The Marine Admiral, Akainu, stood brooding near the edge of the Grand Line. The sea stretched endlessly before him, its restless waves mirrored the fiery rage simmering within. His scarlet suit, flared with every motion of his massive frame, rivaling the sun's rays like molten flame.
To those under his command, he was Justice Incarnate—unyielding, relentless, and utterly uncompromising.
Tak tak tak!
The sound of hurried footsteps broke through the rhythmic crash of waves. A Marine soldier, breathless and clutching a transponder snail in his hands as he ran across the deck with urgency etched on his face: "Pero pero pero pero," the blue snail rang, its verbalized effect piercing through the tense atmosphere. The sound rang out once more: "Pero pero pero pero." The sound continued, unrelenting, as if it demanded attention.
As the soldier closed the distance, he halted just behind Akainu, saluting sharply. He stood rigid despite his exhaustion. "Admiral Sakazuki, sir!" he declared, his voice steady despite the hint of trepidation. "An urgent call from the search team!"
He extended the snail with trembling hands.
"Pero pero pero pero."
Akainu shifted, turning just enough to face the Marine with his head turned to the side. With a steady motion, he extended his gloved hand and took the transponder snail.
As the palm-sized creature was handed over, the ringing halted with a sharp "Katcha"—a verbalized sound signaling the connection had been established. Akainu brought the snail closer, its wired metallic component positioned near his mouth.
The transponder snail, adapted its features to match the person on the other end of the line, took on the visage of a Marine officer. Its brows furrowed, and its expression radiated tension, mirroring the nerves of the caller. The snail's face now bore a sharp jawline, tired but determined eyes, and a furrowed brow that conveyed a mix of chivalry and caution. As its transformation continued, the snail appeared to be wearing a Marine cap, resembling the iconic hats worn by officers. Additionally, long sideburns grew along its face, further emphasizing its adaptation to the Marine officer's appearance.
"Speak," Akainu ordered, his tone laced with impatience. The air around him grew heavier, as if his fury manifested in the very atmosphere.
From the snail came the voice of the Marine officer. "Admiral Sakazuki, sir, this is Captain T-Bone reporting from the search team. We've uncovered… significant findings during the search for the stolen items taken by the Robber Pirates," he stammered, a bead of sweat forming as his voice quivered under Akainu's authoritative presence.
Akainu's scowl deepened as T-Bone continued, his words faltering under the weight of the Admiral's intense gaze. "Sir, our search has revealed that the M.A.D.S. ship has… vanished. Its location remains unknown. However, we suspect—" Akainu's grip tightened around the transponder snail, the boiling anger in his eyes hinting at the consequences of failure. The poor creature mirrored T-Bone's increasingly uneasy expression, capturing every tremble and furrow.
"Unacceptable!" Akainu growled, magma-like impatience bubbling beneath the surface. "Do you realize the significance of this incident, soldier?"
Captain T-Bone swallowed hard, continuing with a tone of professional enthusiasm that carried a spark of determination. "Admiral, preliminary intelligence suggests that the scientists aboard—Doctor Vegapunk, Vinsmoke Judge, Miss Buckingham, Caesar, and Queen—had already stripped the vessel of its valuable contents. What remains are failures and miscellaneous items deemed of little value. This mitigates the urgency but still, the search continues…"
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. The revelation subdued Akainu's molten fury slightly, though his stern demeanor remained. The snail's expression reflected the cautious relief on T-Bone's face as Akainu replied in a measured yet commanding tone.
Akainu's jaw tightened. "Tch, this incident is far more serious than I once thought. Something's amiss... I can feel it in the air."
His fingers flexed at his side before curling into a fist. "And now, of all times... is when they decide to drag me off to Mary Geoise? Damn it!" He exhaled sharply, a plume of dark smoke leaving his lungs like the breath of an ancient mountain.
Turning slightly, his gaze locked onto the towering presence of the Red Line ahead. Massive waves crashed against the warship's hull, sending sprays of saltwater mist into the air as the vessel carved its relentless path forward.
"As if bureaucracy alone could uphold justice... no matter. The operation will proceed within expectation from now on. The World Government won't sit back and allow this charade to run unchecked any longer." His resolve hardened, frustration tempered into cold resolve.
"Continue the search, Marine. If anything threatens the order we uphold, do not falter… and crush it beneath the weight of justice."
"Yes, Admiral!" T-Bone's voice rang out with noble resolve, his words neither timid nor arrogant, but infused with the disciplined fire of a Marine who understood the responsibility placed upon him. His expression, reflected in the transponder snail, bore the unwavering will of a knight sworn to duty.
With a sharp "Katcha," the connection was severed, and the transponder snail returned to its dormant state.
With a flick of his wrist, Akainu discarded the transponder snail, sending it tumbling backward without a second thought. The Marine officer's eyes widened. No hesitation. He lunged, boots scraping against the worn wooden planks, momentum carrying him forward. Arms outstretched. Fingers splayed. A breath—a heartbeat—then, contact.
The snail landed squarely in his palms, secure, though his dive sent him skidding farther than intended. His body struck the deck with a forceful thud, uniform crumpled, cap knocked askew. A sharp sting lanced through his shoulder. Silence lingered. Then—exhale. Short. Relieved.
Discipline took over. He scrambled upright, uniform snapped into place with practiced precision. His boots slammed against the deck as he straightened, locking into crisp attention. A sharp tug set his cap right, and his salute was immediate.
