Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
A gentle breeze swept through the harbor. The gathered officers stared at the tall figure before them, unable to hide their excitement.
Ten years ago, they believed his golden age was just beginning.
Who could have imagined everything would change so suddenly? A single unexpected incident had sent him to Impel Down, and from that day on, he vanished from the world.
Until now.
"Kojin!"
From the crowd, a Marine officer with graying hair at his temples and a visibly aged face called out in excitement.
Kojin turned to look at him. After a brief moment of surprise, recognition clicked, and he smiled.
"Shinbu!"
The officer bearing the rank of Rear Admiral was none other than Shinbu, a legendary figure who held considerable prestige within Headquarters.
Though limited by his natural strength and unable to advance past Rear Admiral, his standing within the Marines remained exceptionally high, earning him the respect of countless younger officers.
"Rear Admiral Shinbu!"
At that moment, Kuina leaped down from the battleship, greeting him with a bright smile.
"You're... Kuina?"
Shinbu looked at her in surprise before recognizing the young woman.
"Yes. Thank you for your guidance back then. It helped me find Sensei."
Kuina bowed her head in gratitude.
"Hahahaha!"
"I've been friends with Admiral Kojin for many years. It was only natural."
Shinbu laughed heartily before letting out a poignant sigh.
"It's good to have you back. Truly."
"So many people at Headquarters have been waiting for your return."
A subtle flicker passed through Kojin's eyes as he caught the deeper meaning behind those words. He offered a slight nod.
The Marines were a massive organization; the factions and power dynamics within were far more complex than most could imagine. That was simply inevitable for any mature institution.
Among those factions was a group that viewed Kojin as their symbol and rallied behind his ideal of absolute equality in justice. Yet, after a decade without their leader, that group had steadily faded into the background, becoming nearly forgotten.
Many had been waiting for Kojin to return and lead them once again, to champion their beliefs and pursue what they considered true justice.
Shortly after, Crocodile, Rosinante, Smoker, Fisher Tiger, Buggy, and the others stepped off the ship one by one.
Vice Admirals like Strawberry and Momonga narrowed their eyes as their gazes landed on the group.
"Crocodile!"
"The former Warlord is suddenly a Marine Rear Admiral?"
"No... maybe he's been a Marine all along."
"Don't forget, he used to serve directly under Admiral Kojin."
"Along with Bullet, who's now Commander-in-Chief of West Blue, he was known as Admiral Kojin's right-hand man."
"A Logia user with the Sand-Sand Fruit. He's no lightweight."
Quiet murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Before long, the Vice Admirals turned their attention to the rest of the group, their expressions growing increasingly stern.
Every single person accompanying Admiral Kojin was formidable. The overwhelming aura they projected left virtually no gap between them and the Vice Admirals themselves.
"Every one of them is strong."
"Frightening, really. The kids who once served under Admiral Kojin have truly grown up," Momonga muttered.
Meanwhile, the CP9 unit stayed hidden near the back of the group, keeping their heads down under Marine caps and maintaining complete silence.
Kaku and the rest looked visibly tense.
They were standing in Marineford, the absolute strongest fortress in the world. Ahead of them stood an assembly of officers who formed the very backbone of the Marines' power.
This lineup was on an entirely different level. Even the Buster Calls they had witnessed in the past couldn't hold a candle to the forces gathered here.
"Lucci," Jabra whispered, unable to conceal his anxiety.
"Stay calm. Don't forget who we are now," Lucci replied in a low, even tone, his face remaining entirely expressionless.
Jabra took a deep breath. Still, under the intense scrutiny of so many Vice Admirals, feeling the weight of the pressure was unavoidable. No matter how fearless CP9 had been in the past, this was the epicenter of Marine authority, a place teeming with monsters.
A short while later, Kojin took the lead, heading toward the Marine Headquarters building with the group following closely behind.
"Headquarters has been secretly mobilizing forces lately," Bastille noted quietly as they walked. "They've been pulling elite troops from all over the world."
"The target is the Whitebeard Pirates."
"So Sengoku has already begun preparations?" Kojin raised an eyebrow.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has never lacked courage or resolve," Momonga said solemnly. "And with your return, Admiral, he'll be all the more confident in his decisions."
Kojin nodded as Sengoku's face crossed his mind.
People called him the Resourceful General, but he was also a veteran warrior who had clawed his way through brutal battlefields. During his tenure as Fleet Admiral, he had more than proven himself worthy of the title.
"They're also preparing for a Warlord summit," Comil added softly. "The candidates for the vacant seat haven't been finalized yet."
As Vice Admirals, they were naturally privy to every major development within Headquarters, and they were giving Kojin a clear picture of the current landscape. Everyone understood that Kojin's return meant he would inevitably re-involve himself in Headquarters' affairs.
