Shiki's Twenty Year Plan: Chapter 3

Breaking News

Running the world’s newspaper required a lot of work and dedication. From ensuring that the News Coo were in tip top shape and well paid, to ensuring the quality of the news being delivered out to the public, there were a hundred little things that needed to be done and coordinated. This was his life as Big News Morgan, one dedicated to spreading the truth and nothing but the truth… with a bit of sensationalism of course.

There in his lamp lit cabin he worked, yawning as he burnt through the midnight all. “Now lets see here,” He whispered, furiously scribbling through the newspaper clippings and rearranging them to make tomorrow’s piece legible, “Emphasize that actions King Wapol has taken, remove that fluff piece on some rubber boy in the East Blue, Bring the news of the situation in Alabasta to page 1…”

“Sir, the printing press is ready for tomorrow’s newspaper,” called out one of his interns as she burst into the room, letting the steady hum of the printing press slowly coming to life fill the room.

Waving them off, he answered, “I’m just making some last minute edits, just give me a couple of minutes,” He grimaced at the dreadful feeling of the deadline calling to him.

“We’ll be ready when you are chief!” The intern cheerfully replied before running off back to wherever they were needed. Thankfully, they closed the door behind them, returning the room to the moody lighting he needed to write. Having the right atmosphere was essential when writing, especially when he needed quality news to sell.

A newspaper was not some charity organization after all, he had to pay for his worker. Thus, he had to put some elbow grease into it and ensure that the quality is top notch. Editing requires a lot of work to ensure that the piece could be consumed by the masses and deliver its intended messages. Staying up late was just part of the course and he’d need to work fast as the printers were running hot and needed the piece now!

“And for the head line! The Golden Lion Comes Roaring Back…” He exclaimed as he held up the piece… only to frown at the rather thin and vague piece he had for the old Pirate. With a growl, he threw the paper back at his table before slumping on his seat with his wings reaching up to his face and dragging downward in annoyance, “But damn it, I don’t have anything for this. To have this as my headliner…”

Leaning forward, he stared at the piece as it taunted him, telling him that he’d just be some yellow paper tomorrow if he used this instead of some news that had actual… Well, evidence! Turning away from the current one, he found himself staring at his alternate piece, “Heir to the Golden Lion?” He read, lifting up the half written news article he had just for the occasion.

News upon a certain island in the West Blue had been sparse but they had been loud, of a convoy attacked by a flying ship much like his own but one geared for war. The navy could only hide their failures so much until some details slipped through the cracks. He even had a drawing of a giant of a man, with the same golden hair as the infamous pirate along with all the juicy details he had for a certain newly appointed Vice Admiral. It was almost perfect… yet, as eye-catching as it was, it faced the same problem.

Banging his fist down on the table, he shouted, “I swear it’ll catch a lot more eyes but I can’t give my readers some fluff piece drivel! I need facts! Actual evidence that he’s back!”

This was what the public wanted, something to make them excited without actually hurting them, something to get them interested in the going on of the world to actually think. Still, it was frustrating. He couldn’t actually use some of the bigger rumors as he’d just be a lying Nolan since he’d be saying hearsay. If he wants to spread his message, he needs to have integrity!

Stroking his lower beak, he reached out to his desk, feeling for his cigar case as he muttered, “Now, If only there’s a way to get some info on this…”

“How about straight from the Lion’s mouth itself Morgan,” a rich and deep voice replied out in the darkness.

Jolting up from his desk, he whirled around, fist clenched as his eyes darted around the dark room. His eyes swept the room before it went up and up, trailing the figure of a tall man until he saw the burning embers of a lit cigar in their lips.

Why of all people did he have to be that one that visited him in his office?! With the man’s peg leg swords glinting menacingly in the torch light and his mane full of golden hair, it was all but unmistakable. After all, that devious smile and those shifty eyes filled with plans upon plans could only belong to one man alone.

“S-Shiki?” He choked out as he took a step back, sweat dripping down the back of his while he stared up at the giant of a man. The man let out a low chuckle that felt more like a low rumble to his chest, making the feathers on the back of his neck stand up.

