Chapter 21: The Navy's Retaliation
Chapter 21: The Navy's Retaliation
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Navy Headquarters
The mood at Navy Headquarters was tense. Fleet Admiral Sengoku paced his office, his face a mask of frustration. The recent news of Akainu's defeat at the hands of the Whitebeard Pirates, coupled with the Silverhair Pirates' involvement in the Hellfire Island incident, weighed heavily on his mind. He knew a response was necessary, but he needed to tread carefully.
Sengoku's telephone snail rang, its distinctive "Bru~Bru~ Kacha" breaking the silence. He picked it up with a sigh. "Yes, what happened?"
The voice on the other end was that of a Navy soldier, reporting urgently. "Marshal, Golden Lion Shiki has been successfully put in Impel Down. Vice Admiral Kanji has returned to HQ."
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Flashback
Sengoku's mind drifted back to the events that had led to Shiki's capture. Shiki had been transported to Impel Down by a group of lieutenant generals and twenty elite Marines. However, the legendary pirate had not gone quietly. Halfway through the journey, Shiki had launched a daring escape attempt, using his powerful abilities to wreak havoc on the warship.
An urgent call had come through the telephone snail, interrupting Sengoku during a high-level meeting. The lieutenant general's voice was panicked. "Marshal Sengoku, it's Shiki! He's escaping! We need immediate reinforcements!"
Sengoku had slammed his fist onto his desk in anger. "I want Admiral Kanji and ten vice admirals, along with twenty lieutenant generals, to recapture Shiki. No excuses!"
The operation had been intense, but eventually, Shiki had been subdued and brought to justice.
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Present
Sengoku exhaled deeply, relieved that one major headache was resolved. Just then, the door to his office swung open, and in walked Vice Admiral Garp, munching on snacks, followed by Vice Admiral Tsuru .
Garp greeted him with a grin. "Sengoku, why'd you call me back from vacation? I was going to visit my grandson, you know."
Sengoku's expression darkened. "Garp, this is serious. We're dealing with significant threats here."
Garp chuckled, teasing, "Ah, come on. You just miss having me around."
Tsuru stepped in, trying to calm the situation. "Let's focus on the matters at hand."
As they settled in, the door opened again, and Admiral Konji, Admiral Z, Vice Admiral Aokiji, Vice Admiral Kizaru, and Vice Admiral Akainu entered. Akainu was bruised and had his right hand bandaged, clear evidence of his recent battle with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Akainu spoke up, his voice rough. "Whitebeard's forces were stronger than anticipated. We engaged them near Hellfire Island. They were protecting the Silverhair Pirates. We managed to inflict damage, but they overpowered us."
Sengoku nodded, acknowledging the report. "Thank you, Akainu. Now, I need your opinions on our next steps."
Admiral Z was the first to speak. "First, we need to address the loss of Project Celestial Fire to the World Government. That's a major blow to our operations."
Sengoku sighed. "I'll handle the situation with the World Government. They need to understand the complexities of the situation."
Tsuru added, "We can't afford to provoke the Whitebeard Pirates right now. Attacking them directly would be disastrous. We need to be strategic."
Admiral Kanji, known for his cold demeanor, interjected. "If we don't attack Whitebeard, what do you propose we do? Sit back and let them gain strength?"
Tsuru responded calmly, "We should focus on the smaller threats first, like the Silverhair Pirates. They're becoming a significant nuisance."
Sengoku nodded in agreement. "Crane is right. We'll deal with the Silverhair Pirates first. Admiral Kanji, you will lead a fleet to capture them."
Admiral Kanji, with his icy gaze, nodded. "Understood."
Vice Admiral Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu, still eager to prove themselves, voiced their desire to join the mission.
Sengoku shook his head. "You three have another mission. The World Government has ordered us to deal with the situation in Ohara. You'll lead that operation."
The room fell silent, the gravity of the orders sinking in. Sengoku looked around at his assembled officers. "We have our orders. Let's execute them efficiently and restore our control over these waters."
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Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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