Footsteps echoed in the corridor as Sengoku, Garp, and others, having just concluded the highest Marine meeting, headed to the Marine Headquarters port.
They had each received urgent, thorny tasks that required immediate departure.
However, the few individuals present were either Admirals or Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, and whether it was Sengoku, Garp, or Tsuru, they were long accustomed to long voyages and battles against powerful enemies.
Garp, in particular, was visibly excited at the moment.
Sengoku, walking alongside him, frowned, seemingly displeased. "Garp, you always incur heavy losses when you go to sea."
"Why don't I handle the conflict between Roger and Shiki?"
Earlier, in the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku had hesitated slightly when he first received other tasks, and by the time he reacted, Garp had already taken the 'Roger and Shiki' related mission.
This greatly displeased him. As a dignified Marine Admiral, he felt that matters concerning Legendary Pirates should naturally be handled by him.
However, similar to Sengoku's thoughts, Garp also didn't want to give up the opportunity to deal with a Legendary Pirate incident, especially since one of the two Pirates was Roger.
"Oh, why does the sound seem a bit low? I can't hear very clearly." Garp picked his ear in front of Sengoku, then turned to look at Kenji on the other side, abruptly changing the subject.
"Are there any interesting things happening in Marineford town recently?"
"It's a pity Kuzan isn't here. He usually likes to wander around..."
Kenji heard the faint sarcasm in Garp's words. 'So I didn't take a mission to sea and have been slacking off at the base all day, is that why you're making small talk and bringing it up?'
Regarding slacking off, Kenji was not only unashamed but felt glorious—
'Not everyone can efficiently handle all thorny matters. If you don't believe me, ask Kong if he still needs to learn from my experience?'
'I slack off, but I don't delay work, so I'm proud to slack off!'
Of course, Kenji wouldn't voice these lengthy arguments, because even if he did, these old-fashioned guys in front of him wouldn't understand.
'This is advanced experience from the interstellar era. How could they understand?'
Kenji pouted, then simply started discussing the interesting things that had recently happened in Marineford town behind the Marine Headquarters base with Garp.
Mainly, he had been frequenting the town recently and felt it was necessary to share some joy.
"Heh heh, an interesting new shop has opened in town."
"It's just that this shop usually only opens at night, and there are many customers. Sometimes you even have to queue."
"But I heard the staff inside are from Wano Country, authentic geishas from Wano..."
As Kenji spoke, Garp finally understood. "A pleasure district? There are quite a few such shops in the New World... I heard these shops... aren't very reputable, are they?"
Kenji retorted, "Not reputable? Impossible! Could an unreputable shop open in Marineford town?"
"Huh? That makes sense..."
"Hey, let me tell you, the night before last, when I went, I saw a figure from behind... it looked like Kong..."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Sengoku, on the side, finally couldn't hold back, frowning and interrupting, "Don't talk about things unrelated to the mission at a time like this."
"Moreover, there are female colleagues present... that's very impolite!"
Sengoku's expression was as serious as an old scholar, ready to give Kenji a thorough ideological cleansing.
However, at this moment, Tsuru, walking at the very edge of the corridor, suddenly spoke, her tone flat, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm too lazy to listen to what you guys are saying."
At this, the three became awkward. Clearly, Tsuru felt that the three of them couldn't say anything useful.
"Still the same as always." Kenji scratched his head, smiling awkwardly.
Then he reached out, and like an elder treating a junior, patted Tsuru's head. "You've always been so aloof since Marine School, little Tsuru."
Tsuru frowned slightly, neither stopping nor turning her head, only her eyes moving, glancing sideways at Kenji. "I've said many times, I don't like being patted on the head like this. I'm not a child anymore, Kenji-san."
"Hmm, hahaha, I forgot for a moment, my memory isn't very good now that I'm old." Kenji withdrew his hand and rubbed his nose.
"You don't look old at all... I wonder what method you used to become so young..."
Tsuru's peripheral vision swept back and forth across Kenji's face and hair, muttering softly.
While talking, the group had already walked out of the Marine Headquarters building and headed to the warships docked at the port, where their lieutenants had already assembled the troops and were waiting.
Kenji naturally did not follow them to the port, he turned around and returned to his office.
"Hmm, after afternoon tea, I'll go straight to town."
"Go early, to avoid having to queue little by little at night."
As soon as he sat down behind his desk, Kenji had already planned his afternoon and evening entertainment.
Thanks to the additional effects brought by Superspeed Regeneration, he now had no back pain or leg aches. He could easily party all night.
Thump thump thump!
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door from outside.
Then, two slender figures entered the room: his secretary Anna and Lieutenant Marie.
"Oh, you've come at just the right time, Marie, come and give me a massage, using that ancient massage technique from last time." Kenji greeted Marie, while confidently instructing her.
"This time, just target my kidney reflex area... attack fiercely!"
Marie rolled her eyes at his words, her face filled with helplessness. "Did you forget, I'm your Lieutenant, Kenji?"
"Of course I remember!" Kenji chuckled, patting his thigh, and nodded very surely.
"If your resume hadn't included massage experience, I wouldn't have chosen you as my Lieutenant."
After hearing this, Marie became speechless, and reluctantly stepped forward to perform her family's unique skill—ancient massage.
While the two were talking, Anna stood silently to the side as usual, waiting.
Seeing that the two were not currently conversing, she walked up to Kenji, took out a document from her embrace, flipped to a certain page, and pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses.
"The latest Heavenly Tribute intelligence: it has been confirmed that there is a Mag-Mag fruit among the Heavenly Tribute robbed by the World Pirates."
"The Mag-Mag fruit, a Logia type Devil Fruit, is a superior version of the Flame-Flame Fruit."
After reporting the intelligence, Anna put away the document and stood upright, waiting for a response.
Kenji was genuinely surprised at this point, even a little suspicious. "Is the intelligence source reliable?"
"It should be reliable, this intelligence came from the person you designated." Anna responded meticulously.
"I didn't expect there to be something like this..." After his surprise, Kenji immediately gave an order.
"Marie, immediately assemble the troops and prepare to depart, target: World Pirates!"