With narrowed eyes, he squared up against him, ready to throw the first punch. The way Shiki leaned against one of the shelves in an almost casual manner however had Morgan lower his guard, relaxing just as much as his unexpected visitor. Straightening his coat, he sat back to his as he returned to the work that needed finishing.

“What the hell do you want? You know I sell nothing but news these days and as you can see, I’m rather busy,” he then asked as he scribbled away, trying to get the shaking in his fingers back under control.

“Oh, I’m not here for old news, Morgan,” The man taunted, making Morgan twitch but he kept his cool as he refused to let him get a rise out of him. “I’m here to give you one big scoop served in a silver platter,” the man then said.

For a moment, Morgan paused before he looked back up, his brow raised as he had just heard the most wonderful of details; this man actually had a son and things weren’t just hearsay? While he could lie, coming from a main source certainly helped his article and he couldn't help but lean closer, his turn as a smile stretched across his beak, “I’m listening.”

Grinning at him, Shiki then added, “And an idea from my son that would shake the very world itself if they were to come from a man with such an audience”

“Oho? A son? Now that’s definitely some big news!” He chuckled as a smile stretched across his face and that wasn’t even a lie. Another heir to pass on the older generation’s torch, it was worth all the attention he could muster, “You definitely caught my interest now. Going to push for the reunification of the Rocks Pirates? Is this all your big plan?” He accused him, trying to fish out for any details from the infamous serial plotter.

“Kaido’s supposed son, Whitebeard’s adopted family, Ochoku’s heir, Big Mom’s brood, and now you,” He listed out the Rock Pirates who he knew had some family members, “Definitely quite the reunion this is shaping up,” he mused out loud which sent a shiver of fear down his spine. To have them all under one flag once again, it’s definitely going to rock the world to its core… thankfully, they all hate each other.

Shiki for his part remained ever so obtuse, laughing away as he pulled out a bottle and Morgan smelt… lemon iced tea?  “Wouldn’t you like to know,” He replied after he took his drink. “As for my plan? That’ll be for later. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the fireworks. For now… how about we discuss business,” the other man offered. .

Morgan let out a disappointed click as he failed to fish out any information aside from the fact that his plan already started. Motioning for him to continue, he reached out for his cigars only to pause before shifting to his bottle of whisky instead, “Well go on then, I don’t have all day. My assistants are going to come back any minute now,” he warned the man as he poured himself a drink.

Walking forward, Shiki stood there in front of his desk before leaning forward as he asked him, “Now I ask you this, what comes to mind when I say the word… Podcast.”

-x-x-x-

Marineford, the island where the Marine Headquarters stood; The beating heart of the Marines itself. There it stands between Paradise and the New World as a bastion of Justice, protecting the seas and ensuring peace for the World Government.

The fortress island was quite the imposing sight from the sea with its thick walls and great docks symbolized not only the Marines's indomitable will and immense power but as a comforting reminder for the world that the Marines will protect those under its flag. For Gion however, the island loomed over her like the gallows from which pirates were hanged and executed in.

Stepping off her ship's gangplank with the famous and elderly Vice Admiral Tsuru, she felt like her legs were going to give out beneath her. Only the presence of her mentor figure and the refusal to let any of her subordinates or lower ranking staff in the docks see her in such a state kept her standing tall. As a rear admiral, she had to set an example yet what a rear admiral she was…

Clenching her fist, she strode forward, her gaze down on the cobbled street as she led the way to the main office, the proud building that stood at the center of the island. With her teacher Tsuru beside her, officers and ensigns stood in attention as they passed but all it made her feel was bitterness for not being able to live up to their expectations.

“You’re being too hard on yourself, Gion,” her mentor and older sister figure told her, shaking her head as she instructed her, “Chin up and walk proud girl, what kind of Rear Admiral are you?”

Gion took in a deep breath before breathing out, looking up as the gates to the main office loomed over her. “One who failed in her first task as a Rear Admiral ma’am,” She replied as the deep bruises left from her one and only failure called out to her. Of all the times she could have failed, why did it have to be her first mission in her new commision?

