All Marines stationed on Patrilia Island began pulling back toward the docks. Although Kyros and his team had intervened in time, the impact of the attempted mass arrest of pregnant women had already begun to spread.
Within a single day, word had reached nearly every corner of the island: the World Government and CP9 had attempted to apprehend and execute every pregnant woman. Panic gripped the populace. Families with expectant mothers were in a state of near-hysteria, and the island was blanketed in a suffocating atmosphere of fear.
Despite this, the ships of the World Government and Marine forces remained quietly docked at the harbor. For several days, no one disembarked except for a few logistics officers fetching supplies.
Sanji Motta, who had been knocked unconscious by Issho, awoke the next morning, not aboard his own vessel, but inside the brig of a Marine warship. His fellow CP9 agents, including the boy who'd accompanied him, were also imprisoned.
Rear Admiral Cober, realizing the severity of what had transpired, used his injuries as a pretext to declare himself unfit for command. He handed over all authority on the island to Kyros. Though Kyros held only the rank of Captain, Cober trusted him to handle the situation.
With his newly acquired authority, Kyros ordered the complete detainment of all CP9 agents. Their Den Den Mushi were confiscated, cutting off communication with the outside world. Kyros hoped this would buy time until Yoriichi arrived.
But Kyros was still too naïve.
Though he had full control over CP9, the Marines were a different story. He had no real prestige among the South Blue branches. Despite his orders forbidding outside contact, some Marines secretly reported the events to Marine Headquarters.
The report took time to reach the top. By the time Fleet Admiral Sengoku learned that Kyros and his men from the Dawn Division had seized command and clashed with CP9, three days had passed.
Sengoku immediately reported to Commander-in-Chief Kong, who didn't hesitate to issue new orders: Sengoku himself would lead a mission to Patrilia Island to bring the situation under control.
Kong already knew that Akainu had set sail for the island, and now Yoriichi was en route as well. His heart sank.
He understood the convictions of both men. Yoriichi would fight to prevent the slaughter of innocent pregnant women. He had once even struck CP0 to uphold his sense of justice.
Akainu, on the other hand, was the embodiment of Marine order. He carried out his duties with unwavering discipline, even if it meant sacrificing comrades, or himself.
Kong knew: if these two forces collided, it would trigger a storm unlike any other.
He admired Akainu. Despite his youth, Akainu was already a pillar of the Marine force. His rigid discipline, unwavering commitment, and battle record made him the perfect soldier.
If this were any other Marine, Kong would back Akainu without hesitation. But if his opponent was Yoriichi…
Privately, Kong still favored Akainu's ideology, but he was not confident Akainu could defeat Yoriichi. The young Vice Admiral's accomplishments were simply too staggering, defeating the Flying Pirates, killing Douglas Bullet, and capturing Gol D. Roger.
The ideal outcome now was simple: Sengoku needed to reach the island before the two men crossed paths.
After watching Sengoku leave the office, Kong sat in thought for a long while. If the worst-case scenario came to pass, if Akainu and Yoriichi clashed, and Yoriichi emerged victorious, how should he respond?
Would they abandon the mission to eliminate Roger's bloodline? Even though Kong hadn't issued that order himself, he agreed with it. Sacrificing a few to preserve stability was, to him, a necessary evil.
It was the classic trolley dilemma: one life or five?
"If Yoriichi wins," he muttered, "we'll have to cover it up. Let him leave, then quietly resume the mission later."
"If Akainu wins and Yoriichi loses the will to carry on his justice, then… we'll lose him forever."
The more Kong pondered, the greater his headache grew. Eventually, he summoned Tsuru and Zephyr to his office to help devise a strategy.
From morning until nightfall, the three locked themselves inside. When the door finally opened, Zephyr stepped out with a grave expression, the ashtray on the coffee table overflowing with cigarette butts.
"We won't be able to push this plan through cleanly," Tsuru said solemnly, lifting a teacup. "Yoriichi isn't someone who will ever let himself be a puppet."
"I know," Kong replied from within. "But it's worth trying. He's young, maybe we can tempt him. Fame, wealth, authority. If we offer him everything, maybe he'll cave."
"But either way… we can't let him run wild anymore."
"I've made my decision."
"Tomorrow morning, I'll issue the order: Yoriichi will return to Headquarters… and be promoted to Marine Admiral."
The very next morning, Kong's decision shocked the entire Marine organization.
"What?! Vice Admiral Yoriichi is being promoted to Admiral?"
"No way! He only made Vice Admiral a year ago, and he's still so young!"
"Why not? Have you seen his record? He brought down the Flying Pirates, killed Bullet, and even captured Roger himself. What's impossible about that?"
Though many were stunned, few dared object. His achievements were simply undeniable.
As the news spread, Akainu and Sengoku, both still en route to Patrilia Island, received updated orders. Now, their new mission was not to suppress conflict, but to escort Yoriichi Tsugikuni back to HQ and formally install him as Admiral. His subordinates were to be returned to Dressrosa.
Kong made no mention of the ongoing events on Patrilia Island. That problem would be left to CP9, or buried later.
What mattered now was keeping Yoriichi under control.
Ten days later, the Dawn Division's flagship, the Dawn, finally entered South Blue waters and headed straight for Patrilia.
On that day, Borsalino received a direct call from Marine HQ informing him of Yoriichi's promotion. The official documents came via fax through the Den Den Mushi.
"…"
"This is huge," he muttered, skimming the pages. Then, without delay, he left the bridge and headed for the deck.
