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Marine Era, Year 1508:
West Blue Headquarters: the Floating G-1 Base.
"Lieutenant Hina, reporting to Vice-Admiral Kojin!" A clear, melodious voice rang out across the training field.
A female officer with long, pale pink hair and purple sunglasses perched on her forehead stood at attention. Gloved hands clasped her arms, and her face was flushed with nervous excitement as she gazed at the imposing, muscular figure before her.
This was Vice-Admiral Kojin: a legendary figure in the Marines, the highest-ranking officer in the West Blue Division, and the most beloved and revered senior official in the entire West Blue region.
"Full of spirit, I see!" Kojin chuckled. "Even though you're a female officer, your presence is no less imposing than those two brats, Smoker and Buggy!"
Nearly a year had passed since the battle with Whitebeard. The West Blue Division had developed rapidly, and, with Vegapunk's technological support, the entire base, including New Ohara and the Skypiea experimental base, had adopted a new electrical energy system.
The communication systems had also been upgraded to telephones that primarily used electromagnetic waves and electrical signals.
For Kojin, building a simple natural power plant was an extremely easy task. He even speculated that the original purpose of Devil Fruits might have been to make life more convenient for humans.
"Even if they're strong, Hina won't lose to them!" Hina declared loudly.
"Excellent! As Marines, you must maintain this spirit for the justice you believe in!" Kojin nodded approvingly, satisfied with the response.
Over the past year, the younger generation... Smoker, Buggy, Aroshu, Hina, and others had made remarkable progress.
Smoker, Buggy, and Aroshu had already begun attempting to master Haki.
Kojin was quite satisfied with their progress.
Through rigorous and grueling training, Smoker and Buggy had become far stronger than they would have been in the original storyline.
If they continued at this rate, perhaps Buggy would achieve the Awakening of the Chop-Chop Fruit in another ten or twenty years.
As for Smoker, it seemed he would never be compatible with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit. But that was inconsequential; Kojin could simply find him an even more powerful Devil Fruit when the time came.
"Keep pushing yourselves! Every drop of sweat you shed now will save a drop of blood on the battlefield later! And it will lay the strongest foundations for the power you'll need to uphold justice in the future!"
Kojin encouraged them with a smile.
"Yes, sir!" The young West Marine officers roared in unison.
Kojin nodded and walked towards Eveya, who was signaling him urgently from a distance.
She now looked more mature, possessing a unique charm, a blend of innocence and allure. Wearing black-rimmed glasses, she looked visibly anxious.
"What's wrong? What's got you so flustered?" Kojin asked with a faint smile on his face.
"Headquarters called. No, to be precise, the World Government has sent you an invitation," Eveya said nervously.
The two of them walked towards the office, one after the other. Along the way, the adjutant detailed the contents of the phone call.
"The World Government has invited you to attend this year's Levely. And they specifically stated that you must travel with King Nefertari Cobra of Alabasta."
Hearing this, Kojin's eyebrows shot up. "Levely?"
"What could this possibly have to do with me?"
"The World Government claims that you are the Prince of Alabasta and that you must therefore attend the upcoming conference in the Holy Land," Eveya said, taking a deep breath before continuing solemnly.
"Furthermore, immediately after the World Government's message, King Cobra contacted you personally to invite you to join him on a joint journey to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise after the Alubarna Joining."
Kojin narrowed his eyes, sensing an unusual undertone in her words.
"Will you go?" Eveya asked, her curiosity evident.
The quadrennial Levely is an immensely important global event, attracting nobles, kings, princes, and princesses from around the world to Mary Geoise. Many important international issues are discussed during the conference.
'Levely... Mary Geoise," Kojin murmured.
Muttering to himself, his eyes flickered with contemplation.
After a long pause, he suddenly chuckled.
"Since they've extended an invitation, let's go and see what it's all about! I'm quite curious to hear what will be discussed at this world-sweeping conference."
Eveya nodded. "I'll reply to them immediately."
Watching his adjutant hurry away, Kojin's eyes narrowed slightly.
From this simple invitation alone, he could already sense the World Government's subtle intentions.
"Let's see what tricks you're hiding up your sleeves."
Usually, Levely wouldn't need to invite a West Blue Vice-Admiral like Kojin. Security for Mary Geoise would usually be handled by CP0 and Marine Admirals. As for the Nobles and Kings from various countries, Cobra would usually be the only one invited.
This sudden invitation to Kojin spoke volumes.
"It seems some people want to see me," Kojin murmured. "I'll need to think this over carefully."
Three days later, a battleship set sail from the harbor, following its predetermined route towards the Calm Belt.
At the bow stood a golden sceptre, cast entirely from gold and etched with mystical patterns, making it highly visible. The ship's flag bore the Marine's iconic anchor.
