"Scrub—"
"Scrub—"
"Scrub—"
The rhythmic, satisfying sound of a brush against skin echoed clearly through the steamy hot springs.
Mike squinted his eyes with a small amused smile on his face as he observed the three men who would soon be the top combatants of his New Marine.
They had all shed their admiral's coats and the heavy burdens that came with them, comfortably enjoying the soothing massage and back scrubbing.
Amid the rising steam, Kizaru was humming a jaunty tune, letting out sighs of pure bliss as if his very bones were melting.
Kuzan kept his eyes closed, a faint, relaxed smile on his lips as the masseuse worked on his broad back.
Even the typically stern Akainu, though his expression remained composed, had visibly relaxed his tense shoulders, occasionally letting out a low grunt of approval.
Who would have ever imagined it? The three most powerful figures in the Marines, men whose mere footsteps could shake the seas, were all gathered here for a bath, brought together under his arrangement.
The scene was almost absurd, yet undeniably real.
This was exactly what he wanted.
He wasn't just building an army; he was building a brotherhood.
Only then could the New Marine truly become the guardians of these seas, rather than the cold, unfeeling tools of the World Government.
"Ah—"
After the refreshing bath, the four of them changed into loose, comfortable yukatas and moved to a private dining area.
Exquisite dishes covered the table, their enticing aromas whetting their appetites.
The hidden financier of the New Marine and its three top executives sat around the table, the atmosphere relaxed and cheerful.
Mike raised his glass first, the clear fragrance of premium sake filling the air.
"To the future of the New Marine—cheers!"
"Cheers," Kizaru grinned, his eyes narrowing in delight.
"To an easier life and much better pay."
"To the true Justice of these seas—cheers," Kuzan added, his expression earnest.
"Cheers!" Akainu lifted his glass and downed it in one go, a faint trace of anticipation in his fiery gaze.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere had become lively and boisterous.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, the near-future plans for the New Marine began to take shape.
First, the three newly initiated "bathhouse enthusiasts" would leverage their deeply entrenched influence within the Marines.
They would secretly recruit those soldiers who, while still clinging to their sense of Justice, had grown disillusioned with the World Government's corruption.
Next, the New Marine would undergo a sweeping internal reorganization, abandoning the bloated bureaucracy of the old system.
During this crucial period of dormancy, they would act like a harmless vine, clinging to the towering tree of the old Marine, silently absorbing its resources and growing stronger in its shadow.
Once they had grown their wings, they would break free, shedding the old shell and announcing their founding to the world.
They knew this would bring unprecedented challenges—not just from the pirates, but from the wrath of a humiliated World Government and its elite God's Knights.
Thus, they would fully implement the strategic principle proposed by Mike: "Make as many friends as possible, and as few enemies as possible."
The New Marine would issue a proclamation: any pirate without a record of murder or pillage would be given a chance at redemption.
Lower their Jolly Roger, and their bounties would be revoked.
But for those who continued to fly the flag of their crimes, they would face the merciless iron fist of the New Marine.
"Kid, once the New World Army is established," Akainu raised his glass, his voice a low, firm rumble.
"I guarantee you, not a single pirate will make it out of there alive."
"Mm," Mike smiled, clinking his glass against Akainu's.
"With you handling it, I have nothing to worry about."
"By the way, Sakazuki," Kizaru said between slurps of his miso ramen, "about recruiting Zephyr-sensei—you in on that?"
"Zephyr-sensei?!" Akainu paused, the name registering with a jolt. "True, with him on board, we won't have to worry about training recruits. His experience is second to none."
"So, the three of us go persuade the old man together?" Kizaru suggested, his eyes gleaming.
"Fine," Akainu agreed without hesitation.
The benefits were too great to ignore.
With his old mentor on board, convincing the officers in his own faction would be a simple matter.
Just as the three of them were enthusiastically planning their approach to Zephyr, Mike casually set down his chopsticks and dropped a bombshell.
"By the way, Whitebeard called me earlier."
The lively atmosphere instantly froze.
Three pairs of eyes locked onto him.
"Yo~" Kizaru narrowed his eyes. "What did that old man want with you?"
"He knows he's nearing his end. He wants to make a deal," Mike explained calmly.
"He's offering to hand over all his territories in the New World in exchange for my protection of the Whitebeard Pirates. Marco will lead them and, on Whitebeard's orders, will apply to join the Seven Warlords. They'll follow my commands. As for Whitebeard himself… he plans to die in this war."
"..."
An eerie silence fell over the room.
"Kid," Kuzan was the first to speak.
"If I recall correctly, quite a few of the Warlords are already our 'allies,' right?"
"Mm," Mike smiled and nodded, lightly tapping the table. "Including Kuma. Among the seven… five have close ties to us. And besides Mihawk, the other four are essentially at our disposal. They should be arriving at Marineford soon. We'll have a proper chat then."
"???!!!"
Akainu's eyes widened with a look of pure disbelief on his face.
He thought he had a grasp of Mike's influence, but this… this was on another level entirely.
'Five Warlords?! Does this kid treat them like vegetables in a garden, picking whichever he pleases?'
Four Admiral-level fighters, five Warlords, and soon, the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates…
This force wasn't just enough to challenge the world order; it was enough to overturn it completely.
A fire ignited in Akainu's chest, an indescribable excitement and fervor that violently assaulted his reason.
He could see it now—the day the New Marine would reign supreme, the day all pirates would be eradicated, the day true order and Justice would finally descend upon the seas.
"The New Marine…" Akainu muttered, his voice low and hoarse, as if forced from the very depths of his soul.
"Will overturn these seas!"
"Loyalty!!!"