Chapter 48 / Chapter 49

Doc Q chuckled. "I've been waiting a long time too. I can't wait to see who becomes First Division Commander."

Hawkins looked as gloomy as ever, his face like a corpse's. "There aren't enough people. We'll fight for it once we enter the Grand Line."

Burgess flared up at that. "Damn it, none of you want to fight! Are you even men?"

"Forget it. I'm done asking. Do whatever you want!" He stormed off.

A mysterious smile crossed Doc Q's weathered face. "What a shame. I'd have liked to watch the crew tear into each other."

Lafitte twirled his cane and smiled. "Law, like you, won't enter the Division Commander Challenge for now."

"That might be for the best. Once we have more crew members, we can hold the First Mate Challenge and Division Commander Challenge together."

"As for the Captain Challenge, there's nothing to discuss."

Lafitte planted his cane before him. A rare seriousness settled over his pale face. "The Chris Pirates can have only one captain: Chris. There's no question about it!"

The more Lafitte learned about Chris, the more deeply he respected him. Chris had won his loyalty completely.

If anyone dared challenge Chris's authority or show him disrespect,

Lafitte would be the first to object!

"Anyone who enters the Captain Challenge will be killed."

Law delivered the warning coldly, then walked off to the side, as aloof as ever.

Hawkins nodded. "Probability of losing the fight: one hundred percent."

"I've never seen that before."

"That tells you just how strong Captain Chris is."

Lafitte offered a courteous smile and spoke with perfect manners.

"Now, let me tell you about a few other matters."

"Our future route, and what we intend to do after that..."

(The comments mentioned the Gravity-Gravity Fruit, but there's no need to consider it. Repulsion in one direction produces Shinra Tensei; reverse it, and you get Universal Pull. There's no need to eat the Gravity-Gravity Fruit. The Repel-Repel Fruit doesn't just repel things—it can attract them too. (*￣︶￣))

Chapter 48

Five days later.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Quite a few officers sat in the spacious conference room.

"Let's begin!"

Sengoku sat upright, his face stern. "Brannew, hand out the files."

"Yes, sir!"

Brannew was an excellent assistant: neat, efficient, and done distributing the files in no time.

Sengoku looked around at the officers. "The seas have been unsettled lately. A great deal has happened."

"The Four Emperors entrenched in the New World keep expanding their territories and recruiting forces, as though the Marines don't matter."

"And the Shichibukai? Those scum of the sea have been restless too."

Sengoku tapped the desk, his expression grave. "Dracule Mihawk does as he pleases. Donquixote Doflamingo conducts underground deals..."

"But the most pressing concern is the queen of Amazon Lily: Boa Hancock!"

"Brannew, brief us on Boa Hancock's recent activities."

Brannew nodded respectfully. "Yes, sir!"

He turned to the assembled officers. "Three days ago, Boa Hancock led the people of Amazon Lily into the Grand Line."

"A series of battles followed."

"Demon Raeljun, with a bounty of eighty-three million Beli; Black Iron, with a bounty of thirty-seven million Beli; and a pirate with a bounty of eleven million..."

Brannew rattled off several names. He had clearly done his homework.

"We contacted her to ask why she was doing this."

"After all, Boa Hancock has always remained in the Calm Belt. She has never sailed this far."

Brannew continued, his account precise. "She said she was heading to the New World. She gave no answer as to why."

Sengoku picked up where he left off. "She's not only a Shichibukai. She's also the most beautiful woman in the world."

"If she enters the New World, the seas are bound to erupt. That is the last thing we want."

Sengoku looked around the room. "She's a Shichibukai, and she claims to be hunting pirates. That leaves us little grounds to object."

"Now, let's discuss why Boa Hancock is behaving so strangely."

Sakazuki, the most hardline among them, spoke with fierce conviction. "Do we really need this many people discussing one Boa Hancock?"

"Shichibukai? They're damned pirates, the most detestable scum on the seas!"

Borsalino lounged in his chair, legs crossed, trimming his nails without a care.

"The Shichibukai really are scary these days."

Sengoku glanced at the two of them and ignored their remarks.

He disliked both of them intensely.

