Cover Story Serial · Four Emperors Arc (Part 3)
"The battle between the two Emperors of the Sea raged from dawn until noon the next day. Whitebeard held the absolute advantage, battering Big Mom until her screams echoed endlessly, her body covered in blood like a demon from hell. The sight was so ghastly that Charlotte's children couldn't even bear to watch, instead glancing anxiously toward the direction of Hall Island."
"If this drags on, won't there be no way to send reinforcements? Who knows what the situation on the island is like now… As time passed, both sides grew increasingly uneasy. But just then, thunder suddenly rolled through the skies. Everyone looked up in shock—even Whitebeard and Big Mom halted their clash. And then they saw it: a massive azure dragon, body marred with blood, carrying two figures as it tore across the clouds above before vanishing in an instant…"
...
The newly arrived group of bounty hunters numbered around ten.
Led by a Marine Lieutenant Commander, they excitedly headed to the logistics office to claim their bounty.
However, that particularly thin and small black-haired figure slipped away into the corridor as soon as she mixed in, carefully avoiding people along the way. After several twists and turns, she arrived at the Rear Admiral's office on the top floor.
To be precise, the former Deputy Base Commander's office.
Nao's prestige at the West Blue's First Branch Base was simply too high… So high that even years after his departure, the base still bore the name Natsuya.
The new base commander, out of respect, had never moved into that office. Everything inside was kept exactly as it had been, cleaned daily, preserved in its entirety.
"What if Vice Admiral Nao returns someday to give guidance? We have to make sure he feels at home!"
—words spoken solemnly by the current Deputy Base Commander.
He said it with righteous fervor, sparking enthusiastic applause from the soldiers below. But how much of that was sincere, and how much was ass-kissing to curry favor, was anyone's guess.
Not that anyone cared. After all, the person on the podium was just a transient Rear Admiral, while Nao remained the permanent commanding officer in everyone's hearts.
Creeeak
The wooden door gave a faint sound as the thin, black-haired figure slipped inside. On the wall, a delicate hand sprouted and closed the door silently behind her.
"Here I am again."
Robin looked around. Everything was so familiar it brought her straight back to the moment, three years ago, when she'd first awoken here. A small smile tugged at her lips.
She was twelve now. The once frail, timid girl had grown into a refined young maiden, her gaze carrying quiet strength and determination.
The black-haired girl paced slowly around the room, fingertips brushing over the leather armchair, over the papers on the desk. Everything seemed to still carry his warmth, filling her eyes with nostalgia until she drifted into a daze…
Only after a long time did clarity return to her gaze. She walked to the wall opposite the desk. The filing cabinet there had been turned into a display shrine. Its shelves were covered in newspapers featuring Nao's photos, some already yellowed and curling at the edges—like a wall of decorated medals.
"I've got some too."
Robin pulled a bundle of newspapers from her bag. These, carefully preserved by her own hands, looked much fresher and thicker than the ones on the wall.
Many were small press clippings, photos never collected for the base's display. She had them all.
"But the newest ones are from a year ago…"
Comparing the sets of papers, Robin sighed with regret.
"Mr. Nao has been so low-key for so long… no news at all. Who knows when I'll see him in the papers again…"
Not being able to meet him in person was one thing.
But not even finding traces of him in the newspapers—after years on the run, accustomed to collecting every scrap of news about him—that emptiness gnawed at her, like having her favorite itch suddenly taken away.
Suddenly—
A commotion rose from outside the window. The soldiers below erupted like firecrackers, cheering and hollering. Moments later, the sound of urgent footsteps rushed down the hallway outside the door.
Robin, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to her senses. Her expression changed slightly as she darted behind the curtain, leaving a small slit to peek through.
Several young Marine soldiers entered. Their faces were full of excitement, but when they began pasting a newspaper onto the wall, their movements were unusually careful.
Before long, the paper was secured. The Marines straightened up, saluted solemnly toward the empty chair, and then filed out.
This... was there new news about Mr. Nao?
Only after the footsteps faded completely did Robin dare to emerge from the curtain.
She returned to the wall and looked up. The newly posted newspaper, with its striking headline and photo, made her eyes light up. She had to cover her mouth to stifle a cry of surprise.
"Mr. Nao… he's already become this strong…"
It took her quite some time to calm her racing heart.
The black-haired girl glanced out the window. In the distance, she could just barely see the news coo shrinking into a tiny dot in the sky. She hadn't been able to buy the paper herself. Her delicate face scrunched up in frustration.
Maybe…
Suddenly struck by an idea, Robin turned her gaze back to the wall. After much hesitation, she slowly reached out her right hand…
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Late at night. Rain drizzled outside, blurring the view. But in the highest office, the lamps still blazed brightly.
The Five Elders had gathered once again at night, poring over the intelligence files just compiled by CP. Each of their expressions was somewhat peculiar.
"The Poneglyph was recovered… and that boy actually ended up in a draw with Kaido of the Beasts."
The Elder in the flat hat with the bushy white beard put down the document and sighed.
"What an absurd level of strength…"
"Truly astonishing."
"Indeed, from the very start we considered that boy highly promising, but it seems we still underestimated him."
The others nodded in agreement.
Compared to the exaggerated prose of Morgans' newspapers, the CP's reports were far more detailed and objective. They clearly stated that Nao had been at a disadvantage through the days-long battle.
If not for Sakazuki's timely arrival, defeat would have been inevitable.
But what of it?
No matter the outcome, the fact that he had stood toe-to-toe with Kaido—a monster born of the Oni tribe—for five days and nights already proved more than enough. More importantly, Nao was only 22 years old this year.
Give him another five, ten years—how terrifying would his strength become? Limitless potential, disciplined and diligent, with a flawless lineage that made him easy to control… Perhaps in the near future, when this generation of young Vice Admirals reached their peak, the Marine could finally purge the powers of the New World once and for all.
