Zephyr's teasing hit Sengoku right in the sore spot: two of his three Admirals—Sakazuki and Kizaru—had already lost to Creed. Even Aokiji openly admitted he was inferior to the man.
If they were pushing into the New World now, Sengoku himself might have to face Creed. The thought of the man who had just defeated Big Mom left even the Fleet Admiral unsure. Big Mom might not be the strongest of the Four, but he knew he couldn't beat her.
"Relax," Zephyr said, stoking the fire. "Creed won't kill you. At worst he'll beat you until you look like a pig's head."
"Get out!" Sengoku roared.
Leaving Headquarters' conference hall, Fujitora walked straight toward the main harbor. A small boat he'd bought yesterday waited there; he'd leave Marine HQ and wander the seas for a while.
The Marines' "justice" wasn't his answer.
"Creed… you tricked me into joining the Marines, then ran off to be a pirate. That's a little unfair," Fujitora muttered, thinking of a certain someone.
"Commander Fujitora!"
Voices called from ahead—several at once. Though blind, his kenbunshoku (Observation Haki) was peerless; in a heartbeat he recognized the newcomers: Jimi, Alent, and a few other former G-5 officers.
Were they here to see him off? He had hoped to slip away quietly, but… so be it. They'd bled together in the New World. To say there were no feelings would be a lie.
"What are you doing here? Headquarters is moving soon. You can't abandon your posts," he said, face stern, shooing them back.
"Commander Fujitora, please allow us to say goodbye," they answered, snapping to attention and saluting.
"That's enough. You should go," he said, not breaking stride toward his little boat.
Jimi couldn't hold it in. "Commander… are you going to find Commander Creed?"
Fujitora paused, then walked on, leaving only, "Not necessarily."
When he was out of sight, Alent hissed, "Are you trying to die? Saying that name here?"
In Marine HQ, Creed's name was taboo—everyone pretended they had no ties. One careless mention in front of Sakazuki, and a man had nearly been punched to death.
Jimi shrugged. "All I know is Commander Creed saved me and our brothers. He's my lifesaver. I won't be so spineless I can't even say his name."
Silence fell. The captains behind Alent nodded. "Same here. Commander Creed saved us. We'll remember it for life."
"Alent, you got lucky escorting the Celestial Dragons. We didn't. Big Mom all but wiped us out, and pirates tortured the survivors. Without Commander Creed, we'd have died in humiliation." Another added, "If Vice Admiral Ain were still here, I'd keep serving under her. But with Commander Fujitora and Vice Admiral Ain both gone… there's no reason for me to stay."
"You're right. We resign together," someone said. Old hands who'd been abandoned for the Celestial Dragons' sake, then rescued by Creed—none of them felt anything for the present Marines. Now that one had spoken up, more followed.
"Fine," Alent said at last. "We all resign."
They headed as a group toward the Fleet Admiral's office. Only after they disappeared did a pair step from the shadows: a striking woman and a short, shifty middle-aged man in tea-colored clothes.
The woman's hair was swept back; she was tall and impossibly long-legged. Micro-shorts and heels made those legs look even longer, a black spider tattoo curling over her left thigh. Above it hung a long blade with a golden guard. A tight, low-cut peach short-top traced a dangerously perfect figure. She moved with mature allure—fatal to men.
Both wore Vice Admiral coats. Admiral-candidates: Momousagi and Tokikake.
"Ungrateful lot. Eat the noodles and smash the bowl—someone needs to teach them a lesson," Tokikake said, narrowing already small eyes. The total mobilization had summoned them to HQ; they were awaiting orders.
"People have their own paths. If they want to leave, we won't chain them," Momousagi said, gliding toward Sengoku as he exited the hall.
"Heh. Whatever you say, Gion," Tokikake chirped, hurrying after her—ever the obedient puppy at her heels.
Dressrosa.
After Doflamingo and his family were defeated by Creed, King Riku reclaimed the throne. Under his rule, the chaos faded quickly; the nation returned to stability and prosperity.
In Dressrosa's prison for major offenders, an uninvited guest stood before a cell, expression shifting.
"Yeh-heh-heh…"
Inside, a handful of men—hair white, teeth missing, faces emptied by age—giggled, played, even relieved themselves in public like fools.
"Doflamingo. Never thought you'd see this day," the visitor said.
He wore a furred, leopard-spotted winter hat. Handsome face, dark eye-bags, stubble along the jaw, a black coat down to the knees printed with odd smiling faces.
Trafalgar Law.
(End of Chapter)
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