Pirates: I Rely Only on Myself

Grand Line, Marineford

Even Steel Bone Kong, the semi-retired naval chief, was stunned by the news from the South Blue.

Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, a rare assembly of high-ranking Navy officials had gathered, including Black Arm Zephyr, Hero of the Marines Garp, Grand Strategist Tsuru, Vice Admiral Doberman, and Vice Admiral Onigumo.

Sakazuki was away in the North Blue, Sengoku was stationed at the G-1 base in the New World, and Gion was on a pirate-sweeping mission in the West Blue.

As the Navy's Chief Strategist, Tsuru also oversaw the Intelligence Department, so she was in charge of presenting the report. "...According to Kuzan, there were six confirmed enemies."

Captain Brannew, from the Intelligence Division, projected images onto a screen on one side of the room.

"The suspected leader is a young man with the Steel-Stone Fruit. He has mastered all three types of Haki and is skilled in both martial arts and swordsmanship. His Devil Fruit powers are remarkably well-developed."

The screen displayed a photo of Noah, in his disguised form, along with various snapshots of his techniques.

Vice Admiral Doberman looked shocked. "Didn't Sakazuki defeat the last Steel-Stone Fruit user just a few years ago? This guy couldn't have had the fruit for long, yet he's developed its powers to this level…"

The gathered officers couldn't help but marvel at Noah's mastery over the Steel-Stone Fruit. He had reached a level of control that surpassed any of its previous users.

High heat, mirror reflection, magnetic fields, electric currents, iron sand manipulation—his abilities made it seem as though he wielded multiple powers.

"The second target is a blonde girl, estimated to be under 18, a Logia user with the Flame-Flame Fruit. She can use both Armament and Observation Haki. Although her hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship skills haven't been shown, her fruit abilities are highly developed. Rear Admiral Mad Bull was killed by her."

The screen now displayed an image of Lillian, half-masked, with her blue fire "sun" form.

"Flame-Flame Fruit?" Garp studied the screen carefully. He had punched the previous Flame-Flame Fruit user to the ocean floor himself, yet seeing this new power felt like an entirely different experience.

"Is the Flame-Flame Fruit's fire usually blue?" Zephyr wondered, recalling files from the Navy's classified records. Previous users of the Flame-Flame Fruit had all produced orange-red flames. This was the first time he'd seen blue fire associated with the fruit.

Onigumo voiced his suspicion. "Could it be that her Devil Fruit has awakened?"

"Awakening? That's possible," Zephyr agreed, tentatively attributing the change to a fruit awakening.

Tsuru continued, "The third target is South Blue bounty hunter Galdino, currently the only identified individual among the group. He has the Wax-Wax Fruit and can use Observation Haki, though there's no evidence of Armament Haki. His fruit abilities are also highly developed."

The screen showed Galdino's profile, along with a rundown of his techniques.

"The fourth target is a young man with black hair, a Logia user with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. He exchanged blows with Borsalino, who assessed his power as capable of destroying an island."

The screen switched to an image of Joshua, wearing a cat mask, along with a shot of his Heavenly Thunder Kirin clashing with Borsalino's Heaven's Radiance.

"Another Logia? And one this powerful?" Onigumo's gaze held a hint of wariness.

"The fifth target is a young man in glasses, posing as the head of a merchant ship. No Devil Fruit abilities were displayed, but he is skilled in both Armament and Observation Haki and uses a silent fighting style with claw-like blades."

The screen shifted to Kuro's image, also in disguise.

"The sixth target is a green-haired youth with low presence, possibly a spatial-type Devil Fruit user. He was the one who enabled the others to escape."

The screen displayed a photo of Ari, wearing a black mask.

Steel Bone Kong rubbed his temples. "Tsuru, what course of action do you suggest?"

Tsuru was unfazed by the presence of two Logia users and several powerful Paramecia types. After all, she had seen the might of the New World's three Emperors, as well as the once-infamous Rocks and Roger pirate crews.

Setting down her files, Tsuru spoke. "Fleet Admiral, I don't believe these people are the typical treasure-hunting pirates. In fact, it's precisely because of that I consider them a much greater threat."

Kong nodded in agreement.

Pirates who simply pillaged and raided posed little real threat to the World Government in his view.

Tsuru continued, "Based on their display of power, this group couldn't have originated in the Four Blues. They seem like a hidden organization formed within the Grand Line. Their objective is something we must closely monitor going forward."

"Could it be the Revolutionary Army?" Onigumo ventured quietly.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

Tsuru understood the reason for the awkwardness but chose not to address it directly. "It's unlikely they are affiliated with the Revolutionary Army. Someone with Conqueror's Haki would never submit to another's authority so easily. I don't think Dragon has the strength to control such a group."

"Haha, exactly! That wayward son of mine isn't strong enough to handle this bunch," Garp laughed, taking a handful of senbei crackers and munching away.

Tsuru and Kong remained silent, though Zephyr frowned slightly. Dragon was a topic no one in the room was eager to discuss openly.

"I propose labeling this group as a terrorist organization and issuing a bounty."

Kong considered Tsuru's suggestion carefully before nodding. "Let's proceed with that."

Tsuru added, "In addition to the bounty, we should strengthen intelligence operations to learn more about this group. We can't afford to be caught off guard like this again. Without Borsalino's timely arrival, Kuzan and his men might not have survived."

"I'll speak with the Five Elders about getting the CP involved in our investigation of this group," Kong volunteered, taking on the responsibility of liaising with the World Government's leaders.

"Furthermore, Borsalino's mobility makes him a crucial asset. He shouldn't remain stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago alone. We need to assign a vice admiral to replace him there so he can be available for support whenever necessary."

Kong nodded in agreement. "Yes, Borsalino should be the core of our rapid response force to prevent delays in assistance."

With that, the discussion on Noah's group concluded.

The bounty posters for Noah and his companions were rushed through production at Marine Headquarters.

The following morning, newspapers affiliated with the World Government, as well as the World Economic Journal, widely circulated the bounties and a sensationalized report of the incident.

The world erupted with shock.

Tsuru, however, wasn't about to give Noah and his group fame for free. She deliberately framed the story to inflate their strength.

The report painted Noah's group as rivals to the New World's Yonko, suggesting that if they entered the New World, they could instantly become the Fourth Emperor.

This was a clear attempt to provoke other major pirates to view Noah's crew as a threat, hoping they would try to eliminate the group and, in doing so, expose more information about them.

Morgans, the infamous journalist, took it a step further, crafting an even more attention-grabbing headline for the front page.