"…"
Zoro and Sanji exchanged glances, both seeing a trace of confusion in the other's eyes.
Something that concerned them personally?
"Boss, what is it?" Zoro asked.
"After the Summit War," Hawk said, getting straight to the point, "the Navy's power structure underwent a major adjustment."
"Sengoku and the others have officially stepped back to the second line. In principle, they will no longer take the initiative to fight."
"So the higher-ups decided to expand the Navy's top-tier combat strength."
Hawk lightly tapped his fingers on the desk.
"The three Admiral positions remain unchanged. They are the Navy's highest combat force and an absolute deterrent."
"But beneath the Admirals, five new seats have been created, the so-called Special Admirals."
"They serve as the bridge between the Navy's highest and mid-level combat power. The old concept of Admiral candidates has been completely abolished."
"Momousagi Gion and Chaton Tokikake, due to their seniority and strength, have automatically been promoted to Special Admirals."
"The other two positions are already decided. One was personally recruited by the Fleet Admiral, and the other is being sought by Kuzan in the Grand Line."
At this point, Hawk paused, his gaze slowly settling on Zoro.
"As for the final seat…"
"Someone proposed recruiting Hawkeye Mihawk."
Zoro's pupils shrank instantly.
That man was the goal he had chased his entire life.
The one he had sworn to surpass.
The world's greatest swordsman.
The Navy wanted to recruit him?
Make him a Special Admiral?
"But that proposal," Hawk said calmly, "was rejected by me."
"Leaving aside the fact that he refused compulsory mobilization during the Summit War, his former title as the so-called Marine Hunter alone makes him unacceptable to the current Navy."
"And besides," Hawk continued, shifting the topic, "the Seven Warlords system is about to be thrown into the trash heap of history."
"Crocodile, Moria, and Jinbe are dead."
"Kuma is undergoing reverse modification at G-3. He will return to being human."
"As for the remaining three…"
"They have all been placed on the elimination list."
"Donquixote Doflamingo will be dealt with personally by Sengoku in Dressrosa."
"Boa Hancock will also be targeted soon."
"And as for Hawkeye Mihawk…"
Hawk took out a document stamped with the Fleet Admiral's seal and placed it in front of Zoro.
"I held down his elimination order."
Zoro took the document and opened it.
It was an official Navy authorization for the elimination of former Warlords of the Sea.
And the target listed was none other than Dracule Mihawk, Hawkeye.
"When you're ready," Hawk said, "you can go find him at any time."
"…"
Zoro's hand trembled slightly as he held the document.
He remembered when he had first joined the Navy in the East Blue.
Back then, Hawk had promised him that he would one day be given the chance to challenge Hawkeye.
As time passed, and as Hawk's status rose higher and higher, Zoro had thought that promise might have been forgotten.
But Hawk had not forgotten.
Not only had he remembered, he had paved every step of the road leading to the final duel.
As long as Zoro was ready, as long as he believed his strength was enough, he could take this document and, in the name of the Navy, challenge the man standing at the summit of the world.
And fulfill the promise he had made to Kuina.
Zoro took a deep breath and carefully tucked the document, heavy with dreams and vows, into his coat.
"Mm," Hawk said with a smile, then turned to Sanji. "Sanji."
"The day after the Navy Daily was published, an application for alliance from the Germa Kingdom of the North Blue landed on Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's desk."
"You're my man, so he handed the decision to me."
"A special allied nation status was never an option."
"That is reserved for allies like Alabasta, nations that treat their people well and have rendered genuine service to the Navy."
"As for ordinary allied status…"
"A roaming nation that profits by modifying human genes, creating emotionless clone soldiers, and stirring up wars everywhere…"
"They don't deserve it either."
"So your father, Vinsmoke Judge, ultimately chose to hand over Germa's core Lineage Factor technology in exchange for a one-year probationary allied status."
"He also signed an agreement guaranteeing that Germa would never again engage in inhumane military expansion or scientific experiments."
"After all," Hawk said with a grin, "the first place Kuzan went was the North Blue."
Hawk stood up and retrieved a black metal briefcase from the safe beneath his desk.
It was placed on the table and opened with a click.
"…"
Sanji leaned forward and looked inside.
There was a black, cylindrical metal canister.
A bold number 3 was printed on its surface.
Beside it lay a crystal-clear injector filled with a pale red liquid.
"This is…" Sanji's pupils contracted sharply.
"Take it," Hawk said, pushing the briefcase toward him. "This is the so-called sincerity your father attached when he handed over the technology."
"The crystallization of Germa technology. A combat suit."
"This one is made exclusively for you. Stealth Black."
"And one more thing," Hawk added, pointing at the injector. "Dr. Vegapunk is no less accomplished than your father when it comes to Lineage Factor research."
"So I had him prepare this enhancement serum for you."
"It will perfectly activate the dormant Lineage Factor within you, granting you the physical strength and recovery ability of Germa's modified soldiers."
"At the same time, it removes all unnecessary side effects."
"It will only make you stronger. And you will still be you."
Sanji snapped his head up and looked at Hawk, his lips trembling, but no words came out.
With his father's calculating nature, how could there be any sincerity attached at all?
And yet that sincerity just happened to be Stealth Black, made specifically for him.
This was something Hawk had personally demanded for him.
This debt of gratitude…
Sanji's eyes reddened instantly.
His voice was hoarse, thick with emotion. All his thoughts, all his words, collapsed into just two syllables.
"Loyalty."
"All right," Hawk said, stepping forward and patting both of them on the shoulders. "Go get some rest."
"When Admiral Kizaru gets back, your special training will begin."
"…"
"Yes, sir!"