Chapter 20: Marine Headquarters

Rocks D. Xebec's voice echoed across the scene, announcing Sharlo as the captain of the Rocks Pirates' Eighth Division. All the pirates present were stunned by both Sharlo and Rocks' decision, though the senior officers remained unphased, as if it had nothing to do with them. Even Sharlo was taken aback by the announcement, but Rocks merely patted his shoulder.

"Brothers! Let's have a banquet! Welcome our new officer!" Rocks shouted to all the pirates.

"Jihahahaha! I love banquets!" Shiki, the Golden Lion, laughed heartily. Even Edward Newgate couldn't help but smile.

"Mamamama! More delicious cake for me!" Charlotte Linlin laughed as well.

Sharlo finally relaxed. Since sensing the initial unease, he had never truly let his guard down. Now, with the source of his anxiety revealed, he found himself smiling, surprisingly excited about becoming a pirate.

During the festivities, in a dark corner, someone with a camera took several photos of Sharlo at the center of the banquet and sent them out.

---

In the deep blue sea stood a massive Marine fortress. Warships filled the harbor, and countless Marines went about their duties.

"Emergency! Emergency!" A Marine colonel burst through a door, holding a dispatch.

"Admiral Kong! The G-8 branch in the second half of the Grand Line has been destroyed by the Rocks Pirates. No survivors!" The colonel shouted as he entered the admiral's office.

"What? The G-8 branch destroyed? Show me the report!" Admiral Kong demanded. The colonel handed over the report with both hands. Admiral Kong's face twisted with anger as he read it.

"Damn Rocks Pirates! Summon Sengoku, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately!" Kong ordered the messenger.

"Yes, sir!" The colonel ran out to deliver the orders. Soon, three vice admirals, clad in their Justice coats, entered.

"Sengoku, take a look at this!" Kong handed the report to Sengoku.

Reading it, Sengoku's expression changed instantly upon seeing the news of the G-8 branch's annihilation. He passed the report to Vice Admiral Tsuru, who read it and handed it to Garp. Garp's usually cheerful demeanor turned serious.

The destruction of the G-8 branch, with all two thousand Marines lost, was a severe blow.

"Bam!" Garp slammed his fist down. "Kong, let me go to the Grand Line and capture Rocks!"

Everyone ignored his outburst.

"Tsuru, what's your take?" Kong asked the young vice admiral.

Tsuru frowned. "Our forces in the second half of the Grand Line are already thin. Losing so many men and high-ranking officers leaves us unable to counter the Rocks Pirates effectively. Our main forces are scattered: Zephyr is dealing with the Germa 66 in the North Blue, the Eight Treasures Navy is causing chaos in the West Blue, and the South Blue is also unstable. The Roger Pirates are rampaging globally after returning from the Grand Line. The Marine headquarters simply doesn't have the resources to fight in the second half of the Grand Line right now."

"I must catch Roger!" Garp shouted, startling everyone.

"Bam!" Kong struck the table. "Sit down!" Garp immediately sat back down, looking chastised. The room fell silent.

The current Marine headquarters was far from the powerhouse it would later become. With only one admiral, Kong, and no fleet admiral, they had just a handful of vice admirals scattered worldwide. This left the headquarters critically undermanned, unable to stop the Rocks Pirates from rampaging.

As Kong prepared to speak, the messenger colonel rushed back in.

"Report, a message from the World Government." The colonel handed the document to Admiral Kong and left. Kong's face darkened as he read the message, then passed it to the others.

Sengoku and Tsuru frowned as they read it, while Garp looked indifferent.

"The Rocks Pirates have recruited another strong member. What do you all think?" Kong asked. Sengoku and Tsuru merely frowned, remaining silent.

"Let's just issue a bounty. What amount do you suggest?" Kong asked.

"Three hundred million berries. Based on his abilities, he seems to be a swordsman. Three hundred million should be appropriate," Sengoku suggested. Tsuru nodded in agreement, while Garp remained indifferent.

"Alright, three hundred million it is!" Kong confirmed, calling in the messenger to issue the bounty.

Alongside the bounty, the news of the G-8 branch's destruction spread.

---

"Extra! Extra! The G-8 branch destroyed by the Rocks Pirates, no survivors! New member Rockefeller Sharlo joins as a division captain with a bounty of three hundred million berries, dead or alive!" The news spread worldwide, inciting a frenzy. Ambitious individuals set out to sea, while ordinary citizens grew anxious.

---

"Damn it! Who allowed Morgans to publish this? Arrest him immediately!" World Government officials were enraged by the widespread news of the G-8 branch's destruction.

"Order the Marines to clear out the pirates in the second half of the Grand Line!" The upper echelons of the World Government were furious, putting immense pressure on the Marines.

Admiral Kong called another meeting with the top brass. "The World Government has ordered us to clear the pirates from the second half of the Grand Line. I will lead the headquarters forces, including Sengoku, Garp, and several vice admirals. Tsuru, you will oversee headquarters."

The Marine base buzzed with activity as fleets prepared to depart. Admiral Kong led seven or eight vice admirals and over ten rear admirals in a massive mobilization, an event promptly broadcast worldwide by Morgans, much to the World Government's further frustration, leading them to send CP0 to arrest him.

Check out my Patreon for more advanced chapters at patreon.com/Anime_kingdom

(50 Advance chapters)