The sun was dipping low in the New World, staining the clouds with molten oranges and deep purples as the sea rolled in slow, powerful breaths.
The Oro Jackson cut through the waves like a ghost of legend — Ada's flag snapping high above, its presence enough to send half the pirates in the region fleeing.
It was in that moment of calm that a distant speck appeared across the glittering horizon.
Lilith was the first to notice, adjusting her goggles with a tiny gasp.
"Object approaching… coffin-shaped vessel… only one person aboard…"
Perona floated beside her, squinting. "A coffin boat… that's definitely him!"
Bullet leaned against the railing, arms bulging with tension. "Finally."
Okiku shaded her eyes gracefully. "Mihawk-san returns."
As the small, eerie coffin-shaped boat glided toward the ship, the silhouette sitting atop it came into crisp view — straight-backed, sword resting idle behind him, black coat whipping in the wind.
Dracule Mihawk.
Even approaching, he radiated the same suffocating aura that made Yonko crews watch their distance.
Perona began waving frantically. "Mihawk!! You made it back!"
Hiyori stepped forward, hands clasped.
"Welcome home, Mihawk."
The coffin boat bumped gently against the hull, and without even the faintest exertion, Mihawk hooked it and stepped onto the deck in one silent, fluid motion.
He looked as though not a single thing in the world had touched him.
Not even a Marine meeting meant to interrogate him.
Ada stood by the mast, dress fluttering behind her, arms crossed.
Her expression was unreadable — but her eyes were sharp.
"Mihawk," she greeted with a quiet weight.
The rest of the crew instinctively drew closer.
The air tightened.
Bullet snapped first. "Well? How did the damn meeting go?"
Lilith shoved her goggles up, breath quick.
"Did the Marines try to detain you? Question you? Did anyone explode?"
Perona puffed her cheeks. "Did they insult Captain?! Tell me who — I'll curse them!"
Mihawk exhaled through his nose — subtle, but enough to silence everyone.
"There was no ambush," he said. "No trap. No hostility worth mentioning."
Then he added. "But the meeting had one goal."
Everyone leaned in.
Mihawk's voice cut clean through the tension.
"A Warlord has fallen. One of the Seven was defeated."
Perona gasped. "What?! They didn't even print that in the papers!"
Lilith started flipping through mental calculations. "That shifts the balance by several percent… the Marines must be panicking."
Bullet spat to the side. "Tch. Idiot wasn't strong enough."
Hiyori frowned. "Who was defeated?"
Mihawk didn't answer directly — which made it clear the name didn't matter.
Only the vacancy did.
"The Marines required a replacement," he said. "Immediately."
Ada's gaze sharpened.
"And?"
Then he answered with a single, clean slice of truth.
"I nominated Jinbe."
The world stopped.
It wasn't just quiet.
It was dead.
Even the waves seemed to pause against the hull.
Perona's jaw dropped so far her ghost form nearly slipped out.
"Jinbe?! As in — OUR Jinbe?!"
Lilith choked. "The Fishman Knight? Strict, polite, honorable Jinbe is going to be… a Warlord?!"
Okiku blinked slowly, barely containing her surprise.
"The Knight of the Sea… truly worthy."
Bullet barked out a short, incredulous laugh. "I can already imagine the looks on those Marine bastards' faces!"
Ada raised a single brow, still composed.
"…And?"
Mihawk crossed his arms — posture relaxed but gaze razor-sharp.
"The other Warlords voted in favor."
Shock rippled through the group again — this time noisier.
Perona flailed. "Eh?! Even that creepy clown Moria?!"
Lilith frowned. "Statistically speaking, 50% of them should have voted against anything related to Ada…"
Bullet smirked. "But they didn't. Because Jinbe's that damn respectable."
Hiyori placed a delicate hand over her mouth. "Lady Hancock must have supported him."
Perona nodded rapidly. "Of course she did! Ada saved her back then — even if Hancock never says it out loud."
Bullet cracked his knuckles. "Sengoku must be losing what's left of his hair."
For the first time, Mihawk's lips slid into a faint, sharp curve.
"He was."
Ada's eyes softened, an almost invisible warmth flickering behind them.
Of course Sengoku was furious.
A Warlord from her fleet meant more political weight than a single Marine division.