"Admiral Sakazuki, sir!" he declared, voice unwavering. "The message has been received and acknowledged. I will return to my post and resume my duties at once. If anything critical arises, I will be sure to inform you while maintaining operational efficiency!" His stance remained locked, waiting for dismissal. Akainu did not spare him a glance. The Marine pivoted sharply, movements brisk, efficient, reclaiming his dignity through sheer professionalism. The moment passed... but the search persisted.
---
A vast expanse of deep blue stretched beneath the open sky, the sun casting shimmering ribbons across the ocean's surface. The waters lay still, almost serene—until the silence was broken.
A warship surged forward, its steel hull cleaving through the waves like a mighty axe. The rhythm of the waves mingled with the movements of the figures aboard, uniformed Marines, each one a cog in a well-oiled machine.
At the helm stood Captain T-Bone, a towering figure silhouetted against the endless horizon. His pale complexion and sharp, angular features were menacing to the untrained eye, but there was something undeniably gentle in his presence. His eyes, deep-set yet earnest, held none of the cruelty one might expect from his gaunt visage.
He stood clad in the standard Marine uniform, its crisp white fabric shifting with the ocean breeze, the golden insignia gleaming faintly beneath the afternoon sun. Atop his head sat a Marine cap, its brim casting a shadow over his steely gaze. His posture remained noble and unwavering as he gripped the transponder snail firmly.
A sharp "Katcha" echoed through the air before the creature fell silent, its features softening into dormancy. T-Bone let out a small sigh of relief, exhaling as tension briefly eased from his shoulders. With practiced care, he tucked the snail into the folds of his coat, his gaze sweeping across the deck.
"Attention, Marines!" His voice rang out. "Admiral Sakazuki has issued the order to continue the search. It will be my honour to—"
The moment Sakazuki's name left his lips, the reaction was immediate. The crew stiffened, then sprang into action with frantic fervour, as if their very lives depended on it.
Tools clattered, their boots struck the deck in hurried rhythm, and voices hushed into tense murmurs.
T-Bone barely had time to register what was happening before the entire deck erupted into a blur of urgent motion. His mouth hung open, arms frozen mid-gesture, as if physically struck by their lack of hesitation. For a second, he stood suspended in an utterly ridiculous, wide-eyed pose—one foot lifted slightly off the ground, his frame stiff as a stone statue... He even looked the part.
"Ah... aa..aagh!"
Realizing the absurdity of his stance, he quickly straightened himself, clearing his throat in an attempt to regain composure.
".....Carry on," he muttered, furrowing his brows in brief embarrassment before regaining his composure.
As the crew continued their frantic work, T-Bone turned away, expression stiffening as a thought gnawed at the edge of his mind.
"They did not hesitate." "Not a single one of them paused to wait for my orders—just Admiral Sakazuki's name, and that was enough to send them scrambling."
He folded his arms, staring absently at the wood beneath his feet, his grip tightening slightly around his sleeves.
"Do they…" "Do they respect him that much more than me?"
The realization sunk deep, twisting in his chest in a way that was almost embarrassing. "Am I not commanding enough? Does my chivalry make them think I'm too soft?"
T-Bone let out a quiet sigh, adjusting his posture as he walked toward the ship's railing. "It seems that I will have to work to prove myself to them. I should have known they would not acknowledge a freshly promoted captain such as myself so easily...."
With a steadying breath, he reached for a telescope that had rested on a nearby wooden stand, his fingers wrapped around its polished metal frame. The surface was cool to the touch, smooth yet firm beneath his grip. He steadied its end over his right eye.
Through the lens, the distant silhouette of an island came into focus. Verdant forests stretched across its landscape, their emerald canopies swaying gently in the breeze. Rolling hills, lush with life, climbed toward the horizon.
T-Bone lowered the telescope slowly, his expression steady but thoughtful.
"There it is," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.
A brief silence hung in the air before his voice carried forward once more,
"Punk Hazard."
---
Deep within the ship, a dimly lit room cloaked its occupants in shadow. A single hanging lamp flickered softly, casting wavering patterns across the walls and barely illuminating the figures seated on plush leather lounges.
"Vegapunk... it seems we'll have to deal with a troublesome person this time around," one of them muttered, arms crossed. "He's been nothing but an asset to the World Government, but even so, I don't trust him..."
A chuckle. "You've never trusted anyone for as long as I've known you, old friend."
A third figure, idly tracing a knuckle along the wood, spoke up. "A ship like that doesn't just disappear. It was massive, it might have been abandoned and old but it was built to last. There wasn't a single flaw in its design."
There was a pause, then a scoff from across the table. "You think it sank?"
"The thought crossed my mind," the third figure admitted.
"Hah. Not a chance," came the swift retort. "If someone sunk it, we'd have heard about it. And the Robber Pirates? Please. They barely qualify as a threat." He leaned back, arms crossed. "Unless Mihawk happened to be passing by and got bored, there's no way that ship went down."
A chuckle rippled through the table, the tension easing just slightly.
The table fell silent for a moment, the weight of the vanished vessel lingering between them.
One of them took a slow drag from a cigar, exhaling the smoke into the dimly lit room. "Seems straightforward. The Marines will do their thing and keep Vegapunk busy at the front door, and we'll take the back way in and get some real answers while he's occupied."
A few quiet nods passed between them before they stood, their movements deliberate yet unhurried. The lamp flickered and then it went dark.