"Ah?"
Hibari tilted her head, her eyes full of confusion.
"Clack—"
Akainu pulled open the heavy drawer of his desk and took out a golden Den Den Mushi, its entire shell shining brilliantly.
"This… is something Vice Admiral Tsuru can't give you."
"What is this?"
Hibari leaned forward curiously, reaching out as if to poke the glittering Den Den Mushi.
"..."
Akainu raised his hand and gently patted Hibari's head with his broad palm.
"This is something that can protect you."
He withdrew his hand, placed the golden Den Den Mushi back into the drawer, and locked it carefully.
"Hibari, don't ask too many questions about matters that concern the higher-ups."
"When we get to the G-3 Branch, make sure you learn well from Hawke."
"Got it!"
Seeing his attitude, Hibari didn't press any further.
Her goal was already achieved.
As long as she managed to secure something for Hawke, that counted as a success!
Later, when it was time to depart, she'd raid her old man's study for cigars — that would be a huge success!
Humming cheerfully, she turned around and skipped back to her room to sleep.
"..."
The study fell silent, leaving only Akainu alone.
He took out the golden Den Den Mushi again, his fingertips gently brushing over its cold metallic surface.
His gaze drifted toward the moonlit sky above Marineford.
His thoughts seemed to wander far, far back to the distant past...
"Buster Call, huh…"
...
The next morning.
Warm sunlight bathed the entirety of Marineford.
Hawke woke up early and prepared to head out for morning training.
The moment he stepped outside, he noticed a tall man leaning lazily against the wall by the door.
It was Admiral Aokiji, a box tucked casually under his arm.
"Morning, Hawke-kun."
"Good morning, Admiral Aokiji."
"How about grabbing breakfast together?"
Aokiji yawned and suggested lazily.
Hawke nodded. "Sure!"
The two walked side by side along Marineford's main road, with passing Marines stopping to stand at attention and salute them.
Hawke took the initiative to speak.
"Admiral Aokiji—"
"Just call me Kuzan."
"Uh… then, Kuzan-san, have you figured out what was bothering you the other day?"
"..."
"Not exactly," Kuzan shook his head, "but I still want to thank you."
"I feel like the tangled mess in my head has finally had a single knot loosened."
He turned his head slightly, his gaze clearer than usual as he looked at Hawke.
"Hawke, you didn't give me an answer…"
"But you made me realize I've been trying to solve the wrong question all along."
"Even though I haven't completely shaken off my doubts, I've regained some of my drive."
"I can't let that guy Sakazuki dominate the Navy unchallenged anymore."
"As for military affairs from now on, I'll lend you my support whenever you need it."
"..."
Hawke nodded. "Alright."
This was good news.
Having Admiral Aokiji regain his drive was a good thing — not just for the Navy, but for him personally.
In the original timeline, Aokiji lost the Fleet Admiral position to Akainu and eventually left the Navy.
That was a massive loss for the Marines.
But now… thanks to the flap of his butterfly wings…
Perhaps the future would turn out differently.
Just then, Aokiji handed over the box tucked under his arm.
"A gift for you."
"..."
Hawke took the box and opened it.
Inside lay an exquisitely crafted eyepatch, its entire surface a deep, dark crimson.
The edges were finely stitched with black thread, the design simple yet carrying a sharp, menacing aura.
"How about it~?"
Aokiji said proudly.
"This is my favorite eyepatch design."
"Uh…"
"The design's definitely good…"
Hawke held the eyepatch, his expression stiff.
"But seriously, who the hell makes sleeping eyemasks in blood-red?!"
He had no doubt that if he wore this outside, he'd be scaring little kids into silence.
"Don't like it?"
"Isn't your nickname Blood Hawk?"
"And your style of justice — your Slaughter Justice — this color matches perfectly!"
"I picked this one carefully and had it custom-made. One of a kind!"
"…"
"Thanks, Kuzan-san."
Hawke forced a smile, swallowing down the words of refusal.
"I… really like it."
He didn't dare complain further. After all, this was something Kuzan had chosen especially for him.
Between pretending to be grateful and being frozen into an ice sculpture, the smarter choice was obvious.
"…"
Hawke moved to close the box.
Better stash this away quickly before a third person saw it.
But Aokiji suddenly reminded him: "Don't rush — there's another gift underneath."
Following his words, Hawke lifted the eyepatch.
Beneath it lay… a golden Den Den Mushi.
"..."
In an instant, Hawke's pupils shrank to needlepoints.
"Th-this is…"
"Mm." Aokiji nodded. "That's a Buster Call."
Hawke froze as his suspicion was confirmed and slowly picked up the golden Den Den Mushi.
The Buster Call.
Also known as an Emergency Summons.
It came as a pair: one golden Den Den Mushi and one silver.
The golden one was held by Marine Admirals and the Fleet Admiral, used to send the activation signal.
The silver one stayed at Marine Headquarters to receive the signal.
Once activated, Headquarters would immediately mobilize ten warships and dispatch five Vice Admirals to carry out a complete, indiscriminate, and devastating strike on the target location.
This was the highest military authority granted to the Navy by the World Government!
A force capable of wiping an entire island off the map — absolute, unrelenting destruction.
In the original story, this was a terrifying weapon that inspired dread during the early arcs.
Later on, as power levels inflated, it became less impactful.
But it remained a strategic-level weapon — one capable of changing the tide of a massive battle.
And now… Kuzan…
Was handing it over to him, just like that?
"…"
Hawke stared at Aokiji, almost in disbelief.
"Hawke, I have a feeling…"
"In the future, my Lazy Justice may waver — may even change — because of you."
"So, I'm authorizing you to use the Buster Call."
"Of course, it's not without conditions."
"I want you to do something for me."
"Mm… what is it?"
Hawke placed the golden Den Den Mushi back into the box and closed the lid.
"…"
Aokiji stopped walking, scanning their surroundings to ensure no one was nearby.
Then he looked at Hawke seriously — this young Commodore who had sat down and spoken to him frankly, who had shaken his beliefs to the core.
His mind replayed the reports from the East Blue… Hawke's actions, balancing slaughter and protection alike.
"Back during the Ohara incident…"
Aokiji spoke slowly.
"I followed the will of my friend Saul… and spared one person."
His voice was soft, but carried a deep, heavy sorrow, one cold enough to freeze the air itself.
"I've heard… she's now joined the ranks of one of the Shichibukai — 'Sand Crocodile' Crocodile's crew."
A complex emotion flickered in Aokiji's gaze.
"Even though I've regained some drive recently, when it comes to her… I'm not the right person to get involved."
"I'm both the one who let her go… and the one who destroyed her home. I have no right to judge her."
"So, Hawke, I want to entrust this decision to you."
"Find her."
"If you believe that, after all these years, her actions are unforgivable… then use the authority in your hands to bring her back to Impel Down."
"But if you believe she had her reasons, and her crimes aren't beyond redemption…"
Aokiji paused, carefully choosing his words.
"...Whether you decide to let her go again… or recruit her into the G-3 Branch… I'll leave it entirely up to you."
"I want to see what you'll choose."
"But no matter what you decide… please, spare her life."
"..."
Hawke fell silent.
Of course, he knew exactly who Kuzan-nii was talking about.
The "Devil's Child" — Nico Robin!
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