Shichibukai! The Arrival of Garp

Luffy's cry of pain reached the ears of Sengoku, who was currently at Marine Headquarters, through the Den Den Mushi.

Hearing this sound, Sengoku already knew exactly what Garp was doing right now.

He was actually back in his hometown, hanging out with his grandson.

"Get back here as soon as possible, and look for that person while you're at it. I don't believe you have no idea where he is."

Sengoku spoke into the Den Den Mushi and then hung up, feeling deeply frustrated.

This guy was truly unreliable.

"Still not used to it yet?"

Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Chief of Staff of the Marine Headquarters, looked at Sengoku with a chuckle, her hair already turning gray.

Sengoku glanced at Vice Admiral Tsuru and shook his head with a helpless, bitter smile.

"Forget it. I know exactly what kind of personality he has, but I just can't help myself."

Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded, then shifted the topic, saying, "According to the reports we've received, that young pirate hunter is indeed very likely a user of a Logia-type flame ability. It is highly probable that it is the Flame-Flame Fruit."

As she said this, the smile on Tsuru's face faded, replaced by a serious expression.

Sengoku nodded.

"That is indeed the case. Being able to ignore sword slashes makes it very likely. Regardless, any ability user is worth our effort to recruit. We must prevent them from spending too much time at sea and turning into pirates; that would be a real headache."

One side's gain is the other's loss!

That was the very reason Sengoku was concerned.

A young man who was a suspected Logia-type ability user would definitely be a thorn in the side of the Marines if he became a pirate.

But if he became a Marine, the Marines would gain a powerful combat asset.

"Forget it, let's see what results Garp brings back." Sengoku shook his head and then looked at Tsuru. "We need to speed up the selection process for the Shichibukai."

Hearing Sengoku mention the Shichibukai, Tsuru studied his expression.

"Doflamingo is also one of the candidates. The World Government brought him up; the two sides have likely been in communication."

Tsuru knew that Sengoku still harbored deep resentment over the fact that Corazon was killed by his own brother, Doflamingo. If the man truly became a Shichibukai, it would be impossible to take action against Doflamingo again.

Sengoku fell silent at these words.

"Accelerate the selection. Once Akainu and the other two become Admirals, we need to choke off the routes pirates use to enter the New World. That is the purpose of the Shichibukai.

At the very least, the Paradise stretch and the Four Blues must remain under Marine control."

Ever since Roger died, the number of pirates had exploded, making them very difficult to contain.

The simplest method would naturally be to expand the military, but the World Government would never agree to it; after all, expanding the military would require a massive increase in expenditures.

"Understood, I will keep an eye on that. Additionally, Crocodile and Boa Hancock have explicitly refused to come to Marine Headquarters."

Sengoku was not surprised by what Tsuru said.

Even if they were Shichibukai, they were still pirates at the end of the day. How could they possibly come to Marine Headquarters so easily?

"Go and make the preparations!"

Sengoku waved his hand, his gaze falling upon the mountain of documents on the desk in front of him. He picked one up and casually held it out toward the mouth of the elderly goat standing by the table.

The old goat did not stand on ceremony; it opened its mouth, bit down on the document, and began to chew it slowly.

Tsuru nodded, stood up, and left Sengoku's office.

"Big Sister!"

Outside, a young-looking female Marine stood at attention and called out.

"Mm, let's head back!"

Tsuru waved her hand and departed with the female Marine.

The news of the change in Fleet Admiral and the addition of three new Admirals naturally caused quite a stir across the seas.

But for the Four Blues, the ripples caused by this news were not particularly significant.

Most people didn't care about it at all.

Take Shimotsuki Village, for example.

No one even bothered to discuss the matter.

Dunn's training was progressing steadily.

Body Digitization: Your vital points have vanished. Upon taking damage, the injury is converted into a deduction of health points. Your panel attributes will change based on your own strength. You will not die until your health points reach zero.

Current Body Age: Fourteen years old

Physique: 29 (Rapidly transforming due to certain influences)

Current Health: 100% (Recovering; consuming food can accelerate recovery)

[Inherent Talent (Indomitable): When your HP reaches zero, you enter a brief empowered state; all your physical attributes increase tenfold; your HP no longer decreases; all your negative status effects are cleared; current duration: ten minutes; cooldown: one day]

[Abilities]

[Flame-Flame Fruit (Proficient): A powerful Logia-type fruit ability, granting the power to transform into and manipulate fire; continuously strengthens the body; fruit drawbacks have been cleared (weaknesses and lingering souls); current fruit development (17%)]

[Swordsmanship (Proficient): You have mastered the basic techniques and training methods of swordsmanship; you have gained a vague understanding of the path you will take in the future]

[Observation Haki (Initial Mastery): You have a preliminary perception of the energy of all things in the world]

[Armament Haki (Initial Mastery): You can slightly control the energy within your body for attack and defense]

Compared to a few days ago, his physique had increased by a full 8 points, which was more than the growth of the previous month; perhaps it was related to awakening Armament Haki and maintaining it constantly.

His perspective on his fruit abilities had also improved slightly.

If he didn't use his fruit abilities and relied solely on Two-Color Haki, his own physique, and his swordsmanship, he already possessed the strength to fight.

If he used his fruit, at least here in the East Blue, unless he encountered someone like Garp, there shouldn't be anyone who could completely defeat him.

Dunn thought to himself, but then shook his head, driving that thought out of his mind.

No, no, he couldn't think like that; he had to be humble.

While thinking, he casually parried the incoming bamboo swords.

After blocking the two bamboo swords swung by Zoro, the bamboo sword in Dunn's hand rotated, catching the wooden sword Kuina had brought down on his head; the recoil force made Kuina take several steps back.

"Opening!"

Zoro shouted vaguely, lowering his body as he swept his bamboo swords horizontally, attacking Dunn's legs.

Smack!

Dunn didn't even turn his head, striking backhand.

Hit on the top of his head by the bamboo sword, Zoro felt dizzy, unable to even hold the bamboo sword in his mouth, and he collapsed directly to the ground.

"This won't do!"

After being struck hard, Zoro climbed up immediately; although he was dizzy and disoriented, he still spoke up.

"What won't do?"

Dunn turned his head, as if his eyes could see through the black cloth covering them.

"You keep your Observation Haki and Armament Haki active the whole time; we can't beat you at all."

Zoro hated this feeling of powerlessness.

"Are you saying that when you encounter opponents on the sea in the future, you'll ask them to abandon their strengths to fight you? Do you think they'll agree?"

Dunn answered directly, leaving Zoro speechless.

That was true; enemies wouldn't reason with you.

"Again!"

Kuina's voice rang out, and Dunn flicked his wrist, sending Kuina flying back with a strike of his bamboo sword.

"I understand!"

Zoro looked at the blindfolded Dunn and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"What are you yelling for?" Dunn picked his ear, speechless. "Since you want to fight, you must want to win. Actually, when you fight, you don't need to warn your opponent that you're about to launch an attack."

Dunn's words made Zoro feel awkward.

Just as he didn't know what to say, Dunn suddenly turned his head to look toward the pier and ripped the black cloth off his face.

"They finally came after all."