On the Marine warship, Yixiao had finished receiving medical treatment. Even when facing the combined presence of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Admiral Kizaru, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, the blind swordsman remained perfectly composed. His calm likely came from his inability to see their intimidating statures, allowing him to act with natural dignity.
Sengoku was eager to speak and wasted no time. "Mr. Yixiao, I did not expect to find someone with your immense strength and sense of justice among the common citizens. I would like to formally invite you to join the Marines. What are your thoughts on this?"
Yixiao was not surprised by the offer and spoke with blunt honesty. "To be truthful, I also hope to join the Marines to fulfill my own brand of justice. However, I am old and no longer have the energy to work my way up from a low rank. If the Marines are willing to grant me the position of Admiral, I will join you."
His request was direct, without any hesitation or polite redirection. Neither Sengoku nor Tsuru felt insulted by his boldness; instead, they viewed it as a reasonable demand. They recognized Yixiao as one of the strongest individuals in the world. It was only natural for a man of his caliber to seek a position of authority. In fact, Sengoku had already been considering the rank of Admiral as a way to recruit him.
However, one vital question remained. "Mr. Yixiao, what kind of justice do you intend to practice?" Sengoku asked with a serious expression. This answer would determine if he truly fit the role of an Admiral.
"My justice lies with the common people," Yixiao replied solemnly. "The Marines exist to ensure the safety and property of all people across the seas. If I become an Admiral, I will do everything in my power to benefit the common folk. I will stand against the crime and corruption that threaten them. Long ago, I gave up my own sight because there were many evils I no longer wished to see. But the filth still exists, and I am determined to eliminate it to bring fairness to the world."
"Well said!" Sengoku exclaimed, his excitement growing. Tsuru and Kizaru began to clap in approval. They felt as though they had discovered a rare treasure. A man with Yixiao's integrity was the perfect candidate for the position. While Sengoku had performed questionable tasks for the World Government in the past, he still cared about the well-being of the public and found himself in complete agreement with Yixiao's words. He didn't worry about whether Yixiao would eventually clash with the World Government; that would be a problem for the next Fleet Admiral to solve.
"We understand your terms," Sengoku stated. "Once the new Fleet Admiral is decided, the three of us will fully recommend you for the position of Admiral."
Yixiao gave a slight, respectful bow. "Thank you very much."
Over on the Thousand Sunny, the crew was still processing the words of Luffy and Carl. It felt strange for pirates to be cheering for Marine justice, even if they valued freedom above all else. They recalled a similar feeling back at Water 7, where people cheered for the law. Despite the oddity, the Straw Hats seemed to take it in stride.
Carl broke their train of thought. "Alright, Uncle Yixiao is aiming for that Admiral seat. Even if we said nothing, he would still reach that rank on his own. We just need to be ready to face him when the time comes. Zoro, Law—the pressure is on you two."
Zoro nodded, his face set in a serious line. "I know. He is a master swordsman and an opponent I must eventually surpass."
Law remained silent, but his hand gripped the hilt of his sword, Kikoku, with quiet intensity. He had fought Vice Admiral Momousagi before, and even with help, it had been a brutal struggle. He wondered how he would fare against a man like Yixiao, yet he felt a strange surge of excitement at the challenge.
Time passed quickly, and the duel between Akainu and Aokiji reached its tenth day. Both men were exhausted and covered in severe wounds, yet neither was willing to back down. Tashigi, who was still acting as an undercover Marine, watched the battle with growing confusion. She didn't see a friendly rivalry; she saw two enemies fighting to the death. She couldn't understand how two long-time colleagues could be so desperate to hurt each other just for a promotion.
She had asked the others for their opinions, but the answers varied. The men—Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the others—all believed that a duel meant giving your absolute everything. Nami, Robin, and Marie simply said they didn't understand the way men handled such things.
It was Carl who offered a different perspective. He explained that both Admirals were fighting for their own vision of justice. To ensure the Marines followed the right path, they were willing to kill their own comrades to secure the position of Fleet Admiral. This insight deeply moved Tashigi. She realized that to truly carry out one's justice, winning was the only option, no matter the cost.
Still, she found it unsettling. She looked toward the Marine warship, where Yixiao stood at the bow, staring blindly toward the frozen and burning landscape of Punk Hazard. She wanted to ask him what he thought of the situation, but she couldn't find the right words.
Suddenly, the Transponder Snail on Law's person began to ring. He retreated into his submarine to answer the call. When he emerged, a mocking smile played on his lips.
"It seems Doflamingo is getting impatient," Law muttered. He knew exactly what was happening in Dressrosa. Doflamingo had expected the Straw Hats to arrive days ago, but their detour to watch the duel had ruined his schedule. The crowd gathered for Doflamingo's tournament was growing restless, and the delay was causing chaos.
Doflamingo had called to urge Law to hurry, demanding he return to Dressrosa to "exchange" the heart he held. He wanted the Straw Hats to fall right into his trap. But Doflamingo had made a mistake. Law held the leverage, and he had no intention of following Doflamingo's timeline. The Straw Hats' decision to stay had completely disrupted the Warlord's plans.
Since Doflamingo was in such a hurry, Law decided they might as well stay for a few more days just to spite him. If Doflamingo knew what Law was thinking, he would likely be moved to a murderous rage.
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