The surprises didn't end there. After hearing Gion's critical assessment of her fellow Admiral candidates Yamakaji and Issho—notably omitting herself from discussion—Tsuru's interest was piqued. The veteran Vice Admiral decided to probe further, with a hint of evaluation in her tone.

"Don't just critique your colleagues," she said, directing a pointed gaze at Gion. "What about your own prospects? Do you have the confidence to become an Admiral?"

Tsuru took a measured sip of tea before continuing.

"I watched the battle footage Luffy sent to headquarters. It seems your combat abilities haven't improved significantly in recent months."

Her voice carried no malice, only the frank assessment of a senior officer.

"Even Kaido's daughter Yamato has surpassed you now. At this rate, Boa Hancock will overtake you within a few years."

Gion's expression immediately soured at being criticized in front of such distinguished company. Her cheeks flushed with indignation.

"That's absurd!" she protested. "Yamato has mastered Advanced Conqueror's Haki, so comparing us isn't fair."

She lifted her chin defiantly.

"But Boa Hancock? She's nothing special—I could handle her with minimal effort."

Hearing Gion's boastful claim, Luffy nearly choked on his tea. He set his cup down with deliberate care before fixing her with an incredulous stare.

"Yes, yes, your inexplicable self-confidence never ceases to amaze me," he remarked dryly. "The reality is that you excel at talking, but in actual combat, the best you could hope for against Hancock would be a stalemate."

"You—!" Gion's eyes widened in outrage as she glared at the younger Marine.

Before she could launch into a heated rebuttal, Sengoku clapped his hands together enthusiastically, his expression brightening.

"A stalemate! What a wonderful development that would be!"

Gion's gaze snapped toward the Fleet Admiral, her eyes flashing with indignation. Her expression clearly communicated her displeasure: What exactly are you celebrating? Are you actually pleased at the thought of me barely matching Hancock?

Sengoku, oblivious to her silent protest, continued with unrestrained enthusiasm.

"Perfect! I'd nearly forgotten about Hancock," he exclaimed, stroking his goatee thoughtfully. "She's another exceptional talent with genuine Admiral potential."

His expression grew increasingly animated.

"And Kaido's daughter—Yamato, was it? That young woman showed remarkable courage. I reviewed the footage myself—she was the first to challenge Kaido directly."

He nodded emphatically, as though confirming his own assessment.

"Yes, yes, both could certainly reach Admiral level in the future. Definitely Admiral material!"

A broad smile spread across his face as he practically vibrated with excitement.

"Hehe, double happiness! Two more potential Admirals for the Marines! Hehehe!"

Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, who had been content to watch the exchange with detached amusement, were left speechless by Sengoku's enthusiastic proclamation.

What was happening? Had the prestigious rank of Admiral suddenly become so easily attainable? In the span of a single conversation, Sengoku had casually identified multiple potential candidates, seemingly devaluing the position the three of them had struggled for years to achieve.

More troubling still was the implication for their own standing. If the Marines gained several new Admirals, would their individual influence diminish? Would they become obsolete?

Kizaru appeared particularly conflicted. When it was just the three of them, he could maintain his relaxed work ethic without significant consequences. But what if Sengoku appointed additional Admirals who displayed greater diligence? Would the Fleet Admiral notice his tendency to slack off and reduce his pay accordingly? How would that affect his retirement plans?

"How problematic," he muttered under his breath. "Will I actually need to exert myself in the future?"

He sighed dramatically.

"Damned workplace competition. It seems no profession is immune to it."

Among all present, Borsalino alone appeared genuinely distressed by these developments, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by workplace anxiety.

Observing Sengoku's uncharacteristic excitement, Gion huffed in dissatisfaction, muttering just loudly enough to be heard:

"That Yamato girl was simply fortunate to awaken her Conqueror's Haki early. Once I consume the Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit, we'll see who becomes an Admiral first."

"Vampire Fruit?" Tsuru interjected sharply, her attention fully captured. "The legendary Mythical Zoan that grants rejuvenation abilities? You know its whereabouts?"

Since they were among trusted colleagues, Gion saw no reason for secrecy. She nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, I have a general idea of its location," she replied. "Luffy provided the intelligence."

At this revelation, all eyes turned toward Luffy with expressions ranging from surprise to suspicion.

Even Aokiji, normally so difficult to impress, couldn't maintain his indifferent façade.

"Hey, what's the deal with you, kid?" he drawled, though his tone betrayed genuine curiosity. "Are you some kind of human treasure map for Devil Fruits? How do you keep finding these incredibly rare specimens?"

Luffy didn't blame Gion for casually revealing information he'd shared in confidence. Eventually, everyone would discover the truth when she manifested her new abilities.

He spread his hands in a gesture of innocent helplessness.

"Perhaps it's simply good fortune," he suggested with a modest shrug. "Even when I'm not actively searching, exceptional Devil Fruits and talented individuals seem to gravitate toward me."

His expression brightened as he changed the subject.

"Speaking of talented individuals, when chatting with Zephyr earlier, I mentioned Mansherry to him and promised to bring her for a consultation in two days."

He turned toward the scarred former Admiral.

"Your respiratory condition has troubled you for years. The Marines and World Government have sent numerous physicians to treat you, but none have succeeded. Perhaps a different approach might yield better results."

Everyone fell silent, momentarily stunned by Luffy's casual reference to yet another rare asset at his disposal.

Seeing their speechless reactions, Luffy couldn't help but chuckle. He quickly defused the tension with a few well-placed jokes, deliberately steering the conversation away from further discussion of the Vampire Fruit.

Zephyr considered Luffy's offer with cautious optimism. If the young Marine claimed his associates possessed treatment methods not available to conventional medicine, why not allow them to attempt what others had failed to accomplish?

In this world of Devil Fruits and supernatural abilities, unconventional solutions often succeeded where traditional approaches failed. Perhaps Luffy's mysterious connections could indeed remedy the chronic condition that had plagued him for so long.