"Friends?"
Sengoku had not expected that. The answer startled him, then delighted him.
Who would have thought the Marines had someone who could call Ozz a friend.
Doll had no idea what little calculations were running behind the Marshal's smile. She kept talking, bright-eyed, about how strong Ozz was when he taught them Haki, how generous he had been over meals these past few days, how casually he treated the powers that grew and shrank across the seas. Most of all, that one line of his kept ringing in her head.
"The victor is justice. I am justice."
When she finally finished, Sengoku laced his fingers and rested his chin on them. His gaze turned formal.
"Rear Admiral Doll. By the authority of Fleet Headquarters, I am issuing you an order."
Doll blinked, then snapped to attention as her cape flared.
"Rear Admiral Doll, awaiting orders."
"You understand what we are facing. In this stormy age, the Marines are under crushing pressure, in force of arms and in coin." His voice stayed even. "And the faction and personal strength represented by Black Gun Ozz, Ozz Saint, will weigh heavily on our path forward."
"So."
He rose, circled his desk, and laid a hand on the epaulet stitched to her cloak of Justice.
"Both for the service and for yourself, I want you to keep up your relationship with Ozz. Build real ties. Let the idea of justice you carry rub off on him as much as it can."
"Can you do that."
Doll did not answer at once. She frowned slightly.
"Marshal, one question."
"Ask."
"Is this plan asking me to act as a friend while secretly spying on Ozz."
Sengoku had not expected her to cut so cleanly to the point. He shook his head.
"No. I am not asking you to betray a friend. I am asking this for the sake of justice." He let the words land. "You said Ozz told you the victor is justice, that the Black Emperor himself is justice. If his justice can be braided to the Marines' justice, is that not an evolution of justice."
It was hard to argue with that. The next line pushed straight through her guard.
"Tell me honestly, Rear Admiral. You do not dislike the man, do you."
"I…"
Nothing came out.
The days together, his easy generosity, the way he moved through the world, that face that ranked near the top of the seas, and the absolute strength that made her look up in spite of herself. For a young woman in uniform, to say there was no pull would have been a lie.
Because of that, Sengoku's words found purchase.
And from that day on, as Doll learned more of Ozz and the world itself, she began to see what the veterans already knew. The Marines and the World Government could not fully save the sea, could not enact justice to the end. Only Ozz's way could leash a sea that wanted to stampede.
A new justice formed in her.
Not Sengoku's Overarching Justice. Not Sakazuki's Absolute Justice. Not Kuzan's Burning Justice. Not Borsalino's Ambiguous Justice.
Because Ozz's power could topple the world if he wished, because his network reached everywhere, because he had a charisma that bent even stubborn hearts a few degrees.
It had a name.
Ozz's Justice.
…
"Much obliged, Kuma."
Back on the Oro Jackson, blissfully ignorant that he had just been designated a strategic objective, Ozz lounged in a deck chair and chatted with the giant man beside him.
Kuma had not yet tasted the grief that would earn him the title Tyrant. He was still gentle at his core, the sort who made people around him feel at ease. He had taken the Shichibukai seat mostly because Ozz asked.
With the Paw-Paw Fruit's absurd utility laid out on a short report, the World Government had approved his appointment in a heartbeat.
"This is nothing, Mr. Ozz."
Kuma sat properly with a Bible in his hands and a mild smile on his face. "Without your quiet support, the Revolutionary Army would never have grown so quickly."
In those first years after the Freedom Army became the Revolutionary Army, Dragon wanted to build a real force but kept hitting the wall of money. Ozz, richest man alive, became their biggest backer the day Ohara burned. One call from Ozz, and Dragon readily agreed. Before long, Kuma, newly making a name in the world, was a Shichibukai.
Mihawk came out of the galley with a feast.
"Do not stand on ceremony, Kuma. Try it. Little Hawk's cooking is among the best in the world."
Ozz had a soft spot for Kuma and appreciated how readily he had backed Ozz's plays, so his tone stayed warm.
"Ah. Truly? Then I am grateful."
For such a mountain of a man, Kuma's voice was gentle. You could not dislike him if you tried.
Crocodile crossed one leg over the other and speared a slice of ham, giving Kuma only a passing glance. Her eyes cut backward instead, and her expression soured.
"Kuma gets a pass. But why."
"Why is Donquixote Doflamingo still tailing our ship."
Before Marineford, once they had linked up with Kuma, Crocodile had tested him. The formidable build and that bug-tier fruit earned her respect. But she still had no patience for Doflamingo.
"Oh, that."
Ozz forked a piece of steak and chewed.
"I told him I would stop by Dressrosa for a visit."
"What. You are actually going."
Crocodile's mouth tightened, though she did not argue. Ozz's next words did make her blink.
"If you would rather not, this is a good time. You have wanted to strike out on your own for a while, Little Sand."
"So why not end our travels together for now."
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