As Smoker's warship sailed through the Grand Line, far away in the Marine Headquarters, Marineford, an important meeting was taking place.
In the Marshal's Office, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at the head of the table, his expression serious. Across from him, the Three Admirals occupied their respective seats.
Akainu sat with his arms crossed, his face as stern and imposing as ever, exuding a burning intensity.
Kizaru lounged lazily with one leg crossed over the other, his usual carefree demeanor unchanged.
Aokiji, the most relaxed of the three, leaned back, eyes half-closed as if he were on the verge of dozing off.
Suddenly—
"Crunch—crunch—crunch—"
Sengoku's temples twitched as he turned his head. Vice Admiral Garp was seated off to the side, casually munching on senbei from a plate on Sengoku's desk.
"GARP! You're stealing my senbei again!" Sengoku roared, veins bulging on his forehead. "This is an official meeting! At least try to act serious!"
"Ahahaha! What does it matter?" Garp laughed, waving off the complaint while tossing another senbei into his mouth. "Everyone's already here, so just get on with it, will ya?"
Sengoku exhaled sharply, ignoring him. He held up a file.
"This meeting concerns a new recruit in the Marines—Solomon Carl."
At the mention of the name, the atmosphere subtly shifted.
"Solomon Carl?" Akainu scowled. "We're here to discuss a recruit? You dragged us into this just for some greenhorn?"
He wasn't one to waste time on trivial matters. With the Whitebeard Pirates, the Revolutionary Army, and rising threats across the seas, every moment mattered.
"There's a reason for this, Sakazuki~" Kizaru chimed in, still examining his fingernails. "I heard that this guy actually injured Hawkeye Mihawk in East Blue… Tsk tsk, how terrifying~"
His exaggerated, mocking tone matched his usual nonchalant attitude, but his words carried weight.
Akainu's eyes narrowed. Even Aokiji, who had seemed barely interested, opened one eye.
Sengoku nodded. "Half a month ago, Solomon Carl enlisted in the 148th Marine Branch in East Blue as an Ensign. His recommender—Vice Admiral Garp."
At that, all eyes turned to Garp, who had just picked up another senbei. He stopped mid-bite.
Akainu was the first to react. "Why didn't you mention this sooner?" His sharp glare locked onto the old Marine hero. "You vouched for this man? How much do you know about him?"
Aokiji and Kizaru also looked at Garp expectantly.
Garp scratched his head. "Well… I only met him half a month ago."
Sengoku's fingers clenched around his papers. "Explain."
Garp sighed, finally putting down his snack.
"I ran into him in East Blue. Saw him take down some pirates, and we had a little scuffle."
Everyone waited for him to continue.
But instead—he reached for another senbei.
"GARP!" Sengoku slammed a fist on the table. "Speak first, then eat!"
"Huh? But I'm done talking," Garp said innocently, chewing.
Sengoku's patience snapped. "'I ran into him, we fought, the end'—THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GONNA SAY?!"
The three Admirals frowned. This wasn't normal.
Aokiji pressed, "You fought him. How strong was he?"
Garp swallowed. His carefree demeanor faded, replaced by something rarely seen in him—a serious expression.
"I fought him… and I didn't win."
Silence.
Akainu shot up from his seat. "What did you just say?!"
If Solomon Carl could fight Garp to a standstill, that meant he possessed combat power on par with the highest-ranking Marines.
Sengoku's mind raced. Even among Marine Vice Admirals, few could genuinely match Garp in battle.
Garp clarified, "I didn't lose either. It was an even fight."
"Then say that in one breath, damn it!" Sengoku grumbled.
Even so, his shock remained. Someone who could battle Garp without losing… That wasn't normal.
Akainu sat back down, processing this information. "And what about his abilities?"
Garp shook his head. "I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Aokiji's brows furrowed. "He didn't use a Devil Fruit?"
"Nope. Just raw strength, incredible speed, and… an absurdly powerful Armament Haki."
Sengoku flipped through the report. "Yet during his fight with Mihawk, he demonstrated a unique swordsmanship style."
He tapped the file. "Carl carries two legendary blades—Sakura Ten and Deadwood."
At that, Kizaru's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Golden Lion Shiki's swords…" he mused. "So Shiki might've died at his hands?"
Garp's brows twitched. Had Carl been holding back when they fought?
For a moment, the room was filled with silence.
Aokiji finally asked, "What about his personality?"
Garp leaned back. "He doesn't show mercy to pirates."
This caught Akainu's attention. "Oh?"
Garp nodded. "I saw him sink a pirate ship without hesitation. His killing intent was… cold."
A dangerous weapon for the Marines.
Still, Aokiji remained puzzled. "But why has this guy never made a name for himself? A man that strong doesn't just stay hidden."
Kizaru lazily tilted his head. "Maybe he didn't want to be famous~"
Sengoku wasn't satisfied with that. "Regardless, we need to make a decision."
He looked around the room.
"Solomon Carl's strength is undeniable. He could be a future pillar of the Marines."
Akainu immediately suggested, "Then send him to the New World. If he's that strong, he should train there."
Sengoku shook his head. "No. The New World is too unstable. He's young, which means he has immense potential. We need to cultivate him properly."
The implication was clear—Carl could be a future Admiral.
The Admirals exchanged glances, processing the weight of this revelation.
A new powerhouse had emerged in the Marines.
And soon—the world would take notice.
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