April, Sea Circle Calendar 1521. G-14 Marine Branch.
Vice Admiral Doll's office was on the third floor of the base's main building, its window facing the inner harbor.
Sunlight slanted through the gaps in the Venetian blinds. The room smelled of old leather and cigarettes, and a record player in the corner played music.
Doll, wearing a black short-sleeved top, sank into a red sofa. Her Justice Coat had been casually draped over its back.
Despite being a Marine Vice Admiral, she looked rather like a young rocker lazing around during the day.
Her short black hair fell in a tousled crop, with slightly longer bangs partially covering her blue eyes.
The melody of "Perfect Time" flowed from the record player.
Doll closed her eyes, tapped the beat on the armrest, and quietly hummed a few lines.
One leg, clad in dark purple leather trousers, rested on the armrest, while the other hung toward the floor. Her tall black leather boots swayed with the melody.
This was Shining's new album, Seven Deadly Sins. "Perfect Time" was Doll's favorite track.
"...Hmm."
Doll let out a soft breath and raised an eyebrow slightly. Her Observation Haki detected someone at the door, but they had enough sense not to knock. It probably wasn't urgent.
Only after the song ended did a knock come from outside.
Doll opened her eyes, reached over to press the button beside the record player, and switched it off. Then she sat up straight, grabbed her Justice Coat from the backrest, and draped it over her shoulders.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Commodore Gibin entered in a dark red suit, carrying a stack of documents.
"Vice Admiral Doll, this is this week's briefing on developments in the New World."
Gibin spread the documents across the desk.
They both