Dong!
With a thud, the boy's tears flowed, and he kowtowed to the ground, not rising for a long time...
Dada da da...
After a moment, the sound of a group of people leaving echoed, gradually fading. Just as the boy was about to despair, Sakazuki's somewhat indifferent voice came from ahead.
"Follow."
-----------------------------------------
Unlike the unpredictable weather of the Grand Line, the North Blue had exceptionally good weather today, with ample sunshine and a gentle breeze.
A warship sailed on the sea, leaving ripples on the calm surface. Sakazuki stood on the third deck of the warship, watching the soldiers training below.
These soldiers were of all heights and builds, but they all had one thing in common: they were young children, each having experienced the tragedy of their villages and towns being massacred.
This was merely a microcosm of the world, yet it was the overt manifestation of evil.
In the two years Sakazuki had been patrolling and fighting pirates, he had seen too many such children. Those who wished to join the Marines were sent to nearby branches.
Each branch could accommodate a certain number of children; these were the seeds of future Marines, waiting to take root and sprout. And then...
As for those with better talent or exceptional willpower, Sakazuki would take them aboard his ship for training, and send them to the Headquarters Academy upon their return.
These talented children would become the pillars of the Marines in the future, bearing the world's justice and striving for their ideals...
"Buru buru, buru buru."
"Report, Vice Admiral Maurice is calling."
The adjutant appeared with a Den Den Mushi and reported to Sakazuki.
Sakazuki picked up the phone and said,
"Vice Admiral Maurice."
A hearty laugh came through, the Den Den Mushi grinning and mimicking Maurice's expression vividly:
"Hahahaha, Sakazuki, long time no see."
"Prepare to return to Headquarters."
"Your promotion to Vice Admiral has been approved, come back for the inauguration ceremony."
Although he had anticipated it, Sakazuki couldn't help but slightly curl his lips. His usually indifferent voice carried a rare hint of emotion as he replied,
"Understood."
"Hahaha, alright, prepare yourself. We'll meet at Headquarters when you get back."
*Click!*
The sound of Maurice hanging up the Den Den Mushi echoed. The adjutant who overheard it was also full of excitement. Sakazuki smiled at the adjutant's reaction and said,
"Intensify your training below, and we'll have a banquet tonight."
"Yes!!!!!!!!"
The adjutant replied with excitement, then vanished with a "swish," using Soru to appear on the deck below, announcing Sakazuki's impending promotion to Vice Admiral and the increased training and evening banquet.
"Ooooooooooh!!!!!!!!!!!"
The excited roars from the warship pierced the sky, causing a passing news bird to stumble and nearly fall.
-----------------------------------------
Marineford Calendar 1488.
The Navy.
Two years of patrols and eliminating pirates had greatly increased Sakazuki's reputation across the four seas. Coupled with his inherent strength, the higher-ups deliberated and granted him the rank of Vice Admiral.
Concurrently, Zephyr emerged victorious in his competition with Maurice, being promoted to Admiral with the codename "Black Arm," his reputation for never killing resounding throughout the seas.
Meanwhile, the future Marine Vice Admiral "Smoker" was just born on an island in the Grand Line.
The Pirates.
Golden Lion's ambition to dominate the world grew daily. He gathered a large number of pirates, forming a fleet and carving out territory in the New World.
Whitebeard gathered children in pursuit of his dream of having a family, and in the process, occupied significant territory, establishing himself as a powerful figure.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido parted ways for reasons unknown, developing their respective powers independently.
The future "Pirate King" Gol D. Roger and the "Hero" Garp were engaged in a cat-and-mouse game across the Grand Line.