After turning and exiting the Fleet Admiral's office, he took a turn down the hallway and quickly arrived at the door of his own Admiral's office.
Pushing the door open, Diarmuid saw Hina tidying up files and Jinbe sitting on the sofa, looking a bit uneasy, waiting for him.
Hina had returned with him from the North Blue earlier. Instead of going to the Fleet Admiral's office, she had come back to sort through the backlog of files on Diarmuid's desk. Jinbe had rushed to the office to wait for Diarmuid as soon as Hina returned.
The thoughtful Hina had already prepared tea and pastries for Diarmuid. The moment Jinbe saw Diarmuid, he immediately stood up to salute.
However, Diarmuid made a gesture with his hand to stop Jinbe. He didn't bother with the files and sat directly across from Jinbe. "Take your time. Sit down and speak slowly."
Jinbe nodded and sat back down, then asked with a hint of hesitation, "Admiral, about that matter in Mariejois that the Marines are involved in…"
"Don't beat around the bush. You want to ask about Fisher Tiger, right?" Diarmuid asked bluntly.
Jinbe nodded. "Yes, Admiral. What is the Marines' stance on Tiger-aniki?"
"Whether it's the Fleet Admiral, the others, or myself, we all admire and respect Fisher Tiger. Although he sparked a riot and set fires in Mariejois, the initial motivation behind his actions and the ultimate goal he achieved were, at least in our eyes, quite noble," Diarmuid said softly.
This wasn't an attempt to deceive Jinbe. Diarmuid genuinely believed this. Countless people in the world had considered doing what Tiger did in Mariejois—to liberate the slaves. But facing reality, only Tiger had dared to do it. That alone was worthy of respect.
Listening to Diarmuid, Jinbe's expression changed. "Then what about the bounty on Tiger-aniki…"
"It won't be canceled. The Marines don't have the authority to do that. And to be frank, Jinbe, the Marines will have to take action against Tiger eventually. This isn't about justice; it's about the Marines' interests and position. No matter how much we admire him in our hearts, first and foremost, his existence is an obstacle for the Marines. Secondly, he's now flying a pirate flag. Finally, and this might sound hypocritical and sickening, but if the Marines don't act against him, his end will be far more miserable. That is a fact," Diarmuid said without hesitation.
Jinbe's expression shifted several times, his eyes showing reluctance and frustration, but eventually settling into determination. He was grateful that Diarmuid, his Admiral, hadn't given him any false words of comfort and had instead told him the unvarnished truth. It shattered any lingering hope he had and solidified his resolve.
He only felt a sense of guilt. Guilt that despite being so highly valued and cared for by Admiral Diarmuid, he had already decided to leave the Marines and even to oppose them afterward. He felt he was truly letting his Admiral's guidance down.
Diarmuid didn't speak anymore, simply sitting there calmly, taking a pastry and sipping his tea.
After about half a minute—not too long, not too short—Jinbe took a deep breath. "Admiral, although it's very shameful and a great burden, please allow me to resign from the Marines!"
Diarmuid still didn't speak. He took a sip of tea first, swallowing the pastry in his mouth, and then slowly sighed. "So, that's your choice?"
Jinbe silently nodded, but he couldn't bring himself to look into Diarmuid's eyes.
"And then what? You're going to find Tiger? Turn from a Marine into a pirate?" Diarmuid asked.
Jinbe nodded without hesitation. "Admiral, you have treated me with honesty, and I don't wish to deceive you. Tiger-aniki saved my life and raised me. I cannot abandon him, nor can I fight against him. If I leave the Marines now, I will certainly go to the New World to find Tiger-aniki and work for him. If you are unwilling to allow this, you may arrest and imprison me in Impel Down. I, Jinbe, will not resist or try to escape!"
Jinbe's mind was made up. He wouldn't abandon Tiger, nor would he hide anything from his Admiral. In fact, he secretly hoped his Admiral would send him to Impel Down; that way, he wouldn't have to think so much or deal with this painful dilemma. Of course, he also knew this was just a way to run from reality.
"I thought so," Diarmuid murmured softly.
Jinbe looked at Diarmuid with a hint of surprise, and Diarmuid continued, "Ever since that incident happened in Mariejois, I knew you'd want to leave the moment I got back, Jinbe."
Hearing this, Jinbe's expression turned slightly ashamed, and he lowered his head, unable to meet Diarmuid's eyes.
"Look up. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You're just upholding your convictions. It may not be what I expected, but you shouldn't feel disgraced by it," Diarmuid said with a serious tone.
Jinbe slowly raised his head, looking at Diarmuid with eyes full of gratitude.
"You have two choices," Diarmuid said, holding up two fingers under Jinbe's surprised gaze. "First, as you just said, I'll strip you of your Marine status right now, and you can get out and go to the New World to find your 'Tiger-aniki.' From now on, there will be no more bonds between us. You'll be a pirate, and I'll be a Marine. If we meet on the seas, there will be no holding back. It will be a fight to the death."
