The skies above 'Thriller Bark' had finally cleared, the dark clouds dispersing to let warm sunlight pour down over the ship.
Moria leaned against the railing, his body wrapped in fresh white bandages. Though his wounds had only received basic treatment, he already looked far more energetic than before.
Nearby, Bartholomew Kuma stood with a book in his hands. He looked as though he was reading, but his eyes kept drifting toward the man standing ahead of him.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Kuma finally spoke. "That sword strike... did you just take that swordsman as your disciple?"
Kojin smiled. "Disciple? That's a bit of a stretch. He's a pirate."
The corner of Kuma's eye twitched. He clearly didn't believe a word of it. After all, could Kojin's intentions have been any more obvious? Then again, no one could ever figure out what this man was really thinking. His actions always seemed to follow a logic that no one else understood.
"So what do you intend to do with him?" Kuma shifted his gaze to the heavily bandaged Moria.
"Not long ago, Moria decided to join me," Kojin answered with a smile. "He's one of us now."
He looked over at Moria, who was resting quietly against the ship's rail. As for how to make him stronger and restore the confidence and strength he'd once possessed, Kojin already had a plan, it just happened to be an extremely troublesome one.
Kuma's eyes flickered. "One of us?"
That was an unexpected outcome. One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea had chosen to follow a Marine Admiral. Looking at Moria now, Kuma noticed something that hadn't been there before, hope and expectation. The lifeless look in his eyes had been replaced by a newfound light. It seemed the two of them had reached some sort of agreement.
---
Meanwhile, after a short rest, the Straw Hat crew had recovered their spirits. Once again, they had escaped death by the narrowest of margins.
"What? Moss head, you're saying you ran into Kojin again?" Sanji looked stunned. He still couldn't forget the scene he'd found earlier: blood everywhere, and Zoro standing there looking as though he was moments from death. Thankfully, the idiot's life force was absurdly tough.
"Yeah. He didn't interfere," Zoro nodded.
His thoughts drifted back to that sword strike, the flawless technique, the overwhelming slash. The impact it had left on him was unlike anything he'd experienced before. If he could truly understand it, his strength would leap forward.
The only thing he couldn't figure out was what Kojin was trying to accomplish... or what kind of attitude that man actually held toward them.
"Is that guy really our enemy?" Usopp muttered.
"Hard to say. Kojin's... a really strange person," Nami frowned thoughtfully.
Robin listened quietly, a faint smile on her face. Compared to the others, she felt she understood Kojin a little better. His justice was impartial; no matter who stood before him, if they crossed the line of justice, he would act without hesitation. Inside him was an unwavering standard that clearly separated justice from evil. Anyone who crossed that line faced a ruthless, merciless Marine, but those who didn't often saw a surprisingly kind and gentle side of him.
Zoro sat silently nearby, wrapped head to toe in bandages. "Kuina's teacher..." he murmured.
A trace of excitement appeared in his eyes. His childhood rival... just how strong had she become by now? After years of relentless training, he'd fought his way from the East Blue all the way here. He wasn't the same swordsman he used to be.
'Would you be able to beat me now... Kuina?'
For the first time in years, Zoro found himself eagerly anticipating the day they would cross swords again.
"Shishishishi! Kojin's Grandpa Garp's favorite disciple!" Luffy burst into laughter. "When I was little, Grandpa kept saying he'd have Kojin train me personally. Good thing that never happened!"
Usopp blinked. "If Kojin had trained you...?"
Zoro immediately smacked a hand against his forehead. "Idiot."
Only Zoro truly understood how terrifying Kojin was. Being personally trained by someone on that level would have forced anyone to grow at an unbelievable pace.
"He's way too scary! He even caught Roger!" Luffy laughed loudly. "If he trained me and found out I wanted to become the Pirate King, he'd definitely beat the hell out of me!"
The rest of the crew stared at him speechlessly.
Then Luffy's expression gradually became serious. "But... I've heard Shanks talk about him before."
"Red-Haired Shanks?" Usopp gasped. His father, Yasopp, sailed with the Red Hair Pirates.
"Yeah. Shanks once said... Kojin is a terrifying man. He may be a Marine, but he's a greater threat to the World Government than any pirate alive. In fact... he might even have the power to shake the entire world. He's an incredibly dangerous man with ambitions no one can predict."
The crew's expressions changed instantly, cold sweat running down every one of their faces.
