The arrival of Sengoku's flagship Zero came as a surprise to Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Back when he encountered Sakazuki, Yoriichi had already thought Marine Headquarters was overreacting by dispatching such a rare top-tier asset to handle a situation like this. Now, seeing that even Admiral Sengoku had come personally, it only reinforced his belief that they were wasting their strength on the wrong front.
If they had the resources to assist the World Government in hunting down pregnant women, why not deploy them to capture pirates? Ever since Roger's death, the seas had become even more turbulent.
The Marines, still shackled by the ghost of Roger, were honestly disappointing to Yoriichi.
"Vice Admiral Yoriichi, isn't that… Admiral Sengoku's ship?"
"What should we do? Engage? Avoid it?"
"I don't think we can avoid this one."
From the deck of the Dawn, the three approaching ships caught everyone's attention. Borsalino, already aware of them without needing the lookout's warning, turned to Yoriichi with a light smile.
"Attack?" Yoriichi raised an eyebrow. "Borsalino, if you want to, go ahead."
"You going to?" he asked with mock amusement.
Borsalino gave an awkward laugh and threw up his hands. Yoriichi didn't press further, simply walking toward the prow of the ship and calling back to Kyros.
"Kyros, bring the Dawn alongside. All other ships, proceed on their designated course."
"Have Issho and Mihawk escort them out safely."
"As for us... it's been a while since I caught up with Admiral Sengoku."
His tone was calm, unbothered by the fact that he was technically defying direct orders from Headquarters.
"Huh? You really want to approach him?" Borsalino muttered, scratching his nose. "That's Sengoku's flagship. If he demands we leave those civilians behind… what then? Think he'll let your little 'side operation' slide?"
"This isn't Sakazuki we're dealing with. He's your superior."
Borsalino was nervous, and rightly so. Clashes between Vice Admirals could be brushed off. But defying an Admiral? That bordered on insubordination, something even Vice Admiral Garp, for all his rebellious streak, had never dared.
Better to ignore them and sail away.
But Yoriichi wasn't that naïve. The Dawn could outmaneuver Sengoku's flagship, yes. But the rest of the fleet?
Now that Sengoku was here, it was better to resolve everything once and for all.
"No more debate. Bring us in," Yoriichi ordered, gripping the railing.
"Admiral Sengoku, they seem to be approaching us now… wait, no, the rest of the fleet is bypassing us completely."
"Looks like he's not even taking you seriously," said a tall blond youth in officer's uniform, grinning as he stood beside Sengoku on the deck of the flagship.
"Rosinante, what's with that smug face?" Sengoku grunted, rubbing his temples. "You know how much of a headache that kid's causing me?"
"Me? Smug? Never," Rosinante chuckled. "It's just… I haven't seen Yoriichi in a long time. Can't believe he's already about to become an Admiral, and I'm still a petty officer. The gap between people… it's bigger than between man and pig."
He squinted at the passing ships.
"Aren't we going to stop the others? There are a lot of civilians aboard, not just Marines."
"No need."
"My orders were simple, bring Yoriichi back to accept his promotion."
"Everything else? Not my concern."
Sengoku folded his arms, eyes calm.
Yoriichi might think Sengoku had come to stop him from evacuating the pregnant civilians from Patrilia. But in Sengoku's mind, that was secondary.
What truly mattered was bringing Yoriichi back and reining him in before he got too far out of control.
Rosinante looked surprised. He had thought this would be a confrontation. Now his tension eased.
"In that case, I'll go say hi."
With a grin, Rosinante vaulted over the railing and leapt across to the Dawn, just as it docked.
Sengoku merely shook his head with a wry smile, which quickly faded into a frown. He murmured to himself,
"Getting him back won't be easy…"
As the ships stabilized, Yoriichi and the others moved toward the rail. Just as they were preparing to board Sengoku's ship, a white blur shot out from the other side, straight at Yoriichi.
Borsalino raised an eyebrow. Kyros instinctively stepped in front of Yoriichi, sword drawn.
Thud!
The intruder's fist smashed against Kyros's blade.
He was clad in white Marine uniform, bearing the "Justice" coat. Slim but tall, with striking presence.
"Kyros, don't hurt him," Yoriichi said with a smile. He'd already recognized Rosinante.
Kyros nodded. He knew better than to go too far once he spotted the uniform.
After deflecting the punch, he reached for Rosinante's collar, but the man vanished.
