The island housing the Marine Headquarters looked like a crescent moon from above, and its harbor was always surrounded by more than a hundred warships.
Arriving at the harbor, one could see the massive fortifications enclosing Orius Square at the island's waist, and at the far edge of the square stood the World Government Headquarters.
On the front of the headquarters, the kanji for "Justice" (正義) was painted in letters so large they were visible from afar, and the Marine emblem was depicted in miniature between the two characters.
In a chamber at the top of that building, someone addressed Sakazuki, who was seated on a sofa.
"So, Sakazuki, how is the training for Luffy going?"
"It's a disaster, Fleet Admiral."
Sakazuki turned his head toward an old man seated behind a desk piled high with paperwork and replied.
The old man, wearing a cap topped with a seagull figure and spectacles, donned a uniform and officer's coat. Despite his heavily lined face, he was as large as Sakazuki and had jet-black hair.
This was the man who stood at the pinnacle of the Marines, leading every Marine in the Grand Line and all four Blues: Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"He's extremely rebellious."
"How bad is it, exactly?"
At those words, Sakazuki recalled one of the recent incidents at the training grounds with Luffy.
"Get up, Luffy. It's been a while—I want to see firsthand how your training has paid off."
"I don't feel like it."
"...What?"
"Why would I be lying down? I've been training hard until just now, so I'm resting."
"Your mouth is too lively—you must still have energy to spare! So get up!"
"I did train! If you want to see it, come back while I'm training!"
"Where did you leave the respect you're supposed to have when speaking to a superior!!!"
Then Sakazuki recalled the time he sat Luffy down at a desk and thrust various papers at him.
"These are the Marine ranks, organizational structure, and concepts needed to perform administrative duties."
"You'll be tested on what's written here, so study up."
"Aren't those clerks' jobs?"
"Even if you're not assigned as a clerk, once you become an officer, you'll have paperwork to do, and you need this knowledge."
"Ugh…I hate it."
"Speaking like that again!"
"Ah, sorry…my true thoughts slipped out."
Next, he remembered gathering soldiers under his command, including Luffy, and asking them about their commitment as Marines.
"Sakazuki, I have no intention of being a Marine."
"Then why did you accept training from me?"
"You offered to train me, and I accepted because I thought learning directly from a Marine admiral would be advantageous."
"I told you from the start I would make you an outstanding Marine."
"So when I agreed to train, you didn't agree to that?!"
"Yes."
At those words, Sakazuki clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his face, and the soldiers who witnessed his rage trembled in fear.
Hearing those accounts, Fleet Admiral Sengoku wore a troubled expression.
"You said all that to him?"
"I'd heard from Vice Admiral Garp that he was rebellious and had no interest in the Marines."
"But I didn't realize it was that bad."
"Strange…he hasn't been that disrespectful to me."
"What do you think of Luffy?"
Sengoku looked at the two men seated opposite Sakazuki on a long sofa.
Between them and Sakazuki stood a table with teacups. Upon hearing Sengoku's question, the middle-aged officers set down their cups.
"We haven't gathered in a while, so let's ask—this is about the talent who will lead the Marines' future."
"Understood, Sengoku."
The man who spoke was clad in a yellow suit beneath his coat of justice, with slightly curly short hair and sunglasses over his drooping eyes.
The other man, wearing a blue suit and officer's uniform with a sleep mask on his forehead, had neatly combed-back hair on top but very curly sides and back.
Along with Sakazuki, these two were considered the Marines' top combat assets. Pirates referred to them as "Yellow Monkey" and "Blue Pheasant," respectively.
"Luffy is fourteen this year—a prime age for rebellion."
"That's true."
Vice Admiral Borsalino continued speaking in response to Sengoku's question.
"At that age, having a healthy dose of rebellion is natural."
"There have been plenty of youngsters younger than fourteen who enlisted voluntarily…but those who truly want to be Marines wouldn't show such rebellion."
"Exactly—but Luffy's saying he doesn't want to be a Marine."
"So rather than forcing him, why not negotiate—see what he wants?"
