Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
This white fortress was usually the center of Marine power and order, but right now, the whole place felt tense.
At the port, the normally wide sea looked crowded.
Warship masts filled the harbor. Aside from the necessary forces left behind to guard the Four Blues branches, almost all officers of Vice Admiral rank and above who were carrying out non-combat missions in the New World and the Grand Line had rushed back to Headquarters after receiving Fleet Admiral Sengoku's mandatory recall order.
Everyone could tell something big was coming.
Even the boatswains who usually liked to shout at the port kept their mouths shut today, silently moving supplies.
Under a tower by the pier.
Several figures wearing Justice coats gathered together, surrounded by smoke.
"Hey, Onigumo."
Vice Admiral Tokikake, wearing a brown bowler hat and a yellow-and-white striped suit, squatted on a stone block. He looked somewhat sloppy. He flicked his cigarette ash and clicked his tongue.
"I heard the security level at the hospital was raised again?"
The Vice Admiral called Onigumo blew out a smoke ring.
"Hmph, that's a given. Fleet Admiral Sengoku gave a strict order. Also..."
Onigumo paused and gave a short laugh.
"I heard Vice Admiral Garp personally brought a chair and is sitting downstairs in the ward eating rice crackers. Never mind you, even if the CP0 Chief came in person, they definitely wouldn't be able to go in and take him away right now."
"Tch..."
Tokikake took a hard drag from his cigarette and bit down on it.
"Garp is really something. Why is he protecting that kid so much? That kid caused a huge disaster this time, actually killing a Celestial Dragon... Although I've wanted to beat up those pigs for a long time too, that kid took it way too far."
Nearby, Vice Admiral Momonga, who was holding and wiping his beloved sword, stopped his movements.
He looked toward the distant Headquarters building.
"Although everyone knows exactly what kind of people those so-called World Nobles are, and there are plenty who privately wish them dead, this is still a massive taboo. I didn't expect someone would actually do it."
Speaking of this, Momonga looked around before speaking again.
"Speaking of which... did you guys hear that rumor?"
"They say that Aiden, when facing the joint attack of Sakazuki and Borsalino, actually seemed to have the upper hand?"
As soon as he said this, no one answered at once.
Immediately after, Tokikake stood up at once and almost shouted.
"Hah? Are you kidding me?! Momonga, you believe such a ridiculous rumor?"
"How old is that kid? He's not even twenty yet! Those are two Admiral candidates!"
Tokikake clicked his tongue and spoke with clear irritation.
"The way I see it, that rumor is total nonsense! The truth is probably that kid Aiden got beaten half to death. If Garp hadn't arrived in time, he probably would have been roasted alive by Sakazuki."
"Look at him now. Isn't he lying in the intensive care ward? Hmph, the rumors these days are so irresponsible. People just say anything!"
Hearing this, Momonga shook his head and went back to wiping the long sword in his hands.
"True. It was probably made up by some clueless guy just to get attention."
"It really is too exaggerated, hahahaha..."
The others laughed along, but it sounded forced.
Tokikake laughed louder than the rest, trying to hide his irritation. After all, Gion cared a lot about that kid...
Just as these Headquarters Vice Admirals were each thinking about their own things.
Without warning.
The bright sunlight suddenly disappeared.
A massive shadow covered the entire pier area, enveloping all the chatting Vice Admirals within it.
Everyone looked up.
The clouds above their heads were pushed aside, and a huge, streamlined warship was rapidly falling at an astonishing speed.
Right when the warship's massive hull was about to smash into the sea, its downward momentum suddenly stopped.
Relying on the power of the Float-Float Fruit, the warship weighing thousands of tons stopped in midair in a way no normal ship could, just a few meters above the sea.
Immediately after.
"BOOM—!!!"
The hull lost its buoyancy and smashed heavily into the water.
Although most of the force was cushioned, it still kicked up waves more than a dozen meters high. The seawater slapped directly against the embankment, soaking a few unlucky nearby Marines to the bone.
"Cough, cough, cough! What is going on?!"
Tokikake was splashed with water all over. He wiped his face angrily and was about to curse, but when he clearly saw the pink rabbit figurehead at the bow of the ship, he swallowed the curse words right back down. It turned into a cry of disbelief.
"That's... Gion's ship?!"
This way of entering the port was wild enough to violate every docking rule Marineford had.
