"Moving that fast? Well, that's Garp for you..."
Fleet Admiral Kong chuckled as he shook his head, a hint of a smile appearing on his face upon hearing the news.
Garp, Zephyr, and Sengoku—those three had all been trained by him personally.
Compared to Sengoku's prudence and calm, and Zephyr's stubborn strength, Garp was always the wild card—never following the rules, and always managing to do the unexpected.
Though Garp's actions were often unreliable, if he was the one making a move, then there was little to worry about regarding Darren's safety.
Still, Kong hadn't expected Garp to abandon the pursuit of Roger just to join a rescue mission. That, now—that was rare.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, two figures suddenly appeared before him with a swoosh.
"Fleet Admiral Kong! I request to join the operation!"
"Old man Kong, I'm going too—Darren's my student!"
Sengoku and Zephyr stood shoulder to shoulder, gritted teeth and all, clearly competing to speak first.
He stared at the two, momentarily dumbfounded. For a second, he was transported back in time—watching these two squabbling kids rush off after training, fighting over who got to the mess hall first.
"What are you two doing?"
"Sengoku, you're the only Admiral at Marine Headquarters. Your role is special, your responsibilities heavy, and the workload—"
"—All of that can wait, Fleet Admiral," Sengoku cut in firmly, his voice loud and unwavering. "I've thought it through—Darren is critical to our future. Our top priority is to get him back from Kaido."
The sheer conviction in his voice made even Kong pause.
Zephyr twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Sengoku shot him a challenging look.
Kong frowned deeper and turned to Zephyr, speaking sincerely.
"Zephyr, you're the Chief Instructor of the Elite Officer Training Camp. Your teaching responsibilities are—"
"—Those kids are already outstanding," Zephyr declared with finality. "I've taught them everything they need. If they can't learn, it's not my problem anymore."
Zephyr raised a smug brow at Sengoku.
The other Marines in the room stared in disbelief. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Come on... No matter how important Darren was, wasn't he just a Commodore?
Was it really worth having the top three figures at Marine Headquarters falling over each other to rescue him?
Garp, Zephyr, and Sengoku heading to the New World together... Even Roger and Whitebeard never got a response !
This lineup—this wasn't a rescue mission. This looked like the beginning of a world war!
Even when a Celestial Dragon was kidnapped, Garp, Zephyr, and Sengoku hadn't all moved out ...
Tsuru rubbed her forehead, a dark line forming above it.
Others might not know, but she understood exactly what those three were thinking.
"What a lively scene... If I ever got captured, I doubt I'd get this kind of treatment," Borsalino said with a lazy chuckle, clearly enjoying the show.
"Indeed. I certainly wouldn't go," Sakazuki said, dry as ever.
Borsalino's smile faltered, then stiffened.
"You'll have no friends if you keep talking like that, Sakazuki."
Sakazuki ignored him, silently puffing on his cigar.
"You people..." Kong let out a long sigh.
"If all of you go running off to save someone, who'll be left at Headquarters?"
At those words, both Sengoku and Zephyr paused. They were just about to argue again when Kong's next words left them stunned.
"Then all of you go."
Sengoku and Zephyr: ???
"Are you serious, Fleet Admiral?" Sengoku's eyes lit up.
Zephyr looked equally shocked.
"Why not?" Kong smiled.
He rose from his seat, expression turning solemn as he gave the order.
"This mission: Admiral Sengoku will serve as commanding officer. Zephyr as vice commander. Rear Admiral Borsalino will accompany you. Select a suitable team and head to the New World for the rescue."
"Ensure strict secrecy. Do everything you can to avoid provoking Wano's suspicion or hostility."
At his decisive command, every Marine officer present stood upright at once and replied loudly:
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!!"
They saluted, then turned and quickly left the office.
"Fleet Admiral, are you sure this is wise? Sending both Sengoku and Zephyr on the same mission..." Tsuru asked once the others had gone, finally voicing the concern she'd held back.
Kong had always been strict in his deployment of personnel—decisive and measured.
This wasn't like him.
Hearing her words, Kong smiled again.
He leaned back into his chair and turned to face the massive floor-to-ceiling window behind him, gazing down at the base.
Under the fierce sunlight, Sengoku and Zephyr's retreating figures stood out brilliantly.
"Tsuru, do you see it?"
Following Kong's gaze, Tsuru looked out—and immediately twitched at the corner of her mouth.
She could just make out the two men tugging at each other, deliberately slowing one another down as they walked.
Kong let out a chuckle, smoke curling around his rugged face.
"It's not a good idea, I know."
"The trainees still need Zephyr. For him to leave just to save one student—it's unfair to the rest."
"And as the only Admiral, Sengoku has duties only he can fulfill."
As he spoke, a distant look came into Kong's eyes—as if he were lost in some long-buried memory.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"But you know... it's been a long time since I saw them fight side by side."
Tsuru froze for a moment at those words, then smiled softly and shook her head.
Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr... no matter how high they stood now—
Even if they were admired, respected, and followed by countless Marines—
To this seventy-year-old man who had once trained them,
They were still those same unruly, defiant brats from long ago.
Yes... it had been far too long since they'd stood together on the same battlefield.
"Then for now, the camp and Headquarters are in your hands, Tsuru," Kong said with a smile.
"..." At that, Tsuru stopped feeling sentimental altogether.