Marine Headquarters, Hospital.
In the top-floor VIP ward, two large men lay on beds, their bodies barely intact, covered in wounds.
Tubes and machines were hooked up to them everywhere.
They were "Akainu" Sakazuki and "Aokiji" Kuzan.
If not for Marine Headquarters' advanced medical technology and the upgraded equipment Vegapunk had recently delivered, Sakazuki and Kuzan might not have made it.
But even though they were out of mortal danger, their severe injuries left them bedridden, barely able to chat in their half-dead state.
For two men who had always been like fire and water, this was, in a way, the greatest punishment.
"Huff... Huff... We really lost badly this time," Kuzan laughed, though it sounded more like a wheeze—his chest still had several unhealed holes.
"We're admirals, yet we almost got taken out by that bastard Michael."
"That's because you always underestimated Michael's strength," Sakazuki said weakly, unable to even hold his favorite premium cigar in his mouth.
"I knew from the start that Michael was a monster, so my injuries aren't as bad as yours."
"What good does that do? You still ended up in the ER with me, didn't you? Still stuck lying here like a corpse, same as me?" Kuzan smirked, but the motion tugged at the wounds on his neck, making him grimace in pain.
"Tch... hurts like hell... But I have another question. Old man Garp fought too, so how come his injuries were so much lighter than ours? I heard he just got patched up and went home to sleep."
"Isn't it obvious? What's the relationship between you, me, and Michael? And what kind of bond does Michael share with Garp? Garp was once your teacher—don't you know his temper?"
Sakazuki's words left Kuzan speechless.
Well… he had a point.
Though he was somewhat familiar with Michael, could he really claim any deep friendship with him?
No, not really.
Their private interactions were even fewer than those he'd had with Sakazuki.
But thinking this far, Kuzan couldn't help but sigh.
"I thought it was a life-or-death battle, but turns out, it was just a favor for our teacher."
"Hmph. Whether it's life and death or favors, the truth is… we're still too weak."
With that, Sakazuki closed his eyes and fell silent.
Gritting through the pain, Kuzan turned his head to glance at Sakazuki beside him.
His eyes were filled with scrutiny and suspicion.
He… wasn't blind.
During the battle, though he was the first to fall, before losing consciousness, he had clearly seen—
Sakazuki and Michael… talking.
Not the usual taunts exchanged in combat, but an actual conversation.
It had been abruptly interrupted by Garp's "Galaxy Impact," but it had happened—brief, but unmistakable.
'Sakazaki, Sakazuki…'
'What game are you and Michael playing?'
"Why are you staring at me?"
"I was just wondering if the great Admiral Akainu, after being defeated by a young Vice Admiral, might bite his tongue in shame."
"Instead of wasting time on that, maybe you should call the doctors and nurses to check if Michael knocked your brains loose."
"You damn fire mutt!"
"...Ice chicken."
Soon, the special care ward erupted into another round of bickering between Sakazuki and Kuzan.
Outside the ward, Sengoku and Garp (bandaged head to toe, his head wrapped in layers)—stood by the window.
Listening to the two argue, Sengoku cracked a rare smile.
"Those two are as noisy as ever… Even with such severe injuries, they still find the energy to quarrel."
"If they can argue, it means both their bodies and minds are recovering—and returning to peak condition." Garp clutched a bag of rice crackers, though his usual rapid munching had slowed slightly.
"This fight with Michael might've even helped bridge some of the gap between them."
Sengoku turned to look at Garp.
His old friend's injuries weren't as severe as Sakazuki's or Kuzan's, but given his age, they were still dangerous.
And the one responsible for this… was his adopted son.
The son he had placed the highest hopes in.
The son he believed would lead the Marines forward in the future.
Everything had happened too suddenly.
So suddenly that he hadn't even had time to feel… sorrow.
"With you injured like this, aren't Rouge and the kids worried?"
"The three little ones are fine—they're tough, and since I'm still standing in front of them, they aren't too concerned. But Rouge… she's been so worried she hasn't slept properly for days." Garp sighed.
"But now, news of Michael's disappearance and removal from the Marines must be everywhere. Rather than worrying about me, we should be more concerned about Michael's sister and nephews."
After Garp finished speaking, Sengoku immediately felt a headache coming on.
"Don't mention Michael's name right now!" Sengoku rubbed his temples angrily.
"That bastard... how did he inexplicably become part of the Revolutionary Army?"
"I'm not surprised," Garp said with a laugh, patting Sengoku's shoulder. "Michael has always been different from ordinary people since childhood. Whether it's his attitude toward the Celestial Dragons or the World Government... anyone who knows him would understand. His joining the Revolutionary Army is unexpected, yet makes perfect sense."
"Of course I know that," Sengoku shook his head. "From dealing with slave traders at the beginning, to opposing the Fish-Man Island agreement between the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, to his stance toward the Five Elders and his actions at Enies Lobby... he's always stood in opposition to the World Government. And the Marines, no matter what, are subordinate to the World Government... So his leaving was only natural."
Garp looked at Sengoku, listening to the man who embodied "Justice that Rules Over All" speak such disheartened words, and couldn't help but silently criticize in his heart.
'Michael, oh Michael...'
'Though your plans should be kept from Sengoku, this is still a huge blow to him.'
'You'll have a lot of apologizing to do later.'
'For now, let me help you out.'
"Since you've already figured it out, I might as well say a bit more."
"Sengoku, have you never considered... making the Marines truly the guardians of all people on the sea, rather than continuing to exist as the World Government's claws?"
Sengoku sharply turned to Garp, only to find that this unruly old man's eyes were filled with seriousness and determination.
The last time he'd seen such a look in Garp's eyes...
Was when they decided to execute Roger.