Vice Admiral Tsuru

In this slightly old but cozy little tavern, Moke enjoyed a sumptuous meal to his heart's content. Then, feeling a little tired, he went upstairs to his room and rested comfortably for the entire night.

As the first rays of dawn gently fell through the window, Moke slowly awoke. After a quick wash, he stretched his limbs, and the powerful energy within him was instantly unleashed. In a flash, he transformed into a dazzling beam of light, hurtling off at an astonishing speed toward the mysterious and dangerous Reverse Mountain.

Meanwhile, in a spacious office at Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who was handling military affairs at his desk, suddenly received an urgent intelligence report. Upon receiving the news, his expression changed drastically, his face filled with astonishment. He involuntarily stood up abruptly from his seat, letting out an incredulous exclamation. "What?!"

This sudden turn of events drew the attention of Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru, who happened to be in the office. Garp, in particular, who had been enjoying a delicious donut, completely forgot what he was doing, leaving the donut hanging in mid-air, staring dumbfounded at the shocked Fleet Admiral Sengoku. It was extremely rare for the usually composed and steady Sengoku to be so flustered.

Seeing this, Vice Admiral Tsuru's heart tightened slightly, and her delicate brows furrowed gently. She knew that something extremely important must have happened to move Sengoku so deeply. A sense of foreboding washed over her, so she quickly asked, "What exactly happened?"

Upon hearing Vice Admiral Tsuru's question, Sengoku took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. He then slowly hung up the Den Den Mushi was clutching, letting out a long exhale, seemingly trying to regain his composure as quickly as possible. After a moment, he said in a slightly low voice, "News has come from the East Blue: Colonel Wild Dog, who succeeded Smoker, has unfortunately been assassinated."

"How could this be?" Upon hearing the news, both Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru showed expressions of astonishment and exclaimed in unison. Garp's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. After all, he was extremely familiar with the East Blue, as he frequently went there on missions or patrols and knew the local conditions like the back of his hand.

For a long time, the number of pirates with even a modicum of strength in the entire East Blue region could be counted on one hand. And none of them possessed the courage or strength to challenge or even kill the highest-ranking officer of the East Blue Navy! Clearly, Vice Admiral Tsuru shared Garp's thoughts. She knew that even if only one pirate among the vast East Blue could be considered reasonably strong, the East Blue wouldn't bear the embarrassing title of "weakest of the Four Seas." Therefore, Vice Admiral Tsuru couldn't help but feel puzzled, frowning as she asked, "Could it be that a powerful figure has suddenly emerged in the East Blue?"

At this moment, Sengoku, standing to the side, nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Sengoku Vice Admiral Tsuru's guess. Then, he said, "Based on the information we currently have, this person is called Moke. Information about his specific age and birthplace is completely unknown. However, it is certain that this person possesses superb swordsmanship and also has special abilities granted by Devil Fruit."

He paused slightly, seemingly wanting to give everyone time to process the information. However, after only a moment, he added, "According to our intelligence, this person's swordsmanship was trained by Smoker's second-in-command— Tashigi. Even more astonishing is the extremely unique Devil Fruit he possesses. This Devil Fruit not only grants him the power to control light and earth, but also the Elementalization ability unique to Logia."

The words had barely left his lips when a gasp rang out. "Huh?" It was Vice Admiral Tsuru and Garp, who had been listening quietly, both now showing expressions of astonishment. Garp, in particular, stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief as he exclaimed, "Sengoku, are you sure you didn't hear wrong?! How can there be Logia Devil Fruit that can simultaneously control light and earth?" Not only Garp, but even Sengoku himself, who had uttered those words, couldn't help but begin to doubt the information he had gathered. If he hadn't verified it repeatedly beforehand, he would never have believed it under any circumstances. However... even after confirming it repeatedly, deep down, he still couldn't fully accept this fact. He muttered to himself, "Logia... Logia should be derived from a single natural element. Why would two completely different natural abilities appear in the same person? Could it be that such an unprecedented Devil Fruit truly exists? Or perhaps this person possesses two different Devil Fruit abilities?" Thinking of this, Sengoku frowned, lost in deep thought.

However, in either case, it far exceeded the scope of their long-accumulated knowledge and experience. Just then, Vice Admiral Tsuru finally came to her senses. She quickly turned her head, her gaze fixed on Sengoku, and said firmly, "Since this person's swordsmanship was actually taught by Corporal Tashigi, Smoker's second-in-command, then we might as well ask them both. Perhaps only they know the reason!" Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light flashed in Sengoku's previously dull eyes, as if he had suddenly discovered a ray of hope in the darkness.

In that instant, Smoker was focused intently and relentlessly pursuing the Straw Hat Crew, stood silently on the bow of the ship like a lifelike sculpture. His sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on the vast, turbulent sea ahead, as if his entire soul was immersed in deep thought.

Time slipped away like sand in an hourglass, drop by drop. However, not long after, suddenly, a soldier, looking flustered and walking hurriedly, rushed towards Smoker, clutching a strangely shaped Den Den Mushi (snail Den Den Mushi) tightly in his hands. The soldier first gave Smoker a standard, solemn military salute, then cautiously and tremblingly opened his mouth and whispered, "Respected Captain Smoker, the caller is Fleet Admiral Sengoku of the Marine Headquarters!"

