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It was a bright and sunny morning. Daichi leisurely strolled through the Hoenn Fortress with Drake.
"How is it here?" Daichi asked.
"It's incredibly impressive," Drake answered honestly. It was a remarkably standard military fortress, not much different from the Marine G-series fortresses, which somewhat shocked him. He truly hadn't expected the Beasts Pirates to have developed to such an extent.
At the same time, he couldn't help but question his life choices. He had fallen into piracy to infiltrate the Beasts Pirates, and just when he finally got to Onigashima, his seat wasn't even warm before he was called over.
According to Daichi, he would be stationed in this fortress from now on, serving as an upright Hoenn general. But this wasn't right! His mission was to be an undercover agent, to investigate the secrets of the Beasts Pirates, so how did he end up back in a military camp?
Drake spoke with hesitation. "Daichi-sama, I am a pirate!"
"Not anymore," Daichi responded nonchalantly. "From now on, you are the Commander of the Hoenn Fortress's First Legion, responsible for protecting the safety of the Hoenn Government in the North Blue!"
Drake took a deep breath. Steady! This was also the Beasts' territory, and it also held many secrets!
"Oh, right, Drake," Daichi subtly probed. "Do you remember the whip girl who was with you before, and that clay-wielding officer?"
"Peacock and Grus?" Drake, of course, remembered them. Both belonged to SWORD, and they were his direct subordinates.
"Yes, them," Daichi asked with a smile. "How's your relationship with those two?"
"It's alright," Drake answered carefully. He had escaped after failing his mission, so he couldn't speak too badly about his former colleagues, or it would easily arouse suspicion.
Daichi smiled and nodded. "Then can you find a way to poach them from the Marine to work for me? The pay will be three times what the Marine offers!"
Drake was dumbfounded. Huh? Poaching from the Marine?
Drake spoke with conviction. "Daichi-sama, I've already left the Marine, so I can't contact them. Even if I could, we'd be enemies."
"That is a problem," Daichi stroked his chin. "I remember they're at G-14 Branch. If I capture them, can you convince them to surrender?"
"I can't. Peacock and Grus have very strong wills; they won't easily betray the Marine!" Sweat broke out on Drake's forehead. Was this topic getting too dangerous?
"Haha, don't be nervous. I was just saying that casually," Daichi patted Drake's shoulder. The Marine G-14 Branch, located in the waters near Egghead, was the only Marine fortress in the heart of the New World. It would have to be taken down sooner or later.
After strolling for a while longer, Speed appeared beside Daichi, reporting softly. "Daichi, I've found Aokiji. He just entered the New World."
"Good, prepare to set sail," Daichi's spirits lifted. As long as he was in the New World, he couldn't escape his watchful eyes. "Drake, sail with me!" It was time to give the undercover guy some excitement.
In the New World, on a certain resort island, an old man and a security guard were arguing at the entrance of a Hoenn Community.
"Kid, give me some face. I was an Admiral, after all!" the old man said.
"Bah, don't tell me you're an Admiral. Even if you were a Fleet Admiral, you can't enter without a pass!" the security guard scoffed. "Look at you, begging like a tramp. An Admiral? This is a high-end place. A single room costs at least 5 million Berries! Here, take 200 Berries. Go buy something to eat. Don't ruin our community's image here!"
Kuzan took the 200 Berries and left, amused and exasperated. He had long heard of the Hoenn Community's reputation and always wanted to see it, but he couldn't even get past the main gate. How embarrassing. "Oh dear, let's go for a drink," Kuzan scratched his head, puzzled. "Where was that tavern again?"
Half an hour later, at the tavern, Kuzan sat at the bar. "Bartender, a drink, please." He picked up an old newspaper, which happened to publish the news of his departure from the Marine. His mood had dropped considerably. He had spent most of his life in the Marine, only to leave like a loser. What could dispel his sorrow? Only alcohol.
Gulp, gulp~ Kuzan chugged his drink. When he finished one bottle, someone next to him pushed another one over, and it was his favorite sherry.
"Oh dear, thanks," Kuzan didn't hesitate, picked up the bottle, took a swig, then turned around, crossed his legs, and leaned back against the bar. Touching his right leg, memories of Punk Hazard resurfaced.
"It's a surprise to be offered a drink by a notorious scumbag!"
"Scumbag?" Daichi pointed to himself and looked at his subordinates. "Do I look like a scumbag?"
"No, Daichi-sama is a good person!" Kikara answered from the bottom of her heart.
Drake, standing nearby, had a dark expression and wanted to correct Kikara's wording. This guy had nothing to do with being a good person, not even a single Berry's worth. And, that was Admiral Aokiji!
"Jiehahaha, well said," Daichi laughed heartily and looked at Aokiji. "Long time no see, Aokiji, no, Kuzan!"
"Daichi the Destoryer," Kuzan touched his broken leg, his eyes cold.
"Hey, hey, don't be so fierce," Daichi smiled and raised his glass. "When I heard you left the Marine, I was very worried. I came specifically to drink with you this time."
"Do you think I'll believe that?" Kuzan sneered.
"I don't believe it either, but that's not important," Daichi shrugged and raised his bottle. "The important thing is to have a drink first."
Kuzan was silent for a few seconds, then raised his bottle and clinked it. He was no longer a Marine, so there was no need to be an enemy. After drinking for a while, the atmosphere improved considerably.
Daichi extended an invitation. "Would you like to visit my fortress?"
"Your fortress... Hoenn Fortress?" Kuzan was surprised. He had heard of the Golden Route and the Hoenn Fortress, but he hadn't expected Daichi to invite him there. If a battle were to break out there, the entire fortress would be destroyed like Marineford.
"That's right," Daichi nodded and asked. "You're unemployed right now, with nowhere to go, right? Why not come see my territory? If you like it, how about staying?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" The liquor in Aokiji's hand began to freeze. "Just because we had a drink, don't mistake me for a scumbag like you. How could I possibly trust you!"
"No, you will trust me!" Daichi answered with absolute certainty. "The Marine should be very clear about my goal, and you leaving the Marine couldn't have been for such a superficial reason as a conflict with Akainu, could it? I am very certain that our goals, if not identical, are very close. But I won't use the excuse of shared interests to win you over. Once you've seen the full scope of our Hoenn Government with your own eyes, you can decide whether to stay or leave. You are free!"
Kuzan fell silent. After a long pause, he asked, "You want me to be your Admiral?"
"No!" Daichi wagged his finger, his gaze sharp as a torch. "I'm not that petty. The position I need you to fill is Hoenn Fleet Admiral!"