Chapter 57: A Hard Lesson in Consequences

The eerie calm of the Florian Triangle surrounded Thriller Bark, with its massive frame looming over the dark sea like a ghostly titan. The strange fog still clung to the waters as if reluctant to let the ship leave its mysterious grasp. After the fierce battle and the loss of comrades, the crew was tired, but they all knew they had to move forward.

Vulcan stood at the helm, his eyes narrowing at Gecko Moria, who was slumped in chains at the center of the deck. The warlord had been subdued, but his mocking smile still lingered on his face. The defeat had taken its toll on him, but Moria's arrogance remained intact, even if his power had been cut down.

"Time to move, Moria," Vulcan said, stepping forward. His voice was cold, the weight of their fallen comrades fueling his determination. "Get this ship out of the Florian Triangle."

Moria looked up, his eyes glazed with pain and disdain. "You think you can command me? Do you have any idea what kind of power you're playing with?"

Vulcan's gaze hardened. "I don't care what you think. You're moving this ship, and you're moving it now."

Moria snarled, but after a brief moment of defiance, he relented. He raised a trembling hand, manipulating the shadowy tendrils around the ship. It groaned as it began to stir, the massive island-like vessel slowly pulling away from the oppressive fog of the Florian Triangle. The movement was slow, as if even the ship itself resisted leaving, but after some time, they finally began to drift out of the cursed waters.

After a long and tense day of sailing, a Marine ship appeared on the horizon, its sails snapping in the wind. The crew aboard Thriller Bark watched as the smaller vessel approached cautiously, the Marines on board staring in awe at the massive floating fortress.

"That's one of ours," Smoker muttered, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Looks like HQ sent someone to collect Moria."

As the Marine ship drew closer, the silhouette of a tall, powerful figure became clearer. The Vice Admiral leading the ship was none other than Vice Admiral Momonga, one of the more battle-hardened officers of the Marines, known for his no-nonsense approach and incredible skill with a sword.

When Momonga stepped aboard Thriller Bark, he stood still for a moment, taking in the sheer size of the ship. His sharp eyes swept across the deck and the defeated form of Moria, chained and subdued.

"This is..." Momonga began, clearly impressed by the scale of the ship. "Thriller Bark, huh? I didn't think I'd ever see something like this. You really took down a Shichibukai and captured his ship."

Smoker nodded in confirmation. "That's right. We're ready to transport Moria to Impel Down, Vice Admiral."

Momonga gave a small nod but didn't waste time on further praise. "You've done well, but the orders are clear. You're to report to Marineford immediately. Fleet Admiral Sengoku is waiting for you. Prepare to leave."

After another long journey, this time much quieter and uneventful compared to the earlier chaos, they finally arrived at Marineford. The crew wasted no time. After ensuring Hina was taken to the infirmary, they made their way directly to Sengoku's office.

Inside the massive office, Sengoku sat behind his desk, his stern expression not giving away any immediate emotion. His large frame was imposing, and the white seagull on his cap seemed to shift as he leaned forward, observing the crew with his usual piercing gaze.

The room was thick with tension, and Vulcan could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. This was not just about their actions but about the consequences that followed.

Sengoku wasted no time. "So, you're the ones responsible for this." His voice was deep and authoritative. "Explain yourselves. Why did you take such drastic actions?"

Vulcan took a step forward, standing tall. He cleared his throat and began to recount the events: the pirates landing on the island, the battle with Moria, the defeat, and the casualties. He reported everything, sparing no details, but he kept his voice steady despite the embarrassment he felt about the losses.

When Vulcan finished, Sengoku let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples. His stern face betrayed a hint of weariness. He turned to a subordinate and gave a quiet order. "Notify the families of the fallen Marines... make sure their bodies are returned with honors."

The room fell silent for a moment, and Vulcan's heart sank at the mention of the fallen recruits. He hadn't forgotten the sacrifices, but hearing it from Sengoku made the weight of their deaths even heavier.

Sengoku, still tired from the weight of responsibility, turned his gaze back to Vulcan and the crew. "The World Government is aware of what happened. They're furious. They don't care that you took down Moria; what matters to them is that a Shichibukai, one of their own, was beaten and captured. They want to cut the budget for turning Thriller Bark into a Marine base."