She would hear the elderly Marine sigh as the woman lamented, “Oh how melancholic you young one’s are. Here I thought I beat the angst out of you and your classmates,” a small but brief smile graced Gion’s lips, lifting her spirits up for just a moment, “I told you already, Sengoku wouldn’t summon you to his office for something as mundane as demotion. We have snail phones and letters for that,” her mentor then added.

As much as she wanted to believe her mentor's words, she did not dare hope, not after she already had an earful from Admiral Akainu. With her spirit crushed and a heavy heart, she walked across the busy halls, dreading the room atop it all. Passing office after office and riding on one of the many elevators inside the great building, Gion and Tsuru would find herself standing before a set of great oaken doors.

There, nailed upon the door was but a simple sign telling to all who this office belongs too. “Fleet Admiral Sengoku,” it read. Here lay the office of the man who led the marines against their never ending fight to keep peace. Here was the office of the man who called for her all the way from her post for a report.

Reaching out to the door, Gion paused momentarily. With her eyes locked on the brass door knobs, she hesitated before she powered through, grabbing them and twisting them open to behold a room that could be only described as controlled chaos.

Gion took a step back in surprise as she found herself goggling over the sight of the great symbol of the marines all but buried under a mountain of post it notes, pictures, newspaper clippings, pins and string. She saw all this while the fleet admiral sat atop a tall ladder with his back against them. What in Davy Jones Locker did she just walk into?

While she stood there, gawking at the sight, Vice Admiral Tsuru on other hand would grimace as she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Goddamn it, these two idiots are at it again,” her companion muttered as she let out a sigh.

“Tsuru-chan!” The rough and hearty voice of a grizzled old man called out to them, making Gion turn to find the bear-like figure of Vice Admiral Garp waving at them. Despite his gray hair, his cheerful demeanor and the way he carried himself made him look far younger than he was. “And isn’t that your protege Gion-chan?” The man then said as he turned to her.

Gion felt her cheeks burn as she remembered who she was in the presence of. Bowing low, she greeted the great hero, “Vice Admiral Garp! I didn’t know you were at Marineford”

“Bah! Enough with the formalities,” the older marine waved her off as he told her, “I’ve had enough for a lifetime!” Gesturing at the door behind her, he then said, “And can you be a dear and close the door behind you? These are supposed to be eyes only for now,” before gesturing at all the notes pinned to the wall.

“Of course! She replied, snapping into action as Tsuru slipped in and helped her close the great door behind them.

“When will you remember your station Garp?” her companion called out to her fellow Vice Admiral who only laughed back in response.

As the doors slammed shut, the Fleet Admiral would perk up before turning to them. “Ahh, Tsuru-chan, Gion-san, Glad to have you on board,” The surprisingly youthful looking and bespectacled Fleet Admiral greeted them. As Gion gave him a respectful bow before getting closer, she’d notice the man was noticeably twitchy his hands were while holding a cup of steaming coffee and how he kept fidgeting in his seat. Turning back to his work, he then grumbled at the large web of information he had before him, “Also, Garp, can you pin me a thread between Dressrosa and Shiki?”

“And I told you already you old Goat, that man wasn’t involved in that incident,” Garp would fire back at that admiral so casually, an understandable quirk given how these three were contemporaries but it was still quite jarring for Gion to hear. “Shiki might have cut off his leg but he wouldn’t have shrunk that much!” The man reasoned, pointing at a picture of a short ball of golden hair with legs running off from a group of marines with two green haired girls in hand.

“What in the world…?” Gion whispered, noticing how eerily similar the shade of green their hair were to the woman she saw aboard that flying ship… Turning the head of the Marines shouting and arguing animatedly with the Hero, she would call to their attention, “Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp what’s all… this? And are you two ok?” She asked, motioning to the vast and intricate web before her.

“Hmmm? Oh this, just a little board showing Shiki’s activities for the last 20 years,” Fleet Admiral Sengoku answered as he took a sip from his cup before shaking his head, “I swear, he might not be the most physically imposing or powerful like the rest of the Rocks but he makes the most headaches out of all of them whenever he pulls one of his little stunts,” he grumbled, tossing his cup to the side where his goat would reach up and casually grab mid air. With cup in mouth, the admiral's pet would walk off proudly.

