Seven days after Seth destroyed the Marine branch – Grand Line, Marine Headquarters – Marineford.
BOOOOM!!!
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's fist crashed into the command desk. The stone edge cracked, and the Sea Prism Crystal base resting atop it shattered completely.
"FOUR BRANCHES!!"
He roared furiously at the officer standing in front of him.
"Four entire branches in just fifteen days!? Are you telling me this criminal just appeared out of nowhere and started turning our bases to ash?!"
The young Marine recruit bowed nervously.
"Yes, sir… The reports are consistent. The damage is catastrophic… No survivors in any of the four branches. All witnesses described a single man, masked, cloaked in black, attacking silently and vanishing before reinforcements could arrive…"
Sengoku clenched his arm in rage and grabbed a sheet from the file in front of him. It held a blurry image captured moments before the camera system was destroyed , a man in a full black mask, standing amidst smoke and flame, with the burning Marine insignia fluttering behind him.
"The Masked Destroyer… and his bounty is only 59 million Berries?! Who's the idiot who proposed that number?"
"umm! , That was… you, sir. Right after he destroyed the second branch."
Sengoku sighed and rubbed his temple before demanding:
" ahem!! , anyway, Aside from this wanted poster… what do we actually know about this criminal?!"
"We have no idea about his identity, nor his motives for destroying Marine outposts..."
"The first intel on him appeared after the destruction of Marine Branch 550..."
The officer pointed to the crumpled wanted poster in Sengoku's hand.
"We only have one image, taken from a security camera that later burned down…"
"We've also confirmed that he's the one who destroyed Marine Branch 511 twelve days ago. The aftermath matches the same signature as the other incidents…"
"Our investigation revealed he also wiped out Arlong's pirates, who had reportedly ruled Cocoyashi Village for over eight years…"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, seething as he remembered the disgraceful case of Lieutenant Nezumi, who had colluded with those criminals and helped cover up Arlong's actions.
That event led to the opening of an internal investigation, uncovering a series of corrupted actions inside the Marine ranks.
"His power, his techniques… all signs point to a Devil Fruit user with unknown classification. He uses devastating abilities related to flame…"
"Flame, huh? Flame-type powers are becoming as common as cabbages these days…"
Sengoku muttered bitterly, until his eyes lit up, remembering one particular infamous name associated with flame: Portgas D. Ace, the man known as Fire Fist.
And he remembered him for one reason: his connection to the Marine Hero.
"That's right… Garp is currently stationed in the East Blue…"
He pressed his lips into a thin line, then reached for the Den Den Mushi, reserved for communication.
---
Buro… Buro… Buro…
At the same time, in the East Blue, aboard a Marine ship.
Bogard stood silently and answered the ringing Den Den Mushi.
Katcha!
"Hey! Garp, tell me where you are right now!"
Came Sengoku's low, gruff voice, perfectly mimicked by the snail.
Bogard, hand resting on his sword hilt as always, looked at the sleeping old man slumped in a chair. He replied dryly
"Apologies, sir… Vice Admiral Garp is asleep at the moment."
Sengoku's face twisted in fury. He began cursing and shouting until the Den Den Mushi shifted expressions, its eyes lazy, its face unbothered.
"Stop shouting. I can hear you, old man."
It was the deep, familiar voice of Monkey D. Garp, in his usual lazy tone.
Sengoku snapped back
"Where are you right now?! Don't tell me you're still off visiting your grandson?!"
"Hmm…"
Garp casually picked his nose, then glanced at Bogard, who understood without a word.
"We're currently en route to Loguetown to resupply."
"Good. Good. Good!"
Sengoku said, sounding pleased , then immediately shifted to business.
"Perfect. Since you're already there, I want you to arrest a particular pirate, by any means necessary."
"Huh?!"
Garp's face twisted in confusion.
"A pirate? And you need me to catch him? Isn't that what that kid Smoker's for?"
"Do you even know what happened while you were snoring!? A single man destroyed four Marine bases, Garp! Not a crew! Not an army! ONE man!!"
"I trust Smoker, but we don't know this guy's powers… I'm afraid he might slip away."
There was a moment of silence.
Then Garp's voice shifted.
No longer lazy, his tone became sharp and serious.
"…Four?"
"Yes. And all reports confirm the same details. Black mask. Unidentified powers. Strikes without warning. No name. No clear face. Only blurry images…"
"Victims?" Garp asked.
Sengoku replied slowly.
"No survivors."
Garp's breathing stopped for a brief moment, Then
"…Alright. I'll begin the search. Give me his last known location."
Sengoku stared at the map spread across the table.
"Last confirmed sighting was near East Blue waters, heading southwest… If he stays on that route, he'll reach Loguetown soon."
"Your current path is set to intersect with his."
Before ending the call, Sengoku added:
"Garp, capture him, dead or alive. Also, there's another person the World Government keeps pressuring us to find: the rebel, Seth. I'll send you his info. If you come across him, capture him alive, no matter what it takes. I've had enough of the Elders breathing down my neck."
"Tch… What did this guy do to get those annoying geezers so worked up…"
Garp muttered, passing the now-sleeping Den Den Mushi to his assistant Bogard.
Bogard was about to respond and share the file on Seth…
But he stopped, Upon hearing the unmistakable sound of Garp snoring once again.