Inside a suite aboard the floating casino-city Gran Tesoro, Vice Admiral Chaton sat before a Den-Den Mushi, its snail-eyes narrowed in Marshal Sengoku's likeness.

"Report, Chaton. How are things with Rhett Vane?" the marshal asked.

Chaton sighed, tugging at the white coat of justice he still wore. "Not much headway, sir. He stays polite but guarded—probably because I'm in uniform. That cloak advertises 'Marine' from a league away."

A second voice cut in. "Honestly, Chaton, how could you be so careless?" Vice Admiral Tsuru scolded from Sengoku's side.

Sengoku rubbed his forehead. "Focus. Do you know when Vane plans to leave Gran Tesoro? Our fleet needs one more day to reach the Golden City. Keep him occupied until then."

Chaton's eyes narrowed. "Understood. He mentioned taking 'a few more days' of vacation. As long as he believes I'm just here for golf, we're safe."

They'd be arriving at Gran Tesoro in less than two days. When they did, the mission was clear: capture Rhett Vane.

The Navy was going all out for this operation. Some officers had even questioned whether it was necessary to dispatch such a force against a single Pirate Emperor.

But Rhett Vane wasn't one of the original Four Emperors. His influence and fleet couldn't match theirs—yet. Aside from Vane himself, who else did he have? Kalifa, the CP9 defector? The blue-haired woman with an unknown Devil Fruit? The Golden Lion? No one had confirmed he was even present.

"Do not treat him like a child," Tsuru warned. "A boy doesn't become a Pirate Emperor in three months."

"I know." Chaton's voice dropped. "But he can still be reasoned with."

Sengoku folded his arms. "We're coming in force—myself, Garp, the three Admirals, and a full wing of vice admirals. No mistakes."

"Where's Gion?" Tsuru asked suddenly, her voice tight with concern. Though not related by blood, she treated Gion like a sister.

Chaton frowned. "She left this afternoon. Haven't seen her since."

That unsettled him. Gion wasn't the type to vanish without notice. Yet, he couldn't imagine her being in danger either. Her strength was on par with the Navy's strongest women. Aside from Big Mom herself, who could rival her?

He shook the concern away. No, Gion couldn't be in trouble. She was too powerful.

But unknown to him, Gion had indeed been captured—taken by Esdeath and now a prisoner, indirectly under the control of Rhett Vane.

"Gion's missing?" Tsuru's voice tightened.

"Chaton, could she have been taken?" she asked anxiously.

"No way," Chaton replied quickly, trying to reassure her. "You know how powerful Gion is. There's no way she'd be captured."

Yet even as he said it, doubt crept into his voice.

Kuzan—Aokiji—spoke from across the room. "Don't worry, Tsuru. Gion's not someone who'd go down easily."

"True," Sengoku added. "She's more than capable."

Still, Tsuru's instincts screamed otherwise. "I don't know. Something doesn't feel right."

She knew Gion's personality better than anyone—proud, temperamental, a spark waiting to ignite. If she had gotten into an argument with Vane…

---

Somewhere across the sea in the New World, three Marine warships cut through the waves.

Onboard were the Navy's five strongest fighters, six Vice Admirals, as well as veterans like Garp and Tsuru. A deployment like this could even rival the force used in the Battle of Marineford.

All of this… just to capture Rhett Vane.

The World Government couldn't allow another Pirate Emperor to rise unchecked. Vane's combat strength now rivaled the Yonko. What he lacked was territory and manpower.

If left to grow, who knew what kind of storm he'd become?

In just three months, Rhett Vane had gone from a no-name pirate to a terrifying force shaking the world.

What if they gave him three more months?

No, the Navy couldn't afford that. Now that they had his location, they would strike.

There was only one objective:

Suppress Rhett Vane.

---

Growing Unease

Back in his suite Chaton ended the call, the Den-Den Mushi closing its eyes with a soft click. He stared at his reflection in the dark window. Vane's rise was nothing short of meteoric—three months from obscure rookie to an Emperor-level threat. If the boy kept that pace, what would another season bring?

Chaton's thoughts drifted to Gion. Stubborn, fiery Gion. Wherever she was, he hoped her blade Konpira was still at her side.

Outside, Gran Tesoro's golden lights danced across the waves. Unaware of the storm bearing down on it, the city continued to revel—while, below deck, a vice admiral's absence hinted at danger the Marines had not yet foreseen.

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