Normally, Rear Admiral Momousagi would always steer her ship into the port properly. She would never make a commotion that looked like she was trying to smash the port.
But exactly because of this, everyone understood something was wrong.
Before anyone could react.
Swish!
A slender figure shot straight up into the sky from the deck, using her power to fly directly out. She left a pink afterimage in the air and rushed straight toward the Marine General Hospital.
Although she was far away, the Vice Admirals could still see her clearly.
Her clothes were neat, but her hair was still damp, and she was moving faster than usual.
"Looks like the rumor is true."
Momonga sheathed his sword. He watched the figure disappear at the end of his sight, then looked back at Tokikake and shook his head.
As for Tokikake beside him, seeing Gion lose her composure like this over another man, his cigarette snapped between his teeth.
"When I usually ask her out for ramen, she always says she's busy..."
"And now, for that brat, she actually flew a warship back..."
Anyone could hear the jealousy in his words.
...
Marineford General Hospital, intensive care ward area.
The corridor was quiet. No one could be seen outside, and only the faint cries of seagulls came from far away.
Inside the ward.
Aiden sat leaning against the head of the bed. He played with a coin in his hand, letting it flip back and forth between his fingers.
The bandages on his body were wrapped very thickly, making him look like a mummy.
But in reality, the skin beneath the bandages had already healed completely.
To make it look real, he had even smeared some red paint on the inside of the bandages to fake the appearance of blood seeping out.
He had no choice. He had to play the part fully.
The current situation was very delicate.
The World Government had sent strict protests to Sengoku multiple times. They strongly demanded the handover of the prisoner, believing that an extremely dangerous and unstable factor like Aiden should first be locked up and strictly guarded in Impel Down, rather than staying in a core area like Marineford.
And the Marines' response was also very tough.
Aiden was heavily injured and in critical condition from his battle with Akainu, so he had to receive treatment at Marineford and could not be moved for the time being.
This was a political struggle over the right to handle Aiden.
Therefore, Aiden had to be in a "heavily injured" state right now.
If the World Government found out he had already recovered, the Marines' excuse would completely fall apart.
Aiden let his thoughts wander over the current situation while he flicked the coin into the air, watching it flip in the light and shadow.
Just then.
Click, clack, click.
A rapid sound of high heels came from the end of the corridor.
The footsteps were fast and heavy. Even without using Observation Haki, Aiden could tell who it was from the familiar rhythm.
Aiden caught the coin and sighed.
"She got here fast..."
Before he finished speaking.
Bang!
The ward door was pushed open hard, slamming against the wall.
Gion rushed into the room, still damp from the flight.
Her signature pink Justice coat still had some moisture clinging to it from passing through the clouds. Her usually carefully styled long black hair was now messy and stuck to her cheeks, and her chest rose and fell from the rush.
Her face was pale from exhaustion, and she did not smile.
The two looked at each other from across the room.
"Yo, Gion, your entrance is pretty..."
Aiden tried to joke.
But Gion did not give him the chance to finish.
She rushed to the bedside in a few steps.
"Don't speak."
Gion cut him off.
She had no extra words and directly reached out to pull back the blanket on Aiden. Although her movements were rushed, she still slowed down when touching the bandages.
When she saw the thickly wrapped bandages on Aiden's chest and the large patch of red faintly seeping out from the inner layer, her hand froze over the bandage.
That was where his heart was.
Even through the thick gauze, she could imagine what kind of terrible piercing wound he had suffered there.
"Sakazuki..."
Gion kept looking at the bandage. Her fingers clenched around the blanket.
"That bastard!!"
"We are all colleagues. How could he strike so hard?! Did he really want to kill you?!"
Aiden looked at the woman in front of him. She was so angry she looked ready to leave and find Akainu right now.
Aiden stopped joking.
Of course, if Gion saw Sakazuki's current half-dead appearance, she would probably feel that Aiden had been too ruthless.
He did not speak. He just reached out with his uninjured right hand and grabbed Gion's slightly cool hand that was hanging in the air.
Then, he pulled hard.
He pressed her palm directly against his left chest.
That was where his heart beat.
Thump, thump, thump.
The strong heartbeat passed clearly through her palm.
Gion froze.
The warmth in her palm and that steady heartbeat finally made her breathing calm down.
"Do you hear it?"
Aiden said quietly.
"Sorry for making you worry."
