White Tiger

Marineford, Fleet Admiral Office...

Kong, the current Fleet Admiral of Marine was seen sitting on the sofa while reading several reports regarding Kimimaro mission, escorting Vegapunk back home. 

Across him, someone with similiar built just with an afro styled hair were drinking tea calmly, waiting for his superior to finish..

While Kimimaro and company were having a party, Kong and Sengoku were drowned by the written reports which came urgently before midnight, prompting the Fleet Admiral to stay awake.

Kong put the last piece of document on the table as he squeezed his nasal bridge for a while and looked at Sengoku who calmly sitting accross him, 

"...What do you think Sengoku?" Kong's rough voice echoed the huge office.

Sengoku calmly put the tea cup on the table before he replied shortly, "The mission is a success..." 

However, Kong grunted as he folded his arms on his chest, "...187 casualties, 49 Death, 23 mortally wounded and the rest is missing..." 

Sengoku shook his head hearing Kong's voice who clearly has some dissatisfaction, "But Vegapunk is safe, besides he managed to capture Big Mom's high officer, Katakuri, Smoothie, Oven....." 

"Yes! But he was not careful enough!" Grunted Kong cutting Sengoku's speech. 

Sengoku squinted his eyes when Kong interject his words, he sighed keeping silence.

"He should listen to our suggestion back then, modfiy every Marine ship and increase his men count! That brat clearly feeling too high on himself!" Added Kong. 

"Knock it off Kong! Even he modified every ship we have, without Enel it won't work! Besides, defeating high officers of the currently 3 biggest Pirates name at the mere age of 17? At that age, who are we? We're still a cadet! 

Kong harrumphed, Sengoku was feeling helpless as Kong held a prejudice against Kimimaro, but he didn't think that Kong would be so petty enough to disregard Kimimaro's merit!

"Let's put his merrit aside, we should commend him, not reprimand!" Sengoku finished his nagging and let Kong to cool down for a while.

Kong flashed his eyes as he looked at Sengoku, "Disregarding his action, we should increase our supervision to that brat...." 

Raising his eyebrow, Sengoku asked in disbelief, "You don't believe him?!" 

"It's not matter of believe or not, at 17 years old. He is already very strong, you should know the consequences if such man turned against us!" 

Sengoku mouth was agape after listening to Kong, he was the highest in command of the biggest military organization in the world! He felt threatened by 17 years old boy? Sengoku couldn't believe his ears!

"Enough, when he return later, he need to increase his crew numbers! Safety is paramount!" Ordered Kong.

If Sengoku doesn't hear Kong words before this, he might think that Kong referred to Kimimaro safety, but now. He doubt the intentions behind Kong's order to increase the numbers on Kimimaro's men.

Sengoku shook his head once again, he felt that Kong had already been deeply influenced by those 5 Elders, he doesn't care with his Marine anymore. Kong actions and words were laced with paranoia just now, reminding Sengoku on how those 5 Elders behave.

Kimimaro was someone invaluable for Marine, don't look at his strength for a moment, even the boy's mind was too brilliant for Marine to ignore, or at least Sengoku wouldn't. 

Deeply influenced by 5 Elders, Kong had develop a rather paranoia nature, thankfully Sengoku as his right hand man could still hold on Kong's impulse, if not, maybe half of the Marine officers would be fired or worse, arrested!

Just look at that fellow Garp, he was too unhinged and does whatever he wanted. Defying order was common occurrence for that old brat. If not for Sengoku help, There was no doubt that Kong would ordered his arrest as Garp behavior was not Marine-like at all! He was more similar to Pirates.

As for Sengoku himself, if he has doubt at someone then don't use them, it was that simple. Kimimaro and Enel duo's strength had been proven enough for them to hold their ranks. 

Sengoku has faith toward Kimimaro and Enel that, they have those sense of justice inside their heart! No matter how you look at it, justice is still justice, heck! Even his own justice greatly differed from Kong who think that justice were the words coming from those 5 Elders! 

