In the Temporary Base Office
Ashura Doji never once moved from his spot the entire time.
It wasn't that he was indifferent to what was happening outside the window—being in the office was equally uncomfortable for him.
Jinbei and Mihawk stood by the window, keeping an eye on the situation outside, but the overwhelming aura they unconsciously emitted made him wary of letting his guard down even for a second.
What made him feel most on edge was Crocodile who sat at the desk.
When Denjiro suddenly burst through the window earlier, Crocodile had given him a warning.
If Ashura Doji stayed put, there might still be room for negotiation.
But if he recklessly charged out like Denjiro, what awaited them would be a purge ten times bloodier than anything that had happened in Wano back then!
However, Ashura Doji soon heard a loud, unified chant from outside.
Clearly, the Fleet Admiral of the Marines had arrived.
At first, he didn't react much to the chant, but he quickly realized something was off.
The moment that thunderous, synchronized cry of "Loyalty!" rang out, he noticed Jinbei and Mihawk by the window immediately straightening their postures.
Even Crocodile, seated at the desk, reflexively stood up from his chair.
A single chant had made three of the most infamous Warlords of the Sea in the Grand Line show such respect—it was unimaginable just how high the Fleet Admiral's prestige must be.
After all, these three were notorious pirates who had made their names across the seas.
Even after becoming Warlords, most of them only followed orders when it suited them, especially Mihawk, the "Greatest Swordsman in the World," who had always acted independently and done as he pleased.
Yet, even now, Jinbei and Mihawk remained standing instead of returning to the sofa and Crocodile kept his gaze fixed on the door while standing.
Just then, a crisp set of footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.
The office door was pushed open.
The moment it swung wide, Ashura Doji's vision darkened slightly.
Before him, a towering obese figure stood like a moving fortress, blocking the doorway and dimming the light in the office.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Ashura Doji's pupils constricted in shock as he stared at the figure who had opened the door.
He inwardly exclaimed 'Gecko Moria? Another Warlord... Have all the Warlords pledged loyalty to this new Fleet Admiral?'
Ashura Doji was no stranger to Gecko Moria.
Years ago, Moria had led his pirate crew into Wano and clashed with Kaido.
At the time, Kozuki Oden had been deceived by Kurozumi Orochi, dancing daily in crowded streets.
Upon receiving this intel, Ashura Doji and Denjiro immediately mobilized their forces, keeping watch in secret, hoping to seize the chance to strike back at Kaido.
Both he and Denjiro knew—if they could take down Kaido, Orochi would no longer be a threat!
It had been their best opportunity for a counterattack.
But Oden, still believing Orochi's lies, wouldn't listen to their desperate pleas, no matter how hard they tried.
Left with no choice, Ashura Doji and Denjiro could only rush to the battlefield.
But when they arrived, Kaido had already slaughtered all of Gecko Moria's crew.
Having lost all his men, Gecko Moria launched a frenzied assault on Kaido.
Though Moria was ultimately defeated and forced to flee, no one could deny his strength.
The fact that he could hold his own against Kaido for so long and escape unscathed was proof enough of his formidable power.
Yet now, this very same warrior—who had challenged Kaido and lived—stood before them, dressed in a Marine soldier's uniform?
Just as Ashura Doji was caught off guard by the sight of Gecko Moria standing respectfully outside the door in Marine attire, another figure immediately caught his eye—Fleet Admiral Orion of the Marines.
"Fleet Admiral Orion!"
Upon seeing Orion, Crocodile quickly moved to one side of the desk and saluted, while Jinbei and Mihawk also turned to face him.
Orion nodded, strode to the desk and took a seat, motioning for the three to sit as well.
"He's the Fleet Admiral?"
From the moment Orion entered the room, Ashura Doji's gaze followed him, his initial confusion gradually replaced by shock.
His age… it was beyond expectations!
He never imagined that the Fleet Admiral of the Marines—revered with near-fanaticism by officers of all ranks—could be so young.
For a moment, Ashura Doji thought his eyes were playing tricks on him and instinctively rubbed them.
Once certain his vision wasn't failing him, he couldn't suppress his curiosity and astonishment.
Steeling himself, he looked again at the youthful Fleet Admiral now seated at the desk.
With sharp brows and piercing eyes, the young admiral exuded both valor and dominance, his face bearing a warm smile.
Had it not been for the reverence everyone showed him, Ashura Doji would never have associated him with the Fleet Admiral—at most, he'd have taken him for an ambitious young man.
Before Ashura Doji could recover from the shock of the Fleet Admiral's youth, Admiral Gion with three long swords at her waist, entered the office and took her place at Orion's right side.
Hmm?
As Gion stopped beside Orion and turned to face the door, Ashura Doji's pupils constricted sharply once more, his gaze locking onto one of the swords at Gion waist.
His mind screamed in silent recognition.
'That's—Enma?!'
Certain he wasn't mistaken, Ashura Doji abruptly stood up.
"Ashura!"
Before he could act further, a weak voice suddenly called out.
Turning towards the sound, he saw Kozuki Hiyori, her face pale, entering the office alongside Denjiro.
At this sight, the tension in Ashura Doji's heart instantly eased.
The moment he spotted Enma at Gion waist, he had feared that Hiyori and Denjiro had been executed by the Marines, prompting his emotional outburst.
However, Hiyori and Denjiro didn't approach Ashura Doji.
Instead, they stood side by side before the desk, awaiting the Fleet Admiral's final judgment.
Orion paid them no mind, sitting composedly at the desk as if waiting for something.
With the Fleet Admiral silent, the office gradually fell into stillness.
Everyone present remained quiet—even the world's greatest swordsman refrained from speaking.
Leaning leisurely against the office window with a glass of red wine in hand and a newspaper under his arm, Mihawk stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Jinbei, his gaze shifting between Kozuki Hiyori and Denjiro.
Crocodile, needless to say, stood rigidly on Orion's left, while Gion mirrored the posture on his right.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
"Fleet Admiral!!!"
A voice brimming with excitement and disbelief rang out from beyond the office door.
In the next moment, a girl floated into the room under a red umbrella, breezing past Kozuki Hiyori and Denjiro before sitting directly onto the desk.
. "Am I hallucinating?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
"What are you doing in Wano Country?"
Ashura Doji, Kozuki Hiyori and Denjiro all widened their eyes in shock at the sight of the girl casually perching on the desk.
It wasn't that they were easily startled—after all, everyone in the room, from the Admirals to the Warlords, stood with utmost respect.
Yet this girl had the audacity to float onto the desk and the young Fleet Admiral not only refrained from reprimanding her but even greeted her with a warm smile!
"No, you're not hallucinating."
Orion nodded with a chuckle.
"Did you finish the investigation I asked for?"
"With this princess personally handling it, of course it was easy!"
Perona lifted her chin proudly and placed a file in front of Orion.
"I can confirm the rebellion was entirely the samurai's own doing." She then gestured toward Denjiro and Kozuki Hiyori.
"These two had no part in it!"
Before she could finish, Perona quickly averted her gaze from Denjiro, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
"Ugh—that ridiculous hair is so ugly!"
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