Turning away from the goat and back to the board, Gion would quickly take note of the various nexus of information. There in the center of course was Shiki the Golden Lion himself and his last known appearance in Impel Down but connected to it were a series of seemingly inconsequential information. The ringing bells of Jaya, the Infamous Island Selling Scam, Sightings of Flying Ships, Dressorosa’s slums and most prominently of all, the missing Island archipelago of Mar…vielle.

“He never lied,” She whispered in awe as she found herself walking up to the board, tracing Dressorosa over to the island.

Walking over and grabbing the cup of the goat, her mentor would then scold the Fleet Admiral, “Haven’t your doctors told you not to ease your caffeine intake Sengoku? How much did you have today?” she would question, glancing over to the still steaming pot of coffee over to the side.

“Just a cup or two, nothing too much. I just need my mind at full steam to try and figure out what exactly Shiki had been planning this past twenty years,” The Fleet admiral replied as he pinned a thread from Shiki’s wanted poster to Dressrosa.

Garp would take one look at the detail and shake his head. Grabbing a drawing from the Fleet Admiral’s desk, he then pinned it to an open spot in the board. She’d find a rough but close approximation of Genji in the picture as the Vice Admiral would grab a whole bunch of threads before shouting, “He’s been training an Heir like the rest of those asshats!”

Gion wanted to voice her agreement, to tell them about the boy but the two were far too busy. The fleet admiral grabbed his friend's hand as the two battled, veins popping in their forehead as they argued, “Is one of the possibilities. There’s still so many factors we don’t know,” the Fleet Admiral argued, calling for caution before he turned to her, “which is where Rear Admiral Gion comes in,”

“S-sir?” She stuttered out, taken aback by the two’s attention on her before she questioned him, “This… isn’t for my failure in my West Blue station?” Maybe she shouldn’t have asked that as she cringed at the flat stared leveled to her by her superior.

“You thought… I summoned you from your post to my office to reprimand you?” He asked her slowly, making sure she heard just how stupid her question was before turning to her mentor. “Tsuru-chan, can you please give her the reset button?” He ordered, turning away as he started muttering something about her senior, Akainu.

“The reset button?” Gion asked before she felt a shiver of fear run up her spine as she saw her mentor smile beside her.

“Most certainly Fleet Admiral,” her mentor answered and Gion saw her move. With surprisingly agility for such an old marine, the venerable vice admiral slipped behind her, striking out before she could even pull out her sword to block.

Gion reeled, wincing as she grabbed the bump she received atop her head. If her mentor's lesson hasn’t stuck through yet, it certainly has now; the Fleet Admiral would not pull her out for something as trivial as her own failure. “I’m sorry Tsuru-sensei,” She whispered, blushing under the amused look of not only Tsuru but also that of Garp and the Fleet Admiral.

“Thank you Tsuru-chan,” The high ranking marine thanked her mentor before stroking his bead,  “Now where was I,” turning over to his makeshift evidence board, he blinked before knocked his knuckles against his head,, “Ah, right. Rear Admiral Gion, I summoned you here because of your role in the West Blue incident concerning the possible sighting of Shiki in those sea’s.”

Gion nodded, collecting herself as she stood up straight. With her attention on him, the Fleet Admiral marched over to the center of the evidence board before pointing at the still active bounty of the man. At 4,092,400,000 Berries, the man’s bounty not only denotes the severity of his crimes but the danger he posed to the public. The worst people to encounter in these seas where men die young is to find an old lion who lived through it all.

Pointing at images of ships attached to blimps flying over clouds, the man explained, “As you can see, dozens of sightings of Flying Ships and even one instance of an Island Ship has been spotted all over Paradise just a few days ago,” The old pirate who braved the New World, in Paradise? Gion couldn’t help but shiver at the thought and she wasn’t alone with the looks that her mentor shared with Vice Admiral Garp.

“These along with rumors from information fed to us by Cipher Pol paints a grim picture. We don’t know what his goal is and what he has stored up in his sleeves but one thing is clear, Shiki the Golden Lion has returned,” The Fleet Admiral declared. Moving his finger across a vast map pinned to the wall, the man pointed at pinned locations where the elusive pirate has been spotted, “From one end of Paradise to the other, he seems to be everywhere but so far, he’s been quiet… too quiet. He hasn’t attacked so far…until your particular prison convoy was raided that is.”

