North Blue, Branch 321.
Base Commander's Office.
Sengoku stood with his hands behind his back in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the warships of the North Blue Fleet gradually returning to the military harbor. A strange glint flashed in his deep-set eyes.
North Blue Fleet, air supremacy, strategic flying fleet, elite trained units, small-scale missiles, cutting-edge technological weapons...
One term after another raced through his mind, stirring his imagination.
"That brat Daren has some serious ambition..."
Sengoku narrowed his eyes, muttering to himself.
Knock knock knock...
A light knock came from the door.
"Come in."
Sengoku responded, slowly pulling his gaze away and regaining his usual composure.
He turned around to see Momonga pushing the door open.
Wearing a Marine cap, Momonga's face was firm and composed as he raised a hand in salute.
"Admiral Sengoku, you called for me?"
Sengoku looked over the Vice Base Commander of Branch 321, also Daren's second-in-command in the North Blue, and nodded in approval at the calm and steady demeanor the man carried. He smiled.
"My visit to Branch 321 must be giving you quite a bit of trouble."
Although Byrnndi World was already dead, the mop-up operations against the World Pirates still needed to be handled. On top of that, due to resupply needs, Sengoku had decided to stay at Branch 321 for a few days before returning to Marine Headquarters in Marineford.
Naturally, the Base Commander's Office had been directly taken over by him.
Momonga shook his head.
"Please don't worry, Admiral Sengoku. The North Blue Fleet has been greatly encouraged by your presence."
"If not for your planning, we wouldn't have seen such a decisive victory in the campaign against the pirate Byrnndi World."
Sengoku rolled his eyes.
"Flattery like that doesn't suit you. Don't start mimicking that brat Daren."
Momonga smiled awkwardly. That kind of thing really wasn't his style.
"Speaking of that brat... how's his condition?"
Sengoku asked.
Momonga paused for a moment, his expression growing serious.
"According to the military doctors, Base Commander Daren suffered extremely severe injuries in this battle. Over thirty bones across his body were fractured to varying degrees, there was internal bleeding, and significant blood loss... The situation is quite dire."
Sengoku fell silent, letting out a sigh in his heart.
That brat Daren was certainly ambitious—assembling such a powerful fleet on his own without even informing Marine Headquarters. But with Sengoku's experience, it was obvious at a glance that the ten warships used in the operation against Byrnndi World had all been heavily modified.
And the heavy weapons mounted on those ships, as well as the high-tech gear used by the Marines of Branch 321, clearly originated from Germa 66.
Germa 66... Sengoku suddenly remembered something else.
The North Blue Marines had recently stepped in to mediate a war between the Germa Kingdom and the Yadis Kingdom. For some unknown reason, the North Blue Fleet and Germa 66 had ended up signing a friendly cooperation agreement.
So... Daren's "partnership" with Vinsmoke Judge had started back then?
Though Sengoku was somewhat displeased with Daren's series of actions, he couldn't bring himself to pursue the matter. Not when he recalled how much Daren had sacrificed in the battle against Byrnndi World—and the brutal state of his injuries.
After all, this was Byrnndi World. A pirate who posed a real threat to Marine Headquarters and the World Government.
"...I've never seen Captain Daren this badly injured,"
Momonga continued his report, unaware of the subtle shift in Sengoku's expression.
"According to the doctors, anyone else suffering injuries this severe would've already been dead. Even if they survived, they'd be left with long-term aftereffects—crippled for life."
The more Sengoku listened, the more uncomfortable he felt, a creeping sense of guilt rising within him.
Daren had nearly died to help him take down Byrnndi World. And yet, moments earlier, he had actually considered commandeering the North Blue Fleet and its technology for Marine Headquarters.
You bastard, Sengoku!
How could you even think of that after all Daren's done?
"...Based on the military doctor's assessment, it'll take at least two or three days for Captain Daren to fully recover."
Momonga sighed with a somber look.
Sengoku shook his head, full of emotion.
"That kid's really something. Leaving him stuck out here in the North Blue all these years was a waste of talent. I'll make it up to him however I can... Let him rest and recover. Once he's fully healed—"
He suddenly froze, as if something clicked.
"Wait! What did you just say!?"
He stared blankly at Momonga.
"Daren will make a full recovery in two to three days!?"
Momonga, confused by Sengoku's outburst, nodded.
"Yes."
A twitch formed at the corner of Sengoku's eye.
"Didn't you just say his injuries were severe!? Thirty-something broken bones, internal bleeding, life-threatening!?"
"Yes."
"You also said that anyone else would've died, and even if they survived, they'd be crippled for life!?"
"Yes."
Sengoku gritted his teeth.
"And didn't you just say you've never seen Daren injured this badly before!?"
Momonga replied with a straight face.
"That's right."
Sengoku practically roared:
"Then why!?"
Momonga answered honestly:
"I've never seen Captain Daren this badly injured."
"Before, even if he was cut by a sword, blown up by a cannon, burned by fire, or riddled with bullets... he'd usually be scabbed over within half an hour."
"This time, Base Commander Daren has to stay in the hospital for three full days."
With complete seriousness, he added:
"It's really that serious."
That solemn, earnest expression nearly drove Sengoku insane.
He opened his mouth, but faced with Momonga's completely straight-laced demeanor, he couldn't say a single word. He could only cover his face in frustration.
"All right, all right, I get it. You can leave now. I need a moment."
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku. If you need anything, just call."
Momonga gave a crisp salute, then turned to leave the office.
"Wait..."
Sengoku suddenly stopped him.
"Where are Gion and Tokikake? Tell them to come see me."
Momonga thought for a moment and replied:
"Reporting to Admiral Sengoku, Lieutenant Commanders Gion and Tokikake aren't currently at the branch."
"Where did those two run off to?" Sengoku asked.
"Lieutenant Commander Tokikake went out to sea with Rear Admiral Borsalino... According to them, they're surveying the civilian situation in the North Blue."
Momonga pursed his lips.
Sengoku's mouth twitched.
"And Gion?"
"Lieutenant Commander Gion went to go catch them."
Sengoku: ...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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