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Jin had his sights set on the island that housed the G-5 base.
But simply destroying the G-5 Marines wasn't enough.
He needed a new commander he could trust.
Vergo? He was one of Doflamingo's oldest and most loyal subordinates—betrayal was out of the question. And Jin couldn't move against him. He had no hard evidence, and you couldn't just execute a Marine Vice Admiral on a hunch.
Jozu hadn't managed to finish the job, either.
Zephyr?
The name was the first to cross Jin's mind. The former Marine Admiral, "Black Arm" Zephyr, renowned for his peerless Armament Haki. He had defeated countless pirates in his lifetime but had never once taken a life, a firm believer in "justice without killing."
Then, at the age of forty-two, his family was murdered by pirates. His grief turned to hatred, and he resigned from the Marines, only to be persuaded to stay on as an instructor.
His first class of students included Sakazuki and Borsalino. His third included Kuzan. He had trained a generation of the Marines' finest.
At sixty-five, the training vessel he was commanding was attacked by a pirate. His beloved students—all except for Ain and Binz—were slaughtered. His right arm was severed.
He was currently recovering from his injuries.
According to the timeline, next year he would have his arm replaced with a Seastone-laced mechanical limb—the "Battle Smasher"—and would form the "Pirate Extermination Unit" to hunt down Devil Fruit users.
One year after the Summit War, he would learn that the very pirate who had taken his arm and killed his students had been made one of the Seven Warlords. His faith in the Marines would be shattered. He would resign and form the "Neo Marines," with the goal of wiping out every pirate in the world.
Two years after the Summit War, he would steal the Dyna Stones and attempt to destroy the New World, only to be thwarted by the Straw Hat Pirates. Moved by Luffy's conviction, he would cover their escape, facing down the entire Marine fleet alone and dying in a blaze of glory.
In terms of experience and reputation, Zephyr was the perfect candidate for the G-5 command. No one in the Marines would object.
But as Jin considered it, he realized the man would be impossible to control. He was too naive, too idealistic—to the point of being a fool.
What kind of answer was "justice without killing" to the people whose families had been butchered by pirates? And then, when his own family was killed, his convictions crumbled? He goes on a rampage, tries to destroy the New World, and then gets talked down by a pirate? He just... forgave?
It made the Neo Marines who had followed him look like a pack of clowns. Their men were ready to die for the cause, and their leader just... knelt.
He was a failure as a hero and a failure as a villain.
Utterly useless.
If there ever was a "desk admiral," it was Zephyr—indecisive and unfit for a critical command.
Jin thought it over and one name came to mind—Gion. A woman who was sharp, clever, and knew how to play the game.
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At Gion's own request, and after some internal discussion at Headquarters, the World Government approved her transfer.
Jin, in turn, received the Marines' tacit approval for administrative and operational control of the small town on the island.
He now had his first foothold in the New World.
He left Doma and the crew members who had chosen to follow him behind to manage the town. After witnessing the clash between Jin and Whitebeard, Doma and his men had understood the vast gap in their own strength.
And between Whitebeard and Jin, he chose the younger man.
Youth meant potential.
Besides, the Whitebeard Pirates had a deep roster of talent. Jin, on the other hand, had no one he could truly rely on in the New World yet.
It was a no-brainer.
As for their bounties—Jin was a Warlord. He could take pirates under his command and have their bounties frozen.
Jin didn't wait at G-5 for Gion's arrival. After getting everything in order, he bid farewell to the officers and men of the base, and to Doma and his crew.
He was heading for Big Mom's territory.
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On the Moby Dick.
Medical Bay.
"Pops..."
"Doctor! How is he?"
Marco, Ace, and the others were waiting outside. They rushed forward as the doctor emerged, their faces etched with worry.
Whitebeard's age, combined with his severe injuries, had taken their toll. Shortly after they had escaped the Marines, he had collapsed.
"The prognosis isn't good," the doctor said gravely. "The external wounds are one thing, but the tearing and internal damage to his lungs and heart... it will require specialized surgery."
"Then do it!"
"But a procedure like that is incredibly risky. Only a genius surgeon, someone like Hogback, could pull it off. We don't have the skill. Without the surgery, Pops can hold on. But if we operate... one slip of the hand, and he could die."
"Then what do we do?" the commanders murmured, their faces grim.
The choice was impossible.
"Hogback disappeared years ago. We've tried to find him."
"And the other doctors..."
"A genius doctor?" Ace spoke up suddenly. "I know one..."
Deuce, who had been rescued along with him, also remembered. "Ace... you mean Law, right?"
"Law?" the commanders asked, confused.
"The one who fought with Commander Marco," Ace explained. "He's a ship's doctor. He's the one who saved Deuce. He's incredible."
Marco touched his own arm. Before they'd left, Law had reattached his severed limb.
'That Devil Fruit,' he thought.
"Hey, but that guy is with the King," one of the commanders said. "We're pirates... why would they help us? We just fought them."
The commanders all began to argue.
"QUIET!" Ace's voice cut through the noise. He looked at each of the commanders, his gaze firm. "No matter what. Pops was injured saving me. There's no way I'm just going to stand by and do nothing. I'm going to them, right now. Even if I have to kneel. Even if I have to do anything. I will bring that doctor back, and he will heal Pops."
His voice was filled with such raw, unshakeable determination that the other commanders fell silent.
"I'll go with you," Vista said.
"No, Commander Vista," Ace said, shaking his head. "There's no need for both of us to take the risk. And... I actually have a bit of a connection with that king. I think I have a decent shot."
"Besides," he continued, his voice now more serious, "the Marines and the World Government are going to broadcast this news everywhere. When they do, Pops's territories will be a target for every pirate crew out there. We'll need every commander to strike back with overwhelming force, to crush them before they draw any more flies. One more commander here is one more fist we can use."
The other commanders were all looking at him. Ace suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Was he, a rookie, really just lecturing the veterans?
"Ah—sorry," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I'm still new here. It's not my place to be telling you all what to do. But... that's what I think."
"No, you're right, Ace," Marco said with a smile, clapping him on the shoulder. "We don't have those kinds of rules on this ship, yoi. You were right. Worry clouds the mind. We were so caught up in Pops's injury that we lost our heads. We can't afford that. While Pops is recovering, we have to step up and protect his territory."
The other commanders all nodded in agreement.
"He's right."
"Yeah, Ace is right."
"You're thinking more clearly than any of us. The doctor... we'll leave it to you."
"We're counting on you."
Ace's words had won them over.
Deuce smiled from the side. That was Ace. He could be reckless, impulsive, but in moments like this, he had the undeniable aura of a king.
Watching Ace from among the crew, along with Deuce, was another man: Teach.
"But where are you going to find them, Ace?" one of the commanders asked. "Are they still at G-5? It's too dangerous to go back there."
"I know where they're going next," Ace said.
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