Marineford, Marine Headquarters building.
Far away in the Sabaody Archipelago, Sephiroth controlled a Bat Clone and arrived outside an office door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in!"
The moment Sephiroth opened the door and entered the office, he saw Sengoku sitting properly at a tea table, holding a teapot and pouring steaming, pale-green tea into a cup.
"Reporting to Admiral Sengoku, Sephiroth is here to report on his work."
Hearing this, Sengoku turned and glanced at the silver-haired young man standing ramrod straight beside him, saluting.
He immediately noticed that Sephiroth was not carrying his twin swords at his waist...
For a swordsman, never being separated from one's blades was the most basic habit.
But...
Why had Sephiroth come without his swords this time...?
Could it be that he was trying to convey some sort of message, indicating that he was prepared to cooperate obediently...?
With that thought, Sengoku felt somewhat relieved. He spoke in a friendly tone:
"Sit down and have some tea. We can talk slowly."
"Yes!"
"Sephiroth, whether it is me, Zephyr, or Fleet Admiral Kong, we all have high expectations for you. We believe you are a pillar of the Marines..."
As Sengoku poured tea for Sephiroth, who was seated across from him, he began to patiently persuade him, playing the emotional card and laying the groundwork for what was to come.
Although, according to his plans, as long as he remained Marine Admiral Sengoku in the future, the highest Sephiroth could ever rise would be Vice Admiral—and one far removed from the Marines' core of power.
But...
That did not stop him from playing tricks!
In the future, Sengoku planned to find an opportunity—or an excuse—to throw Sephiroth into the G-5 Branch. It was where the Marines exiled their dregs, and its strategic position was extremely