One Piece: The warrior of Justice

At Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was sifting through reports when a Den Den Mushi buzzed to life on his desk. Picking it up, he adjusted the receiver and leaned back in his chair. The latest report from the Frauce Kingdom had caught his attention.

"This Lion and Cat… handing over pirates yet refusing to join the Marines," Sengoku muttered, stroking his goat thoughtfully. He dialed the Frauce Kingdom base.

Moments later, Lieutenant Commander Jared Falk's voice came through, firm but tinged with unease. "Lieutenant Commander Jared Falk reporting, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, sir."

"Lieutenant," Sengoku began, his tone serious. "I need a detailed report on the two individuals who delivered the pirates to your base. Spare no detail."

"Yes, sir," Jared replied promptly. "The two individuals arrived wearing distinctive masks—a lion for the man and a cat for the woman. They introduced themselves as Atharva and Nami. They handed over 20 captured pirates, including Captain Dalton 'The Glutton,' with a bounty of 9 million berries, and Ryner the Blade, his vice-captain, worth 7 million berries."

"Atharva and Nami," Sengoku repeated, committing the names to memory. "And they refused to join the Marines?"

Jared nodded, though Sengoku couldn't see him. "Yes, sir. I offered them positions, but they declined politely. They seemed more amused than anything, as if it were a joke."

Sengoku's brow furrowed. "Are they still in the area?"

"I don't know, sir," Jared admitted. "We've started a search but have yet to locate them."

"Take a squad and confirm whether they're still on the island. Report back immediately. Do not engage them directly—observe and relay."

"Yes, Fleet Admiral!" Jared saluted through the Den Den Mushi. The call ended, leaving Sengoku in thought.

"Interesting pair," Tsuru remarked, stepping closer.

"They're either an asset or a threat," Sengoku said grimly. "We need to know which."

_____________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, back in the Frauce Kingdom, Atharva and Nami returned to their ship after a day of supplies and errands. Nami carried a package containing two masks—a fox-shaped one for Nojiko and a rabbit-shaped one for Lillie.

"You're seriously giving Nojiko a fox mask?" Nami teased, holding it up.

Atharva grinned. "She's clever and resourceful. It suits her."

As they climbed aboard, Nojiko and Lillie were waiting. Lillie's eyes lit up when Atharva approached her with the rabbit mask.

"This is for you," Atharva said softly, kneeling to place the mask on her face. He adjusted the straps carefully.

Lillie touched the mask, her expression turning tender. "Thank you, brother." She hugged him tightly, her voice filled with emotion.

"You're welcome," Atharva said with a warm smile, patting her head.

Nami handed the fox mask to Nojiko, who admired its craftsmanship. "You thought this would suit me?"

"Without a doubt," Nami replied with a smirk.

As they laughed and shared the moment, Atharva turned serious. "How long until we reach the Tequila Wolf Bridge?"

Nami pulled out her map, tracing their route. "If the weather stays clear, about three days."

"Good," Atharva said. "Then let's set sail now."

___________________________________________________________

Jared Falk and his Marines scoured the bustling city, asking questions and following leads. However, Atharva and Nami had been careful not to leave a trail. Frustrated, Jared finally reached the harbor, where he spotted a pirate ship departing.

Though his instincts screamed otherwise, he had no evidence linking the ship to the masked duo. Returning to his office, Jared immediately contacted Sengoku.

"Fleet Admiral, the Lion and Cat have vanished. A pirate ship left port, but I couldn't confirm if they were aboard."

Sengoku sighed. "Understood. I'm sending you a file. It contains critical details about these individuals. Do not let anyone else see it. This is top priority."

"Yes, sir."

A few minutes later, Jared received the classified document through the Den Den Mushi. As he read it, his hands began to tremble. The file detailed the Lion and Cat's recent actions, their growing reputation, and their possible threat level. Before he could process it fully, the Den Den Mushi rang again.

"Did you read it?" Sengoku's voice was sharp.

"Yes, Fleet Admiral," Jared replied, his voice strained.

"Do you have any idea where they might be headed next?"

"No, sir," Jared admitted, wiping his brow.

"This is a serious matter, Lieutenant. Deploy patrols, secure the waters, and ensure this doesn't happen again. If word spreads that these two are tied to us, it will damage Marine credibility. Do you understand?"

"Crystal clear, sir."

The call ended, leaving Jared alone with his thoughts. He walked to the window, staring at the now-empty harbor.

"They're not pirates… right?" he murmured, but the unease in his chest wouldn't fade.

To Be Continued...................