Yoriichi stood at the bow, training with his black bamboo sword. Each breath brought a precise strike. Though the ocean ahead was calm, the clouds above had split, forming a clear blue ribbon across the sky.
"Vice Admiral Yoriichi," Borsalino called out, "Big news. You've been appointed Admiral by Marine HQ. Congratulations. They want you to return immediately."
"You've made it to the top."
Yoriichi paused mid-strike, looking genuinely surprised. After a brief silence, he smiled and resumed his practice.
"An Admiral, huh?"
"Fleet Admiral Kong really has high hopes for me."
"Borsalino, pass the word. Increase speed. Get us to Patrilia Island as fast as possible."
Borsalino blinked. "Are you sure? Shouldn't we return to Headquarters?"
Yoriichi didn't even turn his head. "No mistake. I'm going to Patrilia. Whatever happens after… we'll deal with it then."
"An Admiral? Hah. It's not the right time."
"If I want true freedom, rank can't be too high."
His words stirred something in Borsalino. He'd heard a similar phrase before, from another Marine who had once declined a promotion to Admiral.
He watched Yoriichi with a fleeting expression of surprise.
"Just don't regret it later. Promotions like this don't come often."
With that, he tucked the papers under Yoriichi's jacket and walked away.
Not long after, the Dawn reached full speed, leaving a white trail in its wake across the deep blue sea.
A week later, they finally arrived at Patrilia.
The approaching vessel was quickly spotted by the local lookout and reported to the acting commander, Kyros.
Kyros and the others rushed to the deck to welcome their long-awaited leader.
When the massive Dawn docked at the harbor, Yoriichi leapt down from the ship in his training clothes, sword in hand, landing beside Kyros and his companions.
"Long time no see, Kyros, Issho, Mihawk."
"You all look well. Good."
Kyros scratched his head in embarrassment. "Sorry for the trouble, Vice Admiral."
"Oh, this is Rear Admiral Cober of the S-331 Branch. Without his help, we wouldn't have stabilized the situation."
"What are your orders, sir?"
As Kyros introduced him, Cober stepped forward and offered a respectful salute before quietly retreating to the side. He didn't want to get involved with Yoriichi any more than necessary. After days of observation, he had realized: Yoriichi was a walking storm.
Yoriichi gave him only a cursory glance before addressing Kyros again.
"I already know the full situation."
"We can't stay here forever, and the World Government won't back down."
"If we leave, they'll return to 'cleanse' the island."
"There's only one way to protect these women."
"Inform all pregnant families: we're relocating them to Dressrosa. The Navy will offer resettlement aid."
"Recruit skilled obstetricians. Bring them with us."
"Requisition every usable Marine or Government ship. Stock provisions. Once ready, we sail."
"Kyros, you handle the logistics."
He had planned this during the voyage. The safest solution was to remove all targets, bring them to Dressrosa and shield them under his protection.
There, no one could touch them.
Moreover, Rouge could hide among the refugees, completely unnoticed.
Once in Dressrosa, King Riku would forge new identities for them. In a few years, no one would even remember who they once were.
Kyros saluted and rushed off to carry out the mission.
Yoriichi turned back to Cober with a faint smile.
"Rear Admiral Cober, I trust you have no objections to our use of your ships?"
Cober stiffened. "None at all, sir. It's an honor to assist you."
The plan sounded good, but execution was another matter entirely.
Because of the Marines' earlier actions, public trust was shattered. For two days, Kyros saw no progress. Not a single family boarded.
Still, he managed to recruit six doctors and over a dozen nurses. Among them, hidden in plain sight, was Rouge, now disguised as one of the medical team aboard the Dawn.
Supply procurement went smoothly. But persuading families to leave with the Navy remained impossible.
On the third day, Yoriichi finally stepped in.
His reputation, having captured Roger, carried weight. With just two speeches and a few public appearances, the tide turned. Families began boarding.
But Cober secretly reported all of this back to Marine HQ. Sengoku and Akainu received the update while en route.
Two days later, the ships were filled.
As the Dawn departed, more than ten vessels followed closely, forming a vast migration fleet.
But just as they cleared the harbor, seven warships appeared on the horizon.
At the bow of the lead ship stood Akainu, his expression dark.
"Fools…"
He raised both fists toward the sky.
Meteor Volcano.
Without hesitation, Akainu activated his Devil Fruit power. Gouts of magma launched into the sky. Moments later, a downpour of molten rock threatened to rain down upon the refugee fleet.
It was as if a volcano had erupted above their heads.
On the Dawn, Yoriichi stood at the bow, gazing upward with icy eyes.
"Issho."
Issho stepped forward.
Borsalino, standing beside Yoriichi, had intended to see how Yoriichi would respond. But Issho moved past him.
"What will he do against magma?"
Issho calmly raised his staff and drew his blade.
At that moment, Borsalino felt an immense force spike through his Kenbunshoku Haki.
Issho unleashed the power of the Gravity-Gravity Fruit.
Time seemed to freeze.
The flaming rain halted in midair.
Then, shockingly, it hovered motionless in the sky.
"Ohh…" Borsalino whispered, stunned. He hadn't expected this.
Issho wasn't finished.
He slashed his sword toward Akainu's fleet.
The magma rain, originally aimed at the refugees, reversed course and shot toward Akainu's flagship.
"Now, now, Issho, that's a bit much," Yoriichi said gently.
"Those Marines didn't have a choice. Don't make them pay for their orders."
Issho tilted his blade.
The magma veered off, falling harmlessly into the sea, encircling Akainu's ships in a ring of fire.
Steam exploded into the sky, shrouding their line of sight.
Using the cover, the refugee fleet slipped away.
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