Whoosh
The Navy warship cut through the roaring waves.
The Marine flag at its bow whipped fiercely in the sea wind.
Slowly, it pulled away from the docks of the 16th Branch, surging forward at full speed toward its destination
The Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
On deck, Renn Hawk leaned against the railing, a cigar clenched between his teeth.
He gazed out at the endless blue horizon.
Marine Headquarters... I'm coming.
Back at the 16th Branch dock
"Big brother..."
Dane and the branch soldiers stood in silence.
The wind tugged at their coats, their faces set in solemn resolve.
With a sharp movement, Dane raised his right hand in a crisp salute toward the departing warship.
Behind him, every soldier mirrored his motion in perfect unison.
Their eyes followed the warship until it was swallowed by the line where sea and sky met.
Only then did Dane lower his hand.
Almost unconsciously, his palm rested on the hilt of Night Calm at his waist.
The chill of the handle steadied his restless heart.
Brother Hawk...
He was heading to Marine Headquarters to formally receive his commission as brigadier general and branch commander.
As for Dane and the others, their orders were clear: soon, they would follow his footsteps into the Grand Line.
Before leaving, Hawk had given them their instructions.
In half a month, new officers and soldiers from Headquarters would arrive to take command of the 16th Branch.
When that time came, Dane would lead every man in the branch to reorganize and depart for the G-3 Base to reunite with Hawk.
And Hawk would personally bring with him the promotion documents for every one of his brothers.
In short every man of the 16th Branch had been promoted!
"Brothers!"
Dane turned to face the men behind him, who were still staring at the sea.
At the sound of his voice, their eyes locked onto him.
"Brigadier General Hawk has set out for Headquarters to receive his commission!"
"He will soon take command of the G-3 Branch in the Grand Line!"
"In half a month, we will set sail to join him there!"
"And—"
"Every one of you will be promoted!!"
For a heartbeat, silence fell. Even the sound of the sea breeze seemed to pause.
"All of us... promoted?"
"Is this real?"
The soldiers gaped, eyes wide, hardly daring to believe what they heard.
Every one of them? Promoted?
"Yes!"
Dane's own voice trembled with excitement. "Every single one of you will rise in rank! Which means, for these last two weeks—"
"We stand our final watch at the 16th Branch, until Headquarters arrives for the handover!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
The moment of shock broke like a wave. Thunderous cheers erupted across the dock.
Caps flew skyward in celebration, raining down again over tear-streaked, sun-darkened faces.
Their joy was unrestrained.
Brigadier General Hawk...
He hadn't forgotten his men the ones who had stood by him all along.
Every man had a share.
Every man would be promoted.
Every man would march into the Grand Line with him.
The Grand Line—
The pirates' paradise, the graveyard of the strong.
But so what?
As long as they followed Brigadier General Hawk—
No matter if ahead lay blades or fire—
They would not flinch.
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters.
Inside Admiral Aokiji's office, sunlight filtered through half-closed blinds, scattering shadows across the floor.
The admiral reclined on the sofa, his sleep mask pushed up on his forehead, his gaze half-lidded and weary.
Across from him lounged an uninvited guest: a tall, lanky man in a gaudy yellow-and-white striped suit, black curls cropped short, sunglasses covering his eyes, a scruffy beard on his jaw, and a sly grin curling his lips.
Admiral Borsalino better known as Kizaru.
"Borsalino..."
Aokiji's voice was lazy, hoarse from half-sleep. "Why are you here instead of reporting to the Fleet Admiral? Don't tell me you came to me for a chat."
"Yoo~"
Kizaru stretched, leaning back with a satisfied sigh.
"Come now, Kuzan, we're colleagues, aren't we? Can't I stop by just to catch up?"
"Hah..."
"You're hiding here because you don't want Sengoku dumping another mission on you, aren't you?"
"Hehehe~"
Kizaru grinned shamelessly. "Kuzan, you really do understand me."
After finishing his latest assignment in the New World, he had returned to find that Sakazuki, the tireless workhorse, had shipped out to the East Blue on yet another mission.
With Sakazuki gone, there was a higher chance of new orders falling onto his lap.
So he had come to Kuzan's office to lay low for a while.
Brilliant idea, old man. Absolutely brilliant.
Just then knock, knock, knock.
"Enter."
At Aokiji's word, the door swung open. A Marine stepped inside, saluting sharply.
"Admiral Aokiji."
His gaze flicked to Kizaru, and for a moment he froze, then quickly added another salute.
"Admiral Kizaru."
He held a sealed file in both hands as he strode forward and presented it to Aokiji.
"Admiral, this is the review result of the individual you asked us to monitor."
"Oh..."
Aokiji's drowsy eyes sharpened faintly as he accepted the file.
"Ohh...?"
Kizaru's eyes glinted behind his sunglasses, his grin stretching wider.
So even the notoriously laid-back Kuzan had taken the trouble to keep tabs on someone?
Interesting.
Who could possibly have caught his attention?
Snap—
Aokiji opened the file and glanced at the result.
Renn Hawk promoted to brigadier general.
Assigned command of the G-3 Branch in the Grand Line.
"Hmm...?"
Aokiji's brows furrowed instantly.
This was far beyond what he had expected.
He had thought that with both his and Sakazuki's support, Hawk might avoid punishment maybe even earn a modest promotion within the East Blue.
But this?
Marine Headquarters brigadier general?
And commander of the G-3 Branch?
That base was one of the most critical outposts in the first half of the Grand Line. Its command post had always been held by a vice admiral.
Yet here was a branch lieutenant colonel who had skipped multiple ranks, now not only a brigadier general, but also given full control of such a vital post...
This was not a decision Sakazuki alone could have pushed through.
If Sengoku had opposed it, this appointment would never have passed so easily.
Which meant...
Even the Fleet Admiral's stance had shifted.
Aokiji read through the report carefully, taking in every detail.
The lazy mask faded from his face, replaced by surprise.
Sakazuki's evaluation of Hawk was... that high?
And coming from a colleague who so often clashed with him over their definitions of "justice," Aokiji knew exactly how strict Sakazuki's standards were.
For someone to earn such wholehearted praise from him—
This Renn Hawk must be extraordinary.
Perhaps Smoker should hear this.
Aokiji reached for the Den Den Mushi on his desk and dialed a number.
Buru-buru~ Buru-buru~
The snail-phone rang, its face morphing to mimic the gruff, irritated expression of the man on the other end, two cigars clenched in his mouth.
"Kuzan? What is it?"
"Smoker... I've got some good news for you."
"And some bad news. Which one do you want first?"
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