Gion grimaced at the reminder, her hands feeling her aching ribs and shoulder. Looking up, she found the full attention of her superior upon her. Looking her in the eyes, the man then asked her,  “I want you to tell me everything from that attack. Spare no details. The fate of countless innocent civilians might very depend on what you tell us”

She might have failed back then, she must not fail now, not when the people of the Four Seas depended on it, “Yes Fleet Admiral!”

Thus, she told them of her tail, of a strange cannon-like crack heard over the island she was in to how her group convoy got hailed for a possible capture of the infamous pirate. It would turn out not to be the case, thankfully at that given the poor condition of the brig and how a young man casually wore some poorly made seastone chains to avoid getting in trouble.

She could still recall exactly how the boy coyly replied to getting asked if he was Shiki that he was merely his son. Back then, she took it as a mere jest as the boy chatted with her as she found herself another quarry, one Nico Robin. Looking back at the actions of the boy, of how he stuck close, trying to convince her that maybe it was another case of mistaken identity like him, she should have known that he had his motives.

While they met amicably and parted on good terms, their next meeting wouldn’t be so. Not only did he possessed a terrifying degree of physical prowess, probably even augmented by haki, he also defeated her in one blow. It felt like her very spirit was crushed under that tsuba covered blade, rendering her powerless to defend her crew from a dedicated attack.

She was left humiliated, her prisoner taken. “Which concludes my report,” She replied as she looked down in shame, “I should have known that a boy claiming to be the son of the man would have his motives seeing that he’s just starting out”

Looking over to the picture of the boy running away with a smile in his face, she then noted, “He might have possessed a ship worthy of a deadly adversary but it was clear that he is a mere rookie, one trained to an absurd degree, but still a young fledgling stretching their wings. Nico Robin might just be his first of many recruits…” before pointing at the incident over at Dressrosa, “But it might not have been his first recruit as I saw someone with the same shade of green hair as the young women in this picture,”

With that, she let out a sigh. “That’s all I have on this at the moment along with whatever insight I gleaned reviewing what had happened,” She admitted, “From the old Lion’s movement and his young cub’s actions, it is a possibility that the boy encountered, Genji, could very well be an heir groomed by Shiki all these time.”

There was a moment of silence afterwards as the three higher ranking admirals digested the information she just told them.“So this is Shiki’s Twenty Year Plan…” The fleet admiral muttered before he let out a groan, reaching up to massage his temples, “To think there’s no two of them around,” the man lamented.

She then saw Garp snort at his words as he held out his meaty paws and told his long time friend,“Told you he made a sprog of his own, now pay up.”

The fleet admiral would give him a look of annoyance as he glared at him but he soon relented, reaching for his pocket for a thick wad of berries exchanged between them. It wasn’t the only thing Garp would receive as her mentor gave them a piece of her mind, cuffing both men in the back of the head.

“Not the worst but not the best…” The Fleet Admiral muttered after apologizing to Tsuru.  Grabbing the rendered image that came with her written report earlier and staring down at it, he then declared, “This young brat, Genji is certainly going to be a headache,”

“And for him to rag doll my young protege without any apparent devil fruit,” Her mentor would pipe up as she crossed her arms across her chest, “He’s definitely been trained by his father in more than just the way of the sword,”

“That still leaves with what to do with the brat,” Garp added, picking his nose as he leaned on his seat. Looking up at the ceiling, the man mused out, “It’s a shame that we couldn’t have recruited him since he was quite amicable as Gion reported,”

Shrugging, he then said with a grim grin stretched across his face, “Still, the moment he took up arms against the Marines is the moment he forfeited his right as a proper citizen. He shall find no rest in these seas for his fate not lay either in the gallows or Impel Down,”

Gion nodded in agreement. That was simply the consequence of acting against the world government. The rules that they had set were there for a reason and while Genji had his heart at the right place, to question why Nico Robin should be condemned for her crimes, it was not up to him to render such a judgment. They had Enies Lobby and its tireless judicial officers to deal with such cases.