"Negotiate…"
"Do you really want to sell a position to fight for justice—one that countless people would give their all to—even for money, Borsalino?"
"Sakazuki has a point, Borsalino. Aside from natural talent, having the right mindset as a Marine matters."
"Then Kuzan, what do you think?"
Kuzan, who had been answering in a lazy drawl beside Borsalino, spoke after a moment's silence.
"Vice Admiral Garp often told me Luffy is rebellious but kind."
"He said Luffy never turned a blind eye when the weak cried out for help."
"Therefore, if Luffy learns of the chaos in pirate-infested seas, he'll naturally want to join the Marines, so there's no need to worry."
"If Garp's words hold true, and we treat this as adolescent rebellion…maybe we can leave him be?"
"Those kids usually grow up just fine without interference—like me."
"If we go by what you heard Garp say, there shouldn't be much to worry about…"
"No, sir! Luffy won't become a Marine on his own if we leave him alone!"
"Why are you so sure, Sakazuki? Have you seen him do anything truly evil?"
"I'm not talking about his character, Kuzan! I'm talking about his nature!"
Sakazuki rose, seething with anger, as he continued.
"Have you forgotten what the so-called 'Dragon' did when you left him be?!"
"Sakazuki, that—"
"I agree with you, Kuzan."
Sengoku replied with a stern expression.
"Based on Sakazuki's report, Luffy's innate talent and rate of growth match Garp's or even exceed it."
"Is it really that extreme?"
"I enlisted the same year as Garp. That's my evaluation."
"Now that we know his talent, we must prevent Garp's bloodline from leaking outside the World Government."
"But…we can't exactly beat him into submission, can we?"
"Kuzan's right, sir."
"I don't want that much conflict—and if we actually did that, Garp would kill us."
"Of course, Borsalino…we are Marines, not Cipher Pol."
"That's why we're gathered here—to discuss a more proper method."
"Shouldn't we hear Garp's opinion too?"
"What would you ask that old man who beats recruits for saying he hates the Marines, Kuzan?"
"He's not helpful in this situation, so it's on us…!"
Just then, there was a knock on the office door.
"Come in."
"Sir, yes, sir! I have a report for the Fleet Admiral!"
An officer wearing a coat of justice strode in and saluted as soon as he heard Sengoku's words.
Everyone in the room turned to look, and the officer, feeling the pressure from the admiral and three vice admirals' gazes, broke into a cold sweat.
"Recruit Luffy, who went out on authorized free patrol, has returned!"
"Return from what? Did he get badly hurt somewhere?!"
"No, Fleet Admiral! It's not that…!"
As the officer answered Sengoku, Sakazuki walked to the nearby window.
From there he looked down to see Luffy walking along the central path of the fortifications, followed by others, and Marines parting to either side for them.
"I'll go ahead, sir."
"Sakazuki, why put your foot up on the window—wait!"
Before Sengoku could finish, Sakazuki threw himself out the window.
From the top of a building well over a hundred meters high, Sakazuki fell without a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
Paaang!
As he neared the ground, he delivered a powerful kick in midair.
The Marines below were toppled by the blast of air he generated, and Sakazuki, propelled upward, landed naturally on both feet.
"Sorry for the sudden trouble."
"N-no, Captain Akainu!"
"W-we're fine! No injuries!"
"That's good. If you're wounded anywhere, give my name to the surgeon."
"Understood!"
With that, Sakazuki strode forward.
The Marines in his path automatically split left and right to make way.
And the Marines parting around the bloodied Luffy and his escorts also bowed aside.
Thus, as Luffy and Sakazuki walked toward each other, the two divided paths merged into one.
"What's all the blood on you?"
"It's not mine."
"And the ones tied up behind you?"
"They're criminals we captured."
Sakazuki looked at the men trailing Luffy.
On either side of Luffy walked an officer in a coat of justice and a man in standard Marine dress.
Behind them, Marines in uniform and covered in blood were bound by ropes held by the officer beside Luffy.
In Luffy's eyes, as he led them forward, burned fierce anger.