Hearing Xayuki's declaration that he would personally head to the New World to stand alongside them, Kuzan's hand trembled slightly as he held the document.
"Go now!"
Noticing Kuzan's subtle reaction, Xayuki offered a small smile. "Once you reach the First Branch, remember to stay in touch with me."
Kuzan nodded, decisively turning to leave.
Just as he reached the office door, Xayuki's voice rang out from behind him.
"Kuzan—"
"Does the blazing Justice you upheld before the Ohara incident still burn within you?"
Kuzan froze, his heart jolting. Straightening his posture, he turned back to face Xayuki. Gone was the lazy and uncertain look in his eyes; instead, they reignited with the fiery determination of justice. He raised his hand in a crisp salute and declared: "It has never gone out!"
Without waiting for further words, Kuzan turned and strode out of the office with purpose.
He wasn't lying. The flame of justice he once upheld had never been extinguished—it had only been buried deep within him, dimmed by the disillusionment he felt during the Ohara incident.
As Kuzan exited the office, he felt a newfound lightness. The laziness that once clung to him was gone, replaced by a long-lost vigor and enthusiasm, as if he had returned to the passionate days of his youth.
At that moment, two officers approached him from the opposite direction.
Kuzan's transformed demeanor caught them off guard, and it wasn't until he was about to pass them that they snapped to attention, raising their hands in salute. "Admiral Kuzan!"
"Loyalty!"
Kuzan returned their salute, loudly echoing the word "Loyalty!" before continuing on his way without pause, striding confidently toward the elevator.
Descending to the first-floor lobby, Kuzan encountered more soldiers and officers who stood to salute him as he passed. Without fail, he returned each gesture with respectful acknowledgment.
As he stepped outside, a sudden burst of crimson filled his vision.
Looking out over the horizon, he saw a radiant red sun hanging low in the sky. Its fiery glow bathed the sea in crimson hues, enveloping Marineford in a breathtakingly beautiful sunset.
Gazing at the sun, Kuzan's mind unexpectedly conjured a long-forgotten memory.
It was from two years ago, during a chance encounter.
While leisurely cycling across the sea on his day off, he had crossed paths with Xayuki, who was leading a mission.
Xayuki's squad had been engaged in battle with a pirate crew that was at the height of its infamy.
The pirate captain, a Supernova with a bounty of 180 million Belly, was accompanied by several subordinates, two of whom had bounties exceeding 30 million.
Perhaps emboldened by their strength, the pirate crew fought fiercely against Xayuki's Marines. The captain, alongside two officers, launched a ferocious assault on Xayuki.
Yet, even under the combined attack of three pirates, Xayuki remained composed and unshaken. His overwhelming strength allowed him to dominate the battle effortlessly.
In less than thirty seconds, Xayuki used the Finger Pistol (Shigan) technique from the Six Powers to eliminate one of the attackers. Without missing a beat, he followed up with the Tempest Kick (Rankyaku), shattering the skull of the second.
With two of his opponents down, Xayuki's momentum only grew. Catching the pirate captain off guard, he drew his sword and unleashed a devastating slash, decapitating the captain on the spot.
With the captain and officers eliminated, the morale of Xayuki's Marines soared to its peak. They launched a final, frenzied assault on the disoriented pirates, wiping them out completely in mere minutes.
After the battle, the Marines gathered around Xayuki in celebration.
But Xayuki didn't join in the revelry. Instead, he grabbed the captain's severed head, leapt to the ship's bow, and raised it high, delivering a speech that ignited the hearts of every Marine present and left Kuzan deeply moved:
"No need to wait for the torch!
If there is no torch to guide us in this chaotic Grand Era of Piracy, then let us be the sun!
The Marines are mighty!
Our brothers are mighty!"
"The sun, huh?"
Recalling this scene from two years ago, Kuzan, now standing outside the headquarters, glanced back at the towering Marine Headquarters building.
The sun of the world might be setting, but the sun of the Marines had already risen and would soon illuminate the entire world.
Suddenly, Kuzan decisively turned and strode forward, his eyes burning with the fire of justice. Pulling out his Den Den Mushi, he issued a firm order: "Relay this command: All personnel of the Aokiji Army are to assemble at the port in two hours!"
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Borsalino stood before Xayuki's desk, watching him silently review documents after seeing Kuzan off.
After standing in place for nearly a minute, Borsalino finally couldn't hold back any longer. Waiting until Xayuki finished reading, he cautiously asked, "Fleet Admiral Xayuki, what about me? Don't I have a mission?"
"No rush!"
Setting down the document, Xayuki looked up with a smile. "That meeting lasted so long, I'm starving. Let's talk over some food!"
Before Borsalino could react, a soldier entered the office carrying two bowls of miso ramen.
"Fleet Admiral, the ramen's ready!"
The soldier placed the bowls down with a cheerful grin. "Enjoy your meal, you and Admiral Kizaru. If it's not enough, there's more!"
"Thank you for your hard work!"
Xayuki casually pulled a stack of Belly from a drawer and tossed it to the soldier. "Share this with the mess hall team."
The soldier caught the money, straightened up, and saluted sharply. "Loyalty!"
Hearing Xayuki refer to the mess hall staff as "brothers," Borsalino furrowed his brow slightly and commented bluntly, "Fleet Admiral Xayuki, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to be so chummy with the soldiers?"
"Why not? Can't a Fleet Admiral be chummy with his soldiers? Besides, it's after work hours!"
Xayuki chuckled, pulling another stack of Belly from the drawer and tossing it into Borsalino's lap. "This came from those Seven Warlords we brought in!"
"While I've kept them here at headquarters, they're not staying for free!"
With that, Xayuki ignored Borsalino, walked over to the coffee table, and began devouring his ramen.
Watching this, Borsalino glanced at the stack of Belly in his hands, his mouth twitching slightly.
As expected of Xayuki—even as Fleet Admiral, he hadn't forgotten his old ways!
If Xayuki were still a Vice Admiral, Borsalino wouldn't have accepted the money.
But—
Since it came from the Fleet Admiral, why not take it?
With that thought, Borsalino happily pocketed the Belly, grabbed his bowl of ramen, and sat across from Xayuki, slurping enthusiastically as if competing to see who could eat faster.
"You'll head to the Revolutionary Army headquarters."
Suddenly, Xayuki spoke through a mouthful of noodles, his words slightly muffled. "Meet with Dragon on my behalf. If he truly wants to create a harmonious, free, and equal world filled with dreams—and not just for the sake of the Will of D.—then perhaps the Revolutionary Army and the Marines can collaborate."
Pausing to swallow his food, Xayuki reached into his bag, pulled out a piece of ginger, and tossed it to Borsalino. "The Revolutionary Army is too idealistic. Building a new world isn't as simple as toppling the World Government."
"Even if they manage to overthrow the World Government, freedom and dreams might flourish, but equality and harmony won't!"
"Unless—"
"There are no thieves left in the world!"
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!
Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!
��patreon.com/GoldenLong