Hearing their answers, Sengoku rubbed his forehead and looked at the two men with a grave expression.
"In any case, Cain's identity is currently known only to me, Garp, Tsuru, Zephyr, and Borsalino. This is a top-level secret that even the World Government knows absolutely nothing about."
"Sakazuki, you need to understand that once you take the position of Fleet Admiral, pressure will come at you from every direction. Many times, it won't just be pirates putting pressure on you. It'll also be the people above us."
"You've both seen Cain's situation. His ability, identical to Kaido's, has already been exposed to the entire world. Now the World Government has its eyes on him too."
"It's already impossible for him to return to the Marines under any official identity. But forcing him to become a true pirate would be even worse."
"The Marines cannot allow such an overwhelmingly powerful fighter to slip completely beyond our influence."
Sengoku looked solemnly at Akainu before continuing.
"Until now, you've only been a soldier who strictly followed orders. Even after becoming an Admiral, you still had to obey the deployments and commands of the World Government and Marine Headquarters."
"But once you truly become Fleet Admiral, you'll understand what it means to have your hands tied. You'll have to accommodate the wishes of those above while protecting the Marines serving beneath you. Most of the time, events will never unfold the way you want."
"Cain may have left the Marines, but he still follows his own sense of justice. He isn't bound by the World Government's countless restrictions, which is precisely why he can become a valuable ally to you."
"I want both of you to understand something. The Marines do answer to the World Government, but that doesn't make us the World Government's private army."
"The Marines belong to this sea. We exist to protect every innocent civilian living on it."
"Only by truly understanding the importance of those words can you continue carrying out the justice in your heart whenever you lose your way."
"To be honest, it was only through Cain's influence that I finally came to understand all of that myself."
After speaking, Sengoku turned toward Aokiji.
"Kuzan, the same applies to you. Don't think I haven't noticed what's happening with you."
"Everything I just said was meant for you too."
"While Sakazuki prepares to take over as Fleet Admiral, take a proper vacation and clear your head. Or go to the New World and have a good talk with Garp."
"And if none of that works, then learn from Garp and simply follow your own heart. At worst, I can use the last bit of authority I have as Fleet Admiral to demote you back to Vice Admiral. That wouldn't be difficult."
…
Sengoku remained with them for a long time.
He told them everything he had learned over decades in the Marines—the wrong turns he had taken, the storms he had personally weathered, the principles he had developed for dealing with others, and every insight and lesson that time had carved into him.
Only after saying everything in his heart did he finally feel relieved enough to turn and slowly leave.
There was nothing else he could do.
Cain had previously warned him about Zephyr and the issue involving the Seven Warlords, which had made Sengoku pay far more attention to the mental well-being of those within the Marines.
Now that he had seen Aokiji's will sink so badly, all he could do was try to talk him through it.
Even knowing it might have little effect, Sengoku still wanted to make the effort.
After Sengoku left, the hospital room fell silent.
Only Aokiji and Akainu remained.
Thanks to Law's treatment, both men were already capable of getting out of bed, yet neither of them moved to leave.
After a while, Akainu placed a cigar between his teeth and slowly spoke.
"Kuzan."
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry."
"Whoa, what's with the sudden apology? Did Fleet Admiral Sengoku's lecture scramble your brain?"
"Perhaps."
Akainu looked down at the potted plant in his hands before continuing.
"Our ideals have never aligned, but both of us understand that the current state of the sea requires my kind of justice."
"However, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's words did remind me of something. A Fleet Admiral cannot hold that position through my ideals alone."
Before Akainu could finish, Kizaru was already lying on the empty hospital bed beside them.
He spoke in his usual unhurried tone.
"Oooohh, if even you admit you're not suited for the position, how about giving it to me instead?"
Akainu looked over and answered immediately.
"Fine. If you want it—or believe you can do a better job than me—then come and try. But you'll have to fight me for it, just like Kuzan did."
"No, Hell no. Helping with paperwork for a while recently was already exhausting enough."
Kizaru waved both hands repeatedly, making it clear he had only been joking.
"So why are you here, Borsalino?" Akainu asked.
"To visit you two. We've worked together for so many years. Surely calling each other brothers isn't too much?"
Borsalino looked toward Kuzan.
"I heard both of you were badly injured, so I came to see you. Is there something wrong with that?"
"And Kuzan, you only lost to Sakazuki. Do you really need to look that miserable? You look like your whole life has fallen apart."
Aokiji quickly rubbed his face and asked in confusion,
"I don't. Is it really that obvious?"
"You've practically written 'depressed and completely lost' across your forehead," Sakazuki said as he rose from the bed.
"In any case, I understood a lot of things today."
He walked to the coat rack, draped his Marine coat over his shoulders, then picked up Kuzan's and held it out to him.
"Even if you don't agree with my ideals, I'll do everything I can to fulfill the duties of Fleet Admiral and make the Marines better…"
"Brother....."
Kuzan's lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
Nor did he reach for the Marine coat.
Seeing this, Borsalino quickly stood, took the coat from Sakazuki's hand, and draped it over Kuzan's shoulders himself.
"I already heard Fleet Admiral Sengoku talking outside. Apparently your mindset is in a bad place, so he gave you a vacation."
"Honestly, maybe I should pretend to feel lost too and steal a few days off." Borsalino spoke without the slightest shame.
Kuzan looked at him and finally smiled.
He grabbed the coat resting on his shoulders and tried to pull it off, yet found himself unable to let it go.
At that moment, he truly had no idea how he was supposed to continue carrying the word Justice on his back.
Remaining in the position of Admiral for so long had stretched him too tightly.
He had climbed too high and seen too much, and instead of giving him clarity, it had trapped him in confusion.
Perhaps Sengoku was right.
Maybe he truly needed to relax for a while.
"Let's go. This room is suffocating."
After thinking for a moment, Kuzan sighed and stood. He headed toward the door first, casually waving a hand behind him.
"Since I'm on vacation, let's go have a drink. Sakazuki's paying."
"Why the hell am I paying?!"
"You're about to become Fleet Admiral. Why are you suddenly being stingy?!"
"Exactly. I was thinking of inviting all the people under me along too."
"Borsalino, stop making it worse! Fine, I'll pay, all right?!"
---
Damn this is one of the best thing that happen in One Piece fanfic ever.