"Tashigi, did your mom ever mention that you have an older sister?"
"Sister? Yeah, she did! But I've never met her," Tashigi said regretfully.
"You'll see her one day. This sea works in mysterious ways!" Victor couldn't help but reflect on the little girl's childhood. It was less about carefree play and more about constant movement. At least now, she could finally settle down.
After handling Tashigi's paperwork, Victor made sure she'd be under Smoker's care from then on. If she ever needed anything, she could just go to him.
Smoker wasn't a bad guy, and Tashigi had a good heart. She'd grow up just fine—though Victor hoped she wouldn't end up nearsighted like in the original timeline.
The next day, Victor prepared a nourishing Sea King broth for Smoker, hoping it would speed up his recovery.
Time was tight. Victor had received word that the Elite Training Camp's final graduation voyage would begin in just over ten days. Not everyone had Victor's freakish constitution, and it was hard to say how long Smoker's injuries would take to heal.
Still, Victor wanted Smoker to get a good evaluation. He respected the man's brand of justice—the kind that could distinguish right from wrong.
"Ara ara, Smoker, you've got guts! Going after a notorious pirate like Avalo Pizarro? That's so like you!"
"I didn't think much about it. I just saw people being forced into something against their will. I couldn't just stand by."
"Ara~ Not bad, Smoker. I knew I wasn't wrong about you. You really are my kind of guy!"
Before even entering the hospital room, Victor overheard the conversation inside. There was an unfamiliar voice—casual yet steady.
Pushing the door open, Victor's eyes immediately landed on two bold characters: "JUSTICE." A tall, broad-shouldered man with wild black hair sat beside Smoker's bed, his back turned.
Hearing the door open, the man glanced over. A green sleeping mask rested on his forehead—this was Kuzan, the future Marine Admiral Aokiji, though currently still a Vice Admiral.
"Yo, Smoker, you've got company. Aren't you gonna introduce us?" Victor spoke up first, though he already knew exactly who this was.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, let me introduce you to the guy who took down Avalo Pizarro—this is Victor! Strong as hell. You should fight him sometime!" Smoker added, grinning.
Ignoring Smoker's antics, Victor stepped forward. Kuzan rose to his feet, studying Victor intently.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, I've heard a lot about you. It's an honor to finally meet you."
Victor extended his hand. Kuzan shook it firmly.
"Ara ara~' I've heard about you too. Saw the newspaper reports—this year's top rookie. Beat Onigumo in your first month at HQ, survived an encounter with Kaido... At your age, I couldn't have done any of that. You've got me beat."
Kuzan had actually been present during Victor's fight with Pizarro. He'd left once it was clear Victor had the upper hand. But he wasn't the type to bring up such things—Kuzan preferred action over words.
"You're too modest, Vice Admiral. You're already at Admiral-level strength, aren't you? Free to roam the seas as you please… That kind of freedom is something I envy."
"Ara~' I've got some strength, sure, but I'm not quite at the top yet. You, though—you've got the potential to get there. I can see it."
After the Ohara Incident, Kuzan had spent years searching for his own definition of justice. Riding his bicycle across the seas (and wrecking several in the process), he'd finally started figuring things out. People like Smoker and Victor? He respected them.
"Oi!' How long are you two gonna keep eye-flirting? There's still a living person here, y'know!"
Smoker scowled as the two exchanged praises, finally cutting in.
"Ahem.' Vice Admiral, I actually came to bring Smoker some soup. Let him eat first—we can talk later."
"Ara ara~' So 'that's' what smelled so good! Hand it over—I'll have a bowl first!"
Kuzan snatched the thermos, poured himself a serving, and started gulping down the Sea King broth meant for Smoker.
"Ara ara~' Damn, this is good!"
"Giving it to Smoker's a waste. He doesn't even know how to appreciate good food. 'Hmm…' I'll take another bowl."
Smoker watched in despair as Kuzan drained the soup to the last drop. Victor's cooking was incredible—he used only the finest Sea King bones, and he rarely made it. This was a rare treat, and now it was gone.
