"Borsalino."
"You want to take Hawke away from me?"
Akainu's voice was filled with warning.
"Don't even think about it!"
The moment he saw that overly warm smile on Kizaru's face, Akainu instantly understood.
This guy wasn't here to welcome his fellow Admiral at all.
He was here for Hawke!
Handing over someone like Hawke, a rare hawkish talent, to this lazy, slothful man?
In the future, Hawke would start imitating him—saying "Yo~" every other sentence, ending everything with "so scary~"...
Just the thought of it—Akainu couldn't bear to imagine!
Unlike Kizaru's deliberately lowered tone, Akainu's furious shout instantly detonated the entire dock.
Countless Marine soldiers—and even some Headquarters officers—turned their gazes in unison.
"That's Admiral Akainu!"
"He's back from the East Blue?!"
Soon, everyone saw the young man standing behind Akainu.
"Look! That must be Rayne Hawke, right?"
"It's him! Admiral Akainu just called his name!"
"He's the newly promoted Commodore Hawke? He's that young?!"
The murmurs spread across the dock like a rising tide.
"Don't let his age fool you—Commodore Hawke wiped out every pirate in the entire East Blue!"
"I heard that too! Because of that, Admiral Akainu personally went to the East Blue to investigate. In the end, he used a special exemption to promote him straight to Headquarters Commodore!"
"That's nothing!"
"You're behind on the news! I just heard from a friend that Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself approved his appointment!"
"He's been assigned as the Commander of the Grand Line's G-3 Branch!"
"What?! The G-3 Branch?! Isn't that a post only Vice Admirals are qualified to hold?"
"My god! A Commodore being made Commander of the G-3 Branch?!"
"This has to be the first time in Marine history!"
"It really is the first time—but what does that have to do with Admiral Kizaru?"
"Yeah, doesn't Admiral Kizaru usually just slack off in his office? Why's he suddenly being so proactive, even coming down to the docks? I saw him earlier—he was looking around like he was waiting for someone."
Everyone was baffled.
"Didn't Admiral Akainu just say Admiral Kizaru wanted to take Commodore Hawke?"
"..."
"Wait, does that mean the two Admirals are fighting over him?!"
"You've got to be kidding!"
On the docks, every Marine's eyes locked onto Hawke.
Good grief, a spectacle like this—this was once in a century!
Two Admirals… fighting over a single Commodore?!
This… they weren't seriously going to fight, were they?!
"Uh..."
Hawke's scalp tingled with numbness.
He realized it too.
Damn!
No wonder Admiral Kizaru had been grinning so lewdly earlier, like a blooming chrysanthemum.
He was after me!
Still, with Admiral Akainu here, it was best to sit back and observe for now.
"Sakazuki, don't be so hot-tempered~"
Kizaru looked at the fuming Akainu, his smile never faltering.
He had expected this—poaching someone from Sakazuki's hands wouldn't be easy.
But this chosen adjutant was far too precious to give up.
"I just think that someone as talented as Hawke would be wasted in a branch."
"A young man should be by the side of Headquarters' strongest forces—that's how he'll receive the best training and broaden his horizons~"
"With you, he won't be able to reach his full potential."
"But with me, things would be different, yo~"
"Old man me is very open-minded~"
"..."
Hawke was speechless.
You say you want to train me?
Like hell I'd believe that!
You clearly just see that I can fight and get things done—you want a strong workhorse so you can completely slack off without worries!
But me? I only want to kill pirates, eliminate evil, and earn Justice Points...
Not handle your tedious paperwork!
As Hawke's thoughts raced, he was just about to find a tactful way to refuse.
But Akainu's voice boomed first. "Borsalino!"
"Hawke is about to assume command of G-3 Branch. That's an appointment personally signed by Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"There is no changing it!"
He gave a cold snort in his heart.
Open-minded, you say?
A soldier's duty is absolute obedience to orders!
