Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
After several days of sailing, Sakazuki's warship finally arrived at the headquarters, Marineford. The warship slowly sailed into the port. After nearly a year, everyone once again saw the majestic and solemn complex of buildings.
On the warship, Enel looked at the towering fortress in astonishment. The imposing city walls bore the giant characters "Navy," solemn and imposing, striking Enel's heart.
The warship anchored. Sakazuki ordered everyone to rest for half a day, then led Enel towards Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
Enel, flying behind Sakazuki on the "Maxim" model, attracted quite a few glances along the way, making him a little embarrassed. He followed closely behind Sakazuki, not daring to look up.
Leading Enel to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, Sakazuki raised his hand and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Enter."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice came from inside. Sakazuki pushed the door open, and Enel followed, showing half his body and looking at Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
As if a Fleet Admiral always had endless affairs to handle, Fleet Admiral Sengoku lowered his head and said while reviewing documents:
"Sit down, Sakazuki, just a moment."
Sakazuki responded and then sat on a nearby chair. Enel sat on the "Maxim," floating beside Sakazuki, looking around the office.
The room was a simple wooden structure with plain patterns on the pillars. The interior was sparsely furnished, with only a desk for the Fleet Admiral and a few sofa-like chairs.
Behind Fleet Admiral Sengoku, a large framed scroll filled the entire wall, bearing only the giant characters "Justice," occupying the entire wall, as if displaying Sengoku's justice.
After a short while, Sengoku finally finished the last stroke on the document in front of him and looked up at Sakazuki, scrutinizing him and nodding with satisfaction:
"It's good that you're alright. Next time, don't be so impulsive."
"Your strength is not yet enough to deal with those long-established powerful pirates."
"If you were to be lost, it would be not only a loss for the Navy but also a loss for the world."
Sakazuki nodded and replied:
"Yes."
Seeing Sakazuki like this, Sengoku knew it was futile to say more. He shook his head helplessly and reached for his teacup:
"You..."
Looking at Enel sitting on the "Maxim":
"Who is this?"
Sakazuki waited for two seconds, and after seeing Fleet Admiral Sengoku lift his teacup to his lips, he spoke:
"This is a new soldier I've taken in, Enel."
"Logia-type, the Goro Goro no Mi user."
Pfft!
Fleet Admiral Sengoku spat out the tea he was drinking, looking at Enel in surprise. This was truly a pleasant surprise.
Enel, however, seemed to witness a hallucination. As Sakazuki saw Fleet Admiral Sengoku spit out water, the corners of his mouth seemed to curl up slightly. That expression... was just like Carrol's!
This made Enel's eyes widen as he looked at Sakazuki. He had found out why Carrol was so cunning!
Fleet Admiral Sengoku looked at Enel, whose eyes were wide, and his joy grew:
"Good, good, very good."
"The little fellow is quite spirited, Hahahahaha."
"How do you plan to train him?"
Sakazuki also smiled. This was the purpose of his visit:
"I plan to leave him with Vice Admiral Momonga for training first, then find some tutors for him to learn knowledge."
"After a couple of years, I'll send him to the Naval Academy."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku nodded in agreement:
"Momonga, that's fine."
"It just so happens that Momonga has no children. Having a little fellow to keep him company will make him happy."
When he mentioned Momonga having no children, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's expression dimmed, as if he had remembered something. Alas... he quickly dismissed the thought:
"So, you plan out what Enel needs to learn."
"I will arrange for the best teachers in the Navy to instruct him."
"His accommodation will be at Momonga's house, to keep him company."
Sakazuki nodded:
"Thank you, Fleet Admiral."
Enel also looked at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and his clear voice rang out:
"Thank you, Fleet Admiral Grandpa."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku became even happier. He was sensible and polite, which was wonderful. He said:
"Go to Momonga's quickly and tell him the news."
Sakazuki responded, his purpose achieved, and then led Enel out of the office. Before leaving, Enel's voice echoed into the office:
"Goodbye, Fleet Admiral Grandpa!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku smiled, the smile lingering for a long time. That clear voice seemed to clear away the fatigue of his entire day. He picked up his pen and continued to work on the stack of documents. Everything was developing in a good direction...
Beneath the giant city walls, Sakazuki had already led Enel out of the massive fortress and was heading towards the Naval Academy. Momonga should be at the academy at this time.
Sakazuki looked at Enel, who was floating beside him, and smiled:
"You performed well, keep it up."
Enel, having been praised, couldn't control his smile:
"Heh heh."
Like a parent taking their child for a walk, the figure of one large and one small gradually walked away under the sun...
-------------------------
Marineford, Naval Academy.
