Chapter 53 – Donquixote
Ever since Tachibana Kyūjō defeated Dracule Mihawk, news of it had quietly begun to ripple across the seas.
(Well... to be fair, he was the one who leaked it in the first place.)
Bit by bit, people around the world began to accept what had once been unthinkable:
Tachibana Kyūjō was now the World's Strongest Swordsman.
The final confirmation came when Mihawk himself admitted defeat in an official interview published by Morgans in the World Economic Journal. In it, the former titleholder stated plainly:
"I lost. The gap between our strengths is undeniable."
With that single declaration, the long-standing debate among swordsmen all across the Grand Line came to an end.
Vice Admiral "Seiryū" Tachibana Kyūjō—a Marine—had ascended to the peak of the blade.
And as he stood at the summit of swordsmanship, all three forms of Haki within him continued to evolve, surging forward at a frightening and ever-stable pace.
The Navy wasted no time.
The moment this news hit the papers, Marine Headquarters launched a massive propaganda campaign. Kyūjō's name echoed across the seas, winning admiration from the masses. New recruits flooded in, eager to serve under the Marine who had tamed the sword.
But not everyone was thrilled.
Many swordsmen couldn't stomach it. Some were outraged that a Marine—someone shackled to the system—had claimed such a sacred title.
And so, they came.
One after another, every ten days or so, swordsmen began showing up at G-11, the Marine base on Malt Island, demanding a duel.
None of them were amateurs. Anyone capable of crossing the New World just to challenge Kyūjō was a master in their own right.
But even after a full year, not a single challenger could topple him.
After twenty-plus consecutive victories over renowned swordsmen, no one could deny it anymore:
Tachibana Kyūjō had earned the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman.
— — —
One year later — Year 1509 of the Sea Calendar
On one of his rare breaks from active duty, Kyūjō boarded the warship Blue Dragon and traveled through the Calm Belt and the Gates of Justice.
Within just a week, he arrived at Marineford—Marine Headquarters.
— — —
Outside the Fleet Admiral's Office
Kyūjō pushed open the heavy door without knocking, as usual.
Inside, a grizzled old man with a braided beard was hunched over his desk, drowning in endless paperwork.
"So this is the price of being Fleet Admiral, huh?"
Kyūjō couldn't help but sigh internally.
"You're back. Close the door. And next time, knock first," Sengoku said flatly, not even looking up from his documents. His pen moved with relentless speed.
Kyūjō gave a nonchalant shrug and kicked the door shut behind him.
"Hey, Uncle, why do you always look so swamped? I swear, your work efficiency is garbage."
"Aren't there like... tons of advisors in the Navy to handle this stuff? You're the Fleet Admiral. Shouldn't you just focus on big-picture strategies or whatever?"
Sengoku gave a small smile and shook his head.
Still too young…
If he didn't keep all authority tightly in his own hands, the World Government would devour it piece by piece.
What is the essence of power?
Appointment rights, financial control, and personal charisma.
The first two are obvious. As for charisma—well, only a few figures in the Navy possessed true influence: the "Hero" Monkey D. Garp, Sengoku himself, and the Three Admirals.
Charisma isn't just about titles. It's forged through victory, strategy, and overwhelming strength.
And as long as that aura remained intact, power stayed with him.
Let go of it even a little—and it would slowly slip away.
Sengoku had no intention of explaining all that to Kyūjō. Some people simply weren't suited for bureaucracy. Explaining it would be a waste of breath.
— — —
About ten minutes later, Sengoku signed off on the last document and finally looked up.
"So, how are things in the New World? I heard Kaido went on another rampage last month. You and Akainu handled it?"
Kyūjō was busy rummaging through Sengoku's shelves when he found a bag of senbei crackers.
Completely ignoring Sengoku's twitching eyebrow, he opened the bag.
Crunch.
Mmm… grilled chicken flavor. Nice and crispy.
"Same as always. Honestly, I'm more surprised when Kaido doesn't go berserk for a few weeks."
He chomped down another piece, speaking with his mouth half-full.
Sengoku fought the urge to blow a gasket.
This is all Garp's fault…
After cursing Garp in his heart, he turned serious again.
"Kyūjō, your base at G-11 and Akainu's base at G-10 are both key strongholds in the New World. These are crucial to the Navy's long-term strategy. You must not take that responsibility lightly."
Kyūjō smiled, waving it off like it was no big deal.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. Relax, Uncle Sengoku. As long as I'm there, and Akainu too, the New World's under control."
Just then, something on Sengoku's desk caught Kyūjō's eye.
A document.
One name jumped out:
Corazon.
Kyūjō's expression instantly sharpened.
He remembered.
"Corazon" was the codename for the Heart Executive of the Donquixote Family.
And the current holder of that title was none other than Donquixote Rosinante—Sengoku's adopted son.
Rosinante was the younger brother of Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha. The infamous underground broker. The kingpin of darkness.
But how had he, of all people, become Sengoku's adopted son?
That... was a long story.
The Donquixote family had once been Celestial Dragons—Tenryūbito.
But their father, Donquixote Homing, made a shocking decision when Doflamingo was just eight years old: he gave up their godly status and chose to live as normal humans.
What followed was misery. The family was scorned and hunted.
Eventually, Doflamingo snapped. Two years after leaving Mariejois, he killed his father and brought the severed head back—only to be coldly rejected by the World Government.
Rosinante, however, walked a very different path.
Rescued by Admiral Sengoku as a child, he was adopted and raised in Marineford.
Years later, he became a Commander in the Navy. When he learned that his brother had turned into a monster of the underworld...
He volunteered to infiltrate the Donquixote Family.
He earned Doflamingo's trust. Climbed the ranks. Became "Corazon."
All to stop his brother from within.
But Kyūjō remembered one tragic detail.
This was the year Rosinante was supposed to die.
Shot by Doflamingo after trying to steal the Ope Ope no Mi.
— — —
If Rosinante died... wouldn't Sengoku be devastated?
And what about the kid?
Trafalgar D. Water Law.
In the manga, Kyūjō had always liked two characters the most: Zoro and Law.
So why not bring Law to G-11?
Raise him in the Navy?
He already wielded a sword, didn't he?
A swordsman with the Ope Ope no Mi?
Just thinking about it gave Kyūjō chills.
He had to save Rosinante.
Would it mess up the timeline?
Who cares.
Why did Law have to join the Straw Hats anyway?
Becoming a Marine is just as valid a future!
What's that? Doflamingo would never allow it?
Then he'd just beat the stuffing out of him.
Kyūjō's fists clenched.
He couldn't wait to teach that smug bastard a lesson—
That there were powers in this world far beyond anything he could comprehend.
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