Marshal Kong smiled:
"It fits your personality."
"Take a rest for a while. It's been so long since you've been back to headquarters."
"Take a good look around. Headquarters has changed a lot these past few years."
Sakazuki nodded:
"Yes, indeed."
"There are a lot more residents on the island now."
Marshal Kong said:
"Yes, they are all family members of the generals."
"With the Great Pirate Era initiated by Roger, more and more islands are no longer safe."
"To prevent another incident like Zephyr's from happening."
"Most of the generals' families have relocated to Marineford."
"The commercial and entertainment districts have seen significant development."
"It will be more relaxing for the soldiers at headquarters when they are off duty."
Sakazuki smiled:
"That's really good then."
"Alright, I'll go take a look around."
Kong nodded and said:
"Go ahead."
"Hmm... really nothing?"
Sakazuki rubbed his forehead:
"Nothing at all. When Sengoku decides he 'doesn't want to do it' anymore, then we'll talk."
Kong chuckled:
"Alright, alright, go on then."
Seeing Sakazuki leave the office after firmly expressing his thoughts, Kong felt a sense of relief. It couldn't be helped; he loved both of them equally.
These were the only two reliable successors after a lifetime dedicated to the Marines.
If a rift were to form between them over such a matter, it would truly be...
-----
Marine Headquarters Academy.
Sakazuki had just entered the grounds.
He saw Moria and Zephyr coming out together, followed by a somewhat shy but steady-mannered purple-haired youth.
Seeing Sakazuki, Zephyr nodded with a smile.
Moria exclaimed in surprise:
"You're back, Sakazuki."
"You..."
Sakazuki raised his hand:
"Stop right there!"
"No, no, no intentions whatsoever."
"Alright, you can continue."
Moria shook his head and chuckled:
"You..."
At this moment, the purple-haired youth behind them also stepped forward and said respectfully:
"Uncle Sakazuki."
Looking at Zephyr's son, Sakazuki smiled:
"You've grown so big, time flies too quickly."
He patted his shoulder and, looking at the firm muscles, added:
"Good. Your aura is steady."
"Do you have any favorite Devil Fruits?"
"I'll help you find one later."
The purple-haired youth showed some interest, but Zephyr next to him spoke up:
"I'm still here, Sakazuki."
"You're going too far."
Sakazuki said:
"Don't be so rigid."
"If Devil Fruits are developed well, they can be very useful in fighting pirates."
"For example, if an island is full of pirates."
"You can smash them one by one with a punch, or drown them directly with magma."
"The effect is immediate and decisive."
Zephyr snorted:
"That won't do."
"Devil Fruits have a fatal flaw."
"This flaw is inherent and cannot be overcome."
He looked at his son:
"Put aside those little thoughts of yours."
"Focus on practicing your physical techniques."
The purple-haired youth looked dejected. Sakazuki comforted him:
"Don't worry, I'll convince your father."
Zephyr chuckled:
"Stop playing coy, Sakazuki."
"I won't be persuaded by you."
Sakazuki smirked:
"Oh?"
------
Grand Line, First Half.
On an island with rocky terrain and nameless peaks.
Two groups of Fish-Men were confronting each other.
Jinbe and Arlong stood in opposition.
By becoming a Shichibukai, some Fish-Men's crimes were pardoned, including Arlong.
He had been retrieved from the underwater prison.
However, disagreements arose amongst them shortly after their reunion.
Under Arlong's instigation, a group of radical Fish-Men defected to Arlong...
Jinbe looked at Arlong across from him and said sternly:
"Just say what you want to do, Arlong."
Arlong sneered:
"You've become a Shichibukai, Brother Jinbe."
"You've become a dog for those humans in the government."
"How pathetic."
Jinbe frowned slightly:
"Have you forgotten what Big Brother Fisher Tiger said?"
"'Do not live in hatred and anger.'"
Arlong chuckled menacingly:
"I'm not like you."
"If I were to meekly follow you."
"Then I wouldn't be Arlong."
"Big Brother Fisher Tiger is dead. I will re-establish the Arlong Pirates."
"And take my brothers away."
"Let's part ways here."
Jinbe's eyes narrowed:
"Arlong... you scoundrel..."
Arlong said confidently:
"If you want to stop me, then here and now..."
"Kill me!!!"
"If you can't do it, then I am free."
His face suddenly contorted into a savage grin as he shouted:
"I am..."
"The Fury of the Fish-Men!!!!"
Jinbe's eyes widened in anger as he looked at Arlong, consumed by hatred:
"Don't get carried away!!!"
BOOM!
He threw a punch, sending Arlong crashing into the ground and creating a large crater.
Arlong's mind went blank, his eyes rolling back.
Before he could recover, Jinbe's body, several times heavier than his, landed on top of him.
His fists rained down like a torrent from both sides.
Arlong was beaten so severely that he almost lost consciousness, only being separated when others intervened.
Arlong, supported by Hatchan, had a contorted expression on his face.
He had expected some difference in strength, but he never imagined it would be this vast...
Completely unable to fight back, he was utterly thrashed...
Jinbe, looking at Arlong, with whom he had grown up in Fish-Man District, could not bring himself to kill him. He closed his eyes:
"Take him away for treatment."
Only after everyone had carried him off did Jinbe slump to the ground.
BANG—
He slammed a fist into the ground:
"That fool, why can't he understand Big Brother Fisher Tiger's intentions?"
The ship doctor Aladdin said:
"The world is vast. Wherever he goes."
"As long as he makes a disturbance, the Marines will eventually be deployed."
"Even if that doesn't happen, in a desperate situation."
"We will have to stop him ourselves."
The radical Fish-Men carrying Arlong away in the distance... did not head towards the Sun Pirates' ship...
But gradually moved away...
Jinbe and the others did not stop them from leaving... they couldn't bring themselves to do it...
-----
The reunited Arlong Pirates were all smiling.
"That's great! We're back to how it used to be."
"Finally, we don't have to endure those troublesome rules."
"We can do as we please!!!"
Arlong, being supported, also had a wide smile:
"Cough... cough..."
He coughed lightly, feeling the injuries on his body:
"That brute with monstrous strength..."
"But it was all worth it."
"Shark-hahaha-hahaha!!!!"
"Let us tear apart all those inferior human races!!!"
-----
Several days later.
Grand Line, First Half.
Night.
In an unknown sea area, a large warship was resting on the surface of the sea.
Arlong and his crew, on a ship they had stolen from somewhere, slowly approached the warship.
A savage, bloodthirsty smile appeared on Arlong's face:
"In this dark midnight, even if a warship sinks."
"No one will notice!!!"
"Heh heh heh..."
"Follow me!"
Then, the sound of
SPLASH!
Water splashing was heard.
The surrounding Fish-Men also revealed ferocious smiles and, as if in unison, jumped into the water and charged after Arlong!
Several dark shadows darted rapidly towards the warship beneath the surface.
BANG BANG BANG BANG—
Gushing water columns erupted around the warship, deafeningly loud.
Startling the resting soldiers and sentries.
Looking at the sentry blowing a frantic whistle, Arlong slammed onto the deck, grinning menacingly:
"Tear them apart! Leave none standing!"
"Shark-hahaha-hahaha!!!"
Inside the uppermost cabin of the warship...
Barrett, shirtless and bearing a multitude of fearsome scars, pushed open the door and emerged.
Looking at the grinning Fish-Men on the deck, his voice was low and cold, carrying a murderous intent born from being disturbed from a pleasant dream:
"Yakamashi... (So noisy)..."