Sakazuki led Enel through the training grounds, past various classrooms. Some were lining up, some were sparring, and some were listening to instructors explain knowledge about the sea. Everything was orderly, leaving Enel mesmerized.
I will be one of them in the future... Enel's young face couldn't hide his smile.
At the Naval Academy, in the principal's office, Vice Admiral Momonga was planning textbooks. The training syllabus distributed by headquarters was the general training outline for the world's navies.
Unlike Zephyr, who later became an Admiral and then an instructor, Vice Admirals could indeed serve as principals with their qualifications.
Zephyr did it to personally guide and lead by example, successfully training batch after batch of elite Marines.
Momonga's current goal was to educate the world's navies, to subtly change them, and as generations of Marines grew up... then...
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock sounded at the door. Momonga put down his pen and looked towards the entrance:
"Enter."
Sakazuki led Enel in. Vice Admiral Momonga smiled:
"You rascal, when did you get back, Hahahahaha."
Sakazuki smiled slightly:
"Just got back this morning."
He looked at Enel beside him and said:
"This is Vice Admiral Momonga."
Enel looked at Vice Admiral Momonga, and his clear voice rang out:
"Hello, Grandpa Momonga."
Momonga's smile deepened. He looked kindly at Enel, who was in a uniform:
"Hello to you too, little Marine warrior."
Sakazuki introduced Enel to Vice Admiral Momonga:
"Vice Admiral Momonga, this is Enel, the user of the Goro Goro no Mi."
Vice Admiral Momonga was somewhat surprised:
"Goro Goro no Mi?"
"Good, good, good, good, this is great, Sakazuki."
Momonga repeatedly said "good," his smile undiminished. Sakazuki said to Vice Admiral Momonga:
"I'll be counting on your guidance from now on."
Momonga looked at Sakazuki, somewhat incredulously:
"Entrust him to me to teach?"
Sakazuki said with a smile:
"Yes, it'll be a good way to keep you company too."
Momonga stood up and walked towards Enel. Looking at the well-behaved Enel, he became increasingly affectionate, inquiring about Enel's situation. After Enel finished recounting his experiences, Momonga felt even more pained for the child.
At this moment, a messenger arrived, interrupting the three of them. After conveying a few words to Sakazuki, Sakazuki excused himself and left.
Enel waved goodbye to Sakazuki, while Sakazuki, in the distance, did not turn back, raising his hand and waving.
After Sakazuki left, Vice Admiral Momonga could no longer contain himself. He completely abandoned his work and took Enel out to buy various things.
In the town.
Momonga's voice echoed in a shop:
"Pack this, this, this, this, and this, and send it to Alley 17, House 2."
Enel's voice, tinged with confusion, came:
"Grandpa Momonga, won't this be too much?"
Momonga happily explained:
"Not at all, not at all. And just call me Grandpa, no need to add my name."
Enel's clear voice rang out:
"Grandpa."
Momonga's pleased laughter echoed:
"Good, good, Hahahahahahaha, pack this, and this too!"
"Come, Grandpa will take you home."
The voices gradually faded away...
-----------------------------
Meanwhile, not long after disembarking from his warship, Sakazuki arrived at the port again, but this time not to board his own warship.
Led by a messenger, he saw Admiral Sengoku, who was directing personnel to move supplies at the port. Sakazuki walked over, and Sengoku looked over. Sakazuki's voice rang out:
"Admiral Sengoku."
Sengoku smiled slightly in response:
"Sakazuki."
At this period, Sengoku had an afro hairstyle and wore round glasses. Unlike his more gentle demeanor in later years, he appeared sharp and fierce.
Sakazuki then began to ask about the mission:
"Admiral Sengoku, what is the urgent mission?"
Sengoku's expression turned serious, and he seemed troubled:
"It's that mad dog, Byrnndi World. He's said to be plundering materials everywhere to build some great ship."
"Due to his Devil Fruit ability, he's never been caught."
"This time, the higher-ups received information, from somewhere, that Byrnndi World has appeared on a small island in the New World."
"They've ordered us to go and try to capture him in one fell swoop, preferably alive."
Sakazuki nodded. Byrnndi World, indeed, was difficult to catch.
With the Manipulate-Manipulate Fruit, he could increase his movement speed by 30 or 50 times. If he wanted to escape, there was no way to catch him. Information... Was CP already being deployed at this time?
A moment later, after briefing Carrol, who had arrived, on daily tasks, Sakazuki boarded a warship heading for the Red Line. Standing on the deck, gazing at the sea, Sakazuki pondered.
"Manipulate-Manipulate Fruit..."