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"Are you asking me that, Kojin?"
"He was your man."
Sengoku spoke in a slightly heavy tone, narrowing his eyes.
He had his suspicions. If Crocodile had reappeared on the seas as a pirate, it was likely under Kojin's instructions.
"I'm not sure either. Perhaps he felt that certain things within the Marines didn't align with his sense of justice, so he decided to seek a new life on his own." Kojin sighed.
"Crocodile used to be your subordinate. I hope you'll keep an eye on his movements. If he turns to evil, someone with his abilities could become a disaster for the world." Sengoku said solemnly.
"I will." Kojin nodded.
After that, the conversation between the two fell into a brief silence.
"What about Golden Lion Shiki?" After a moment, Sengoku asked quietly.
Naturally, Marine Headquarters had already received news about the sudden disaster that struck G-18 Fortress in West Blue. They had also been closely monitoring the movements of the Golden Lion, who had escaped from Impel Down.
"He's dead." Kojin replied calmly.
"Is that so?" Sengoku was slightly stunned before shaking his head with a sigh.
An opponent from the same era had fallen just like that, and a strange emotion rose in his heart.
But soon he calmed himself.
"For the world, that's a good thing."
Kojin gave a faint smile.
A moment later, the Den Den Mushi call ended.
Eveya looked over with curiosity written on her face.
"What is it?" Kojin tapped the desk lightly with his finger and smiled at her.
"Since the Ohara Incident, Marine Headquarters hasn't contacted us at all. And now, suddenly…" Eveya hesitated mid-sentence.
Clearly, a call personally made by Sengoku, given his status, carried deeper implications, even if the conversation itself sounded trivial.
"That was quite an unusual call."
Kojin suddenly stopped tapping the desk and chuckled softly.
His eyes flickered with thought as a faint smile appeared on his lips. Although Marine Headquarters hadn't said much, only mentioning Crocodile and Golden Lion, the deeper meaning was clear.
It signaled the restoration of communication with the West Blue branch. In other words, Headquarters was deliberately trying to repair relations with West Blue.
Even if a single call couldn't change much, it was still a good start.
"The Marine Headquarters still hopes to rely on West Blue's strength. And at the same time, I need time to develop, using the Marines, this enormous organization, to conceal myself." Kojin murmured.
…
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters – Marineford.
Sengoku let out a long breath and slowly walked to the window.
Feeling the wind blowing against his face, the stern expression on his face gradually relaxed.
"Repairing our relationship with West Blue is a difficult issue."
After the World Government had made its decision, even though Kojin had once fought a shocking battle against Marine Headquarters, he was still technically part of the Marine system.
For Sengoku, losing the enormous power of the West Blue branch was simply not an option.
Naturally, the most important factor was something else.
"Commander Kong will be stepping down soon…" Sengoku murmured, his expression shifting slightly.
Within the Marines, almost no one was competing with him for the position of Fleet Admiral. The few others qualified for the role had no intention of fighting over it.
Which meant that in the near future, once he took office, he would have to decide:
'What ideals would he uphold?'
'How would he maintain justice and peace across the seas?'
These would be the most important questions he would face. And Kojin's power was also an indispensable part of his plans.
"Time will fade everything. Ten years… twenty years from now, Kojin, you should return to Headquarters."
Leaning against the windowsill, Sengoku was very confident.
…
West Blue
Construction of the new base was in full swing. Buildings were rising rapidly, while the outlines of streets and parks gradually took shape.
"Send a construction team to Ohara as well. And transfer the scholars of Ohara over there."
Sitting in his office, Kojin thought for a moment before giving the order.
Eveya carefully recorded each instruction and relayed them to the subordinates.
Rebuilding the base and restoring Ohara were both enormous projects that would take a great deal of time.
Because of this, Kojin had been extremely busy recently. He couldn't leave the base. The construction teams constantly needed his approval and authorization for various matters.
…
Three months later, the reconstruction of Ohara was finally completed.
The island that had once been reduced to ruins under the Buster Call had now been renewed. The scorched black earth had been turned over and restored, and fresh young saplings had been planted across the land.
All it needed now was the passing of the seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and time would eventually restore the island's former beauty.
New houses had already been constructed on the island.
A massive library and a magnificent academy had also been built.
This had been a special request from Kojin.
In the future, Marine officers with potential would be sent to this academy to study knowledge.
Meanwhile, the scholars of Ohara would serve as its teachers.
The central lake had been widened, and under the guidance of professional engineers, several artificial rivers had been created to irrigate the island's trees and vegetation.
"Thank you so much, Kojin! I never imagined that in my lifetime I would be able to live on this land again!" Dr. Clover cried with tears streaming down his face, sobbing like a child.
The other people of Ohara also looked deeply grateful.
