The sky was clear and bright, dyed in shades of blue. Across the vast ocean, a sleek blue-and-white warship tore through the waves, speeding across the sea.
It was early October, and the temperature had dropped sharply. After leaving the waters of Dressrosa, Yoriichi Tsugikuni could distinctly feel the change in climate.
He stood silently at the bow of the Dawn, eyes fixed on the horizon, the wind tugging gently at his coat.
"Commander Yoriichi, is it really okay for us to leave the Dressrosa base like this?"
"If the base doesn't have a top-tier Marine watching over it, and a strong pirate decides to attack, that kind of loss might be too much for us to bear…"
"I think I should stay behind this time, don't you?"
From behind him, the door to the cabin opened. Borsalino stepped out slowly, wearing his pristine white suit and Marine coat, walking lazily toward the bow as he complained.
"No need to worry," Yoriichi replied calmly. "I left Kōshirō at the base. He'll handle things. If they encounter an enemy they can't beat, I told him not to fight head-on. As long as the people live, I can accept any loss."
"To lose land but preserve people means both can be recovered."
"This mission, Borsalino, you have to come."
Yoriichi turned and offered a faint smile, his eyes glinting with quiet resolve.
The reason he was personally leading the expedition was because of the situation in the South Blue. Although Kyros hadn't sent an official report, Yoriichi had noticed the silence. Ever since Roger's execution, not a single update had come from the team. That made him uneasy.
Had Kyros already returned with Rouge and the other civilians who knew of Roger's past, he would have reported back immediately.
But until today, no word had come.
Yoriichi sensed trouble.
Though unsure why Kyros hadn't asked for help, Yoriichi wasn't the kind to sit around and wait. He had already gone to Zéphyr and dug around for information.
When he learned that a captured Roger Pirate had revealed the secret of Roger's wife and unborn child through a Devil Fruit interrogation, Yoriichi couldn't sit still any longer. He mobilized a fleet and set course for the South Blue.
He had a good idea of what kind of trouble Kyros had run into. Since their departure, Yoriichi had remained mostly silent, quietly strategizing.
"I wonder what kind of trouble would force the legendary Marine who captured the Pirate King to take action himself," Borsalino teased as he leaned on the railing beside him.
The two had grown familiar recently, and Borsalino's words were casual, even joking.
"Nothing serious… maybe just something that'll change the world."
Yoriichi narrowed his eyes.
At those words, Borsalino turned slightly, brows raised.
"Change the world, huh… now that's terrifying."
Just as he finished speaking, a sharp brrrrring echoed from Yoriichi's coat pocket.
He reached in and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
The name made his lips curl into a grin, it was Kyros.
He didn't avoid Borsalino and picked up immediately, voice warm.
"Kyros? You finally called! It's been a while. Is everything going smoothly?"
Even through the howl of ocean winds, Kyros could hear the familiar calmness in Yoriichi's voice. Standing in the middle of a street back on Patrilia Island, he gripped his own Den Den Mushi tightly.
"Vice Admiral, we've run into some trouble."
"Do you have a moment? I need to report something urgent."
Yoriichi's expression remained steady, but his eyes flashed with understanding. Borsalino, hearing the tension in Kyros' voice, stopped and turned back, curious.
Yoriichi responded calmly, "I'm listening. Go ahead."
Kyros didn't waste time.
"The island's under lockdown."
"We can't get her off."
"And… I've received information that the Marines stationed here under the World Government's orders are capturing all pregnant women… planning to execute them in secret."
"Vice Admiral… I can't allow this to happen in front of me. I want, "
But Yoriichi interrupted him with a grin.
"Kyros. I already know what's going on."
"Remember what I told you? If it's something you believe is just, go ahead and do it. I'll back you."
"This time, the same applies."
"Do it. I only ask one thing, don't let a single innocent life be taken in front of you."
"Before I arrive, I want you to take control of that entire island."
And with that, Yoriichi hung up the call.
His gaze turned once again to the sea, now darker and more ominous.
Beside him, Borsalino had heard everything.
He finally understood what Yoriichi and Kyros were dealing with.
So Kyros was in the South Blue all along.
And this whole operation… it was about Roger's wife and child.
He knew of Patrilia Island's current state. His personal intelligence network was well-developed. That the government wanted to eliminate all pregnant women to prevent the birth of Roger's child, it wasn't a secret to him.
"So Kyros is in the South Blue, huh?"
"Vice Admiral… is there something that important happening there?"
"And more importantly…"
"If I heard that conversation correctly… are you planning to go against the World Government? Against Marine Headquarters?"
"As a Vice Admiral myself, I'm not sure I can just pretend I didn't hear that."
Borsalino's tone had turned serious.
He fully understood what this meant.
Whoever had issued such a brutal order surely sat at the highest level of power.
And Yoriichi… intended to defy that power.
As a Vice Admiral, it was his duty to uphold those orders, regardless of personal feelings.
But Yoriichi's expression didn't change. Slowly, he turned.
His long blade was already out.
With one swift motion, the tip of his sword rested against Borsalino's throat.
Borsalino hadn't even seen it coming.