The words hung in the air like a cold chill, leaving the crew stunned.

Vulcan's eyes widened. "What?"

"The World Government," Sengoku repeated, leaning forward with a glare, "isn't happy about this mess you've created. They're cutting funds and resources because of it. And you better understand this—what happened was reckless and impulsive. You didn't think about the consequences."

The room grew tense as Sengoku's voice rose, anger creeping into his tone. "Do you think that defeating Moria and losing comrades is something new? Marines die every day! The Grand Line is unforgiving. But you... you acted without foresight. You created a situation where the government is now questioning us. That's your mess!"

Vulcan stood still, his shoulders stiff. The truth in Sengoku's words cut deep. He could feel the shame burning in his chest. Yes, they'd won. Yes, they'd brought down Moria. But at what cost? They had rushed into things without thinking of the consequences, and now the lives lost weighed heavier than ever.

As Vulcan hung his head, embarrassed, Sengoku's eyes softened for just a brief second. They're reckless... but brave. Their spirit reminds me of another generation, one that shaped the world... Maybe, just maybe, these Marines standing before me now will become the next pillars. But Sengoku quickly shook those thoughts away, reinforcing his steely exterior. He couldn't let them know he was proud—not yet. They had to learn discipline and responsibility first.

Sengoku stared hard at them. "Learn from this. In this line of work, you can't afford to be short-sighted. Yes, your comrades died, and yes, it was a battle. But there are bigger stakes at play, and you need to start thinking about that."

Vulcan, unable to meet Sengoku's gaze, lowered his head. The fury that had been simmering in his heart since Moria's defeat swirled again, but this time it was mixed with shame. His mind wandered back to the battle, and slowly, an idea began to form.

'Moria's Devil Fruit… his power over shadows,' Vulcan thought, the gears turning in his mind. His shadow powers could weaken enemies, strip them of their strength, make them easier to subdue... even prisoners in Impel Down.

He wasn't fully sure yet, but the idea started to grow. Moria had used his Devil Fruit to control others. What if they used it against the most dangerous criminals in the world? He could almost see it—weakening prisoners, preventing escapes. But was it even possible? Could they take advantage of the Kage Kage no Mi without falling into the same traps as Moria?

Vulcan's head snapped up as Sengoku's voice cut through his thoughts.

"You're lucky the World Government didn't ask for your heads on a platter," Sengoku muttered. "Now, deal with the aftermath. Figure out how to clean this up."

Vulcan hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of everything that had happened, but then he cleared his throat. "Sir, if I may... I've been thinking. Moria's Devil Fruit, the Kage Kage no Mi, allows him to manipulate shadows. What if we used his power on the prisoners in Impel Down? By cutting their shadows, we could weaken them, make it harder for them to escape or revolt."

The room fell silent as everyone considered Vulcan's idea. Smoker raised an eyebrow in surprise, and even Sengoku seemed momentarily taken aback.

Sengoku leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "So, you're suggesting we use Moria's powers against the prisoners in Impel Down? Weakening them by taking their shadows…"

Vulcan nodded, his voice steady. "It would make it harder for them to resist. It's just a thought, but it might help."

Sengoku was quiet for a long moment, his eyes studying Vulcan carefully. "An interesting idea," he admitted. "But it would take careful planning and oversight. We don't want to create a situation where this power is abused."

Vulcan nodded again, his earlier embarrassment still lingering, but the prospect of his idea gave him some hope.

Sengoku sighed once more, but this time his voice softened slightly. "Understand this," he began, his tone more measured, "I'm hard on you because I want you to realize the weight of your actions. You were impulsive, yes..." ...but deep down, I see promise. Courage, initiative, the willingness to stand against impossible odds. Maybe they'll shape up into something the Marines need. "...but you need to start thinking long-term."

Just as Vulcan was about to respond, the door to Sengoku's office burst open with a loud bang.

"VULCAN!"

The booming voice of Vice Admiral Garp filled the room as he barged in, his massive frame barely fitting through the door. His eyes scanned the room before landing on his grandson, a wide grin splitting his face. "You really went and caused trouble this time, didn't ya?!"

Vulcan's stomach twisted in both relief and apprehension. Garp's grin only added to the tension that was already thick in the room.