Gion took a deep breath.
The fear she had carried all the way here finally eased a little.
But then anger came back.
She threw Aiden's hand off and pulled her hand back.
"Are you crazy?"
"You are a Marine! Do you know what you did? Killing a Celestial Dragon? Why were you so impulsive?!"
Although she kept her words low, her hand was still shaking.
Facing Gion's question, Aiden stopped smiling.
He leaned back against the headboard.
"If I didn't kill him, many people would have died."
"Then you could have used another method! You could have detained him first, or just stopped him from killing people..." Gion interrupted him urgently.
"It's useless, Gion."
Aiden shook his head. He answered without raising his voice.
"For some trash, if you don't sweep them completely clean, as long as you leave them with a single breath, they will take revenge even more severely."
"As for whether it was worth it..."
Aiden looked down at his hand, as if the feeling of blasting the Celestial Dragon to death still remained there.
"If I had pretended not to see it back then, or let him live just to protect my career... then I wouldn't be me."
"If you let me choose again, I would still make the exact same choice."
The ward fell silent for a moment.
Gion looked at the man in front of her.
Even though he was covered in injuries, even though he was already in the center of the storm and could be escorted to Impel Down at any time, she could tell he did not regret it.
He was still the same man she knew.
Reckless, stubborn, and impossible to ignore.
After a long time.
Gion's tense shoulders dropped. She let out a long sigh. The anger on her face eased a little, turning into a helpless, bitter smile.
"I knew you would say that..."
"You guy, you're always like this. You never listen to anyone and just do whatever you want."
She wanted to pull her hand back, but Aiden gripped it even tighter.
Gion followed his pull and lowered her head toward him.
Aiden raised his face a little.
Their foreheads touched.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Only their breathing could be heard in the silent room.
Gion's nose almost brushed against Aiden's. Her damp hair fell over his cheek.
Aiden raised his hand and gently moved a strand aside.
Gion looked at him from up close.
Then Aiden closed the distance and kissed her.
It was not a strong kiss. Their lips met calmly, softly, while Aiden's hand rested on her cheek.
Gion closed her eyes and placed one hand on his chest.
The kiss lasted a few seconds, warm, until they both pulled apart just enough to breathe.
Aiden said nothing.
Neither did Gion.
But her hand was still on him, and neither of them seemed to want to move yet.
"Since you already did it, then don't regret it."
She stayed close to him, slowly calming down.
"It's just a Celestial Dragon..."
She swallowed hard and forced the words out.
"If those old guys really dare to do anything to you..."
She raised her face slightly.
"Then I'll leave the Marines together with you."
Aiden's palm slid up her arm, went through her messy long hair, and gently held the back of her head. His thumb rubbed the skin behind her ear.
"I know."
Gion's body trembled slightly, but she did not dodge. Instead, following Aiden's pull, she moved a little closer. Her lips parted slightly.
At this moment, everything else was pushed to the back of their minds.
The room felt warmer.
Knock, knock.
Two knocks cut through the silence.
The unclosed door was pushed open a crack.
"Looks like I came at a bad time?"
"Although I don't really want to interrupt you two, I have to give a reminder..."
Tsuru spoke from the door.
"This is a hospital after all, and the door isn't closed tightly."
The moment broke at once.
Gion pulled away from Aiden immediately. She turned her back and quickly straightened her clothes and hair.
Aiden's mouth twitched as well. He coughed awkwardly, pulled back his hand that was still hanging in the air, and looked up at the ceiling.
"Ahem... Vice Admiral Tsuru, could you give a warning signal before you come in?"
Tsuru crossed her arms over her chest and walked into the ward.
She looked between them, then quickly returned to business.
"Alright, let's stop catching up here."
Tsuru sighed at Aiden, then looked at Gion to the side.
"You're really something too. Flying directly over as soon as you got off the ship without even saying hello, making me come here personally to find you."
"Aiden's current situation is a bit special. He is in the center of this storm. If you stay here too long, people will start talking."
Hearing this, Gion finally calmed down a little.
She knew Tsuru was right. There were too many people watching Aiden right now.
Tsuru looked at Gion's damp coat and messy hair.
"Look at yourself. You came all the way here like this. Come with me. I have things to tell you, and you can tidy up on the way."
After saying this, she turned and walked to the door, leaving only her back to the two of them.
