"No need to think it over," Longinus replied, firm and unhesitating.
"I'm willing to go to the New World."
Sakazuki's expression didn't shift in the slightest.
"Make sure you understand what that means.
On the battlefield, no one cares that you're a rising Marine star.
I won't have the time to look after you either.
That kind of war… is a slaughterhouse of flesh and blood.
Anyone can die.
You.
And even me."
"If I feared death, I would never have become a Marine.
And besides—falling on the battlefield is the most honorable end a soldier can hope for."
Longinus met his gaze without wavering.
"With that resolve and conviction," Sakazuki nodded,
"the New World battlefield may suit you even better."
At the side, Yarvis chuckled.
"That battlefield may be dangerous, but for Vice Admiral Sakazuki and Major Longinus…
as long as you don't run head-first into a monster like Whitebeard, there shouldn't be much trouble."
Sakazuki didn't comment.
Instead, he turned back to Longinus.
"You've begun training Armament Haki?"
"Not yet."
"With your physique and willpower, you've long since met the conditions.
Zéphyr-sensei must have intended for you to sharpen yourself first—
so that once you do awaken Armament Haki, you'll start at an unusually high level."
Sakazuki's voice sank lower.
"But since you could kill thousands of rioters and still hold back Waldo and Jin for so long…
there's no further need to restrain yourself.
Once you return, have Zéphyr teach you Armament immediately.
On the battlefield, it will save your life."
"Yes, sir."
In truth, Longinus had already planned the same.
Zéphyr had intended to introduce Haki training in their second year anyway.
Advancing the schedule slightly wouldn't hurt.
Soon, after a round of farewells with Magellan,
Longinus boarded the warship heading back to Marineford.
"Looks like the name 'Longinus' will be making waves in the New World soon," Yarvis sighed, watching the ship drift into the horizon.
"Definitely. Only that vast, chaotic sea can serve as Longinus-brother's true stage," Magellan echoed.
"…The New World…"
A feverish blaze danced briefly in Shiliew's eyes—
but it soon dimmed again.
Without a word, he turned and walked back into the prison.
Far across the sea—
on an undeveloped, wild island teeming with birds, beasts, and the smell of freedom—
"Short-term pursuit won't happen.
Neither the Marines nor Impel Down will be coming here anytime soon."
Jin's expression remained cold.
There was no joy despite his successful escape.
On the other hand, Waldo could no longer suppress the ecstasy inside him.
"GAHAHAHAHA!
Ten years—ten whole years!
I've finally returned to this sea!
Government! Marines! Impel Down!
Just wait—your day of reckoning is coming!"
Jin watched him with thinly veiled contempt.
This is what passes for a 'great pirate'? Pathetic.
Having vented his rage, Waldo grinned toward Jin.
"We had a little… unpleasantness earlier, but forget that.
Your body with my speed—no one in this world could touch us!
Join me, Jin.
Become my right hand.
Together, we'll rule the seas!"
"Are you joking, Waldo?" Jin said icily.
"Even if not ten years—give it five.
You really think you could stand above me?"
Waldo stiffened.
He didn't have the confidence to deny it.
He had seen it firsthand—
Jin's strength was frightening,
and the only reason he looked overshadowed earlier
was because the other combatant was an even bigger monster.
Someone who could take a combined assault from both of them head-on without faltering—
Jin surviving that exchange was already proof of his ability.
Seeing Waldo fall silent, Jin continued, disdain still lingering in his eyes:
"I'm going to seek out a certain man.
A true strong man—
one who endured all of my torture techniques without changing his expression."
Waldo's jaw dropped.
"You're insane!
Going to someone you tortured?
Aren't you afraid he'll kill you on sight!?"
"That man's spirit…
is beyond anything you can imagine."
Marineford — Fleet Admiral's Office
A stern old man with a pointed hairstyle slammed his palm onto the desk.
"In just one month, Impel Down has been breached twice.
The myth of the great prison is shattered.
The Government and Marine reputation is at rock bottom.
So—
we need a massive war to divert attention.
We need a decisive, overwhelming victory to restore our prestige.
Sengoku… you understand what I mean."
It was none other than the recently recovered Fleet Admiral Kong.
"I've already begun preparations," Sengoku said calmly.
"The war in the New World will be the turning point."
"To regain the people's trust, two or three major pirate crews must be wiped out.
Anything less would be meaningless."
Kong narrowed his eyes.
"This is why you ordered CP's undercover agents to stir up those pirate crews?
To force them into the battlefield?"
"Exactly." Sengoku nodded.
"Whitebeard and Big Mom cannot be completely eradicated—
the cost is simply too high.
So we aim lower.
If we annihilate a few other major crews in the New World war,
that alone will be enough to restore public confidence."
"But remember," Kong said gravely,
"those pirates are not under our control.
They're double-edged swords.
If mishandled, the Marines will be the first to bleed."
"The New World is vast," Sengoku said, "but it can't hold too many 'kings.'"
He laid the foundation before explaining further.
"With Roger's crew disbanded and the Flying Pirates destroyed,
new territory has opened up—
and the struggle for supremacy has begun anew.
Big Mom and Kaido are the strongest contenders,
but the other pirate crews won't simply watch their rise."
"And since the New World offers no soil for Marine expansion,
those pirates don't view us as their true enemies.
To them,
the Marines are a convenient catalyst—
a trigger for their own power struggle."
"So once they join the war,
their real targets won't be us.
They'll be Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido."
"For the Marines, this is also an opportunity—
a chance to weaken the Three Emperors
and then harvest the defeated remnants
to deliver a perfect result."
"...Hsss!"
Kong sucked in a sharp breath.
Using pirates to eliminate pirates…
then turning around and eliminating them, too?
Do you even HAVE a conscience!?
"No wonder Garp calls you a sly old bas—
cough, cough—
I mean, mature and reliable!"
Kong hurriedly corrected himself.
"Hahaha! Sengoku, you're truly dependable.
Worthy of the Marines' greatest strategist!"
Sengoku: "(▼ヘ▼#)"
PS :
Sakazuki (Akainu)
Marine Vice Admiral. Magma-Magma Fruit. Absolute Justice.
Longinus
Marine Major. Rising star, prodigy in Observation Haki and Rokushiki.
Yarvis
Warden of Impel Down.
Magellan
Vice-Warden. Venom-Venom Fruit.
Shiliew (of the Rain)
Chief swordsman of Impel Down.
Jin
Former Head Jailer. Ancient Zoan — Pteranodon.
Bundy Waldo
"World Destroyer." Momo Momo no Mi (Multiplier Fruit).
Red Count Patrick Redfield
Legendary lone pirate.
Fleet Admiral Kong (Steel Bone Kong)
Marine Fleet Admiral.
Sengoku
Marine Admiral (Fleet Admiral-in-waiting). Strategist.
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