One Piece: Start by Saving Roger, I Was Invited to Join the Crew

The Next Day, a Meeting is Convened at Marine Headquarters

Among those present was Spandine from Enies Lobby.

Back when Kong was still Fleet Admiral, the three great Admiral-level figures were Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp.

Now, seated in the room were:

Fleet Admiral: Sengoku

Admiral: Zephyr

Vice Admirals: Akainu (Sakazuki), Kizaru (Borsalino), Aokiji (Kuzan), Chief Strategist Tsuru, Momonga, Burning Mountain, Doberman, Onigumo, Dalmatian, Bastille, Stainless, Chaton (Plus), Gion (Momousagi)

Rear Admiral: Strawberry

Standing nearby were three Giant Vice Admirals: John Giant, Lacroix, and Ronse.

"What a pain… Why did the Five Elders summon me here? This has nothing to do with me!" Spandine grumbled inwardly, annoyed at being dragged away from his comfortable post at Enies Lobby.

Sengoku sat at the head of the table. Now bearing the mantle of Fleet Admiral, his presence carried far greater gravity than it had during his time as an Admiral.

"Gentlemen, today's meeting is of utmost importance. It concerns the future peace and stability of the world. If mishandled, chaos will engulf us all."

The room grew tense. It was clear this wasn't just any ordinary meeting.

"First order of business: Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, has left behind a son—Ace. He has already left Baterilla with the remnants of the Roger Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates."

At this revelation, everyone except Garp reacted with shock.

"Neh~ How scary~ Gol D. Roger's child, huh? He'll probably become a huge pirate too,"

Kizaru commented with an unusually serious expression, ceasing his usual idle behavior to pay full attention.

"Roger…" Garp's thoughts darkened.

The only one who remained calm was Vice Admiral Tsuru, who silently shifted her gaze to Garp, her thoughts unreadable.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" Sakazuki's (Akainu) voice cut through the room like a blade. "The son of Gol D. Roger—the spawn of the world's most wicked man—must be eliminated immediately before he grows into a threat to the world!"

Sakazuki (Akainu) said coldly, his tone unforgiving. Even a newborn infant, in his eyes, could not be excused. To him, the child was nothing more than a pirate-to-be—destined for a life of crime.

Zephyr, known as the Black Arm, frowned. His mind suddenly snapped into clarity.

"Akainu, he's just a child. If he grows up and becomes a pirate, we can arrest him then!"

"Instructor Zephyr! This isn't just the child of any pirate—he's the Pirate King's son! Do you really think he'll grow up to be a good man?! It's better to kill the wrong person than to let a future threat grow! Have you forgotten your own past?!"

Bang!

Zephyr slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

"Akainu! That's not the kind of justice I taught you! The Navy's justice is not about slaughtering the innocent. My family may have been killed by pirates, but my justice does not extend to killing infants!"

"This IS my justice!" Sakazuki (Akainu) shot back, unmoved. "I am a Marine. Every last pirate must be rooted out. Gol D. Roger was that child's father. Can you swear he won't follow in his footsteps? Eliminating him now is the only responsible choice—for the sake of the world!"

The air between them crackled with tension.

"Enough!" Sengoku's voice boomed, silencing the room. "Our priority is capturing Roger. The child's fate will be decided by the Five Elders when the time comes."

Running a hand over his face, he inwardly lamented the difficulties of leadership. Having his own mentor and student at each other's throats was the last thing he needed.

"Now, the second matter: The Five Elders have issued orders to annihilate Ohara in the West Blue—with utmost haste."

The room stirred again. The Buster Call had been deployed not long ago; another so soon was unprecedented.

"I am assigning this mission to Vice Admirals Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, Momonga, Onigumo, Doberman, and Rear Admiral Strawberry. The eight of you will lead the operation."

Then, to everyone's shock—especially Garp, Sakazuki, and Zephyr—Sengoku produced a golden phone bug and handed it to Kuzan.

"You will carry the Golden phone bug and issue the Buster Call."

Garp's eyes flicked between Sengoku and Kuzan, puzzled.

