The earlier excitement in the marine base of Grove 66 had settled into the usual rhythm of reports, patrol rotations, and soldiers cleaning equipment.
Adam pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Anna followed a step behind him, still unusually quiet after what just happened.
Before Adam could even reach his quarters, Captain Loid looked up from behind his desk.
The captain leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Adam."
Adam stopped.
"Yes, Captain."
Loid reached into a drawer and pulled out a small Den Den Mushi that was already awake, its tiny snail eyes blinking lazily.
"There's a call from Headquarters, asking for you."
Adam raised an eyebrow.
"For me?"
Loid nodded and held the snail out.
"Been waiting."
Anna crossed her arms beside him, clearly curious.
Adam took the Den Den Mushi and held it up.
The snail immediately mimicked the stern expression of the person on the other side of the line.
A deep voice came through.
"Lieutenant Adam."
Adam straightened slightly.
"This is Vice Admiral Momonga."
The room seemed to quiet for a moment.
Even Captain Loid watched carefully.
Momonga continued, his tone formal and composed.
"We have received the report regarding the incident in Grove 50."
The snail's little eyebrows furrowed.
"Considering your record, your participation in the summit war, and your recent combat reports…"
He paused briefly.
"Captain Loid of your unit made sure to report that it was you alone who dealt with the pirates there, including taking down their captain personally."
Anna's eyes drifted toward Adam with a faint smirk.
Momonga continued.
"Headquarters has deemed you worthy of a promotion."
There was a brief pause before he added,
"Long overdue, actually."
Adam blinked once.
Momonga continued, sounding mildly amused now.
"Most of the Marines who survived the summit war were promoted shortly after the conflict."
A small rustle of paper could be heard on the other side of the line.
"Yet… according to this record…"
Another pause.
"It says here that you refused the promotion offered to you at the time."
Captain Loid raised an eyebrow.
Anna looked at Adam with clear surprise.
Adam rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
"Oh right… I did."
He exhaled quietly.
"You could say it was… post-war trauma."
The Den Den Mushi's expression softened slightly as Momonga responded.
"That would not be unusual."
His voice grew more thoughtful.
"We lost many of our finest soldiers, and those who survived were deeply affected after the war, even with the great victory the Marines achieved."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Some took time before they were ready to advance again, I assume it was the same for you as well."
Adam nodded slowly even though Momonga couldn't see it.
"I suppose I was one of them."
Momonga continued in a steady tone.
"In any case, Lieutenant… you are ordered to sail to Marineford."
Anna's eyes widened slightly.
Momonga corrected himself.
"More specifically G-1."
"You will formally receive your promotion there."
He continued.
"At that time you will also be assigned your new station."
Adam remained silent as he listened.
Momonga added with a faint chuckle,
"And this time… you cannot refuse."
A brief pause.
"You may consider refusing promotions once you reach Vice Admiral rank."
There was a quiet laugh from the other side.
Adam allowed a small smile.
"Very well, Vice Admiral."
"Good," Momonga replied.
"Prepare to depart soon, one of our warships will be departing Sabaody shortly."
The Den Den Mushi blinked once more before going still.
The call ended.
The room remained quiet for a moment.
Adam lowered the snail slowly and handed it back to Captain Loid.
The captain looked satisfied.
"Well," he said, folding his arms.
"Looks like you're leaving us."
Adam nodded slightly.
"It seems I'll have to sail for Marineford… again."
There was something distant in his voice.
Anna stepped closer beside him.
"That's great news, Adam."
Her tone sounded genuine.
But when Adam glanced at her
She looked away.
He noticed immediately.
"You seem down."
Anna sighed quietly and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Well… obviously."
She kicked lightly at the floor with her boot.
"You're going to be stationed somewhere else."
"A different island."
She shrugged.
"Of course I'm down."
She smirked faintly.
"I got used to bullying you around here."
Adam chuckled.
"Well…"
He folded his arms casually.
"Since I'm about to become your superior officer…"
Anna looked at him suspiciously.
"…I might personally request my own subordinates."
He tilted his head slightly toward her.
"You could always come work under my command."
Anna stared at him.
Then burst into laughter.
"In your wildest dreams maybe."
Adam smirked.
She folded her arms again but there was a playful glint in her eyes now.
"…Maybe I will."
She looked at him sideways.
"But only because someone needs to make sure you don't do something stupid."
Adam laughed quietly.
"Fair enough."
For a moment they both stood there in comfortable silence.
Adam rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Well," he said calmly, "I'll gather my things and head for the warship Vice Admiral Momonga mentioned."
Captain Loid nodded slowly from behind the desk.
"Very well, Adam."
For a moment the older man simply looked at him, his expression softer than usual.
"It was an honor serving with you."
Adam blinked slightly at that.
Loid crossed his arms, adding casually,
"You can always visit, you know."
Adam smiled.
A genuine one this time.
"For sure."
The captain gave a short nod, satisfied.
Adam turned and walked out of the office.
Anna followed him out into the corridor, but she didn't say anything. The base around them continued its normal activities Marines moving crates, scribbling reports, shouting instructions to new recruits.
Adam's room wasn't far.
A small, simple Marine barrack room with just enough space for a bed, a locker, and a narrow desk.
He opened the locker and started gathering his things.
A spare uniform.
A small cleaning kit for his sword.
A few personal belongings that weren't worth much.
Everything fit easily into a worn backpack he'd been carrying for years.
As he packed, his mind wandered.
'I'm thinking about too many things right now…'
He paused, holding the strap of the bag for a moment.
'Maybe this trip will clear my mind.'
He zipped the backpack closed.
'I'll figure out what to do next.'
His reflection caught his eye in the small mirror near the locker.
Red hair.
Sharp red eyes.
But for a moment
He could almost see the faint violet glow beneath them.
Adam leaned slightly against the locker.
'I know this world too well.'
His expression hardened slightly.
'I know what lurks behind the great shadow of "justice."'
Memories flashed briefly across his mind.
'I know secrets most people would get killed for.'
His hand tightened slightly around the strap of his bag.
'That's why I need to get stronger.'
He slung the backpack over his shoulder.
'The Navy… isn't the worst place to do that.'
He stepped toward the door.
'But I have to…'
His eyes narrowed faintly.
'I need to reach the New World.'
Adam stepped out of the barracks and into the open courtyard again.
The evening air felt cooler now.
Several Marines noticed him leaving with his bag.
"Hey! You leaving already?"
"Don't forget us when you're a big shot Captain!"
"Bring back some New World stories if you get stationed there!"
Adam waved lazily without stopping.
Anna was leaning against the wall near the gate when he approached.
She looked up when she saw the backpack.
"Well… looks like it's happening."
Adam adjusted the strap.
"Looks like it."
He walked past her toward the exit.
Then glanced back slightly.
"You coming?"
Anna raised an eyebrow.
"Coming where?"
Adam smirked.
"To the ship."
He walked a few steps ahead, then added casually over his shoulder,
"Aren't you going to bid me farewell?"
Anna groaned dramatically.
"Oh please."
She pushed herself off the wall and followed him.
"Alright, alright."
They walked out of the base together and into the bustling streets of Sabaody.
Evening had begun settling over the archipelago. The massive mangrove roots glowed softly as bubbles drifted through the air like floating lanterns.
The port wasn't far.
Anna walked beside him quietly for a while.
Then she glanced at him sideways.
"You know… You never mentioned that you refused a promotion before, wanna talk about it ?"
Adam shrugged slightly.
"Alright, since we I'm leaving and we have some time before we reach the port, It wouldn't hurt to tell you why I refused it..."
/-\
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