The Sea Train Puffing Tom was scheduled to depart earlier than usual, due to the great tidal wave known as Aqua Laguna that regularly struck Water Seven.
Inside the train, Rengoku boarded from the last carriage, slowly making his way forward while remaining vigilant of his surroundings.
The Sea Train…
It reminded Rengoku of the Infinity Train—a massive, steel beast surging across the tracks.
"Vice Admiral Rengoku!"
"Justice!"
The soldiers who had been stationed on his mobile warship had already returned to headquarters.
Instead, scattered through the train were several Marines dispatched directly from Marineford.
"Hmm! Good work. Do not let your guard down under any circumstances!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Vice Admiral Rengoku!"
A gaunt Marine officer, his figure resembling that of a walking corpse, approached and saluted sharply.
Recognizing him, Rengoku smiled warmly.
"Hmm! Colonel T-Bone! The training only ended recently, and yet I find you here already!"
Indeed—before him stood the Marine Headquarters officer known as "Ship-Cutter" T-Bone.
He too had been among the three thousand recruits who endured Rengoku's infamous hell training.
"By chance, it happened this way! But it is an honor to meet you again so soon, Vice Admiral!"
"To see you complete your training well gladdens me. I will entrust the Marines aboard this train entirely to your command!"
Because of the dispatch order sealed with the mark of the Five Elders, Rengoku's priority here was not to command the Navy directly but to cooperate with CP9's mission.
Thus, even though only a handful of Marines were present, he passed their command over to Colonel T-Bone.
"I know of your noble heart, so use it well to protect both our soldiers and the civilians."
"I will keep that in mind, sir! Justice!"
Saluting firmly, T-Bone received his order, and Rengoku continued forward.
After passing through several carriages, he finally reached the section where the CP9 agents were gathered.
Rob Lucci and Kaku—shipwrights once of Galley-La.
Kalifa, Iceburg's secretary.
And a man with horns sprouting from his head, who held no interest to Rengoku save one thing.
Iceburg had been shot. Though the bullet had only grazed him, the attempt itself was an insult to Rengoku's very sense of justice.
"Was it you who fired at Mr. Iceburg?"
Rengoku stepped before the horned man—Blueno.
"Yes. That was me."
His reply was indifferent, as though the one he had shot were nothing more than a worthless insect.
"…"
Rengoku studied him silently for a moment before laying a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
"Whether Marine or CP9, each of us is skilled in our own combat arts. Tell me—what is yours?"
The sudden question made Blueno hesitate, but he answered plainly.
"Tekai—Iron Body."
"Excellent. I, too, am quite adept in Tekai. Then, let us test yours. I will measure the strength of your mastery."
At this strange request, not only Blueno but also Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Kalifa all cast wary, suspicious looks at the Vice Admiral.
"Very well. Tekai—Go (Iron Body: Hard)!"
Though he did not understand what the Marine Vice Admiral was trying to do, Blueno decided it was best not to antagonize an ally. So from the outset, he employed his strongest version of Tekai.
Watching this, Rengoku tightened the grip of the hand resting upon Blueno's shoulder.
Crunch!
Rengoku's sheer strength pierced through Blueno's hardened Tekai, crushing into his shoulder with overwhelming force.
"Guahhh!!"
Tekkai's defense had been shattered.
Blueno, who among the CP9 agents prided himself on being the most skilled in Tekkai, had seen his strongest defense broken—by mere grip strength.
Lucci, Kaku, and Kalifa all showed visible shock.
But none were more shaken than Blueno himself.
He had always believed, with pride, that in the art of Tekkai he surpassed even Lucci.
Yet now, pierced so easily by a single hand, he found the reality unimaginable.
"Hmm! Your Tekkai strength surpasses 1000. Yet I see that in practice, it rests around 800!"
Anyone who had mastered all the Rokushiki to a level of 500 was already considered superhuman.
But for someone like Blueno—whose maximum exceeded 1000 and whose base strength was over 800—to be dismissed with a simple "only"… only Rengoku could make such a statement.
Rengoku's grip had left deep marks on Blueno's shoulder.
"The pain you feel now—Mr. Iceburg suffered far worse when you shot him. And yet you cannot even endure this?"
Blueno, dripping cold sweat and gasping for air, could not reply.
Leaving him behind, Rengoku turned his gaze upon all four CP9 agents before him.
"I expected your methods would be harsh, but this is too much. I never imagined you would resort to shooting civilians."
At this, their de facto leader, Rob Lucci, spoke.
"Even so, it is still part of the mission, is it not?"
Though Rengoku knew his CP9 identity, this was the first time he had heard Lucci's voice directly.
A familiar voice…
It was the voice of Sanemi Shinazugawa.
But unlike Sanemi, who though harsh had never slaughtered innocents for Oni-slaying—this man before him was a butcher of civilians.
To compare the two was an insult.
"Hmph! Rob Lucci, I would prefer you never open your mouth before me. Considering the countless civilian lives you've taken as a killing machine, your voice does not suit you."
Sanemi had been extreme, but he had never murdered civilians.
That Lucci's voice resembled his was an affront in itself.
Yet despite Rengoku's warning, Lucci ignored it and continued.
"Heh… and what does my voice have to do wi—!"
"Did I not tell you to remain silent?"
Rengoku's sheer will exploded outward, filling the Sea Train with crushing force.
The CP9 agents could not comprehend why he suddenly erupted in such fury.
But one thing was clear—they understood that this future Admiral was truly enraged.
"We are still allies here, Rengoku-san," Kaku interjected, attempting to mediate.
"I am well aware of what matters most," Rengoku replied, withdrawing his aura and continuing forward.
Ahead of him… was Nico Robin.
Chiiik.
The door slid open as Rengoku stepped inside.
There, sitting alone against the left wall, was Robin.
Rengoku strode toward her.
"Nico Robin."
"Rengoku…"
For the first time in five years since their parting, the two were finally alone together again.
Rengoku sat across from her.
He said nothing. He simply watched her.
"…"
"…"
Neither spoke.
Neither wished to be the first.
Only silence stretched endlessly between them.
Clatter.
The carriage trembled.
The Sea Train Puffing Tom had finally begun its journey.
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