A hint of sadness flashed in Jinbe's eyes, but before he could speak, Diarmuid continued, "Second, you join our secret Marine plan. But I'll tell you the truth now: once you join this plan, there's no turning back, no other options. Trying to leave won't be a peaceful parting; it will be a real betrayal. However, even after you join this plan, you can still choose to leave the Marines and go to the New World to find your Tiger-aniki. Whatever you want to do is fine, and we won't interfere. I will give you a year and a half. After that year and a half, the Marines will definitely move against Tiger. When you're with him, you can choose how he dies, Jinbe… I don't need anything else. I just need him to die. I just need him to never appear in this world again. That's the result I need. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Jinbe was stunned. But he certainly understood the last part of what Diarmuid said.
The Marines just needed the 'result' of Tiger's death. In other words, if Jinbe joined this plan, Diarmuid would give him and Tiger a year and a half to make arrangements for the future and do whatever they wanted. When the time came, the Marines would act against Tiger. And Jinbe, in the end, only needed to give the Marines a satisfactory explanation—for example, by arranging a 'fake death' for Tiger so he could never appear on the seas again.
In a word, within that year and a half, Jinbe could try to persuade Tiger, advise him, or do anything he wanted, but after a year and a half, Tiger had to disappear from this world.
Jinbe could also feel the consideration Diarmuid was showing him. With such a huge incident in Mariejois, the World Government surely wanted to find and kill Tiger immediately. Yet, under all that pressure, Admiral Diarmuid could still stand his ground and give him a year and a half. How could he not feel that bond and consideration?
When he had decided to leave the Marines to find Tiger, Jinbe had already resigned himself to death. The longer he was at Marine Headquarters, the more he understood how powerful the Marines truly were. He knew in his heart that once the Marines were truly out for his Tiger-aniki's life, Tiger wouldn't be free for long. Before this, he had planned to go and face this deadly fate with Tiger.
But now, Admiral Diarmuid had given him a new choice. Joining the Marines' secret plan might offer a sliver of hope for Tiger. At the same time, he wouldn't have to truly betray the Marines, and he wouldn't be letting down Admiral Diarmuid's care and friendship. He would also have a year and a half to make his arrangements.
How could Jinbe even need to think about which to choose?
"Admiral, I choose the second option: the Marines' secret plan," Jinbe said solemnly.
For the first time since he entered the room, Diarmuid genuinely smiled. "Well, your choice was within my expectations."
Jinbe smiled. "I wondered why I couldn't see any hesitation or confusion in your eyes, Admiral. It turns out you had already arranged everything for me."
"You think too highly of yourself and Tiger. A mere Marine Captain and a pirate? Could that make me hesitate or feel confused?" Diarmuid joked, then continued, "Are you sure you want to join? This plan is very taxing."
Jinbe now replied with firm conviction, "I am certain!"
Diarmuid took a deep breath and said, "Good. After this conversation today, you will leave Marineford. You can take your subordinates with you. Afterward, I will announce that you have betrayed the Marines and have defected."
Jinbe's eyes widened. What's happening?
"After that, you'll be a pirate, following your Tiger-aniki. For now, you don't need to concern yourself with Marine matters. I'm giving you a year and a half of autonomy to arrange Tiger's 'death.' After that year and a half, the Marines must eliminate Tiger immediately. This is about whether Fleet Admiral Kong can become the Commander-in-Chief of the entire military force. You should understand how important that is to the Marines. So don't hold out any false hope. If you don't make the arrangements for him, I'll have to make them for you," Diarmuid said with a serious, almost chilling tone.
Jinbe knew Diarmuid wasn't kidding, so he nodded. "Yes, I understand."
He paused for a moment before asking, "And after that?"
"After that, you'll take over the Sun Pirates and continue as a pirate, building up your reputation. We'll handle the arrangements to bring you into the Warlords of the Sea…" Diarmuid said with a smile.
Jinbe looked at Diarmuid in shock. "The Warlords of the Sea?"
"That's right, the Warlords of the Sea. You should know that we Marines have always strongly opposed this system from the World Government, but we can't stop it. Therefore, when the Warlord system was established, we immediately launched a highly classified secret plan. The goal of that plan is to secretly control the Warlords of the Sea and minimize the threat they pose to the world. That is also what you will be doing," Diarmuid said solemnly.
Jinbe asked in surprise, "So… 'White Hunter' Smoker, 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma, 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk, and even Crocodile are actually Marines?"
"No," Diarmuid said, shaking his head. "Smoker is a Marine Rear Admiral; he's a participant in this secret plan, just like you. The others are not, but we will slowly make arrangements for them in the future. Jinbe, this matter is very important to the Marines, and becoming a Warlord of the Sea would also bring great benefits to Fish-Man Island. In short, you must work hard."
"Yes, Admiral, I understand! I won't fail to live up to your expectations and guidance," Jinbe said without hesitation.
"Good," Diarmuid nodded, then looked into Jinbe's eyes and whispered softly, "When Smoker left back then, I gave him a saying. Now that you're leaving, I'll give you the same one. I hope you'll keep it in your heart and never forget that you are a Marine."
"Please say it, Admiral," Jinbe said very seriously.
"My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror; all my deeds are righteous." Diarmuid finished, took a sip of tea, and continued, "Don't let your heart fall into darkness and evil. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Admiral, I will keep your words in my heart and never forget them!" Jinbe said, saluting crisply.
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