Sengoku and Zephyr stormed through the gates of the Marine hospital, their oppressive aura so intense it startled the doctors and nurses around them.
"Admiral Sengoku... Admiral Zephyr... and Vice Admiral Tsuru... Why do they all look so serious?"
"Is there some kind of emergency?"
"No wonder they're the pillars of the Marines... that presence is terrifying..."
"..."
The staff whispered among themselves as they watched the two imposing figures stride down the hallway, with Tsuru following calmly behind.
Sengoku and Zephyr quickly made their way through the corridor toward the VIP ward. But after just a few steps, they began to hear bursts of laughter from within.
"Come on! Eat the barbecue!! Hahahaha!!"
"Old man, you're so lame! Just a bit of booze and you're already out?"
"Bullshit!! Fill my cup!!"
"Tokikake, stop stuffing your face..."
"Sakazuki, why do you always look like someone owes you money? Relax!"
"..."
Sengoku stopped dead at the ward door, fists clenched tight without even realizing it. His face had turned pitch black.
Zephyr and Tsuru beside him twitched at the corners of their mouths, dark lines appearing on their foreheads.
A banquet? Seriously?
They'd been summoned to the Fleet Admiral's mansion for a meeting, and Garp and the others were throwing a party in the sick ward!?
Zephyr cautiously glanced at Sengoku and noticed the veins on his forehead looked ready to explode.
"Um... Sengoku…"
He hesitated, trying to say something.
But then came Dragon's drunken, slurred voice from inside the room:
"Wait... I think I just remembered... weren't we supposed to do something?"
Garp's voice chimed in:
"Hm? Yeah, that sounds familiar... Lemme think…"
One second later.
"Ah, forget it! Can't remember! Hahahaha! Whatever, if I can't remember it, it probably wasn't important! Hahahaha…"
BANG!!
Sengoku could no longer hold back. With a furious roar, he kicked the ward door off its hinges.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
His eyes blazed red with fury as he roared.
Then he froze.
Silence fell.
The room was a complete mess, littered with empty bottles.
Everyone froze on the spot.
Garp and Dragon were clearly drunk, necks flushed red, arms slung around each other. Garp still had a piece of sizzling roast meat in his mouth, and Dragon was holding a bottle of whisky.
Sakazuki sat cross-legged on the floor, face calm, cleaver in hand, and a charcoal grill blazing in front of him.
Borsalino lounged with his legs crossed, smiling mockingly.
Gion stood there with a blank expression.
Tokikake clutched a microphone, standing next to a speaker of unknown origin, still in the middle of an emotional performance.
The air froze.
Sengoku: ...
Zephyr: ...
Tsuru: ...
Everyone else: ...
"——You bastards!!"
Sengoku's roar thundered through the entire Marine hospital.
...
A few days later.
"Your body is incredible, Commodore Daren. It's like you're made of steel."
The voluptuous blonde doctor set down the medical report, looking at Daren with unconcealed amazement.
She had never seen anything like it. In just a few days, this young Marine Commodore's severe injuries had nearly healed completely. If she hadn't seen it herself, she wouldn't have believed it.
"Thank you for the compliment, Dr. Maria."
Daren, freshly out of his check-up, picked up his new uniform and buttoned it up, covering the wild, scar-covered torso underneath.
He flashed the blonde doctor a charming smile.
"Thanks for taking care of me."
Maria's face flushed slightly at his smile, and she quickly shook her head.
"No, not at all... Commodore Daren, you can just call me Maria."
Daren chuckled.
"No, I still prefer calling you Dr. Maria."
He gave her a playful wink.
At his words, Maria recalled the little secret between them—and those mortifying positions. Her eyes grew even more flustered.
"Ahem..."
A perfectly timed cough shattered the mood.
Maria turned toward the sound and saw a figure standing in the doorway of the newly repaired ward. Her smile vanished, and she nodded flatly.
"Lieutenant Colonel Tokikake."
Tokikake's mouth twitched.
"Later, Dr. Maria."
Daren waved casually at the departing doctor, then turned to Tokikake, who had entered with a face full of exasperation, and grinned.
"Promoted, huh? Commander Tokikake—congrats."
Tokikake shot him a glare and dropped into a chair with a huff.
Thanks to the operations against Byrnndi World and the Roger Pirates, both he and Gion had gotten promotions—despite doing almost nothing.
"Looks like you've had a great time lately. The nurses and doctors were lining up to take care of you."
He spoke with barely concealed jealousy.
Daren glanced at the bruises and swelling all over Tokikake's face, arms, and hands and laughed.
"Looks like your days were pretty full too."
Tokikake snorted, ripped open a fruit basket, and began munching noisily.
That so-called "banquet" had been busted by an enraged Sengoku. Everyone had to submit a written reflection and face punishment.
Of course, in the end, he was the only one who actually suffered.
Gion was Tsuru's god-sister—Sengoku wouldn't dare be harsh with her.
And Dragon, Garp? Please. They couldn't even be bothered to show up for a meeting. Punishment? That went in one ear and out the other.
"You ready?"
Tokikake mumbled around a mouthful of apple.
Daren straightened his tie, grabbed his cloak of justice from the rack, and smiled.
"Been waiting."
The sea breeze drifted through the window, and the broad cloak on the Commodore's back billowed in the wind, carrying with it a quiet yet commanding presence.
Tokikake narrowed his eyes.
Was it just his imagination, or had this guy gotten even stronger since fighting the Roger Pirates?
"I thought you were supposed to be seriously injured…"
He muttered.
Daren ignored him and asked instead:
"Everyone else here?"
Tokikake stood up and nodded.
"You're the last one."
Daren smiled, lit a cigar, took a deep drag, and looked out with a defiant gleam in his eyes.
"Then let's go."
"The Third Officer Training Camp... begins."
...
(50 Chapters Ahead)
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