Chapter 58: Chapter 58: A Meeting of Generations
The door to Sengoku's office slammed open with a thunderous bang, shaking the room as Vice Admiral Garp stormed in, his voice booming louder than the commotion he caused. "VULCAN!" he shouted, his grin wide and unapologetic. "You really went and caused trouble this time, didn't ya?!"
Sengoku's eye twitched. "Garp! What have I told you about barging in like that?!" he scolded, pointing furiously toward the broken door. "I have enough headaches already!"
Garp waved him off, laughing. "Ah, don't get your feathers ruffled, Sengoku. You know you missed me!" He shot a wink at the Fleet Admiral and then turned his attention back to Vulcan.
Vulcan stood frozen, caught between the intensity of Sengoku and the boisterous energy of Garp. His grandfather's proud grin made him uneasy, knowing full well Garp's compliments were often accompanied by backhanded jabs.
"You did good, boy!" Garp said, crossing his arms and nodding approvingly. "Taking down Moria—not bad for someone still wet behind the ears." He leaned in, his grin growing wider. "But don't get too cocky, ya hear? You think beating one Shichibukai makes you a big shot? Gahahaha! You've still got a long way to go if you want to be as strong as me!"
Vulcan's mouth twitched into a small smile despite himself. "I'm working on it, Gramps."
Garp straightened, looking more serious for just a brief moment. "Yeah, yeah. But listen, kid. There's more to this than just throwing punches. You gotta know when to hold back, too. Sometimes, it ain't about how hard you hit—it's about knowing when to hit. Save your strength for the real fights, or else you'll just burn out before you even get started."
That was the extent of Garp's "advice," delivered in his usual half-serious, half-joking tone. He clapped Vulcan on the back, nearly knocking him off balance. "Still, ya did well for a brat! Maybe you won't be a total disappointment after all, gahahaha!"
Sengoku sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Garp, can you be serious for more than two minutes?!"
Garp's laughter echoed through the office as he casually walked over to Sengoku's desk and plopped down into the chair across from him. "Eh, you're too uptight, Sengoku. A little chaos keeps the blood flowing, you know!"
Sengoku's hands slammed onto the desk. "Chaos? CHAOS?! Your grandson nearly upset the entire balance of the Shichibukai system!"
Garp shrugged. "Eh, balance, schmalance. Moria wasn't much of a threat anyway if a few recruits could take him down. That's a win if you ask me!"
Sengoku's eyebrow twitched, his frustration rising. "This isn't a joke, Garp! The World Government is not pleased about this!"
Garp leaned back in his chair, still grinning. "You're telling me the government's more worried about a washed-up warlord than the fact that we've got a group of recruits who managed to win against him? Sounds like they're missing the point."
Sengoku gritted his teeth, trying to hold back his irritation. "This is about balance! The Shichibukai system is delicate, and now we're forced to figure out how to clean up your grandson's mess."
Garp laughed louder, clearly enjoying himself. "My grandson's mess, huh? Sounds like the Marines could use more like him if you ask me."
Sengoku, exasperated, collapsed back into his chair with a sigh. "I didn't ask you, Garp."
The tension in the room dissolved as Garp continued to laugh, his carefree attitude clashing with Sengoku's more serious nature. But underneath the banter, there was truth in Garp's words. Moria had been defeated by a group of young recruits, and if anything, that spoke volumes about the strength of the next generation.
Sengoku rubbed his temples. The World Government might be furious, but... deep down, they know it too. If Moria can be defeated by a few Marine trainees, then perhaps he's no longer worth keeping around. They're using the budget cuts as an excuse—but really, they're ready to throw him away.
He looked up at Vulcan, who had remained quiet during the exchange. There was potential in him, no doubt. But reckless potential. And the consequences of his actions still needed to be addressed.
"You need to start thinking long-term," Sengoku finally said, more composed now. "Yes, your comrades died in battle, but that happens every day. If you want to make a real difference, you need to start considering the consequences of your actions—before you act."
Vulcan lowered his head slightly, the weight of his decisions sinking in. The losses they'd suffered were a heavy burden, and now, the fallout with the World Government added even more pressure.
He cleared his throat. "Sir... there's something I'd like to discuss with you—later. A plan I have in mind. I believe it could be useful."
Sengoku raised an eyebrow, curious. "Later, then. I'll make time. I'm interested to see what this plan of yours is."
Vulcan nodded, a small sense of relief washing over him. He'd discuss it with Sengoku once things calmed down.
Sengoku straightened up. "For now, you and your team are free to rest. Thriller Bark will remain under strict Marine control until further notice from the World Government. You're dismissed. Go recover and prepare for whatever comes next."
