Time flew by...
In the blink of an eye, another three years had passed.
In Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office at Marine Headquarters in Marineford...
At that moment, five other people were in the office with Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Garp and Zephyr were among them.
The other three were not wearing Marine uniforms. Instead, they wore white suits with dark ties and masks over their faces.
One of the three, wearing a pure white mask, spoke to Sengoku.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you still had to rely on us in Cipher Pol to complete this mission. Your Marines really are running short of talent, aren't they? Kyeh heh heh heh."
Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr all frowned. Sengoku snorted coldly.
"Hmph! We Marines never asked for your help. You decided to interfere on your own. We have plenty of talented people, so how could we be short-handed?"
The Cipher Pol agent in the pure white mask gave a snide laugh, his voice full of mockery.
"Kyeh heh heh. If we in Cipher Pol hadn't given you the information, you Marines would still be in the dark. How else would you have learned about this incident?"
"We in Cipher Pol also provided the information for the Ohara Incident. And a few years ago, when you tried to capture Byrnndi World, the 'World Destroyer,' you Marines were actually forced to join forces with pirates to catch him."
"In the end, didn't you still have to rely on us in Cipher Pol? All we had to do was talk, and we captured Byrnndi World without breaking a sweat. Kyeh heh heh."
When the CP0 agent in the pure white mask finished, the other two CP0 agents chuckled as well, their contempt plain to see.
Bang!
Faced with the pure white-masked CP0 agent's taunts, Sengoku burned with anger and wanted nothing more than to send him flying with a punch. But what the CP0 agent had said was true, and as Fleet Admiral, Sengoku could not simply attack and hurt these people. All he could do was slam the desk and seethe, gritting his teeth.
Sengoku might have been able to endure it, but Garp, with his usual thick-skinned, hot temper, could not. He erupted in curses.
"Bull fucking shit! Who says we Marines are short on talent? You masked lapdogs don't even dare show your faces. Any Marine we pick could send you flying!"
The CP0 agent cackled and touched his mask.
"Oh? Any Marine you pick could send us flying? Heh, then how about a little contest?"
Before Sengoku could agree, Garp accepted without another word.
"Fine! Let's do it. How do you want to compete?"
When Garp agreed, the three CP0 agents exchanged glances, a glint of amusement flashing in their eyes.
The CP0 agent in the pure white mask coughed.
"I won't suggest anything else. Let's compare the new generation. After all, we're all part of the old guard now, and it's time we retired. We'll have the new generation compete and see whether the people you've trained are stronger, or the ones we've trained are."
"Don't you have some kind of Ferocious Beast Training Camp? Pick a few people from there to compete against us. How about it?"
Garp frowned and looked to Zephyr, asking what he thought.
Zephyr smiled faintly and nodded, giving Garp a reassuring look.
"Fine! It's settled, then." Seeing Zephyr's look, Garp laughed and agreed.
"Heh heh, then let's go now. As it happens, there's a kid from the current Cipher Pol generation accompanying me to gain experience. We'll have him do it."
With that, Sengoku and the others headed to the Ferocious Beast Training Camp together...
At the Ferocious Beast Training Camp's training grounds...
The giant instructor was teaching everyone the Six Powers when he happened to glance at the entrance to the Ferocious Beast Training Camp out of the corner of his eye.
Sengoku and the others were just approaching.
The giant instructor was astonished to see Sengoku and the others coming through the entrance.
"Hm? Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Vice Admiral Garp! Instructor Zephyr! Why have they all come? Huh? Aren't those people from Cipher Pol?"
Puzzled, the giant instructor hurried forward to greet Sengoku and the others.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! What brings you to the Ferocious Beast Training Camp today? And these people are here to...?"
As soon as the giant instructor asked, Zephyr stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, explaining.
"Giant, of course we're here on business. Has Ages returned yet?"
"Not yet."
"Hm? Not yet?" Zephyr frowned.
At that moment, the pure white-masked man among the three CP0 agents cackled.
"What's this? Is your 'trump card' not here? Kyeh heh heh. How about we come back and compete another day? Kyeh heh heh."
Zephyr frowned at the masked man's taunt and said coldly, "No need! I believe the people in my Ferocious Beast Training Camp can beat you."
Then Zephyr called the giant instructor aside and told him what had happened...
"Do you understand now, Giant? Go and bring a few of the new recruits over."
The giant instructor nodded solemnly, then ran toward the training grounds.
Zephyr watched the giant instructor run off, then turned to look at the young man beside the CP0 agents. He wore a black suit, his black hair was parted in the middle, and his sharp eyes were filled with cold indifference, without a trace of warmth.
Looking at the young man, Zephyr's subconscious told him that the young man was definitely someone who killed without batting an eye. He furrowed his brow and thought worriedly.
Ah, I originally wanted Ages to compete, but I forgot that the task I gave him today was difficult. Ages probably won't finish it anytime soon... Ah... I hope he can make it back in time. Otherwise, the Marines will really lose face.
While thoughts raced through Zephyr's mind, the giant instructor had already brought three new recruits before Sengoku and the others.
After hearing what the giant instructor had said, the other new recruits were indignant and volunteered to fight, but their strength only allowed them to come as a cheering squad, shouting encouragement for the three who would compete.
(P.S. Shamelessly asking for flowers, favorites, ten-point ratings, and monthly votes.)