Marine Headquarters, the seas near Marineford.
"Whooosh—"
A battleship plowed through the white waves, cutting at full speed into this heavily guarded stretch of sea.
On the deck of the warship.
"..."
Hawke leaned against the railing, cigar in his mouth, gazing toward the distant horizon.
After a day of sailing, they were finally about to reach Headquarters.
With Admiral Akainu and the Headquarters' elite escorting them...
The entire journey had been smooth, without much obstruction.
Instead, he'd had the chance to take in plenty of sights...
The bizarre weather patterns of the Grand Line, the shifting, unpredictable currents...
To be honest, if not for the pirates' burning, looting, and plundering, this ocean had its own sort of charm.
The local customs, the unique island cultures—they were fascinating.
And if those arrogant Celestial Dragons could be swept away too, that would make things truly perfect.
"Hawke, we've arrived."
Akainu's deep voice came from behind, breaking his thoughts.
"Mm."
Hawke put out the cigar at the sound, lifting his head.
His gaze was instantly locked onto the colossal figure looming ever clearer before him.
Marine Headquarters—Marineford!
The enormous crescent-shaped bay stretched open like the jaws of a giant beast ready to devour intruders.
Countless cannons, their dark barrels pointing in every direction, radiated silent menace.
Layer upon layer of fortress walls loomed unbreakable, declaring without words...
The majesty of the greatest power upon these seas!
At the very center, a colossal tower speared into the heavens.
On the face of the main stronghold, two massive characters were carved into the stone: "MARINE."
Each stroke seemed to carry crushing weight, exuding suffocating pressure.
Around it, high towers bore Marine flags whipping wildly in the ocean wind.
"Hah—"
Hawke let out a long breath.
The real Marineford was far more imposing, far more solemn than the memories in his mind.
And far more awe-inspiring...
Unbidden, a scene from the original story flickered through his mind.
Countless Marines, cloaks billowing with the word "Justice," stood with grim resolve, gathered here.
Absolute Justice.
[As long as stubborn evil exists on these seas...]
[We Marines, under the name of Absolute Justice, will drive it out completely!!!]
The fiery declaration seemed to echo through the skies above Headquarters.
"..."
Hawke felt his own spirit stirred by some invisible force.
He took a deep breath, pressing down the surge within him.
Then he began carefully studying the massive fortress before his eyes.
Akainu, noticing his intent gaze, asked,
"Well?"
"Magnificent."
Hawke's voice was low and steady. "Compared to the branch bases in the East Blue, this is a true war machine."
"As it should be."
Akainu nodded. "Marine Headquarters is the very center of Justice."
"Woo—"
The battleship's whistle blared as it slowed, drawing closer to the crescent-shaped port.
On the dock, Marines bustled to and fro with strict discipline—far beyond what one would ever see in an ordinary branch.
"Step—"
Akainu set foot on the dock first, Hawke right behind him.
They were about to head straight for the Fleet Admiral's office to receive their formal appointments.
But then—"Whoosh—"
A flash of dazzling golden light suddenly gathered before them without warning.
When the light faded, a man's figure was revealed.
Admiral Borsalino—Kizaru.
"Yoo~"
Drawling the word out, Kizaru waved lazily at Hawke and Akainu.
"Hm...?"
"Borsalino?"
Akainu stopped, frowning slightly.
This eternal slacker wasn't lounging in his office...
What was he doing out here at the dock, enjoying the sea breeze?
Strange...
"Sakazuki~ welcome back to Headquarters~"
Kizaru gave Akainu a polite greeting, but the eyes hidden behind his sunglasses spun quickly toward Hawke at his side.
I've been waiting quite a while for you!
Just to lure you into becoming my adjutant, I've gone through no small trouble.
I made sure to find out the rough time of your arrival at Headquarters, and then waited here at the dock, under this blazing sun.
Because once you officially accept the appointment as Head of G-3, your position won't be moving for a while.
And there goes my sweet dream of kicking back and letting someone else handle the work!
So before the appointment is finalized... I have to "intercept" you right here at the dock.
After all, Headquarters has no shortage of talent, but someone your age, with such balanced strength, capable and decisive...
Tch. Far too rare!
This once-in-a-lifetime chance, I'm not letting slip!
Thinking so, Kizaru's face spread into a warm smile as he leaned closer to Hawke.
"Yoo~"
"So this is the newly famous Commodore Rayne Hawke, isn't it?"
"Turned the entire East Blue upside down all by himself~"
"Such a promising young man~"
"Admiral Kizaru!"
Hawke straightened instantly, snapping off a crisp salute.
He hadn't expected to encounter Admiral Kizaru the moment he arrived at Headquarters.
But why was Admiral Kizaru being so... enthusiastic?
Mainly, that kind of enthusiasm was downright unsettling...
Can you imagine an old man, his cheeks covered in wrinkles, winking at you while grinning like a blooming chrysanthemum...
Hawke forced that strange, uncomfortable feeling deep down, keeping the rigid posture of a soldier at attention.
"Mm…"
Borsalino nodded with a squinting smile, just about to say something else.
A large, calloused hand—its skin faintly radiating a searing heat—suddenly thrust itself between him and Hawke.
The towering figure of Sakazuki stood like a mountain, blocking Hawke from view.
"Borsalino."
"You think you can just take Hawke from me?"
"Don't even think about it!"
...
East Blue, near Cocoyasi Village.
A shabby little boat drifted shakily toward the shore.
A young girl with short orange hair and a strikingly pretty face leapt off the boat.
The seawater washed over her ankles, bringing with it a cool touch.
"Phew—"
Nami let out a long breath.
"Cocoyasi Village… I'm finally back."
Nami.
She gazed at the quiet beach, her brows lightly furrowing.
"Something's strange..."
This stretch of sea had been far too peaceful lately.
Those pirates that used to buzz around like annoying flies—she hadn't run into a single one...
Which meant that she, the pirate thief, hadn't had any work in a long while...
Forget it.
First, I'd better head back to that cursed place—Arlong Park.
The moment she thought of Arlong's fish-like face, the one that haunted her with endless nightmares...
Nami's heart clenched, as though an invisible hand was gripping it tight, filling her with waves of nausea and bone-deep hatred.
Just a little longer.
Soon. Soon, she'd be able to scrape together one hundred million Belly.
Then, she could buy back Cocoyasi Village from that bastard Arlong!
Her sister Nojiko and the villagers would finally be able to live in peace and freedom again!
Nami's sister—Nojiko.
"..."
Determination flickered in Nami's eyes.
She shook her head, throwing off distracting thoughts.
Clutching the carefully drawn map in her arms, she walked in the direction of Arlong Park.
However...
When Nami arrived at the place etched in her memory...
She froze on the spot.
Her beautiful eyes widened in shock.
Her mouth fell open involuntarily.
What did she see?
An empty lot.
A wide, vacant expanse of land.
The "Arlong Park" that should have loomed there like a grotesque nightmare, the very symbol of Arlong's brutal rule...
Had vanished without a trace!
All that remained was a desolate, empty plain...
"..."
Nami rubbed her eyes hard, then pinched herself, hard.
"No way…"
"Where the hell is that huge Arlong Park?!"
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