Two massive, jet-black characters were etched onto the sails: "Justice."
Kojin stood at the bow, with Eveya quietly behind him.
The battleship carried only a handful of Marines, a dozen or so.
There was no need for a large crew, as, after joining Cobra in Alabasta, they would transfer to the King's personal vessel for the journey to Mary Geoise.
For this voyage, Kojin's identity had shifted from Marine to Prince of Alabasta, a true-blooded noble.
"Are you the younger brother of Alabasta's King Cobra?" Eveya asked curiously.
"I suppose so," Kojin replied with a faint smile. "But I won't know for sure until I meet Cobra again."
He had never been entirely clear about his own identity. It was a tangled web that started in Ohara and led him to Alabasta. He wasn't even sure if his next destination would be the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
The battleship arrived at Nanohana Port in Alabasta early the next morning. Kojin's group kept a low profile to avoid disturbing the city.
Nanohana was a port city renowned for its perfumes; the streets were permeated by a refreshing, heart-stirring fragrance. Eveya, her curiosity piqued, kept twitching her nose.
"Here, for you," Kojin said, grabbing a bottle from a nearby vendor and tossing it to his adjutant behind him.
Eveya fumbled to catch it, her cheeks flushing crimson. "Thank you, Vice Admiral," she stammered, carefully tucking the bottle into her chest.
This was the first gift her Vice Admiral had ever given her, a treasure she would cherish for life.
Silently gazing at the tall, muscular figure blocking her view, Eveya's heart surged with complex emotions.
By her calculations, they had been together for about eight years.
During this time, she had matured, while Kojin had remained unchanged since the day he arrived at G-18 Fortress.
It was as if time itself had frozen on him.
In recent years especially, Eveya had become acutely aware of her own aging. A woman's prime lasts only a few years, and once it passes, it never returns.
"Does Vice Admiral Kojin never age?"
"What about me? What will I look like in ten years? In twenty years?"
"Will I still be by the Senior Official's side then?"
Eveya's heart churned with anxiety at this thought, and a strange sense of dread crept into her mind.
Meanwhile, Kojin remained oblivious to his adjutant's turmoil as he pointed towards a camel.
"Let's ride this to Alubarna!"
Eveya blinked, then quickly snapped to attention. "Yes!"
Moments later, the party of about a dozen people donned dust-resistant cloaks, mounted the camels, and set off towards Alubarna, led by their guide.
Alabasta, the Desert Kingdom, received little rainfall; its climate was perpetually arid and scorching.
"Alabasta is a superpower located in the first half of the Grand Line," Eveya said, sitting atop her camel, her face veiled except for her eyes. "It spans over ten million square kilometers and boasts a standing army of approximately six hundred and ten thousand soldiers."
"This kingdom's military strength is truly formidable!"
Kojin paused, his eyes flashing slightly. "Six hundred and ten thousand soldiers?" he asked, surprised.
This force exceeded the 310,000 troops currently stationed in the West Blue Marine by far, a number achieved after years of recruitment.
Of course, kingdoms rarely possess the elite soldiers or advanced weaponry of the Marines. This limitation stems from two factors: insufficient military resources and a lack of truly powerful individuals.
"If this kingdom had more elite soldiers and more powerful individuals... then that would be a force even the World Government can't ignore!" Kojin murmured with a sigh.
"I've heard of such a nation," Eveya chimed in. "In the second half of the Grand Line, there's a country called Wano Country. Their samurai are incredibly powerful!"
"Even the World Government and Marine Headquarters treat them with utmost respect, rarely daring to provoke them!"
Kojin nodded.
Gazing at the endless yellow sands stretching before them, he watched the trail of a camel's footprints across the desert.
"The climate is a bit harsh, though," he sighed quietly.
Sometimes, a nation's development is heavily influenced by its climate and geographical location.
Countries rich in iron ore naturally focus on developing metal weapons.
Nations with favorable climates prioritize agriculture and animal husbandry.
'What does the Desert Kingdom have in abundance?'
Kojin suddenly thought of oil, recalling Dubai and other Desert Kingdoms from his previous life.
But what use was oil in this world?
His thoughts became muddled, and he quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea.
His purpose here wasn't to develop Alabasta.
'Still, perhaps it's something to keep an eye on in the future! After all, this kingdom has immense potential, Kojin mused inwardly.'
Having served as a Marine commander in the West Blue for many years, he was well aware that many nations in this world possessed formidable power and concealed astonishing secrets.
Many world-renowned powerhouses had their origins in these very countries.
Desert camels were slow but possessed remarkable endurance.
Five days later, the group arrived at Alubarna, where they beheld the capital of the Desert Kingdom.
(End of Chapter)
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