"Soru," Rosinante whispered, reappearing beside Kyros. He swung a high kick at Kyros's neck.
"Mm?" Kyros grunted, lifting his sword to block.
Clang! The sound rang sharp, his legs were like iron.
"Using Tekkai offensively? Impressive control," Kyros commented, grabbing Rosinante's ankle. He swept his foot under Rosinante's stance.
The blond Marine lost balance, crumpling into a full split with a pained gasp.
"Ahhh, !"
He hit the deck, groaning, clutching between his legs.
"Hey, Rosinante, you okay?" Yoriichi asked with a grin.
Rosinante rolled over, face red, unable to respond.
"You came to catch up, and you're already sitting down to chat?"
Sengoku arrived on the deck and raised an eyebrow at the sight. He was smiling, though.
"Admiral Sengoku!" Kyros and the others saluted immediately.
"Mr. Sengoku~" Borsalino straightened up, putting on his best smile.
"Hmm." Sengoku nodded to them briefly, then turned to Yoriichi.
"Finished your business?"
"If so, come with me back to Marineford. The orders are official, your promotion to Admiral is confirmed."
Yoriichi tilted his head. "Business…? No, I'm not done yet."
"I'm afraid I don't intend to become an Admiral, at least not right now. Could you let Fleet Admiral Kong know for me?"
Rosinante sat bolt upright in shock, clutching Yoriichi's leg.
"You're turning it down?! Why would you, "
Before he could finish, Sengoku held up a hand to stop him.
"Let me guess. Garp got to you?"
"Hahaha, Admiral Sengoku, how could you think that? This is my decision, no one else's."
Yoriichi laughed, shaking his head.
"Hmph. Isn't it?"
Sengoku studied him for a long moment, then sighed.
"Fine. If that's how it is… just don't make more trouble."
"Not everything can be solved with strength."
"If, just if, Roger's child is born… and chooses to follow in his footsteps, can you take responsibility for that?"
"I will kill him myself," Yoriichi said, eyes steady.
Sengoku stared at him, then turned to leave.
"One last thing, Yoriichi. Strength can't solve everything."
"Remember that."
With that, Sengoku leapt back to his ship.
Rosinante scratched his head and waved. "Later, Yoriichi."
As Sengoku's fleet departed, Borsalino and the others gathered around, stunned.
"That's it?" Kyros muttered in disbelief. "He just left?"
He had braced for a major confrontation, even resolved to stand by Yoriichi no matter what.
Now that it was over, he felt oddly unfulfilled.
"I guess I underestimated your value to the Navy," Borsalino said. "No punishment… after all that?"
Yoriichi remained calm. It had ended too easily. That itself made him suspicious.
"Let's go back to Dressrosa," he said.
The Dawn turned and departed the Patrilia waters.
Later, Sengoku rendezvoused with Sakazuki, whose chest was still wrapped in blood-soaked bandages. After offering a few words of comfort, Sengoku pulled out a Den Den Mushi and called Kong.
He reported the three key updates:
Yoriichi had taken the pregnant women.
Sakazuki was injured and unable to fight.
And Yoriichi had refused the Admiral position, returning to Dressrosa.
On the other end, Kong was silent.
Sengoku added, "He said if Roger's child ever threatens the world… he'll kill them himself."
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
Kong burst into laughter. There was no trace of anger.
When the laughter faded, he said,
"This matter is finished. Classified. No one is to speak of it again."
"Sengoku."
"I've decided to form a new unit."
"It will belong to the Marines, and we will provide it with equipment, tech, and personnel."
"But… we won't directly command it."
"This unit may act on matters of 'Justice.' But we bear no responsibility for their actions, even if they die. We owe them nothing."
"However, in major crises, they must respond to orders."
"What do you think about placing Yoriichi in charge?"
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. His grip on the receiver tightened.
After a long silence, he said, "I think it's viable."
"Good. Draft the documents when you return."
"Rename the Dawn Division."
"From now on, it will be called... The Sword of Dawn."
In that moment, the Marines set a monumental reform in motion, a new kind of special operations force.
The Sword of Dawn. A proto-Warlord system.
Unlike the future "SWORD," these members would retain formal ranks. Yoriichi's authority, already overwhelming, would now swell to even greater heights.
Steel Kong had loosened Yoriichi's leash on purpose.
He wasn't just some loyal mutt.
"Fleet Admiral Kong…"
"What is your true objective?"
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