"Vice Admiral! The Fleet Admiral is calling for you!"
Two months had passed since the start of the secret hell training, and the first week of the third month was in full swing in the underground training arena when a Marine rushed in to report.
What the Marine encountered down there wasn't 3,000 trainees…
It was 3,000 zombies.
"Ugh!"
Overwhelmed by the sheer oppressive atmosphere and the sweltering heat radiating from the evaporating sweat in the air, the reporting Marine instantly lost his balance and collapsed.
"Oh-ho! Come now, Marine—collapsing from just this? How do you expect to survive out there?"
Rengoku chuckled as he looked at the fallen man.
His own state wasn't exactly relaxed either.
He had been undergoing the same hell training as the others—only at double the intensity.
Training himself while overseeing everyone else's training would drive most people mad, but Rengoku had pulled it off without complaint.
"M-my apologies, sir!"
"So, Fleet Admiral Sengoku is looking for me?"
"Yes, sir! He has summoned you!"
Rengoku accepted a towel from the head instructor, wiped away his sweat, and addressed the 3,000 trainees.
"Everyone—continue training on your own until I return!"
The unified shout that answered him boomed through the underground arena like a chorus of giants roaring in unison.
"Alright then—let's go."
...
After washing up and changing into his Marine justice coat, Rengoku headed straight to the Fleet Admiral's office in Marineford HQ.
Knock knock.
"Permission to enter—Vice Admiral Rengoku reporting!"
"Ah, come in."
"Excuse me."
Inside, Sengoku was holding a letter.
"Justice."
"Yes, I've received it."
"May I ask what this is about?"
"We're issuing a forced summons to the [Pirate Empress] Boa Hancock. Jinbei flat-out refused and has been stripped of his Shichibukai title—he's now locked away in Impel Down. That means Jinbei, Crocodile, and Moria… three of the Seven Warlords are already in Impel Down."
Sengoku rubbed his temples, clearly irritated.
"[Hawk Eyes] Dracule Mihawk, [Heavenly Demon] Donquixote Doflamingo, and [Tyrant] Bartholomew Kuma have all complied without issue. That leaves only Boa Hancock as the sole target of the forced summons. Since you've negotiated with her before, you'll be the one to go to Amazon Lily again."
So… it really had to be him who brought her back.
Even now, the image of her in tears, unclothed, lingered in his mind. Could they really drag such a "fragile" woman into a battlefield where both the World Government and Marines were mobilizing?
"There are two problems with this," Rengoku said, holding up two fingers.
"Two problems?"
"Yes. First, I'm in the final phase of that special training. If I leave now to travel to the Calm Belt, it will disrupt the program."
"Second, if she's brought here through a forced summons, I doubt she'll truly fulfill her role. If she just shows up without contributing her strength, there's no point in summoning her."
As if he had expected Rengoku's objections, Sengoku slid a photograph across the desk.
"This man…"
The photo showed a middle-aged man wearing a confident grin.
"That's 'Black Arm' Zephyr, isn't it?"
"Yes. The same old man who, back in the day, dragged you through hell alongside Garp and me."
Of course, Rengoku remembered.
Ever since arriving in this world, Garp, Zephyr, and Sengoku had all put him through "special training" that was grueling beyond measure—yet now, those hellish days had become precious memories.
Though he didn't see Zephyr as often as Garp or Sengoku, every time they met, the man trained him with bone-deep pain and ruthless efficiency.
"Zephyr is currently pursuing a pirate," Sengoku explained, "but if you can quickly write up the remaining curriculum and plans, I can call him back to finish the special training in your place."
The thought of a legendary Marine—one on par with Garp and Sengoku—finishing the training, and one who was a specialist in recruit instruction no less, made Rengoku finally nod.
"Understood on that point. But what do you plan to do about the [Pirate Empress] Boa Hancock if she refuses to act even after the forced summons?"
"Hmph! She may be a formidable fighter, but even she cannot stand against the Marines. If she refuses to cooperate when the time comes… I will strip her of her Shichibukai title immediately and have Amazon Lily attacked."
Sengoku rose from his seat, gazing out the window.
"The battlefield has already been decided, and we have spare Super-Marine-class battleships. If necessary, we may have to form a detachment led by one of them and use Amazon Lily as leverage."
"A detachment led by a Super-Marine-class battleship…? Isn't that excessive?"
Knowing Hancock's pain well, Rengoku immediately tried to dissuade him.
"Vice Admiral Rengoku," Sengoku said, eyes sharp, "you know as well as I do that in this operation, we must be in an absolutely advantageous position. I trust you understand what I mean."
Under the Fleet Admiral's piercing gaze, Rengoku could only nod reluctantly.
"I'll bring her peacefully and persuade her to participate in the battle. There will be no need for a detachment."
"I hope so. I look forward to good news."
Leaving the office with a faint bitterness in his heart, Rengoku knew this mission was of utmost importance—there could be no room for betrayal or internal chaos. Everyone's lives were on the line; this would be a fight to the death.
With no other choice, he decided to face the task head-on.
He meticulously wrote out the remaining training curriculum in detail—covering the physical condition and development of all 3,000 trainees, their mastery of Haki, their combat specialties, and more.
The growth charts and personalized training schedules he prepared filled three entire crates with documents—enough to shock even Sengoku when he saw them.
But Rengoku had faith in the legendary instructor Zephyr's understanding and execution.
He then bid a brief farewell to the 3,000 special trainees.
"You're really leaving, sir?"
"The situation demands it. I can't share the details—it's a confidential mission—but until Zephyr arrives, I'd like you to take charge of training."
He addressed the burly, muscular man standing before him.
"Rear Admiral Smoker."
"…Tch. Understood. It's a shame I won't see this through to the end, but… if Instructor Zephyr is taking over, I have no complaints."
"Then I'm counting on you."
With Smoker appointed as interim instructor, Rengoku set sail immediately for the Calm Belt—aboard a standard warship, pushing it to its maximum speed.
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