Plan Complete! (Please Keep Reading!)

In the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru watched the projection cast by the Den Den Mushi.

Beiyuan Heng's kindly smiling face was projected onto the screen.

Vice Admiral Tsuru and Garp both wore broad smiles, delighted that Zephyr had found a disciple capable of inheriting his legacy.

Only Sengoku had a dark expression.

That brat was provoking him through the Den Den Mushi!

Damn Cipher Pol!

"Hmph." Sengoku snorted, though he was still pleased that Zephyr had found such a disciple.

Aside from him, the Fleet Admiral, in a few years, those admiral candidates would also rise to their positions one after another and become full admirals.

And outstanding fresh blood like Beiyuan Heng was beginning to appear throughout the Marines.

Everything was flourishing.

Several days later, Zephyr announced that Beiyuan Heng was his inheriting disciple.

The news caused an uproar.

Many Marines who had received Zephyr's guidance began asking, who was Beiyuan Heng?

Of course, they could not be blamed for that.

After all, as an agent seconded from Cipher Pol, Beiyuan Heng had only briefly reported to Sengoku before heading directly to the Sabaody Archipelago.

He had not spent even a moment at Marine Headquarters.

Other than the Marines at the harbor that day who knew a little about Beiyuan Heng,

only the Marines stationed on the Sabaody Archipelago knew what kind of person Beiyuan Heng was.

And those Marines on the Sabaody Archipelago would likely remain stationed there until Fisher Tiger was captured.

As the news of Beiyuan Heng becoming Zephyr's inheriting disciple spread,

strong doubts about Beiyuan Heng's strength spread alongside it.

Although the Marines had not the slightest doubt in Admiral Zephyr's strength or judgment,

no one knew where this tide of skepticism had come from.

Even some vice admirals who had originally trusted Zephyr completely began to waver.

Some of the more radical individuals even went to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office and caused a small scene.

In the training room, Hina hurried over.

Seeing Beiyuan Heng still training at an unhurried pace, a trace of concern flashed across her cool face.

"Commodore Beiyuan," Hina called out.

"Oh, Hina. What is it?" Beiyuan Heng stopped what he was doing and looked at her.

Hina hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don't know if you've heard, but there seem to be some rumors about you at headquarters lately."

Understanding flashed in Beiyuan Heng's eyes. "I have heard a little."

"But there's no need to care about such gossip. I believe Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Zephyr will handle it."

A trace of helplessness flashed through Hina's eyes.

As his subordinate, she naturally knew just how terrifying this commodore's strength was.

Although this young commodore was not a match for a top-tier vice admiral like Garp, ordinary vice admirals were no match for him.

However, those Marine soldiers did not know that.

They only knew that a young commodore who had appeared out of nowhere had suddenly become Admiral Zephyr's disciple.

There had not even been the slightest hint beforehand.

"Where's Smoker?"

Seeing that Hina had come alone, Beiyuan Heng asked in confusion.

"Hina came to tell you about this." Hina said, "Major Smoker has been placed in confinement."

A surprised expression appeared on Beiyuan Heng's face. "What happened? Did he disobey orders again?"

"He beat up all the Marines who questioned your strength."

Hina sighed. "Hina thinks these doubts should be put to an end as soon as possible."

Beiyuan Heng smiled bitterly. "All right. I'll resolve it as soon as I can."

Fleet Admiral's office.

Sengoku sat behind his desk, his calm expression carrying a trace of impatience, while Zephyr sat across from him with a headache, looking at Sengoku.

"Sengoku, aren't you going to deal with all those doubts lately?"

"My Den Den Mushi is so exhausted lately that it can barely take calls."

As he spoke, Zephyr took the Den Den Mushi from his waist. It had already collapsed from exhaustion.

This little Den Den Mushi had once lived a fairly leisurely life. Sometimes, it would not need to take a single call for days.

But now, merely imitating the appearances and expressions of all sorts of people had nearly exhausted it.

Just then, a knock came from outside the Fleet Admiral's office.

"Come in."

Sengoku frowned. Hopefully, it was not more people coming to ask who Beiyuan Heng was. He had explained it far too many times these past few days.

Beiyuan Heng's identity was rather sensitive. It was fine to show his files to people like Garp and Zephyr, since they were core figures within the Marines.

But others might not accept that a Cipher Pol agent had become the disciple meant to inherit Admiral Zephyr's legacy.

When the door opened, Sengoku let out a sigh of relief.

The person entering was none other than Beiyuan Heng.

"Master, why are you here too?"

Seeing Zephyr, Beiyuan Heng was briefly stunned before speaking.

"This old man is worrying over your affairs right now."

Understanding flashed through Beiyuan Heng's eyes. "I've heard something about this matter recently as well."

Before Beiyuan Heng could continue, Zephyr cut him off.

"You don't need to concern yourself with this. Focus on training. Once you become a Marine admiral in the future, no one will question you."

"Well..."

Beiyuan Heng coughed twice. "I don't really care much about these doubts."

"However, one of my majors has indeed been placed in confinement over this matter."

"You might know his teacher. His name is Smoker."

"That brat really should rein in his temper..."

Zephyr clearly had a deep impression of Smoker and did not need Beiyuan Heng to explain who he was.

"Then, Beiyuan Heng, what do you think we should do?"

Sengoku looked at Beiyuan Heng and asked.

Without the slightest hesitation, Beiyuan Heng said,

"Release the footage of my battle with Admiral Zephyr. Once that is made public, every doubt will vanish."

"No!"

Sengoku instantly refused.

"Why?"

Beiyuan Heng asked.

"Aren't you worried that if that footage gets out, pirates on the seas will set their sights on you?" Sengoku said.

Hearing that, Beiyuan Heng laughed instead.

"Only the Marines place bounties on pirates. When have pirates ever taken the initiative to hunt Marines?!"

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, don't tell me you've been frightened by those recent legends of Emperors of the Sea?"

Beiyuan Heng looked at Sengoku with a teasing tone.

"You brat, what kind of nonsense are you saying?"

Sengoku was so irritated by Beiyuan Heng's teasing that he almost laughed.

But on second thought, it was true. As a Marine, as the embodiment of justice, how could he fear the possibility of being hunted by mere pirates?

"If you insist, then I have no objections."

Having thought it through, Sengoku straightened his expression again. "Have you considered the consequences?"

"Of course." Beiyuan Heng spoke with conviction. "Since pirates have Supernovas every year, why can't I become the Marines' Supernova?"

"Good! Well said!"

Hearing Beiyuan Heng's bold declaration, Zephyr laughed heartily.

"That's how my disciple should be!"

Seeing that both Sengoku and Zephyr had agreed to his plan, Beiyuan Heng did not linger and returned to his training ground.

Plan complete!

He had begun planning all this from the moment he saw the image Den Den Mushi at the training ground that day.

Over the past few days, he had secretly fueled all those doubts about his strength.

His goal was to make Sengoku publicly release the footage of his battle with Zephyr.

He wanted more people to see and hear of his deeds.

That way, his name would spread throughout all of Marine Headquarters.