Late 1499, Sea Circle Calendar.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford. Ortoren's warship slowly docked at the harbor.
He stepped off the ship with a puzzled expression, wondering why Headquarters had suddenly summoned him back. Something wrong at G-5? That seemed unlikely. His recruitment work wasn't at the level that would alarm Headquarters.
He had even planned to meet Doflamingo in the New World, but it looked like that would have to be postponed.
Instead of heading straight to the Fortress of Justice to see Admiral Sengoku, Ortoren first made his way to the Officer Training Camp. He figured it was better to see Zephyr-sensei first and get a sense of the situation.
It had been a long time since Ortoren last visited the training camp. The same low building stood there, and as he walked inside, a faint sense of familiarity washed over him.
When he reached a classroom door, he saw Zephyr-sensei at the lectern, giving a lecture.
A large group of Marines sat below. Compared to the first class, their insignia weren't nearly as impressive—most were Lieutenant Commanders or Commanders, with not a single Commodore among them.
Ortoren had heard that the training camp had changed. Now, graduates only received a one-rank promotion upon completion, instead of the earlier guarantee of at least Commodore or Rear Admiral. The selection standards had also been loosened, no longer as strict as the first two intakes.
Scanning the class, Ortoren spotted a white-haired kid. His age made him stand out—he looked far too young, with only Captain's insignia on his shoulders. His face was unfamiliar, but Ortoren still recognized him. It was Smoker.
And his desk mate was a pink-haired girl full of energy. It could only be Hina.
"Joining the Marines this early?" Ortoren thought with surprise.
Smoker was one thing—he looked fifteen or sixteen, so he could just about pass. But Hina? She looked eleven or twelve at most, yet she was sitting in Zephyr-sensei's class? Could she be the daughter of a high-ranking officer?
Ortoren wasn't wrong. Hina was the daughter of a Marine Rear Admiral who had recently fallen in battle. She'd been living in Marineford's residential area, and after her father's death, she was determined to join the Marines and avenge him.
The recruitment office had refused her at first, saying she was too young. But she was stubborn and refused to leave. In the end, when Zephyr-sensei heard about it, he personally intervened, bringing Hina into the Marines. His plan was to let her "study" under him for a few years and only graduate once she was of age.
Ortoren didn't interrupt Zephyr-sensei's class. He waited quietly in the hallway.
Over an hour later, Zephyr-sensei finished the lecture, dismissed the students, and stepped out of the classroom.
When he saw Ortoren, he wasn't surprised. Smiling, he said, "I noticed you hanging around outside the door earlier."
"Heh." Ortoren grinned, then asked with concern, "Teacher, how have you been feeling lately?"
"Same as always. Not exactly great, but not bad enough to die either." Zephyr waved it off, walking alongside Ortoren as they chatted.
"The doctors said your condition needs conservative treatment. You should really quit cigars and things like that to help control it..." Ortoren couldn't help but remind him.
"This is my only hobby in life. If I gave it up too, what would be the point?" Zephyr-sensei said casually.
As he spoke, he pulled a cigar from his coat pocket and clenched it between his teeth.
After patting down his other pockets for a while, he sighed in annoyance. "Don't you have any awareness? Can't you see I didn't bring a lighter?"
Ortoren laughed, a spark of lightning dancing at his fingertips. He touched it to Zephyr-sensei's cigar, lighting it.
"How's that kid Lucci doing lately?" Ortoren asked casually.
"He's fine. Things with your unit are fine too, nothing to worry about," Zephyr-sensei nodded.
Chatting as they went, the two stepped into his office. Ortoren, acting as if he were at home, immediately pulled out the finest tea leaves from Zephyr-sensei's cabinet and happily brewed a pot for himself.
Zephyr-sensei's mustache bristled and his eyes bulged, but there was nothing he could do.
"How's G-5 coming along?" Zephyr-sensei asked as he sat down on the sofa.