"The ones who returned are only the scholars. Most of the civilians have already gotten used to living in the places we arranged for them and don't want to move again." Capone Bege said quietly from the side.
Kojin nodded, understanding the situation.
"I will soon raise this island into the sky. That way it won't be discovered by the World Government, and your safety will be ensured."
Dr. Clover and the others readily agreed.
Then, under the astonished gazes of Capone Bege, Dr. Clover, and Olivia, something incredible happened.
The ground beneath their feet suddenly began to rumble loudly.
Moments later, it shook violently, causing everyone to lose their balance and fall to the ground.
"It might shake a little, but there's no danger." Kojin said with a smile.
Then he suddenly bent down and placed both hands against the ground.
Buzz!!
Ohara trembled violently.
Then, the entire island began to rise out of the sea, floating rapidly into the air.
"Rise!" Kojin shouted.
The island ascended faster and faster. Powerful winds swept across it, and the view became increasingly vast as the sunlight grew brighter.
"Ohara is flying!"
"The entire island is rising into the sky!"
The scholars cried out in shock.
Standing at higher points, they could clearly see the ocean growing farther and farther below them.
Moments later, Ohara stopped rising, now floating high in the sky.
"Five thousand meters above the sea. This height should be just right." Kojin nodded.
Then he thought for a moment and waved his hand.
Clusters of Thunder Clouds appeared in the sky above.
"These thunderclouds can produce rain to prevent Ohara from becoming too dry. At the same time, they can also charge passing flying ships."
After finishing everything, a smile appeared on his face.
Incidentally, the newly rebuilt Ohara had already been equipped with a complete electrical energy system.
As for the power plant, it was the thunderclouds that Kojin could easily create.
He called these clouds power-generation clouds, capable of gathering free electrical particles from the atmosphere.
"A floating Skypiea… Even if I die, it will not fall. I've already given it the property of eternal levitation."
Kojin thought to himself.
After eating the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi (Float-Float Fruit), the fruit had already reached Level 65, allowing him to perform astonishing and unbelievable feats. After conducting many experiments, he even believed he had surpassed Golden Lion Shiki in developing this Devil Fruit.
"Perfect control over everything I touch. The potential of this fruit is actually quite remarkable."
For Kojin, being able to easily create a floating Skypiea and use any non-living object he touched as a weapon against enemies was already extremely powerful.
After lifting Ohara into the sky, Kojin left the island.
Soon after, he returned to the new base.
As time passed, the island that Golden Lion had once used as a weapon was rapidly transformed, its appearance changing dramatically.
Kojin lifted the island into the air, positioning it about five hundred meters above the sea.
Around it, four massive steel harbors were constructed to dock both flying ships and Battleships.
At the same time, recruits gathered from surrounding regions began to flow steadily into the new base.
When they saw the floating island and its grand, majestic steel harbors, every recruit widened their eyes in shock.
"This is definitely a wonder of West Blue!"
"An island… actually floating in the sky!"
"Are we really going to train at this base?"
Not only the recruits, even the officers from various regions who had returned to the base were equally stunned.
The enormous island floated roughly five hundred meters above the sea. Along its edges were rows upon rows of flying ships, while below them were numerous Battleships docked along the waters.
Within the four steel harbors floated four massive thunderclouds, from which thunder rumbled from time to time.
Thick, strange cables extended from the clouds, crackling with electricity, stretching into rows of shipyards.
The officers had no idea what these facilities were used for. They only felt as if they had stepped into an entirely new world.
At this time, it had already been six months since the battle with Golden Lion Shiki.
Far away from West Blue, thousands of miles across the sea, in another nation… Flames burned fiercely.
A great pot of boiling oil churned violently.
Excited shouts and cries intertwined together. The crowd watching from all around gradually blurred in the eyes of Kozuki Oden.
"I shall become but a tale for others to laugh and drink over, nothing more do I seek!"
"What can boiling oil do to me?"
"The longer it cooks me, the richer the flavor!"
Within the blazing flames, the tall figure threw his head back and laughed loudly.
On the podium in front of him, another towering figure sat while looking down at him and sighed.
"I apologize for the despicable scheme of Kurozumi Higurashi."
"Kozuki Oden, you are a truly remarkable man!"
Across the surrounding streets, hurried footsteps echoed.
Nine figures ran desperately forward, tears in their eyes, shouting as they ran.
"Lord Oden!"
"You'll be alright, won't you?!"
"Waaah!"
This place was Wano Country.
A legendary hero, a samurai whose name shook the world, was about to reach the end of his life here.
Kaido slowly stood up and drew the pistol at his waist, pointing it toward the exhausted figure before him.
Standing in the boiling oil, enduring unimaginable pain, his flesh torn and burning,
Yet he still laughed loudly.
"Allow me to end everything for you!"
"Kozuki Oden!"
(End of Chapter)