And given both his sheer strength and distinct personality, his influence would run far deeper than that of the other three Admirals.
"A Warlord summit..." Kojin narrowed his eyes.
In his memory, the first Warlord summit at Marine Headquarters was the very meeting where full attendance failed, and the moment the Blackbeard Pirates boldly infiltrated Marineford.
Which meant Ace was about to be captured.
Surrounded by the Vice Admirals, Kojin stepped inside the Headquarters building.
"I'm going to see the Fleet Admiral." He offered everyone a small smile as he looked around. "You can all disperse and return to your duties."
This entrance alone had drawn more than enough attention. By now, the entire fortress undoubtedly knew that Kojin had returned. After all, the only people who moved with an escort of Vice Admirals were the Admirals and the Fleet Admiral himself.
The group nodded, offering polite bows before taking their leave.
Kojin, meanwhile, made his way toward the Fleet Admiral's office.
It had been ten years since he last walked these corridors, and much of the familiar scenery now felt distant. Fortunately, a young officer led the way, guiding him up to the top floor.
The door to the Fleet Admiral's office stood slightly ajar.
The young officer seemed intensely nervous; after offering Kojin a deep bow, he backed away without making a sound.
Kojin frowned slightly, feeling the gesture was a bit over the top, before slowly pushing the office door open.
Two familiar figures immediately came into view.
At the exact same moment, Sengoku, seated behind his desk, slowly raised his head.
"Kojin!" A smile instantly broke across the Fleet Admiral's face.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku." Kojin returned the smile.
It had been far too long since they last stood face-to-face.
Compared to a decade ago, Sengoku looked noticeably leaner. His braided hair was hidden beneath his Marine cap, but what little showed was now almost entirely white.
Using Observation Haki, Kojin could clearly sense that Sengoku's vitality had eroded considerably. His blood flow and physical condition were no longer what they used to be, a clear sign of declining combat strength.
While his burst power might still hold up in a short clash, his stamina and endurance were a completely different story.
"Sit," Sengoku said with a warm smile. "We finally get to talk face-to-face again."
Kojin nodded and naturally took a seat across from him. Unlike Borsalino, who was lounging nearby, Kojin sat upright with posture, resting his arms comfortably in a relaxed manner.
Turning his head slightly, he looked over at Kizaru. "It's been a while, Borsalino."
Kizaru pulled his feet off the desk and sat up slightly. "Seeing you back really puts a smile on my face, Kojin." His eyes narrowed into his characteristic smirk.
"Likewise," Kojin chuckled softly.
His gaze swept over the office, taking in every familiar corner as a wave of emotion washed over him.
He had grown up in the Marines, after all. Marine Headquarters, Marineford, these places held deep meaning for him. Though time had rendered much of it unfamiliar, standing here still felt a bit like coming home.
"I vaguely recall the last time the three of us sat together like this," Sengoku said, shaking his head with a gentle sigh. "We were debating how to execute true justice."
In this moment, the overbearing aura of the Fleet Admiral was entirely absent. He spoke with the ease of an old friend.
"Yet ten years have passed... and the goal we shared, or perhaps the consensus we reached, remains as elusive as ever."
"In the end, I simply wasn't capable enough." Sengoku offered a self-deprecating laugh.
"You've done more than enough," Kojin replied earnestly. "You've done remarkably well."
A person's worldview, values, and beliefs naturally shift over a lifetime; even self-refinement was an uphill battle. How much harder was it, then, to reform an entire system, a massive institution, or the world itself? Some burdens simply exceeded what a single man could carry.
"Hahahahaha!" Sengoku burst into hearty laughter.
Slowly, the laughter faded, replaced by a grave, heavy expression.
"So, what are your plans moving forward?"
"Regarding the Whitebeard Pirates..."
"And the Emperors of the New World?"
"How do you intend to reshape this world and bring order to this chaotic era?"
The sudden barrage of questions met a quiet silence.
After a long pause, Kojin finally smiled.
"First, I'll help Fleet Admiral Sengoku finish what's already been set in motion." He paused, his expression softening with a trace of deep emotion. "And then..."
"We put an end to an old era, and usher in the new."
He had already brought one era to a close. In the near future, he would end another. It was a strange, solemn feeling.
"I've already begun secretly mobilizing elite units from all four seas," Sengoku stated, his voice dropping an octave. "I hear the forces from West Blue are already en route to Headquarters?"
"That's right," Kojin nodded. "Bullet is leading West Blue's forces himself to participate in this war."
A flash of excitement glinted in Sengoku's eyes, while Kizaru's expression grew visibly sharper.
"And what about the catalyst?" Sengoku asked. "How do we force that old man Whitebeard to willingly step onto the grand stage we've set for him?"
At those words, Kojin fell silent once more.
After a long moment, he let out a slow sigh.
"Ace."
"Ace is the key."
(End of Chapter)
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