### Chapter 244: Hancock's Lover (Part 2)
"Even one of the Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks, speaks of him like that..." Sanji swallowed hard. "I can't believe we've run into someone like him twice... and somehow walked away alive."
"Hearing you all talk about Kojin just reminded me of something!" Franky suddenly exclaimed. "Tom-sensei's whereabouts... seem to have something to do with him!"
The crew fell silent. Zoro's expression shifted, Kuina was connected to that man as well.
"Shishishishi! He really is a mysterious guy. Sometimes I wonder if he's actually a Marine at all," Luffy laughed.
That was the end of the Straw Hats' brief discussion about Kojin, leaving them with an unsettling feeling that there was something deeply mysterious, almost unbelievable, about the man. But before long, everyone put the conversation behind them and went back to their own business.
---
One day later...
The 'Crocodile' sailed into the 'Calm Belt'. Standing at the bow, Kojin gazed at the island slowly coming into view, a nostalgic smile touching his lips. The young girl he had once known had grown into the world-famous Pirate Empress.
Kuma stood behind him, looking toward the distant island. Moria had recovered enough to stand again; wrapped head to toe in bandages, the towering man looked rather ridiculous.
Perona floated lazily beside Kojin, craning her neck to look ahead. "I've heard that Boa Hancock, the only woman among the Seven Warlords, is the most beautiful woman in the world. They say no one can resist her charm."
Kojin glanced at her and smiled. "She really is beautiful."
Even back when she was just a girl, she had been stunning. Now, after all these years, she was naturally even more captivating.
"You've actually met her?" Perona asked in surprise.
"Of course," Kojin nodded.
"Wow! Then tell me! Just how pretty is she? And compared to me? Who's cuter?" Perona floated back and forth impatiently.
Kojin chuckled. "Hancock is beautiful. As for you..."
"What about me?" Perona asked eagerly.
"You're cute."
"Hmph!" Perona folded her arms, clearly dissatisfied with that answer.
---
A short while later, the battleship approached 'Amazon Lily'. Its sudden arrival immediately caught the attention of the Kuja. At the harbor, a large ship with two giant snakes decorating its bow departed to intercept them.
"Hancock, it's the Marines! What are they doing here all of a sudden?" Elder Nyon said worriedly.
"Could it be because you ignored their summons to the recent Warlords meeting, Sister?" Sandersonia asked anxiously.
"The Marines aren't that petty," Hancock frowned. "Besides... that battleship looks familiar."
The figurehead was different from the ship in her memory, but something about it still felt strangely familiar.
'Could it be... Him?'
The thought made her body tremble, excitement filling her eyes. But it had been well over ten years since she'd last seen that man.
As the two ships drew closer, the figure standing at the bow gradually became clearer. Then, the three sisters recognized him at the same time.
"Big Sister! It's him! Vice Admiral Kojin!" Sandersonia and Marigold cried out excitedly, recognizing him the instant they saw him.
"Huh? Who?" Elder Nyon looked completely confused before turning toward Hancock. Then she froze.
The normally proud, aloof Pirate Empress had two bright blushes blooming across her fair cheeks. The icy queen of Amazon Lily had become a shy young girl.
"Hey! What's with that expression?! Hancock!" Elder Nyon shouted.
But Hancock heard none of it. Her thoughts had already drifted back to a promise from years ago.
'Marry Vice Admiral Kojin...'
The moment the memory resurfaced, her face turned even redder.
---
Onboard the 'Crocodile', Kojin smiled. He had naturally spotted the three sisters as well, and Hancock's bashful expression hadn't escaped his notice.
Beside him, Perona's eyes darted back and forth between Hancock and Kojin. "What's with you two? You look like lovers finally meeting again!"
'Thunk.'
Kojin flicked her on the forehead. "Don't say weird things."
"Oww!" Perona clutched her head, her eyes spinning mischievously. 'Those two... there's definitely something going on between them.'
---
At the same time...
Marineford.
Garp's Dog Head warship had only just docked when he received news that made his face change instantly.
"Fire Fist Ace has been captured. He's being transferred to 'Impel Down', to the Eternal Hell level."
The sudden report stunned the old Vice Admiral. Without a word to his men, Garp broke into a sprint toward the Marine Headquarters prison.
A short while later, he found Sengoku personally escorting Ace, whose hands and feet were bound tightly in Seastone shackles.
"Garp," Sengoku said gravely. "He's being sent to Impel Down. After that... we'll announce his public execution to the entire world."
Those solemn words made Garp's whole body tremble, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.
(End of Chapter)
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