"Not bad. It's just getting on track, but we're short on manpower and warships. I'm working on it though, so no need for you to worry," Ortoren said with a grin.
"Seems you've got things handled. Haven't run into anything you can't solve, huh?" Zephyr-sensei said with a reassuring smile.
"All thanks to your teaching, Master," Ortoren replied, seizing the chance to flatter him.
Then he asked, "But I'm still busy running things over there. Why did Headquarters suddenly recall me? Did the plan change or something?"
"It's not just you. Several elite Vice Admirals have been recalled too. Something big has happened." Zephyr-sensei's face darkened, his tone grim.
Ortoren felt relieved. So it wasn't trouble with G-5—it was Headquarters that had the problem.
"Looks like they're calling a big meeting? What's going on that even we, stationed abroad, have to be brought back?" Ortoren pressed.
"Not long ago, Fleet Admiral Kong went to Mary Geoise to report on Headquarters' situation. The Five Elders issued a directive, saying that with the current chaos on the seas and the Marines' failure to keep it under control, they want to strengthen the World Government's military power. To quell the waves of the Great Pirate Era as quickly as possible, they're preparing to recruit a group of powerful pirates into the World Government's service—and they want us Marines to help implement it!" Zephyr-sensei clenched his teeth in fury as he spoke.
"What!?" Ortoren exclaimed in feigned shock.
But he already understood—the Shichibukai were about to be born.
Seeing Ortoren's stunned expression, Zephyr-sensei went on coldly, "The plan is called the 'Shichibukai Project.' They intend to recruit seven Great Pirates. Honestly, if the World Government wants to do this on its own, we can't stop them. But dragging us Marines into cooperating with this farce? What does that mean? That our voice counts for nothing?"
"Outrageous!" Ortoren slammed the table. "Absolutely outrageous!"
He shot to his feet, cursing. "Those bastards in Mary Geoise—what do they take us for? What's the Fleet Admiral's stance? What about Admiral Sengoku? Shouldn't we march up there and demand answers from those five ourselves!?"
Startled by Ortoren's outburst, Zephyr-sensei quickly grabbed his arm and shoved him back down onto the sofa. "Why are you so riled up, kid?"
"I just can't stand it!" Ortoren snapped. "We Marines are out there on the front lines, fighting, bleeding, and dying. For what? So those pampered nobles in Mary Geoise can live in comfort? And while we're laying down our lives, they're scheming up nonsense like this? What about justice? What about the law?"
At that moment, the office door swung open. Admiral Sengoku strode in, shooting Ortoren a sharp glare. "I wasn't even through the door yet and already heard someone calling my name. Ortoren, got a problem with this old man?"
"Damn right I do!" Ortoren barked. "And it's a big one! You promised me five thousand battle-hardened veterans, but half of what I got were green recruits. I let that slide. But now this Shichibukai nonsense? You don't actually expect us to cozy up to pirates, do you?"
Sengoku looked a bit embarrassed at Ortoren's jab, but as an Admiral, he quickly regained his composure. He glared back and snapped, "And you haven't cozied up to pirates before? Now you want to act all innocent?"
Ortoren froze for a beat, then shot back, "That was on your orders! You told me to maintain good relations with them. And now you're denying it?"
"You brat, still glaring at me!?" Sengoku slammed his hand on the table, cursing. "We put you in charge of a base, and now you think Headquarters doesn't matter anymore, is that it?"
Zephyr-sensei waved his hand. "Enough. There are no outsiders here. Who are you two putting on a show for? Sit down, both of you."
Ortoren chuckled, sat back down on the sofa, and even poured Sengoku a cup of tea.
Sengoku took the cup, finally appeased. "Fine. For the sake of this tea, I'll let you off this time, kid."
Ortoren ignored the jab and instead said firmly, "Admiral, this Shichibukai nonsense is a disgrace to the dignity of the Marines."
Sengoku sighed bitterly. "Who says it isn't?"