Sengoku calmly sipped his tea while ignoring Kong's ramble across the table. 

Unknown to Kong, Sengoku's eyes glinted as he thought that his old friend had been too old to handle the Fleet Admiral seat, and it would seems that it was time for the Marineford sky to change under his leadership. 

After concluding their meeting with awkward mood, Sengoku left the Fleet Admiral Office and walked through a long corridor. 

After a while, he saw Vice Admiral Tsuru waiting on him at the end of the stairs, 

"How was he?" Asked Tsuru who joined Sengoku to walk.

Sengoku sighed helplessly, "Just like we thought, he was deeply influenced by them..." 

"Kimimaro?" 

"He was tasked to prolong his stays at Baldimore, to assist the Government agent there..." 

Tsuru clicked her tongue in displeasure, "...he knew that Kaido movement is suspicious lately, why doesn't he ask Kimi-boy to return and handle Ît?"

"Just don't mention it, He's gone too far. Having a doubt on his subordinate is too fatal at his position!" 

Tsuru nodded, She was familiar on how Kong behavior had change lately. Just like Sengoku, she felt that Kong had been a Fleet Admiral long enough!

"How about those who had been arrested by Kimi-boy?" Tsuru asked. 

"Big Mom's pirate were still in G-2 and this morning another batch from Beast Pirate had been sent there as well." 

"A pity King and those from Whitebeard fled..." Tsuru lamented. 

"I don't think Kimimaro failed to arrest them, rather he let them go by his will..." Whispered Sengoku. 

"Why?!" 

Sengoku smiled, "That whats make him different Tsuru, Kimimaro is not someone greedy for merit, having Big mom's high officer arrested was enough for us to warn those pirates, there is no need to add the trouble by arresting the rest. Kimimaro knew that very clearly." 

Tsuru pinched her chin as she pondered, then she said, "Hmm, he's smart and have clear mind, we don't want to unite those pirates at this time..." 

"Indeed, if he were to arrest them all. There's no doubt that we'll have to go to war against the New World pirates simultanously. For now, we can't afford it." 

The duo walked along the dark corridor toward the HQ entrance. the shadow of them dancing gently from the oil lamps which placed at the corridor wall.

Electricity was still too scarce in the whole world, even the Marineford still couldn't install it.

"When those Pirates transfered to Impel Down?" Tsuru asked in the midst of their chatter.

"They still can't, Tarai current had just entered Calm period, and the Marine ship at G-2 can't cross the Calm Belt, we have to wait for at least a month..." 

Tarai current which connecting between the 3 World Governement facilities had something called "Calm Period" in which, at those period, the perpetual motion of the current would stop for at least a month, rendering the passage useless. 

Nobody knows about why the current would stop at those period of time, however, the pros using the passage offset the cons. making it still invaluable for the Marine to use.

"Other than Dalmatian, Yamakaji and the rest who had been on standby over there, i think we need to send someone over immediately." Tsuru said.

"I already asked Kuzan to go to G-2, and also Garp." 

"Kuzan was still in South Blue right? And Garp? Will he listen? I thought he was still busy regarding the West Blue after his fight against Don Chinjao?" 

"He said he'll send his son Dragon over immediately, after he had done in West Blue he'll follow." 

Tsuru nodded in understanding, Garp's son was also another outstanding Marine. Having Dragon in G-2 would somehow give an assurance that nothing will happen to those pirates.

After the duo went outside the HQ building, tsuru asked one more time, 

"oh yeah, what do you think Kimi-boys demand on Mermaid Island from Whitebeard? Should we allow him?" 

Sengoku had wanted to walk away before he stopped and waved his hand, 

"I don't know exactly what he wanted, but i agree with him when he said we need to station our base in that island. i guess your workload in future will increase Tsuru-chan."

Sengoku then used Soru(Shave) and disappear from Tsuru sight, leaving the woman a bitter smile thinking about another work waiting for her.