Then Let's See What You're Made Of

On deck, Marine Vice Admiral Momousagi stood at the warship's command station, discussing their upcoming mission with her subordinates.

"This time, we're facing the Supernova 'Satellite Shining.' Don't treat him like just any other Supernova..."

Momousagi wore a pink sleeveless top and black hot pants, leaving her legs fully exposed. A sizable spider tattoo marked the outside of her left thigh.

She also wore a Vice Admiral's justice coat, though its cuffs were pink. (Image)

At first glance, she hardly looked like a Marine commander. Yet her sword, Kompira, was a nodachi, and hanging at her waist, it looked proportioned like an ordinary katana.

That was right-Momousagi stood at the standard height for an Admiral: three meters. An ordinary female Marine standing beside her would only reach her upper abdomen.

(Information from the original manga's Volume 82 SBS)

She stood tall, her eyes carrying the composure and resolve of someone truly strong.

"Everyone, if fighting breaks out, focus on evacuating and assisting civilians-"

Against an opponent capable of defeating Gecko Moria, ordinary Marine personnel could only do so much. Besides, this mission wasn't necessarily about arresting Shining.

The Five Elders' instructions were to put him in his place first, then discuss inviting him to join the Shichibukai.

The Navy Intelligence Department had also investigated Shining, but his origins remained a mystery. He had appeared in the North Blue six months ago, then on the Grand Line four months ago.

He had operated as a bounty hunter. His appearance and abilities had led them to identify him as a Rumble-Rumble Fruit User, and he had already gained some modest fame then.

Then, two months ago, he had reached the Florian Triangle and defeated Gecko Moria.

This information was of limited value, since pirates with the potential to become Supernovas generally progressed at much the same pace.

(Luffy only took two months to go from setting sail to the Paramount War.)

What the Navy Intelligence Department didn't know was that Sephiroth had deliberately arranged all of this, using his extraordinary mobility to fabricate a trail of his movements.

"Big Sis Momousagi! We've got new intel!"

While Momousagi was assigning duties, a female Marine in a lieutenant's uniform hurried over, looking... rather like a delinquent girl.

Momousagi turned, fixing her subordinate with a piercing gaze, and asked steadily, "What intel?"

"According to our colleagues in Lulusia, Humming Brook has left... uh, Pink Heart Heaven... no, that's actually the establishment's name..."

In short, the intelligence agent keeping watch on the [Kessoku Band Pirates] had sent an update.

Since Brook hadn't deliberately concealed his identity, the Marines had recently learned who he was. To their surprise, he was over eighty years old-a pirate from several eras ago.

Brook had been playing games with the female employees in the sort of establishment best left unnamed, but after taking a phone call, he had immediately left.

"Big Sis, could the people from Titans be up to something?"

Momousagi frowned slightly at this, but quickly regained her composure. She nodded to acknowledge the report.

"Titans and Shining aren't that closely connected. There must be another reason."

In her younger days, Momousagi had also served in the Navy Intelligence Department, and she was highly skilled at intelligence work.

As a Headquarters Vice Admiral, she also had high-level clearance within the intelligence department. As far as she knew, Titans had repeatedly tried to recruit Shining, but he had refused every time.

Marine intelligence agents embedded in Titans had obtained plenty of inside information. Shining merely had some energy-related collaborations, experiments, and transactions with Titans.

For now, their relationship could only be described as one of mutual interests.

The intelligence was genuine, and obtaining it had nearly cost an agent his life. He had inadvertently drawn the suspicion of Alpha, Titans' secretary-general.

Embarrassingly enough, a CP8 member had saved his life. He had now escaped by faking his death, without exposing his identity.

Momousagi didn't know exactly who the CP8 operative inside Titans was. Even if she asked Cipher Pol, they wouldn't tell her.

According to reports from other agents, Alpha was highly capable. She had subsequently rooted out three more spies, and Babbage now placed considerable trust in her.

After a moment's thought, Momousagi turned to her subordinates and announced, "Everyone, it looks like we'll need to pick up the pace."

Her subordinates saluted in acknowledgment.

They knew Vice Admiral Momousagi was a battle-hardened commander whose leadership and combat skills were both first-rate.

To the female Marines, Momousagi and Vice Admiral Tsuru were their idols and role models. Her subordinates sprang into action, and the warship immediately bustled with activity.

The news was then relayed to the other warships.

-Aboard the Thunderhawk.

The Ultramarines Bunbu bustled noisily about, preparing to set sail.

"You lecherous skeleton! You took too long getting back!"

Perona's voice echoed through the cockpit. The princess-like beauty was deeply displeased, though it was hard to tell with whom.

"Yohohoho! I'm terribly sorry. My heart is about to stop from guilt-though I don't have a heart..."

Seated in the captain's chair, Sephiroth used the warship's detection system to assess the other side more easily and accurately.

He knew one of them was the renowned Vice Admiral Momousagi. He didn't recognize the other, but the man appeared to be the commander of the G-2 base.

The machinery amplified his passive detection rather than actively emitting scanning waves. After all, powerful fighters would clearly sense something like that.

"Actually, I'm curious too. Brook, what exactly do you get out of going to places like that?"

"...Yoho... yohoho... boo-hoo-hoo..."

"Don't cry!"

Sephiroth averted his gaze.

A strange aura drifted from the silent Perona.

The Bunbu pattered away at the Control Consoles as though driving off some sort of miasma, then puffed out their chests with confidence.

...Wait, I'm going to have to give your Logic Modules a thorough inspection later. Perona hasn't corrupted all of you, has she?

"Anyway, since they've come knocking, let's go meet them."

"What about avoiding them?"

Having recovered, Brook spoke up. He wasn't particularly eager to clash with the Marines.

"Don't worry. I'll take the Thunderhawk up into the air, then go say hello to them myself."

For one thing, they would have to face each other eventually. Avoiding a fight might only... bring even closer scrutiny. For another, Sephiroth was curious about their intentions.

Still, once they met face-to-face, he would certainly be ready to pull back to a safe distance at any moment.

-Aboard the G-2 flagship.

The lookout in the observation tower suddenly spotted a contrail.

Although this world had no term for contrails, the conspicuous streak of cloud and the unidentified flying object at its leading end were unmistakable.

Without a doubt, it was the Thunderhawk, flying in from the direction of the Lulusia Kingdom.

"Vice Admiral Comil! Kessoku Band Pirates spotted!"

Comil, wearing a Vice Admiral's justice coat, let out a breath.

"They don't seem to be fleeing. It looks more like they're inviting us over."

According to their intelligence, the so-called Thunderhawk was a custom vessel from Titans, obtained through some deal between Shining and the Mechanical King.

It was more than fast enough to escape if that was what they wanted. Why would it be moving so slowly?

The problem was that, according to reports from Marine intelligence agents, the ship had been sold well before the Shichibukai incident.

Given Titans' current international standing, they couldn't take it to task over such a minor matter.

It wasn't some ordinary shipwright with no one to back it up.

"Vice Admiral, sir, the navigator calculates that there's an uninhabited island in that direction."

"...Hmph."

Comil rested his hands on the guards of the two swords at his waist.

"If you want to become one of the Shichibukai, let's see what you're made of."

(Posted an image of Momousagi. Said a prayer first...)