[TIOP] Chapter : 144

Sengoku and Garp paused, their expressions shifting as they recalled the war at Marineford—when Jack had pleaded to take down Blackbeard. At the time, the idea was dismissed. If only they had let Jack act then… With Marco and the others cleaning up after Whitebeard, the aftermath might have been far better than the mess they faced now.

But the reality was that the Navy had already been stretched thin. Taking on Blackbeard and his crew at that moment—no matter if Sengoku and Garp personally intervened—would have led to severe losses, with countless more soldiers perishing in the process.

“Let’s not dwell on the past,” Sengoku sighed. “Blackbeard is now one of the Four Emperors. Are you confident you can defend the G1 branch?”

“If he dares to come here, I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave,” Jack replied calmly, his confidence unwavering.

“What a brash kid!” Sengoku scoffed, but the amusement in his eyes betrayed his stern tone.

Garp, however, remained silent.

“Sensei, do you doubt my strength?” Jack asked, narrowing his eyes. “Blackbeard may be strong, but I haven’t wasted my time either.”

Garp shook his head. “No, it’s not that. It’s just… there’s something else. Some other news that feels off.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “What kind of news?”

“Edward Weevil. Whitebeard’s so-called son—and one of the current Seven Warlords of the Sea—seems to be heading this way as well,” Garp said gravely.

“Weevil?” Jack frowned. “There’s no way he’s really Whitebeard’s son.”

Jack’s expression twisted in skepticism. In fact, he had long suspected that Weevil’s ‘mother’ was nothing more than a delusional gold-digger. Maybe she’d seen Whitebeard once, adopted a random child with a scruffy beard, and raised him under a fabricated legacy. What no one had expected, though, was that Weevil’s strength would rival Whitebeard’s in his youth.

“Whether he’s Whitebeard’s son or not, his strength is real. He even severed Former Admiral Zephyr’s arm,” Garp said with a heavy tone.

At the mention of Zephyr, Jack’s expression darkened.

Zephyr—once an admiral and a legend within the Navy—had spent his life fighting pirates without ever killing a single one. Nicknamed “The Unkilling Admiral,” he had gone on to become the Navy’s chief instructor after resigning from his admiral post. Nearly every high-ranking officer had been trained by him—Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji included.

He had joined the Naval Academy alongside Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru. Promoted to admiral at 38, married that same year, and had a son at 39. But tragedy struck when he was 42—his family slaughtered by pirates. Though he requested to resign, the Navy convinced him to stay. He held onto faith in the institution, kept his title, and became an instructor.

Then, at 65, fate dealt him another cruel blow. While on a mission with a ship full of recruits, Zephyr encountered Edward Weevil. The result was devastating—he lost an arm, and every recruit aboard was killed, save for two survivors.

When the World Government reappointed the Seven Warlords, Weevil was among them. Zephyr, outraged, resigned from the Navy for good.

Jack had heard of the incident. But he had always been a vocal opponent of the Warlord system and had no personal connection to Zephyr, so he chose not to get involved.

“Yes, Admiral Zephyr may have withdrawn from the Navy, but in truth, his anger was directed more at the World Government than the Navy itself,” Jack said, a cruel smile curving his lips. “Still, that man is... significant.”

“Don’t do anything rash,” Sengoku warned, alarmed by Jack’s expression. “Weevil is a Warlord now—technically, he’s on our side.”

Even Sengoku knew how unfair this was to Zephyr. But as far as the Navy was concerned, such sacrifices were simply the price of peace.

“You don’t need to convince me with the truth!” Jack said coldly, his eyes narrowing. “When our Navy can’t even protect its own comrades in battle, how can we claim to protect the world? That’s why I’ve always hated this hypocrisy. If that man dares show his face—I'll find a way to kill him. Admiral Zephyr deserves justice.”

Sengoku stared at Jack in silence, momentarily lost for words.

Beside him, Garp looked at his disciple with a complicated expression. Then, suddenly, he burst into laughter. “Wahahaha! That’s my disciple for you. This time, I’m with you all the way!”

“Garp! Don’t speak recklessly!” Sengoku snapped, clearly taken aback.

But Garp stood firm. “Sengoku, Jack’s words strike at the heart of it. If we can’t even save our own brothers-in-arms, what right do we have to call ourselves protectors of the people? Today, we abandon our comrades—tomorrow, we might be the ones left behind. I won’t sugarcoat it. If we can’t protect our own, why should civilians believe we’ll protect them?”

“Garp…” Sengoku looked at his old friend, speechless.

Jack silently gave Garp a thumbs-up, making the old man chuckle proudly once more.

“So this is the source of the G1 Division’s unity…” Sengoku muttered. “Was I the one who’s been wrong all along?”

Ignoring Sengoku’s regretful murmur, Jack grinned and winked at Garp. “Sensei, how about staying to watch me avenge our fallen?”

“Of course! But if you mess it up, don’t blame me for knocking some sense into you!” Garp bellowed with a hearty laugh.

“Don’t worry, sensei.” Jack turned serious. “Kalifa! Relay my orders—cancel all leaves for G1 personnel. Put every soldier on full combat alert!”

“Yes, sir!” Kalifa replied from outside the door, adjusting her glasses, visibly energized.

As Jack’s command spread, the entire G1 Division sprang into motion.

Fujitora, relaxing with his fishing rod by the coast, stretched as the messenger approached. “Time to move,” he muttered. He stood, packed his gear, and turned to the marine beside him. “Get my uniform.”

The soldier produced his elite Vice Admiral’s uniform and respectfully helped him don it—finishing with the signature white cloak symbolizing justice.

Elsewhere, Ryokugyu was lounging in a tavern on a distant island, casually drinking when the message arrived. He exhaled, shook off the buzz, grabbed the Justice cloak slung over the back of his chair, and headed out without a word.

On that day, residents of the nearby islands were shocked. Senior naval officers—rarely seen in public—were pouring in via sea train, all bound for the G1 Branch.

“What’s going on? Why are all the top brass gathering?”

“I don’t know... But we should keep an eye on G1’s news. Admiral Kurohyou wouldn’t mobilize like this for no reason!”

Despite the tension, there was a strong undercurrent of trust in the navy. Wherever they disembarked, whether they were vice admirals, Rear Admirals, or even ordinary soldiers, residents greeted them with warmth and gratitude.

By the next day, every island under the New World Navy’s jurisdiction received the alert: the Blackbeard Pirates were gathering forces to launch an assault on G1. Admiral Kurohyou had canceled all naval leave and mobilized troops to protect civilian lives.

This time, the local residents followed evacuation orders without hesitation. Not because they feared Blackbeard, but because they remembered what had happened last time—and knew that next time, the Navy might not be so forgiving.

“Apologies for ruining everyone’s vacation,” Jack said with a smile, seated at the head of a crowded conference room. “But once we beat those pirates, we’ll all take a proper break.”

“No need for apologies, sir,” Ryokugyu declared boldly. “It’s just Blackbeard. This time, we’ll make sure he regrets ever challenging the Navy!”

“Don’t get cocky, Ryokugyu,” Vice Admiral Momonga said gravely. “Blackbeard’s top men aren’t just ordinary pirates.”

“That’s right,” added another officer. “Don’t forget—Shiryu himself was once part of the world government. He’s strong enough to be a vice admiral. He’s no weaker than any of us.”

“If you’re scared, feel free to run back to headquarters,” Ryokugyu scoffed. “We don’t need cowards here.”