Mihawk continued with the same calm finality he always carried. "Jinbe was approved. It is official."
A long, collective breath washed through the crew.
Perona spun in the air.
"Jinbe… a Warlord… this is CRAZY!"
Lilith began muttering calculations to herself.
"This significantly alters power projections in the New World…"
Bullet grinned wolfishly.
"He deserves it. This'll make the Marines sweat."
Ada's cloak swayed as she turned away, already pulling a den den mushi from her pocket.
A faint perororororororo… perrorororororo… echoed from Ada's hand.
The Den Den Mushi's eyelids fluttered open, taking on Tiger's expression — broad, stern, startled.
"This is Fisher Tiger. Captain?"
She placed it to her ear.
"Tiger," she said, though Tiger was not on her ship — he was miles away, ruling the First Division.
"Bring Jinbe. Immediately."
Her voice held the quiet authority of someone who had shaped the world for nearly four decades.
Tiger straightened immediately.
Even through the snail, you could feel his spine go rigid. "Ada, what's happened?"
The crew gathered closer, crowding around Ada and the talking snail.
Mihawk leaned casually against the mast, arms crossed, listening.
Ada's voice remained calm — but the crew recognized the undercurrent of significance.
"We need Jinbe."
Tiger blinked. "Jinbe? Is something wrong?"
Ada allowed a fraction of a smile to touch her lips.
"No. Something… has changed."
Bullet snorted. "Understatement."
Lilith whispered, "He's going to panic."
Perona hovered above Ada's shoulder. "Tell him tell him tell him!"
Ada ignored them and continued, steady and direct. "Tiger. Bring Jinbe to a secure receiver. Put him on."
Tiger hesitated — which was rare for him.
"Understood. I'll get him now."
The Den Den Mushi closed its eyes — the sound of rushing footsteps and hurried voices blurring through the line.
Then—
A deeper, calmer face replaced Tiger's features as the snail reopened its eyes.
It was unmistakably Jinbe. "Captain Ada… you requested me?"
Ada's crew instinctively straightened — even Bullet inclined his head.
Everyone respected Jinbe.
Ada spoke plainly. "Jinbe. You have been offered a position."
Jinbe blinked slowly.
"…A position?"
Mihawk stepped closer so the Den Den Mushi's face shifted to mimic his own cold stare.
He said simply. "The Marines have chosen you to become a Warlord of the Sea."
Jinbe froze.
For the first time since the Sun Pirates were founded — Fisher Tiger's second-in-command, the Knight of the Sea, looked Truly.
Completely.
Shocked.
"…Me?"
Ada nodded.
"Yes."
The Oro Jackson's deck fell silent.
Even the wind quieted, waiting for Jinbe's response.
Through the snail, they heard Tiger murmur behind him.
"Jinbe… it's true."
Jinbe swallowed.
His voice wavered — not with fear, but with the weight of what it meant.
"Captain… Captain Ada… why… me?"
Ada remained silent and quite said. "Mihawk nominated you. The others voted. It was approved."
Jinbe stared down, fists clenched.
He had never sought titles.
He had never sought power.
But a Warlord…
A Warlord could protect Fishman Island.
A Warlord could give his people a voice.
A Warlord could bridge humans and fishmen.
just like Otohime dreamed.
Ada then added.
"Because you earned it.
Because the world sees your strength.
Because you can protect more people this way."
Hiyori smiled gently, whispering, "That sounds exactly like her…"
Bullet smirked. "Lucky bastard."
Perona hugged her ghost. "HE'S GONNA BE FAMOUS—again!!"
Lilith was already scribbling calculations. "This shifts the global balance in statistically incredible ways—"
Okiku folded her hands in quiet pride. "He deserves this honor."
Ada's voice softened — barely.
"And because it will help your people.
Your island.
Fishman Island."
There was a long pause.
Then Jinbe exhaled — a deep, trembling breath.
"…I will accept."
Tiger's relieved sigh echoed loudly behind him.
Ada nodded once — approval in her eyes.
"Good. Then prepare yourself." Her voice carried a quiet pride she rarely ever showed.
"You carry my flag — but this title will be yours."
Jinbe closed his eyes briefly.
"Yes. I will not bring shame to either."
Jinbe bowed — deeply, respectfully, gratefully.
