Somewhere across the seas, a small coffin-shaped boat drifted silently over the waves.
The man seated within it lowered the newspaper slowly.
The headline still lingered in his mind.
An East Blue Marine had confronted Shanks.
And the Red Hair Pirates had withdrawn.
The man's golden eyes sharpened.
It seemed his aimless voyage had finally found a destination.
He wished to travel to East Blue.
To meet this newly risen swordsman.
Or rather
Swordswoman.
He wanted to see the person capable of forcing Shanks into retreat.
The man was none other than Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman.
He slowly removed the cross pendant hanging from his neck.
With a soft pull, the cross separated.
Inside it was a tiny blade.
Mihawk stood up.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he slashed toward the rear of the boat.
A powerful flying slash erupted instantly.
The force of the attack pushed the small vessel forward across the sea.
Mihawk returned the small blade to the cross necklace.
His eyes remained calm.
"I have only one wish."
"To see the truth with my own eyes."
Meanwhile, at Marineford.
Former Marine Admiral Zephyr stood inside the training grounds.
The latest session of the Marine Special Training Camp had just concluded.
Five hundred cadets had entered the program.
Only ninety-three had successfully graduated.
Yet something puzzled Zephyr.
More than forty graduates had chosen East Blue as their first assignment.
Among them were the top two students.
Smoker, the class valedictorian.
And Hina, the runner-up.
Zephyr frowned thoughtfully.
These cadets were the elite of Marine Headquarters.
Talented.
Ambitious.
Full of potential.
Why would they voluntarily request assignment to the weakest sea?
Was it because East Blue was considered safe?
Did they want an easy life?
No.
That explanation didn't make sense.
Zephyr knew his students well.
Take Smoker, for example.
Smoker despised complacency.
A man like him would never choose a comfortable life.
Only after reading the latest reports did Zephyr finally understand.
"…So that's it."
The reason was Saint Roselith Seraphina.
Her battle against the Red Hair Pirates had shaken the entire Marine organization.
She had grown stronger once again.
Zephyr sighed quietly.
It seemed a new standard-bearer had emerged among this generation.
"…Very well."
"If they wish to go, let them."
Someone like Seraphina would eventually return to Marineford anyway.
The Grand Line would never lack young talent.
Once he understood their motivation, Zephyr approved every request.
The documents were then forwarded to Tsuru.
With Zephyr's approval already granted, Tsuru raised no objections.
Thus the commissioning ceremony began.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally presided over the event.
"I hereby commission Smoker as Marine Lieutenant Commander."
"I hereby commission Hina as Marine Lieutenant."
"I hereby commission Reginald as Marine Lieutenant."
"I hereby commission the remaining graduates according to their assigned ranks."
Sengoku walked down the line of young Marines.
One by one, he pinned rank insignias onto their uniforms.
Then he distributed the coats of justice.
The white coats symbolized the responsibility of Marine officers.
Each coat was neatly folded.
The top graduates received theirs directly from Sengoku.
Sengoku's voice carried across the plaza.
"May you always uphold the justice of the Marines."
"The future of the world depends on you."
The cadets raised their arms in salute toward the Marine flag.
"For justice!"
Their voices echoed through the base.
Sengoku placed a hand on Smoker's shoulder.
That simple gesture filled Smoker with determination.
He would realize his vision of justice.
No matter the cost.
Some time later.
At Marine Branch 18 in East Blue.
"So every one of you requested transfer here?"
Saint Roselith Seraphina crossed her arms.
"Exactly."
Smoker grinned with a cigar between his lips.
Although Seraphina had defeated him countless times during training, it had never diminished his respect for her.
To him she was both rival and inspiration.
"Little Seraphina!"
"Hina missed you so much!"
Before Seraphina could react, Hina rushed forward and hugged her tightly.
Because Hina was slightly taller, she easily wrapped her arms around Seraphina.
Her face buried into Seraphina's silver-white hair.
She inhaled deeply.
"Mm… still the same scent."
The faint fragrance of gardenia filled her senses.
"Hina… please behave."
Seraphina tried to pry her away.
But Hina's embrace was incredibly tight.
The warmth of Hina's body made Seraphina's cheeks redden slightly.
Nearby, Kuina froze.
Who is this woman?
Her expression immediately darkened.
"S-Sensei!"
"Please let go!"
"That's inappropriate!"
Kuina rushed forward and began pulling at Hina's arm.
Sensei belongs to me!
Where did this shameless woman come from?!
"Little Seraphina!"
"Hina suffered so much while you were gone!"
"That idiot Smoker kept fighting with Hina!"
"He bullied Hina every day!"
"Please avenge Hina!"
No matter how much Kuina pulled, Hina refused to release her grip.
Her voice even sounded slightly tearful.
"Hey!"
Smoker protested loudly.
"You're the one who started every fight!"
"I wasn't bullying anyone!"
Hina turned around immediately.
"When Seraphina was around, you fought her every day."
"If that isn't a battle maniac, what is?"
Smoker gritted his teeth.
"Don't make me sound crazy!"
Hina ignored him.
"Little Seraphina!"
"Smoker is bullying Hina!"
Seraphina sighed.
"Hina… please let go first."
Only then did Hina finally release her.
Seraphina took a deep breath.
"I can breathe again…"
She coughed lightly.
Then her expression turned serious.
"Smoker. Hina."
"I need your help."
Both of them straightened instantly.
Seraphina looked at them calmly.
"As Marines, what do you believe our primary duty is?"
Smoker answered first.
"Catch criminals."
Hina thought for a moment.
"To fulfill every mission assigned to us."
Seraphina nodded.
"You're both correct."
"But what is our ultimate purpose?"
"Why did we become Marines in the first place?"
Both of them fell silent.
Seraphina spoke slowly.
"My belief is simple."
"We became Marines to protect."
"To protect ourselves."
"To protect those beside us."
"To protect everyone we possibly can."
"Our purpose is to prevent the innocent from suffering."
"Our purpose is to build a world where justice truly exists."
Hina stared at her quietly.
Then she asked softly.
"So tell me…"
"What does Little Seraphina want to protect?"
The question froze Seraphina in place.
What did she want to protect?
The answer did not come easily.