Taking a seat on his chair, the Fleet Admira would lean forward as he started drafting a letter, “As for what we’re going to do with him…” he said before grabbing a stamp and marking it with the symbol of his office. Gion felt herself almost jump out of her skin at sound as the man then told her, “Rear Admiral Gion, while I would officially reprimand you for your failure to transport Nico Robin, something which Cipher Poll has been badgering me about…”

Pushing the paper to her, Gion felt her heart hammer away. Was this the letter that she had been dreading about but as she looked down, she found her spirit at what she held; that of a letter of commendation. The Fleet Admiral was defending her from the intelligence bureau. “I commend you for choosing the lives of your men rather than to pursue an adversary that you were not prepared to handle.”

“T-thank you Fleet Admiral,” She replied, clutching the letter close to her chest.

She then heard the admiral told her,“Still, we need to punish you else Cipher Polls not going to stop with meddling with Marine Affairs,” That was unfortunate but they were a separate branch of the world government, one even closer to the leaders that steered the world,  “Rear Admiral Gion, I hereby relieve you of your posting in the West Blue under Admiral Akainu”

“Yes Fleet Admiral,” She answered, feeling a bit of her spirit dampen. Having her command taken away stung but it seems that she had lamented to early,

The Fleet Admiral smiled at her before he finally dropped the other piece of his order, “And place you as the head for the task force dedicated to hunting Golden Lion Shiki and his son Genji. While they might hide away in the clouds, remind them that Justice’s reach cannot be,” Gion stood there stand as Tsuru gave her a proud smile, patting her on the shoulder as he added, “Do not disappoint me Rear Admiral Gion,”

Gion stood straighter, lifting her chin up as she gave the man a salute, “Yes, Fleet Admiral!”

“Now that’s settled, let’s get back to the matter of the Young Lion,” The man then told her as he tapped at the drawing of the boy, “We’ll need to put a bounty on his head fast else he might slip through the cracks if he were to run off like his father. Does Fifty Million Beri sound good enough?”

It was an impressive bounty, one fitting for a pirate of his caliber but maybe a bit two low. “I say put it at Seventy-Five Million. He’s dangerous, yes but I do not want him to gain such notoriety so early,” Tsuru advised them. There was also that to consider.

High Bountys simply attract the worst kind of people. Best to hamper them now than have them use the bounty to their advantage, one that she herself could not discount the boy from using. They could always add a highe bounty later if he proves to be far craftier than initially thought.

The Fleet Admiral nodded in agreement as he told them, “It’d be a problem to have such a crafty pirate attract a crew-!” before pausing as a young ensign suddenly burst through the door with a newspaper in hand tucked beneath his arms and a Den Den Mushi currently letting out a public broadcast.

Panting the man, the man shouted, “Fleet Admiral Sengoku! We have an emergency!” which caught the roof off guard as the older admirals looked at each other in concern. Frowning, Gion noticed that there was a whole lot of more shouting outside. Trouble was brewing, she could feel it.

“What is it?” Sengoku asked, a frown of his own forming over his face as he turned his attention to the snail with an albatross's face that the man held, “And is that who I think it is?” He whispered as his face became pale at the laugh that followed soon after.

“Jihahahaha!”

“Big News Morgan! Golden Lion Shiki! They told the public!” The poor ensign panted out as he set the snail down on the table before giving the news paper to the Fleet Admiral. Gion stood there transfixed to the transponder as it appeared the Big New’s Morgan was currently talking to Golden Lion himself though what they’re talking was rather mundane like how things were up in the sky and how good it was for the lungs.

She did not however fail to notice the old fleet admiral’s face turning red as a look of apoplectic fury washed over his face. Gion was about to voice some concern before she flinched, cowering as the man let out a shout that shook the very foundations of Marineford, “He told everyone fucking what!?”

A/N:

This was supposed to be chapter 4 but this got made first. 3 and 4 are supposed to be happening at the same time so it doesn't matter which one gets read first. I just kinda want to explore the world more and open it up. Setting things up is so fun~