One Piece: My Crew Uses Zanpakuto

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"That's right, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Just a short while ago, Bullet used sheer brute force to tear the wall of his cell open and walk out."

"At that time, Sadi-chan and Domino were both on Level 6 of Impel Down. Sadi stepped forward to stop Bullet from escaping, and the commotion from their battle was enormous."

"The other pirates imprisoned on that level were swept up in the chaos as well. Many of them broke free and joined the attempted prison break."

"After that, Sadi-chan displayed the remarkable ability to create clones, and together with her extending blade, she hindered Bullet and the other escaping pirates. I received Domino's message shortly after and rushed down to Level 6, where I joined forces with Sadi-chan to suppress the riot."

Magellan recounted the entire incident in one breath.

"What?! Bullet almost escaped from prison?!" Sengoku shot to his feet. "And Sadi-chan actually managed to hold back the prisoners on Level 6, Bullet included, on her own before you arrived?"

Sengoku understood better than almost anyone just how dangerous the inmates on Level 6 were. He had been personally involved in capturing many of them. Their long imprisonment had surely diminished their strength to some degree, but they were not to be underestimated.

And yet, Sadi-chan had held them alone. It was difficult not to be astonished.

Even so, Sengoku did not doubt Magellan. He knew the man well enough to know he would never fabricate something of this magnitude.

"Ikki, that man, is even more formidable than we imagined," Magellan said. "The weapons he has given to others carry extraordinary power. I propose that if Ikki is willing to train more people for us, we should be prepared to offer him more swords and better ones in return. That way, our forces would grow considerably stronger."

"That is true," Sengoku said, nodding. He had long held a deep admiration for Ikki's strength, and hearing Magellan's account only reinforced it. The idea of having Ikki train capable swordsmen for the Marines had been taking firmer shape in his mind.

"There is one more matter, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Magellan continued. "Sadi-chan played a central role in intercepting Bullet and the others during this incident, and her ability has proven itself capable of standing on its own. I intend to give her a proper commendation. Beyond that, I believe we could consider promoting her position as well."

"Sadi-chan certainly deserves full credit for what she did here. The commendation is well deserved," Sengoku said. He frowned slightly. "As for a promotion, Magellan, are you suggesting she become deputy warden?"

"That's right. Hannibal has been reasonably reliable at critical moments, but he has his shortcomings in his work, and his strength leaves something to be desired. Sadi-chan is a veteran of Impel Down. She has given a great deal to this place over the years, and I believe she is more than qualified for the position."

"Magellan, let's hold off on that for now," Sengoku said, shaking his head. "Hannibal is weak in strength, yes, but he has not made any clear errors in his duties. Replacing him with Sadi-chan outright would be a bit harsh. For this incident, we reward her properly. But if the day comes when we need to consider a successor for your position, Sadi-chan will be the first name on the table."

He spoke the last words into the Den Den Mushi with a measured finality.

"Understood, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Magellan replied.

"Is there anything else to report, Magellan?"

"Nothing further at this time, Fleet Admiral."

"Then continue doing your job well," Sengoku said. "And keep a close eye on Sadi-chan. With strength like hers, she may well be suited for even greater responsibilities down the line."

"Understood, Fleet Admiral Sengoku." Magellan nodded seriously.

Sengoku offered a few more brief instructions before ending the call. He set the Den Den Mushi down and leaned back in his chair.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door swung open with a creak. Zephyr stepped inside, leading his disciple Ain behind him.

"It's you, Zephyr. What brings you here?" Sengoku's expression warmed when he saw who it was.

"Just a routine report," Zephyr said. Beside him, Ain stepped forward and placed a stack of papers on Sengoku's desk.

Zephyr had established his pirate guerrilla unit with considerable freedom of movement within the Marines, but it remained a subordinate organization, and regular reports to Sengoku were part of the arrangement.

He had not yet left the Marines, the institution to which he had devoted almost his entire life, though the wound that would eventually drive him away was already there: the pirate who had severed his arm and slaughtered many of his disciples had been made a Shichibukai.

"Leave it there, Ain, thank you," Sengoku said with a nod, then looked back to Zephyr. "Since you're already here, why not stay and talk for a bit?"

"I appreciate it, Sengoku, but the guerrilla unit still has plenty to deal with. I don't have time to sit around."

"It won't take long, and I think you'll find what I have to say interesting."

"All right then, what is it?" Zephyr said. "But let me be clear from the start: if this is about the war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates, I want no part of it. I have no desire to put Garp in a difficult position."

Zephyr shook his head as he spoke. He knew that Ace was Garp's grandson, and he knew what the Marines intended to do. Sengoku had already made his desire for Zephyr's participation in the war plain enough. But Zephyr understood grief in a way few others did, and he had no wish to witness Garp's face in the moment he lost Ace.

Pirates were guilty, that much he believed without question, but he intended to do everything he could to avoid making Garp's burden any heavier. When the war came, he would turn his attention to other pirates instead.