"Even though Kuzan once disobeyed orders and left halfway through a mission, Sengoku is still siding with him. I wonder how far Kuzan has progressed in his training. Conqueror's Haki is something you're born with—you can't acquire it just through hard work… unless you had the potential from the start."

"This task was ordered by the Five Elders. While Akainu may be ruthless, he's decisive and efficient. Sengoku should have assigned the mission to him. Why give it to Kuzan?"

Zephyr frowned deeply. As the instructor who trained the Navy's officers, he knew just how different their personalities were.

"Given the Five Elders' orders, Sakazuki's ruthless efficiency would've been the logical choice. Why Kuzan?"

Spandine rolled his eyes. "They gave it to the laziest one? What a joke."

Garp, however, saw through the move.

"Clever, Sengoku. Forcing Kuzan to execute this destruction will test his 'Lazy Justice' to the core."

"Sengoku the Strategist truly lives up to his name. When it comes to wisdom, only Chief Strategist Tsuru in the Navy can match him,"

Black Arm Zephyr's eyes lit up a little from beneath his sunglasses.

Sengoku then turned to Spandine and said,

"Spandine, once you arrive on Ohara Island, have your men first escort the innocent civilians onto the evacuation ships. We must avoid unnecessary casualties."

"Understood."

Though Spandine responded obediently, he was seething inside:

"Seriously? Sending me to the edge of the West Blue, a godforsaken island where not even birds poop? What rotten luck!"

After hearing Sengoku's instructions, Kuzan handed the golden phone bug back to him.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, in that case, you should give this golden phone bug to Spandine. Once the innocent civilians are safely aboard the evacuation ships, the Buster Call can be initiated."

Everyone present was once again surprised—Kuzan was willingly relinquishing the symbol of authority.

"Alright, you make a good point."

Sengoku gave Kuzan a glance, then turned and walked toward—

"I'll leave this to you. When the time comes, you'll be the one to activate it."

Staring at the golden phone bug in front of him, Spandine nervously swallowed, then accepted the device with both hands.

"Don't worry, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. I'll make sure the mission is completed."

But the moment Sengoku looked away, Spandine's expression shifted. He grinned smugly and muttered under his breath,

"Hehehe… Never thought I'd get the chance to wipe out an entire island. This feels pretty damn good."

"Next, the third topic of the meeting," Sengoku announced, glancing around the room before focusing on Admiral Zephyr.

"Zephyr, I know you're still haunted by what happened eight years ago. You've kept up an optimistic front, but with the current global situation growing more unstable, we need to keep training the next generation of righteous Marines. From today on, you'll be taking on the role of full-time instructor. Of course, your rank of admiral will remain."

This surprised everyone present. Though Sakazuki had hinted at this before, no one expected Sengoku to bring up Zephyr's painful past so directly in a public setting.

Just as the room tensed, expecting Zephyr to lash out, he suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! This is great. I remember eight years ago when Marshal Kong insisted I stay an admiral. But this time, I'm voluntarily stepping down. I'm happy just being an instructor now—no more running around constantly! Hahahahaha!"

At that moment, a voice calmly interjected:

"Marshal, if Zephyr steps down from his duties, that leaves an admiral's seat vacant."

Sengoku nodded.

"I've already made arrangements for that."

He turned his gaze toward Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan.

"After the completion of this mission, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan — the three of you will be promoted to full-fledged Admirals of Marine Headquarters. Additionally, Strawberry will be promoted to Vice Admiral."

The announcement stunned the room. Vice Admirals were many, but Admirals were few — and immensely powerful.

"Hahaha! Congrats, Kuzan!" Garp grinned and gave Kuzan a heavy pat on the shoulder, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Thanks… Senior Garp." Kuzan replied, noting the dark lines of mischief on Garp's face, clearly at a loss for words.

"Feels kinda sudden to be promoted like this~" Kizaru remarked in his usual laid-back tone.

Akainu, eyes focused and brimming with resolve beneath his peaked cap, said nothing — only smiling confidently.

"Alright, that concludes the meeting," Sengoku declared. "Those assigned to the O'Hara mission, prepare to depart immediately."

January 16, Year 1500

Marine Headquarters once again launched a Buster Call.

This time, the target was — O'Hara Island in the West Blue.

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