Finally satisfied, Kuzan set the empty bowl aside and handed the thermos back to Smoker.
"Ara ara~' Seriously, that was amazing. I feel full of energy now! Here, you try some."
With great effort, Smoker managed to scoop up two spoonfuls, tears welling in his eyes as he swallowed.
This was just unfair. He'd been hoping to egg them into a fight—preferably one where Victor ended up with a busted face, since Kuzan had never beaten him up before. But now, not only was there no fight, his delicious, nutrient-packed soup was gone too. Was this karma for his scheming?
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, I heard you used to serve on Garp's ship. What was that like?" Victor steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Ara ara~' Garp's on a whole other level! The man turned down the Admiral position like it was nothing. Absolute legend." Kuzan's voice carried a hint of admiration.
"That's it?"
"Ara~' That's pretty much it."
"Come on, give me details. I'm really interested in the era before the Great Pirate Age."
"That time, huh… By the time I was on Garp's ship, it was already the tail end of that era. But the seas were still dominated by massive forces—Whitebeard, Charlotte Lilith, Shiki's fleet… And then there was the Roger Pirates, who focused on quality over quantity."
Kuzan spoke slowly, his gaze distant, as if lost in memory.
"I heard Roger turned himself in? That we didn't actually capture him?" Victor pressed.
"Ara ara~' You're well-informed, kid. Yeah, Roger surrendered deliberately. It was all part of his plan." Kuzan sighed.
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Victor asked, feigning ignorance.
"Well, Roger had an incurable disease. He knew his time was short. But at his execution… he didn't look sick at all. It was strange. I've never heard of an illness like that." Kuzan sounded puzzled, almost as if questioning his own memory.
"So there's something suspicious about Roger's death?" Victor's interest spiked—this wasn't even mentioned in the original story.
"Before Roger died, a Marine doctor found strange web-like red marks on his chest and back. But with Roger's strength and age, there's no way he should've had a fatal disease like that. Even the doctor had never seen anything like it. In the end, it was just… dropped." Kuzan frowned.
"Could he have caught it in some ancient ruins? Why was he the only one affected? An unknown disease? That can't be a coincidence." Victor silently analyzed.
"Ara ara~ This is technically classified, so keep it to yourselves. The higher-ups don't want this getting out." Kuzan pointed upward, toward the Red Line.
'What's up there?' Victor and Smoker both knew. They nodded.
"Well, that's enough for today. I should head back—too many meetings lately. We'll talk again, Victor. And that soup? Really good." Kuzan's mood seemed dampened by the topic of Roger. With a brief farewell, he left.
---
"Smoker, how's the recovery? Will you be ready for the graduation exam?"
"Should be fine. Won't hold me back. Though a few more bowls of that Sea King tonic would speed things up!" Smoker stared at Victor with exaggerated sincerity.
"Good. Wouldn't want you stuck as a Lieutenant Colonel when I make Vice Admiral. Imagine having to salute me—ha!" Victor conveniently ignored the second half of Smoker's statement.
"No way. Absolutely not. I'll hit Rear Admiral before you!"
"Smoker, let's be realistic. Look at the gap between us."
"Tch. Rank isn't just about strength. After graduation, I'll hunt pirates like crazy. I'll surpass you!"
"Doubt it. I've already got achievements under my belt. Hah!"
As they bickered, Hina arrived with Smoker's meal. Seeing her, Victor decided it was time to leave.
"Since you've got food covered, I'll head out. And don't forget to visit Tashigi after discharge." He waved at Hina and exited.
---
Walking back, Victor cloaked Chikara and Allen in Armament Haki, bathing his own body in it as well. He strolled leisurely toward his cabin, ignoring the odd looks. Now he had a legitimate excuse—even if full-body Haki was overkill.
Dinner was next, but Victor sighed as he gazed at the sea. After his last slash, no Sea Kings lingered nearby. Now he had to travel far just to hunt.
Shaking off his thoughts, he kicked off with Geppo, soaring toward the horizon.