Upon hearing these words, Smoker's body trembled violently as if struck by a bolt of Inazuma. At the same time, his previously calm pupils contracted involuntarily, instantly becoming incredibly sharp and cold. Not only was Smoker greatly shaken, but even Tashigi, who had been standing silently to the side, was startled. A look of worry immediately appeared on her beautiful face, and she quickly turned her concerned gaze toward Smoker's location.

Her face turned deathly pale in an instant, like a blank sheet of paper covered with deep lines of worry. She knew all too well that Smoker's pursuit of the Straw Hat Crew was an unauthorized and arbitrary act. If he hadn't acted unilaterally, the Marine Headquarters would never have approved such a risky and reckless move.

At this moment, upon hearing the phone call from Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself, she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine, knowing that the matter had probably developed to an extremely troublesome point. After all, how could a high-ranking figure like Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who held such a powerful position, easily call to inquire about this matter personally? Unless the situation had become far more serious than imagined.

However, the current situation left Smoker with no room for retreat. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner tension, then gritted his teeth, and slowly reached out to pick up the Den Den Mushi, a symbol of authority and pressure.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, hello, I am Smoker." Smoker tried his best to keep his voice calm, but his slightly trembling tone could not hide his inner fear and anxiety.

The deep, authoritative voice of Fleet Admiral Sengoku quickly came from the other end of the phone, booming like thunder in Smoker's ears. "How much do you know about Moke?" This sudden question left Smoker and Tashigi, who was standing beside him, stunned. They had expected a Zhou Yu reprimand, but to their surprise, Fleet Admiral Sengoku first mentioned an unknown figure— Moke.

For a moment, the two men exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with doubt and confusion. What could possibly have piqued Fleet Admiral Sengoku's interest in this unknown man, Moke? But they quickly recovered, and despite their lingering doubts, they dared not be negligent in the face of their superior's question, immediately replying in unison, "We know a little about him, Fleet Admiral Sengoku Tashigi. He's a friend of my second-in-command, Corporal Tashigi. Moreover, as far as we know, Moke possesses an astonishing talent for swordsmanship; his swordsmanship is breathtaking. And even more remarkably, he possesses a very rare and unique Devil Fruit ability, an ability that performs spectacularly in battle!"

Upon hearing this, the Fleet Admiral Sengoku's previously calm expression shifted slightly, as if this mysterious figure had piqued his interest. His sharp eyes fixed on the speaker, and he eagerly pressed, "Tell me in detail!"

Standing to the side, Smoker turned to Tashigi, who immediately nodded knowingly, then cleared her throat and said, "That was three months ago, I remember it very clearly. I was browsing swords in a weapon shop in Loguetown when I bumped into him. Unexpectedly, he bought two renowned Meito without hesitation as soon as he entered the shop. Even more surprisingly, he offered one of the Meito as payment, asking me to teach him swordsmanship. At first, I hesitated, but seeing the thirst for swordsmanship in his eyes and his sincere attitude, I finally agreed. However, it was then that I discovered this person was practically completely ignorant of swordsmanship, a complete novice..."

Tashigi paused briefly, took a sip of water to moisten her throat, and continued, "But who could have imagined? Just three months later, when I saw him again, his swordsmanship had undergone a complete transformation. Every move he made was full of power and skill, executed with effortless grace, truly breathtaking. It's no exaggeration to say that his swordsmanship had far surpassed mine, and he was only one step away from becoming a true Swordmaster! Such astonishing progress and swordsmanship talent are truly unprecedented in my life... Even the Vice Admiral in our Marine Headquarters, known for their swordsmanship, would probably pale in comparison to him."

At this point, Tashigi shook her head slightly, a look of disbelief on her face. Meanwhile, Fleet Admiral Sengoku listened intently, his brow furrowed, seemingly deep in thought.

At this point, Smoker chimed in, "Not only that, this person's Devil Fruit ability is also extremely unique. Remember when we first met, in that weapon shop? He inadvertently displayed an ability similar to the Paramecia — the Dice-Dice Fruit —allowing him to transform parts of a person's body into incredibly sharp blades at will. Everyone present was stunned by this. Later, during the operation to capture the Straw Hat Crew, he unexpectedly came to their aid. However, it was also during that battle that we witnessed two other incredible abilities of his— Elementalization and the ability to manipulate earth."

She paused briefly, then glanced at Smoker standing not far away, a hint of something deeper in her eyes. She continued slowly, "After some deduction by Captain Smoker and me, we believe this person is very likely to possess the abilities of multiple Devil Fruit simultaneously!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Tashigi, who had been looking serious, widened her eyes in disbelief and exclaimed, "What?" Her exclamation was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, immediately attracting the attention of everyone around.

At the same time, the Den Den Den Mushi, which had been displaying Sengoku's face, suddenly changed, transforming in the blink of an eye into Vice Admiral Tsuru. Vice Admiral Tsuru said urgently, "This guy actually possesses such astonishing swordsmanship talent? And he also has a powerful ability similar to the Paramecia -type Dice-Dice Fruit? If we add his ability to manipulate soil and control light, doesn't that mean he's actually a Level 3 Devil Fruit user with terrifying swordsmanship talent?"