"I will not disappoint you… Captain Ada."
Click.
The line ended.
The deck of the Oro Jackson vibrated with excitement.
Perona spun in the air. "JINBE IS A WARLORD NOW!"
Lilith scribbled diagrams. "This expands our influence by—by—by an absurd margin!"
Bullet cracked his knuckles. "The Marines must be pissing themselves."
Hiyori clasped her hands. "It is an honor for our fleet…"
Okiku smiled. "Jinbe-san will represent us well."
Mihawk gave Ada a side glance.
"You understand what this means."
Ada closed the Den Den Mushi, her expression thoughtful — and unreadable.
"…Yes."
Her dress swayed in the wind.
"The world's balance just shifted again."
And somewhere in Marineford — the Admirals were already losing their minds.
The moment the Den Den Mushi closed, the deck still hummed with the echoes of excitement.
But Ada was already turning away.
Her movements were fluid, controlled — yet purposeful.
"Lilith," she said, "connect me to Tesoro."
Lilith nodded quickly, pulling out a shimmering gold-plated Den Den Mushi — Tesoro's personal line. The snail was flamboyant, wearing glittering lashes and a tiny gold bowtie.
Purororororororo… purororororororo…
It barely rang twice before the snail's eyes snapped open with Tesoro's familiar, cocky grin.
"CAPTAIN~!"
Gold dripped from his tone alone. "To what do I owe this glamorous call?"
Ada didn't waste time. "How is our plan progressing?"
The crew leaned closer — this plan was not something Ada spoke about lightly.
Tesoro laughed — a rich, smug sound that echoed even through the snail.
"Oh-ho-ho…"
"Very nicely. VERY nicely."
He snapped his fingers.
In the background they could hear music, cheers, roulette wheels, champagne corks, and the quiet hum of wealth being devoured by gold.
"The Gran Tesoro is becoming the center of entertainment, gambling, and high-stakes business across the New World."
He chuckled.
"Everyone with money is crawling to me… willingly."
Bullet rolled his eyes. "Always loved hearing himself talk."
Perona hovered. "He's so dramatic."
Tesoro continued proudly. "Criminals, aristocrats, nobles, merchants, brokers, bounty hunters… even a few Celestial Dragon lapdogs have shown interest."
Ada's eyes narrowed slightly — pleased.
"Good. And the Underworld?"
Tesoro leaned closer to the snail, voice dropping with a touch of delight.
"The current Underworld Emperors are watching me."
"Some want to eliminate me."
"Some want to buy me."
"And all of them want my power."
Ada nodded once.
It meant they already considered him a threat.
Tesoro continued.
"We're close, Captain. Very close."
His grin sharpened.
"Once I shut down three competitors with… let's call them 'acquisitions,' I'll officially be recognized as one of the Underworld Emperors."
Mihawk raised a brow. "He's more ruthless than he looks."
Lilith scribbled. "An Emperor of the Underworld… meaning Ada would control the sea, the sky, and the shadows."
Perona gasped dramatically. "SHE'LL RULE EVERYTHING!"
Bullet snorted. "She already does."
Tesoro smirked through the snail. "When I rise, Captain, the Underworld won't just bend… it'll kneel."
Ada's voice held the faintest ripple of satisfaction.
"Good."
Her eyes gleamed — sharp, purposeful.
"Do not rush.
Take them one by one.
Quietly.
Cleanly."
Tesoro placed a hand over his chest. "Of course, Captain. You think I'd do anything sloppily?"
Ada didn't answer.
Because she didn't need to.
He knew.
She knew.
They both understood the same truth.
Soon, not just the seas, but the world's shadow market would fall under her influence.
Ada closed the line.
The moment the snail's eyes shut, the crew felt it.
A shift.
A ripple.
A tightening of the world's leash.
Bullet whistled low. "So Jinbe's a Warlord. And Tesoro's becoming an Underworld Emperor."
Lilith exhaled. "This… is unprecedented."
Perona floated in circles. "Ada's empire is huge!"
Mihawk spoke quietly, but with certainty.
"Ada now holds pieces in every corner of the world."
Ada looked toward the horizon — steady, unreadable.
"Not yet."
Her eyes sharpened.
"But soon."
The sea wind wrapped around her like a promise.