Although Kuzan may seem lazy and easygoing, Sengoku knows deep down that this kid is actually just as persistent as Sakazuki.
Furthermore, Sengoku knew that... After witnessing the darkness from the Marine Headquarters and the World Government over the years, this child had long questioned the justice of the Marines and felt dissatisfied with the Marine Headquarters and the World Government.
Therefore, once he sees that the Marine Headquarters can no longer uphold his justice, this boy will surely seek other paths.
Kuzan became the Fleet Admiral... His Burning Justice, unlike Absolute Justice, would not exclude other forms of justice, thus not forcing Sakazuki to leave; at most, it would simply maintain the existing situation.
For an old man who has experienced so much, it is already quite remarkable that he has been able to maintain the original state of the Marine Headquarters in this era.
Sengoku had already realized that in this era... Any unexpected event could cause a split within the Marine Headquarters.
While the Marine Headquarters has indeed made many mistakes, if it were to fall apart, this era would truly be on the verge of chaos.
Especially now that Zephyr is still active on the seas and living a very good life, wandering around everywhere. With that King of the West Blue backing him up, that old guy can really grab whoever he wants, and he even dares to slap a Celestial Dragon a few times.
And after that incident, it's estimated that the World Government won't take action against the Umbrella Corporation at this time.
Sengoku let out a heavy sigh, then looked at Kuzan, his tone a mixture of disappointment and solemnity, "The Marines... Are now in your hands!"
"Rest assured, I will do my best."
Faced with Sengoku's entrustment, Kuzan did not hesitate and nodded solemnly in return.
In fact, his fight with Sakazuki was quite difficult, even more so than his fight with Ian.
The two sides' Devil Fruit abilities countered each other.
In addition, Sakazuki was also very strong. Therefore, in order to uphold their sense of justice, they truly did their best, even risking their lives in the fight.
Even so, they fought for ten days and ten nights, and the entire island was completely transformed by their power, making the already uninhabitable island even more uninhabitable.
And at the very last moment, both he and Sakazuki were exhausted, but for the sake of justice, the battle would not stop until a winner was decided.
In the end, he and Sakazuki used their last strength to decide the winner with a final move.
But at that moment, a chill surged up from his foot, making him shudder. His body reacted instinctively, sensing that a direct clash might break his leg. In an instant, his body reacted instinctively… A spinning kick landed on Sakazuki's face.
Instead of a fair and square showdown with powerful attacks, he launched a sneak attack at the last moment, completely stunning Sakazuki.
Of course, although it was somewhat an ungraceful victory and he did not exchange ultimate moves head-on with Sakazuki, in any case, he still won.
Even Sakazuki, though his face was dark, was not the kind of Admiral to renege. With a darkened expression, he acknowledged the result of the battle.
That's why he was able to become a Fleet Admiral.
Kuzan declared with unwavering resolve, "I will absolutely uphold the justice in my heart and change Marine Headquarters!"
Sengoku: "..."
Upon hearing this, Sengoku gave a wry smile and did not nod in agreement with Kuzan's words.
Instead, he seemed hesitant to speak.
In the end, he didn't say anything, but just sighed deeply, nodded, and with the look of a senior looking at a junior, patted Kuzan on the shoulder, "I hope you succeed!"
The desire to change the Marine Headquarters has never been about anyone becoming the Fleet Admiral.
But those words could wait until Kuzan understood them himself.
There was no need to dampen the enthusiasm of people right now.
"By the way."
Sengoku said, not giving Kuzan a chance to speak, "In order to cope with the changes in the sea, the World Government has allowed the Marine Headquarters to conduct a World Military Draft."
He then spoke in a serious yet veiled tone, "This matter is extremely important. As the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, you must take it seriously and absolutely cannot be lax in the slightest."
"I understand."
Kuzan nodded seriously.
He also understood Sengoku's meaning: if he wanted to change the current situation at the Marine Headquarters, this was an opportunity, as the new marine personnel would be more likely to accept his beliefs and justice.
As he spoke, Kuzan looked at Sengoku again, his tone earnest, "I still hope to have you..."
"Let's forget about that!"
Before Kuzan could finish speaking, Sengoku chuckled and waved his hand. "Since this is a new era, it's up to you, the new Fleet Admiral, to take charge. I, a remnant of the old era, shouldn't meddle. To be honest, since the announcement of the public execution, I haven't had a proper night's sleep. Now that I've retired, this period of time..."
Despite his advanced age, he winked playfully, "Let me have a good rest. I'm planning to go out and relax with that guy, Garp. As for the new job arrangements, we will talk about that after our vacation!"
After saying this, Sengoku waved his hand, a hint of reluctance and emotion flashing in his eyes, and without further hesitation, he walked gracefully outside.
Looking at Sengoku's retreating figure, Kuzan didn't ask him, who had dedicated most of his life to the Marine Headquarters, for any further requests. He simply stood there quietly, watching Sengoku's back, which had somehow become somewhat hunched.
It wasn't until Sengoku reached the door that he opened his mouth, his face solemn, and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Sengoku: "...?!"
Upon hearing this, Sengoku, who was walking towards the door, stopped in his tracks, a smile appearing on his face as he waved to Kuzan, "This position is indeed quite tough, Kuzan. Don't take it lightly. Of course, if you're too tired, you can come and chat with me about life. As a senior, I have some experience in how to slack off!"
With a hearty laugh, Sengoku walked out of the new Fleet Admiral's office.
It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his body, and he looked much more relaxed, and even his steps seemed lighter.