The crew saluted, saying in unison, "Yes, sir!"
As they turned to leave, Garp clapped Vulcan on the back once more, nearly knocking him off balance again. "Good work, kid! Now go get some grub! You can't be a strong Marine on an empty stomach."
Vulcan managed a small grin, despite the heavy mood. "Sure, Gramps. I'm starving."
The crew left the office, but Vulcan couldn't shake the tension lingering in the air. Sengoku had been harsh, but it was clear that the Fleet Admiral was testing them—preparing them for something bigger.
In another wing of Marine HQ, a meeting of higher-ranking officers was underway. Sengoku, along with several Vice Admirals and key strategic leaders, sat around a long table in a dimly lit room. Maps of the Grand Line were spread across the surface, and at the center was an image of Thriller Bark—the massive floating fortress now under Marine custody.
Vice Admiral Momonga was the first to speak. "This is an unprecedented situation. We've never had control of a ship like Thriller Bark. It could become a critical asset—especially for patrolling some of the most dangerous waters of the Grand Line."
Another Vice Admiral, Doberman, leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "The issue is control. Thriller Bark was heavily reliant on Moria's shadow powers. Without a full understanding of how it operates, we risk putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. We don't even know the full extent of its capabilities."
One of the younger strategists, Vice Admiral Onigumo, interjected. "We should dismantle Moria's technology and adapt it for Marine use. Whatever he created could be reverse-engineered. Thriller Bark's size alone makes it a powerful weapon against any pirate fleet, but we have to understand what we're dealing with."
The room grew tense as the officers considered the options.
Sengoku remained quiet for a moment, his fingers steepled as he considered the potential. "We've never had something like this under Marine control. If we manage to maintain its systems, Thriller Bark could become a floating Marine fortress capable of neutralizing large pirate fleets. It could travel to areas of the Grand Line that are typically inaccessible, extending our reach."
Vice Admiral Tsuru, the elder strategist, spoke calmly. "There is potential here, but we also need to consider the reaction from the World Government. They chose Moria for a reason, and his defeat—while justified—will not sit well with them. They may view this as a disruption of the balance of power between the Shichibukai and the Marines."
Sengoku narrowed his eyes. "Moria was beaten by Marine recruits. The World Government won't admit it, but they've already written him off. He's a liability now. But this ship—Thriller Bark—is not."
Tsuru nodded in agreement. "If we do decide to use it, we need to proceed cautiously. The Florian Triangle itself has too many unknowns, and there are rumors of other forces at play in that region."
The conversation continued, with the officers weighing the pros and cons of turning Thriller Bark into a Marine base. Sengoku, however, had already made up his mind. Despite the risks, the ship was too valuable to discard. But it would take careful planning, the right leadership, and complete control of its capabilities.
"We'll move forward cautiously," Sengoku finally said, his voice steady. "For now, let's secure the ship, analyze its systems, and begin preparing it for Marine use."
The officers exchanged looks, some nodding in approval, others still concerned about the risks. But the decision had been made.
Meanwhile, Vulcan and his crew arrived at the infirmary to visit Hina. She lay on a bed, her wounds still bandaged, but her sharp gaze was as strong as ever.
"Well, well, if it isn't the reckless heroes," Hina smirked, her voice slightly raspy. "Hina is glad to see you all in one piece."
"Yohohoho! And we're glad to see you without the shadows, Hina! You're much more radiant this way," Brook chimed in with his usual humor.
Smoker leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "How are you holding up, Hina?"
Hina gave a slight shrug. "I've been through worse. But Moria... that bastard was more of a challenge than I expected."
Vulcan approached her bedside, offering a respectful nod. "We'll make sure this wasn't in vain. I promise."
Hina smiled weakly, her sharp eyes showing approval. "Good."
After a few more moments of light conversation, with Brook making the mood lighter with his jokes, the crew bid Hina farewell and left the infirmary.
As they made their way through the corridors of Marineford, Garp suddenly appeared behind them, grabbing Vulcan by the shoulder. "Oi, Vulcan! Let's go grab some food! Can't expect to fight on an empty stomach, right?"
Vulcan smirked. "I suppose."
"Gahahaha! That's the spirit, kid!" Garp boomed, already marching ahead. "Come on, let's get enough food to feed an army!"
Smoker, ever the stoic, muttered under his breath. "This guy can out-eat the entire Grand Line…"
As the group followed Garp, Vulcan found his thoughts drifting back to Thriller Bark and what had happened. Sengoku's words lingered in his mind—about consequences, about thinking ahead. He knew there was still much to learn, but for now, food and rest would have to come first.
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