
gone straight to Darren's bedside,
and was now building rapport and trust while they sat here wasting time!
The choice of who Darren would follow wasn't just about rank or title —
it was about who he trusted.
Who he felt closest to.
And Garp was already pulling ahead.
"That cunning old fox!!"
Zephyr slammed his fist into his palm in frustration.
Without a second's hesitation,
they both turned and sprinted for the door.
"Where are you going!?"
Tsuru shouted after them, frowning.
"Aren't we having a meeting!?"
Without so much as a backward glance, Sengoku shouted:
"We're moving the meeting to the hospital!!"