These three abilities are no ordinary powers! Each one is astonishing. Especially the light elemental ability, similar to the Glint-Glint Fruit, its power is almost a carbon copy of Kizaru's! Facing such a powerful and versatile enemy, anyone would find it extremely troublesome and troublesome. After all, in battle, whether the opponent wants to attack or retreat is entirely up to their own will. This is truly a big problem!

At that very moment, Smoker, who had always been taciturn and as cold as an Iceburg, could no longer suppress the burning curiosity within him. He frowned slightly, his sharp, hawk-like eyes fixed on the Fleet Admiral Sengoku before him, then slowly opened his mouth and asked in a low, slightly urgent voice, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I truly cannot understand what heinous crime this man has committed that requires someone of your high rank and authority to personally call and deliver the message..."

Before the words were even finished, everyone's gaze immediately turned to Fleet Admiral Sengoku. This Fleet Admiral, usually so calm and composed, now wore an extremely grave expression, as if a heavy boulder weighed on his heart. He took a deep breath and then stated without hesitation, "It's all because this arrogant fool dared to cruelly murder Colonel Wild Dog, who was ordered to replace you!"

These words, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly exploded throughout the room. Smoker and Tashigi, standing to the side, both trembled upon hearing them and involuntarily gasped in unison. An expression of disbelief appeared on their faces, as if they had heard the most absurd thing in the world.

At the same time, a strong sense of doubt surged into their hearts like a tide. Especially Tashigi, whose beautiful eyes widened, her lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know where to begin. After a long while, she seemed to suddenly come to her senses and spoke first, "How is this possible? Fleet Admiral, please forgive my bluntness, but I spent three whole months with him. During that time, through my own observation and experience, I can clearly understand that he harbors absolutely no hostility towards our navy!"

However, before Tashigi could finish speaking, Fleet Admiral Sengoku dropped another bombshell. "Not only that, he also stole a Devil Fruit Colonel Wild Dog was supposed to hand over."

These words struck Smoker and Tashigi like a thunderbolt, leaving them dizzy and their minds reeling. In an instant, their eyes widened to enormous sizes, almost popping out of their sockets, their pupils rapidly shrinking to pinpoints, their faces filled with disbelief.

It should be known that this Devil Fruit is an extremely rare and precious treasure! Whether it's the powerful World Government, the pirates who roam the seas, or other various forces, everyone regards it as a priceless gem. Just possessing one such Devil Fruit is enough to cultivate a peerless master of extraordinary strength in an instant. Moreover, with even a little bit of luck, one might even be able to harness the power of this incredibly powerful Devil Fruit... They could directly recruit a top-tier powerhouse, already renowned and Might-Shaker, into their ranks, making him willingly obey their commands and serve them wholeheartedly! Therefore, when they heard Fleet Admiral Sengoku mention the Devil Fruit that had been stolen by someone else, everyone present suddenly Satori, as if waking from a dream, that behind this seemingly ordinary and insignificant event lay a vast amount of crucial information!

Tashigi's slender, Yubashiri, tightly. Her once beautiful face was flushed crimson with intense anger, as luscious as a ripe apple. Then, through gritted teeth, she declared indignantly, "I will absolutely not allow such a rare and precious sword to fall so easily into the hands of such a shameless, despicable, and vile person! One day, I will find a way to reclaim the Sandai Kitetsu, which rightfully belongs to us, from that utterly despicable fellow!" Before she finished speaking, she resolutely turned and walked away without looking back, leaving behind only a beautiful, unwavering, and resolute silhouette.

Meanwhile, far away in Sengoku Fleet Admiral's Office, Sengoku had just hung up the Den Den Mushi. However, his brows were now furrowed even more deeply than before, as if they could trap a fly. He crossed his arms, pondered for a moment, and then muttered to himself, "Only one step away from becoming Swordmaster in just three months? What astonishing swordsmanship talent is this! And the special abilities he's displayed..." Thinking of this, Sengoku felt a headache coming on and couldn't help but rub his temples.

Vice Admiral Tsuru, sitting to the side, also wore a solemn expression. She knew all too well what this news meant. Even her best friend, Momousagi, had never possessed such exceptional swordsmanship talent. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and the entire room was filled with a suffocating, heavy, and oppressive atmosphere. That invisible pressure was like a mountain pressing down on everyone, making it hard to breathe.

The three, including Garp, sat Fudō as if frozen in place. None of them uttered a word, and even their breathing became shallow and cautious, as if afraid to break the eerie silence. A gloomy look hung over each of their faces, their eyes empty and lost, clearly deep in their minds searching for a solution to their predicament.

Finally, it was Vice Admiral Tsuru who broke the silence. She took a deep breath and slowly said, "Sengoku, in my opinion, perhaps we should consider issuing a bounty to resolve this issue. After all, if such a threatening person is not controlled in time, the consequences could be unimaginable." After speaking, she looked sharply at Sengoku, awaiting his response.