"You've turned this sea upside down, Black Kirin," Sengoku remarked, setting down his newspaper in the Tenshukaku (Marineford Main Tower).
"Glug, glug... Ah, back from the brink. "Turned upside down" is a bit of an exaggeration, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Just call me Roy, please. "Black Kirin" sounds kind of embarrassing," Roy said, exhaling deeply after gulping down a bottle of ice-cold cola.
"Also, could you help me push back all those upcoming interviews? They're even more exhausting than sparring with Zephyr-sensei." He scratched his head.
"If you could refrain from guzzling like a bull in my office, I might consider it," Sengoku retorted, his forehead darkening.
"The old ones are like this, and the young ones too. Why do they all insist on eating and drinking in my office? Is this the Marines' official cafeteria?"
"Ah, my apologies!" Roy said, handing the cola bottle to the sheep that had wandered over, Sengoku's pet.
"Don't feed it that!" Sengoku snapped.
After the usual lighthearted banter inside the Tenshukaku (the Marineford Main Tower), Roy turned to Sengoku. "So, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what did you call me here for?"
"It's about Zephyr," Sengoku replied, cutting straight to the chase. He was clearly not one for beating around the bush.
"Zephyr-sensei? Didn't he leave with Binz and the others to form the 'Pirate Guerrilla Force'?" Roy asked, startled by the news.
Shortly after the Three-Forces Military Exercise concluded, Zephyr had recovered slightly. Despite the medical staff's desperate pleas, he resolutely installed the newly tested and supposedly improved Smash machine. Then he led Binz and the others out of the Marine headquarters.
"You brat, go mind your own business! A man's departure needs no farewell."
The old man remained as carefree and heroic as ever.
Naturally, Ain and Binz left Roy a special Den Den Mushi for emergency communication or information transfer.
"Exactly, but before leaving, he left you something." Sengoku said gravely.
"Something?" What is it?" Roy frowned, his curiosity piqued.
"To be precise, it's a 'permission.'" Sengoku said softly. He retrieved a document from beside him and handed it to Roy.
Roy took the document and gave it a cursory glance. His expression suddenly shifted in shock.
"This is..."
He couldn't hide his genuine surprise at that moment.
Meanwhile, Sengoku had already begun to explain in a deep voice.
"Years ago, Zephyr's family was murdered by pirates, leading him to withdraw from frontline duty. That incident was entirely due to the government's inadequate oversight."
His voice turned icy as he spoke.
Indeed.
The families of Marine Admirals were rightfully entitled to protection and care from the World Government and the Marines.
Yet Zephyr's wife and son were murdered by pirates. Regardless of any explanation, the government bore an undeniable responsibility.
Commander Kong felt immense guilt and personally petitioned the World Government to allow Zephyr to eternally retain his Admiral title and a unique privilege, which remains in effect to this day.
Sengoku gestured to the document. "Now, Zephyr's Pirate Guerrilla Force is classified as a 'covert force.' He recently requested that this privilege be transferred to you from Commander Kong and me."
As he finished, a hint of melancholy crept into his voice.
"The authority encompasses many aspects," Sengoku explained. "It includes unrestricted passage through the seas under the World Government's jurisdiction, full control over Zephyr's training base, temporary command and deployment authority over most Marine branches, discretion to leave port on missions without reporting, the ability to manage and expand his own forces, and the right to coordinate with various World Government agencies and military branches. It also includes access to classified information."
Roy listened intently as Sengoku spoke, his eyes fixed on the documents in his hands. He was stunned. He knew Sengoku wasn't exaggerating; the scope of authority granted by these documents was extraordinary indeed.
In summary:
"Except for the power to initiate a Buster Call, this authority is virtually equivalent to that of a full-fledged Admiral."
Only the Admirals, the symbolic pinnacle of the Marines' combat power, possessed such extensive authority.
'Zephyr-sensei...'