But that doesn't mean I don't know how to be flexible.
After I understood Hawke's capabilities, I entrusted my only daughter to his command—let him train and discipline her!
That represents absolute trust and regard!
The bond between Hawke and me—how could it possibly compare to your flimsy claim of being 'open-minded'?
"Hm..."
Kizaru shrugged indifferently. So now you're pulling out the Fleet Admiral's name?
I already know the whole story.
You, Sakazuki, promised him the Branch Commander post first and acted before reporting—only afterward did the Fleet Admiral approve.
"As for the G-3 Branch Commander's position~ it's not like Hawke is the only choice."
"I've got several capable Vice Admirals under me—I could easily recommend one of them to the Fleet Admiral~"
"Hawke is the kind of talent that should be placed in a much more suitable position!"
For example, my long-vacant adjutant position would be perfect.
Behind his sunglasses, Borsalino's eyes flashed.
Right now, Hawke's rank as a Commodore of Headquarters was neither too high nor too low—it was just right.
If they waited until he was promoted to Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral, then trying to bring him in as his adjutant would be wasting such a talent.
So, now was the best time to bring Hawke under his command!
He had to secure him!
"G-3 Branch Commander is the most suitable position!"
"Hawke is one of us, a hawk faction man!"
Sakazuki's tone grew heavier.
"You neutral faction people should stay out of this!"
The faction struggles inside the Navy were no secret.
Led by himself, the Hawk Faction advocated for iron-blooded methods to purge all evil.
Led by Kuzan, the Dove Faction held a comparatively gentler stance.
And then there was Borsalino, who offended no one, played both sides, and treated "not being troubled" as his highest principle—standing as the Neutral Faction.
"Sakazuki..."
Borsalino pressed on, refusing to give way.
"If Hawke really does come..."
"Then this old man, occasionally lending a hand as a hawk faction man, isn't something that can't be considered, you know~"
"..."
The air over the entire pier froze in an instant.
"Ah—?"
Sakazuki's tall frame visibly stiffened for a moment.
He had been utterly choked by Borsalino's flexible "bottom line."
This bastard... just to bring Hawke under his command, he could even casually switch factions?!
"..."
Hawke watched silently from the side, feeling a bit conflicted.
First, he hadn't expected that he had become such a hot commodity, fought over by two Admirals.
Second...
As expected of you, Admiral Borsalino!
Just so you can slack off in peace, you really embody what it means when you say—"having no bottom line is my bottom line."
"..."
The surrounding Marines watching the drama were all stunned.
Admiral Borsalino...
If you really join the Hawk Faction, what about that massive group of neutral faction officers behind you?
Without you, how would the Neutral Faction survive?!
Suddenly—"Hsssss—"
The temperature at the pier shot up.
Looking at Borsalino, who still refused to give up and was even willing to change his "faction stance," Sakazuki truly grew furious.
Borsalino, you bastard!
Do you really think I have a good temper?
If it weren't you standing before me right now, if it had been anyone else, I would've already smashed them with a punch!
It was only because they were long-time "old friends" that he'd restrained himself enough to explain again and again.
But Hawke was the Hawk Faction's chosen successor—there was no way he would ever hand him over!
The heat around Sakazuki kept rising, one of his arms beginning to glow a dark, molten red.
If Borsalino didn't back down soon, he would make a move.
"It's over! Admiral Sakazuki's about to attack!"
"My god! Two Admirals are going to fight at the pier over Commodore Hawke!"
"Quick! Notify Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Spread the word! Tell them Admiral Sakazuki and Admiral Borsalino have already started fighting at the pier over Commodore Hawke!"
"What?! They've already started fighting?!"
"Spread it! Internal conflict between Headquarters' top combat strength!"
"Spread it! The Headquarters fortress has collapsed! Marineford has sunk!!!"
Borsalino, Sakazuki: "???"
"Who the hell is spreading this nonsense?!"