Gion took a deep breath and quickly adjusted herself.
Although the blush on her face had not completely faded, she straightened her coat and stood like a Marine officer again.
"Understood, Vice Admiral Tsuru."
Gion paused at the door for a second before leaving. Then, without saying another word, she followed Tsuru out of the ward.
Watching them leave, Aiden rubbed his nose. Feeling the lingering warmth on his forehead, he leaned back against the headboard again.
Quiet returned to the ward. Only the sea breeze outside the window was still blowing gently.
"Seriously..."
Aiden looked at the ceiling and muttered to himself.
...
With the issuance of the mandatory recall order, the Marine Headquarters officers scattered across the world had been returning one after another over the past few days.
At this moment, the room in the main conference hall was tense.
There were no whispered conversations or usual greetings and jokes.
Everyone sat up straight. Only the slight scraping sound of chairs occasionally shifting could be heard.
Marine Headquarters had not gathered this many high-ranking officers since the start of the Great Pirate Era.
Sitting on the outer ring were the various Headquarters Vice Admirals.
Onigumo and the others known as the hawk faction sat on one side without speaking. Opposite them were the moderate Vice Admirals like Momonga and Strawberry, who also sat in silence.
One ring further in.
Chaton Tokikake did not have a toothpick in his mouth like usual. Instead, he placed his crossed hands on the table and said nothing.
Not far from him, Gion had just taken her seat. She wore her coat and sat straight, showing no sign of what had happened in the ward.
Heavy footsteps sounded outside.
The meeting room doors were pushed open.
A burly man with short purple hair walked in. He wore a simple black training uniform, with the coat representing Justice draped over his shoulders.
Former Marine Admiral, Black Arm Zephyr.
The room went quieter when he entered.
For the sake of that student who had made him see the possibility of a different kind of justice again, this non-killing Admiral, who had been silent for a long time, came to this meeting personally.
Today, Zephyr did not look lost.
He came for his student.
Many Vice Admirals stood up and saluted.
Zephyr nodded slightly, walked straight to his designated seat, and sat down.
He did not say a word.
Immediately after.
Crunch, crunch.
Accompanied by crisp chewing sounds.
Garp walked in with a bag of rice crackers in his hand. He even brushed the cracker crumbs onto the meeting table, clearly not taking this meeting too seriously.
From the side door on the other side, Great Staff Officer Vice Admiral Tsuru walked silently into the venue.
With her arms crossed, she looked around the room. Her attention stopped on Gion for a moment before she continued forward.
With these people seated, the meeting room grew even quieter.
Just then.
Creak—
The heavy mahogany doors made a sound again.
The first to step into the meeting room was Borsalino.
This Glint-Glint Fruit user, who usually joked about everything being scary, had changed into a brand-new pair of brown sunglasses today.
A piece of white medical tape was stuck to his cheek. Although he wore a brand-new striped suit, he walked slower than usual.
He did not greet anyone. He walked straight to his seat and sat down.
But this was not the most shocking thing.
Immediately after, Sakazuki walked in.
The moment they clearly saw his current appearance, Onigumo and Doberman both went still.
Sakazuki still kept his hat brim pulled down. The shadow covered more than half of his face, making it impossible to see his expression.
But on his exposed neck and wrists, white bandages were clearly wrapped around him, faintly giving off the smell of ointment.
Especially his left arm. Although it still hung down naturally, even a simple swing looked stiff and slow. It was clearly a heavy injury that could not be ignored.
The whole room fell silent.
No one needed to ask what had happened.
It turned out that was not some attention-grabbing rumor.
The room understood it at once.
The rumor was true.
Two of Marine Headquarters' strongest fighters, both Admiral candidates, had joined forces and still failed to take down Aiden.
After Sakazuki and Borsalino sat down, there was complete silence on both sides of the long table.
Sakazuki placed his right arm on the table. His fingers pressed hard against the desktop, turning his knuckles white.
Finally, the doors were pushed open again.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku entered quickly, Justice coat over his shoulders.
He had spent the past few days taking pressure from the World Government, and it showed in the way he slammed the door behind him.
Sengoku walked straight to the main seat at the front of the long table.
He planted his hands heavily on the table and leaned forward. He looked around the room, taking in everyone present.
Finally, his attention stayed on Sakazuki's left arm for three full seconds before he spoke.
"Since everyone is here, let's start the meeting."