Roy could almost hear Zephyr's voice whispering in his ear:
"Kid, you've finally graduated. Inherit everything I've taught you, then do what you believe is right!"
And so, Roy grins.
"Old man, you really trusted me that much?"
Shortly after signing the documents and leaving Tenshukaku (Marineford Main Tower), Roy returned to the Marine Detention Unit headquarters.
"Speaking of which, Smoker's about to be discharged. Should I invite him and Hina to throw a party?"
As darkness fell, Roy pondered this while walking.
The cigar-smoking man from before had purposely injured himself by smashing his face into Roy's fist to avoid paying the bill, what a scoundrel! Roy couldn't let such a loss stand. He had to get even before the guy left for Loguetown.
But just as Roy was harboring these less-than-honorable thoughts...
"One! Two! One!"
"One! Two! One!"
As he approached the Marine Detention Unit Training Field, he unexpectedly heard synchronized footsteps and training shouts echoing from inside.
He paused, momentarily stunned, then quietly crept toward the fence surrounding the training field.
In the next instant, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Is this place haunted?"
Despite the late hour, the training field was teeming with people. Soldiers from the Marine Detention Unit were running drills in perfect unison.
The most absurd part, though, was that within the "Black Loyalty" formation, the two leading figures were none other than Fal and Hans.
"Ha ha! Brothers!"
Yet Fal roared, "Ten more laps!"
Hans bellowed even louder beside him, "Roy's already an admiral candidate! If we're still like this when he has time to look back, he'll mock us ruthlessly!"
"We're Admiral Candidate's direct subordinates!"
Bloodshot veins pulsed in his eyes.
"Ten laps aren't enough! Twenty more!"
"Oooooooh! Oooooooh! Oooooooh!" *N
The synchronized roar and fervent atmosphere left Roy momentarily stunned.
"Are these two really that serious?" He chuckled and shook his head.
But just then, "Why wouldn't they be?"
He heard a voice from behind him. Unsurprised, Roy turned around and saw Vice Admiral Biros standing there cheerfully, holding a skewer of dango.
The vice admiral was also watching the soldiers train diligently on the distant training field.
Even after years of managing the Marine Detention Unit, this was the first time he had seen the soldiers like this.
He knew exactly why.
"It's all your fault, kid, for suddenly becoming a monster without warning."
They just don't want to fall too far behind you. After all, you're their 'leader.'"
Vice Admiral Biros smiled at the young man before him.
This was the power of a flag.
When people run toward a flag they admire, they can unleash strength far beyond their previous limits.
Even Vice Admiral Roy was no exception.
Biros had long believed that Roy would excel and eventually become a Warden-class officer in the Marine Detention Unit—perhaps even transforming the entire organization.
According to his original plan, however, that would have taken decades.
He never imagined that Roy would surpass his expectations to such an extraordinary degree.
"Well done, kid."
Hearing this, Roy looked at the superior officer who had mentored him over the years. "Thank you for your praise."
Vice Admiral Biros said nothing more, merely gesturing for Roy to follow. "Since that's settled, let's go."
"Go?" Roy blinked in surprise. "Where to?"
"Didn't I already tell you? After the Three-Forces Military Exercise, I'm retiring," Vice Admiral Biros said with a smile. "I've already submitted my report to Sengoku. The command officer position for the Marine Detention Unit will transfer to you. But first, I need to take you through a final handover."
Upon hearing this, Roy was taken aback.
He was surprised by Vice Admiral Biros's decision to retire so abruptly, but after a moment's reflection, it seemed perfectly in character for the old man.
A few seconds later, he fully grasped the meaning behind the vice admiral's words.
A handover of responsibilities?
For Roy, who had spent years in the Marine Detention Unit, most of the internal operations required no handover, he knew them inside and out.
Thus, Unique's answer was: "Let's go."
Vice Admiral Biros smiled. "We're headed to Impel Down."
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395