Although a force of around seven thousand men was not Kaito Arisawa's ultimate goal, it had reached the minimum standard he had set in his mind before entering the Grand Line.
That, however, was only a numerical benchmark.
As for quality—there was no upper limit.
If possible, he wanted every man under his command to be elite.
So even if he stopped expanding in number for now, refinement would not stop. Through continuous battles and harsh training, the War Pirates would temper their strength until only steel remained.
Then there was preparation for the Grand Line.
The dangers of that sea were not limited to powerful enemies.
The environment itself was merciless.
Unpredictable storms.
Strange and deadly diseases.
Food shortages.
Violent currents.
Each of these could deliver a devastating blow to an unprepared crew.
To sail safely on the Grand Line required more than strong fighters. It demanded a complete support system.
And that support was not merely supplies—it was people.
Navigators.
Doctors.
Cooks.
Shipwrights.
These four roles were regarded as the four fundamental elements of maritime navigation.
The War Pirates did not lack these positions.
But "not lacking" did not mean "excellent."
True talent—especially logistical talent—was even rarer than combat prodigies.
Before setting foot on the Grand Line, Kaito intended to strengthen these four elements to the highest possible standard.
Nothing could be left to chance.
In fact, his decision to dock at Hongyan Island had partially been for that very reason.
Happy Street on Hongyan Island was the largest entertainment district in West Blue—and places like that were among the richest sources of information.
Although he had left after enjoying himself briefly, that did not mean he had neglected business.
He was the captain.
There was no need for him to personally gather intelligence.
Before allowing the crew to disperse for pleasure, he had already ordered them to quietly collect information while they indulged.
They had not disappointed him.
A considerable amount of valuable intelligence had been gathered.
And that intelligence was precisely why the War Pirates were now heading toward their next destination.
…
…
Marineford.
The headquarters of the Marines.
Inside a solemn conference chamber, high-ranking officers of the Navy were assembled.
A Rear Admiral from the staff division stood before the table, holding a report and speaking in a loud, steady voice.
"According to the intelligence gathered so far, the West Blue inspection team led by Vice Admiral Henry encountered the War Pirates at Hongyan Island. On the second day, they pursued the pirate fleet out to sea. It was that same day that Vice Admiral Henry's life card burned away, and the entire patrol fleet disappeared."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"As of today, one week has passed. Recent reports confirm that when the War Pirates resupplied, local intelligence agents observed many former members of the inspection team aboard their ships."
"In summary, based on analysis by the staff division, the War Pirates not only killed Vice Admiral Henry, but also caused the majority of the West Blue patrol team to abandon justice and defect to piracy."
Bang!
The conference table shook violently.
A Marine Vice Admiral with scars across his face slammed his fist down, fury blazing in his eyes.
"This is absurd! How could Vice Admiral Henry be defeated by some mere pirate crew from West Blue? There must be something wrong with this report!"
The man was Vice Admiral Dalmatian—one of the Naval Headquarters' senior officers.
Several of the officers present wore grim expressions.
Their anger was not directed at the staff division—but at the loss of Henry.
Henry had belonged to the same generation as Fleet Admiral Sengoku and others.
Though his strength and rank had never reached their heights, his decades of service had earned him deep respect.
Many of the officers in this room had once served under him.
Vice Admiral Dalmatian himself had once been Henry's adjutant.
"Calm yourself," Vice Admiral Tsuru said quietly.
She rested her chin on her hands, her gaze steady and composed.
"The staff division conducted a thorough investigation. There is no mistake. The contents of the report are accurate."
Though she held the rank of Vice Admiral, Tsuru was also one of the Navy's most senior strategists. Her authority carried weight.
Dalmatian forced himself to suppress his anger.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru," another officer spoke gravely, "Henry devoted decades to the Marines. We cannot allow his sacrifice to pass without consequence."
"I have also heard about this War Pirates crew," another added. "They were originally nothing more than West Blue gangsters. Yet after becoming pirates, they expanded rapidly—thousands of members in a short time. They have already destabilized several regions."
"If such a force is not eradicated quickly, the damage will only increase."
"And those who betrayed justice must be eliminated as well," another officer said sharply. "If we allow defectors to join pirates without consequence, it will severely damage the prestige of the Marines."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" Dalmatian stepped forward. "I request permission to personally lead a fleet to West Blue and destroy the War Pirates!"
Other officers voiced their agreement.
Though they remained composed, their stance was clear.
They wanted vengeance.
At the head of the table sat Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
His expression was solemn.
"I understand your feelings," he said in a deep voice. "Vice Admiral Henry was my comrade. His death is a heavy loss."
"This meeting exists for that very reason."
"The War Pirates must be eliminated."
Before any further discussion could escalate, Tsuru continued calmly.
"Before organizing a crusade, we have revised the bounties for the key members of the War Pirates."
She lifted a document.
"The captain, 'Golden Swordsman' Kaito Arisawa—formerly 79 million Berries—has been raised to 150 million Berries."
"Mangu, known as the 'Brutal Beast,' has increased from 35 million to 65 million Berries."
"Robin, the 'Flower Witch,' has increased from 35 million to 55 million Berries."
She turned the page.
"Additionally, the former captain of the Grizzly Bear Pirates, 'Grizzly Bear' Sandy, joined the War Pirates following his defeat at Hongyan Island. His bounty has been raised from 78 million to 85 million Berries."
Tsuru looked around the room.
"Are there any objections to the proposed adjustments?"
The conference room fell silent.
No one spoke.
The numbers reflected the threat level accurately.
More importantly—
They reflected the Marines' recognition.
The War Pirates were no longer a regional nuisance.
They had become a force worthy of national attention.
And the era was shifting.
Whether the old guard liked it or not.
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