"Borsalino," Yoriichi said evenly, "you're my Chief of Staff. If you're walking the path of justice, you have to stand beside me."
"I brought you into the Dawn Division not just for your skills. I believed you and I, we walk the same path. We're on the same ship."
"If your justice isn't mine… then I suggest you step off now."
Feeling the cold edge against his neck, Borsalino slowly raised his hands.
Then smiled.
"Well… if you want me off the ship now, I doubt I could swim back to shore."
It was a joke, but also an answer.
Yoriichi pulled the sword back and smiled in return.
"I'll go adjust the course," Borsalino said. "If we pass directly through the Calm Belt, we can reach the South Blue much faster."
Yoriichi nodded.
Watching him walk away, Yoriichi tapped his chin in thought.
Borsalino hadn't yielded out of fear.
Had he truly wanted to rebel, Yoriichi's earlier strike would've failed. He would've counterattacked.
But he didn't.
Because, as Yoriichi said, they were comrades on the same path.
Borsalino's brand of justice was ambiguous justice.
Flexible, subjective, personal. Not the blind doctrine of the higher-ups.
He may have looked nonchalant, but if someone crossed his bottom line, even his own teacher, he wouldn't hesitate.
"You really are a gentle soul, Borsalino," Yoriichi murmured.
He turned again to the sea.
The course had shifted.
Far ahead, storm clouds gathered like a looming omen.
…
Back on Patrilia Island, Kyros tucked the Den Den Mushi away.
Both Issho and Mihawk had heard the entire conversation. Mihawk's expression softened slightly.
He had been disappointed in the Marines, but at least the man he respected had not let him down.
Issho, meanwhile, smiled broadly and slowly drew his blade, ready to cleanse the filth.
But Kyros stepped forward, hand on Issho's wrist.
"I'll handle it."
He strode past them both, toward the squad of Marines.
"Let her go."
The soldiers hesitated, glancing toward their unconscious squad leader lying nearby.
Still unmoving, the man was sprawled out, arms splayed wide.
Kyros turned and glared. "Stop pretending. Get up."
The man didn't move.
"…Does pretending to be dead help?"
Not even a twitch.
He was faking it, and everyone knew it. Caught between orders from HQ and the wrath of Yoriichi's subordinates, he chose the safest option: feign unconsciousness.
Kyros sighed. He turned to the rest of the squad, letting his Haki seep out in a silent wave.
"Y-yes sir!" the soldiers stammered, saluting at once.
They'd all seen the newspaper photo passed around earlier, the one showing Yoriichi and Roger during the capture. The men behind Yoriichi? It was them.
And their commanding officer, Rear Admiral Kober, was already en route.
For now, releasing the woman wasn't a decision they'd be punished for.
The pregnant woman collapsed into her husband's arms, sobbing.
The man bowed repeatedly to Kyros, murmuring tearful thanks.
But Kyros only gave a half-hearted reply, his face grim.
The real trouble… was just beginning.
…
"WHAT?! Dawn Division personnel are on Patrilia Island? Who?"
"A young man with a greatsword? A hawk-eyed youth? A blind man?!"
"They're Yoriichi's people?!"
"And they stopped your arrests?!"
"Listen carefully. Do not engage them. Is Yoriichi himself there?"
"…No? Good."
"Pause all operations. If anything changes, report to me immediately. I'll send someone to take over."
At Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed the receiver down, his expression dark.
"The most troublesome guy… just ran into the most troublesome situation!"
"Damn it! Why aren't his men staying in Dressrosa, in the New World?! Why are they in the South Blue?!"
He punched his desk hard and stormed out of his office.
This was spiraling out of control.
Yoriichi's subordinates were powerful.
And if they were interfering with CP9's actions, they wouldn't stop at just one incident.
Sengoku knew Yoriichi.
He would never sit back after hearing this.
He had once defied CP0 right in front of an Admiral.
Would he hesitate against CP9?
Luckily, Yoriichi himself wasn't there.
As long as they could send a Vice Admiral strong enough to handle things, this mess could still be contained.
Once the dust settled, even if Yoriichi found out, it would be too late.
He would understand.
That was Sengoku's gamble.
But to be safe, he immediately went to find Fleet Admiral Kong.
Upon hearing the news, Kong groaned and clutched his forehead.
After a brief discussion, they summoned Sakazuki.
The mission was simple:
Go to Patrilia. Neutralize the situation. Keep Yoriichi's subordinates from interfering. Do not support the World Government. Just stop the Marines from helping CP9.
Sakazuki was confused.
This was… too easy.
He was used to the most dangerous missions in Marine history.
And now they wanted him to prevent a scuffle?
"Don't let the Marines attack CP9? That's it?"
He accepted, puzzled.
Once he left, Sengoku made another call, to Borsalino.
He needed to know where Yoriichi was.
If Yoriichi was heading to the South Blue…
Then Sengoku himself would need to go.
Because no one, not even Sakazuki, could stop Yoriichi alone.
"Ah, Vice Admiral Yoriichi?" Borsalino's voice came through.
"He's training."
Inside the bridge, Borsalino smiled as he glanced at the man sipping tea in front of him.
Yoriichi raised his eyes slightly.
And said nothing.
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