That glorious vision…
Just imagining it filled the highest rulers of the World Government with delight.
"Speaking of which, Garp refused the order to be promoted to Admiral again at the beginning of the year."
The blond Elder in the suit furrowed his brow.
"If I recall correctly, wasn't that the fourth time?"
"The fifth."
The Elder in the kimono corrected him. He removed his glasses, polishing them slowly as he said coldly:
"The government has already shown Garp more than enough goodwill. Every courtesy has been extended. Since that old man insists on being so obstinate, there's no need to consider this matter any further."
The others all nodded in agreement.
Garp's repeated refusal of promotion orders was a blatant slap in the face to the World Government. Were it not for his status as the Marine's legendary hero—his merits, his fame, his untouchable reputation—he would have been thrown into a cell long ago.
Even if Garp hadn't been punished yet, there was no doubt the Five Elders' patience with the stubborn old man had nearly run out. And conveniently, Nao's battle with Kaido had proven that the next generation of the Marine was already fully grown.
The vacant Admiral seat no longer had to depend on Garp.
"Though there's the precedent of Zephyr being appointed the youngest Admiral in history, promoting a boy barely in his twenties directly to Admiral… it's still too hasty."
The kimono-clad Elder spoke in a deep voice.
"But perhaps we can consider establishing several 'Admiral Candidate' positions in the near future—to send a message to the world."
"Indeed. Once Kong steps down from the Marine and Sengoku takes his place as Fleet Admiral, the already-confirmed candidates can be directly promoted, filling all the vacant Admiral seats in one stroke."
"Three seats, three candidates. Surely each of you has already settled on your own choices?"
The kimono Elder cradled his cursed sword casually as he spoke.
"Why don't we each write down the names on paper," said the Elder with the flat hat and bushy white beard, smiling. "Then we'll reveal them together and see if we five old men share the same thoughts."
"A rather amusing idea."
They all chuckled and agreed, treating it like a small game. Each took up pen and paper to begin writing.
The kimono Elder wrote first. Naturally, Nao was the very first name he put down.
But for the other two… the choice was more difficult. Without hesitation, he followed up with Sakazuki's name. Then, after a long pause, he began to write Borsalino.
Yet, before he even finished the word, the memory of the incident at the Reverie two years ago suddenly resurfaced. His brow furrowed. After a moment of thought, he crossed the name out, replacing it with Kuzan on the next line.
A minute later, all five revealed their slips at once.
The result—three identical names. Even more surprising, each slip bore signs of a name being crossed out.
So we all walked the same path of thought, huh?
The five old men glanced at one another and then burst into quiet, knowing laughter.
...
Meanwhile, Grand Line – G-2 Branch.
"Ah-choo!"
Kizaru sneezed, rubbing his reddened eyes, and muttered under his breath:
"Haven't sneezed in years… strange. Could it be some brat's badmouthing me behind my back?"
He scratched his head with a weary grimace.
Not like I've offended anyone, have I?
Shaking it off, his gaze drifted back to the documents spread across his desk.
It was the detailed battle report sent from Headquarters that very morning.
"Such a dreamlike record," he murmured. Even though he'd already skimmed it once, rereading it made him click his tongue in wonder. "Even Kaido of the Beasts couldn't put that kid down? Terrifying…"
At this point—
Nao had erased any disadvantage in seniority. He now stood on the same level as the veteran vVce Admirals of Kizaru's own generation.
"Tch."
The age gap was nearly twenty years.
And yet now… he'd have to share the title of Admiral with this boy?
It felt a little strange, but considering the monstrous level of that guy's strength, it wasn't exactly shameful either…
"Mm…"
Kizaru set the newspaper aside, squinting as he gazed out toward the harbor.
It had been so long since he'd last fought alongside that man—he almost felt nostalgic. Clicking his tongue, Kizaru suddenly found himself looking forward to the day when they would all stand as Admirals, shoulder to shoulder, upholding the Marine's justice together…
...
Grand Line.
In the impenetrable, shadowy fog, a massive pirate ship drifted slowly forward.
The deck reeked of cold, gloomy air. Occasionally, a News Coo would fly by, glancing down as if someone was waving, but upon noticing the rows of zombie soldiers below, it hesitated and decided not to stop.
"Oi, oi, oi! What's the meaning of this? Looking down on me, huh?!"
A certain onion-head, who had been in a good mood, lying on a lounge chair sipping red wine, instantly flushed red with anger:
"Get back here! I want to buy a newspaper!"
The dutiful News Coo eventually circled back, but refused to perch on the railing. Covering its beak with a wing, it waited until the zombie soldiers stiffly dropped coins into its pouch, then disdainfully tossed down a newspaper and immediately flew off without a backward glance…
"One of these days, I'm gonna stew one of you seagulls just to vent my anger."
Moria grumbled as he opened the newspaper.
He'd lost count of how many times he'd been snubbed by the News Coos. Sure, his ship had a heavy aura of death about it, but it was still clean and tidy, damn it! Was this really necessary?
"Hm?"
The irritation that had just risen in his heart vanished without a trace the moment he saw the bold, black headline on the front page.
It was replaced by a face full of astonishment and disbelief.
"Ka… Kaido?"
That azure dragon in the photo—he knew it all too well. Who else could it be but that bastard Kaido?
Back then, full of confidence, he had charged into the New World—only to become the very first victim of Kaido's kanabo. His fleet was wiped out completely, and only through the powers of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit had he managed to scrape by with his life.
One could say—
If not for that war, if not for that monster Kaido, his confidence wouldn't have been crushed. He wouldn't have spent these years wandering aimlessly in Paradise, and his destiny wouldn't have veered so far off course…