Sakazuki was too hardline, clinging to a warped sense of justice.

Borsalino spent his days doing nothing. He was as lazy as a dog.

"Hahaha! Sengoku, forget all that for a moment. Want a doughnut?"

Garp stuffed his face, laughing merrily.

He had wrecked the solemn mood of the meeting in an instant.

"Damn it, Garp!"

Sengoku glared at him. "Who said you could eat doughnuts in here, huh?"

Doberman addressed the room coldly. "Admiral Sakazuki is right. Every last one of those Shichibukai is scum."

"They aren't worth discussing."

"If they go too far, we should uphold Absolute Justice and throw them all into Impel Down."

Doberman was Sakazuki's subordinate and fiercely loyal to him. Naturally, he was just as forceful.

A typical Hawk Faction officer!

He was exceptionally strong. During the Paramount War, he was the only vice admiral who dared berate one of the Four Emperors.

Only Doberman would do that.

"Exactly. Every Shichibukai is trash. Why should we discuss them?"

Onigumo held a cigarette between his lips and spoke decisively. "The Marines are the strongest force on the seas. Scum like the Shichibukai should be wiped out."

"I stand firmly with Admiral Sakazuki. There's no need to discuss them now."

Like Doberman, he was a typical Hawk Faction officer.

"Right! Admiral Sakazuki is correct. Let's stop discussing them."

The other Hawk Faction officers hurried to agree.

It showed just how much support Sakazuki commanded as the Hawk Faction's central figure.

When he called, the rest answered!

The Dove Faction officers all looked to Kuzan, hoping he would speak up.

Their opponent was Sakazuki, the Hawk Faction's leader. None of them dared say a word.

Only their own leading figure, Admiral Kuzan, could speak for them!

"Why are you all looking at me? Fleet Admiral Sengoku said to discuss it, didn't he?"

Kuzan rolled his neck and yawned. "I stayed up too late last night. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

He pulled the sleep mask down over his eyes, leaned back, and promptly began snoring.

The Dove Faction officers exchanged helpless looks.

That was the man they supported: laid-back to a fault.

They were used to it by now and could hardly complain.

Sengoku glanced at Kuzan and couldn't be bothered to scold him.

Of the Three Admirals, Kuzan was the one he had the highest hopes for.

Unfortunately, the man was too lazy. He acted indifferent to everything and looked half-asleep every day.

He gave Sengoku a real headache.

All three admirals had their problems. Not one of them was normal.

(You don't need an introduction to the man above. Chris will kill him later, so he gets a picture to remember him by. That's only fair to him. ︿(￣︶￣)︿)

Chapter 49

"I'll give my view."

Staff Officer Tsuru rested her chin on her hands, a sharp gleam in her eyes.

One look told you she was a shrewd elder.

At the sound of her voice, officers from both the Hawk and Dove Factions turned toward her.

They all held her in great respect.

Her wisdom had earned their admiration!

"Got any brilliant insights, Tsuru? Let's hear them."

Garp ate a doughnut and laughed heartily.

Staff Officer Tsuru paid him no attention. "Boa Hancock is an extremely proud woman."

"She's already famous enough. She has nothing to prove."

"Making a name for herself by hunting pirates cannot be her goal."

"And she certainly isn't clearing out wanted criminals to do the Marines a favor."

Tsuru folded her arms, her voice certain. "That leaves only one answer: she wants to grow stronger."

"She'll enter the New World next, choose powerful opponents, and fight them."

"After all, the women of Amazon Lily love battle. They won't be content sitting idle."

Garp slapped the table and roared with laughter. "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"Tsuru, you're as sharp as ever. Hahaha!"

Sengoku ignored the bastard and nodded in agreement.

"Staff Officer Tsuru makes a good point. It seems Boa Hancock has something else in mind."

"She urgently wants to improve her strength."

"As for her exact goal, we'll need to keep watching and investigating."

Borsalino lounged in his chair, legs crossed, and said slyly, "Women these days really are frightening."

Sakazuki's gaze hardened. "All the more reason not to stand by and do nothing."

"I propose that, in the name of Absolute Justice, we bring her to justice!"

The other Hawk Faction officers nodded and quickly voiced their agreement.