For a few moments, the harbor fell completely silent.
Every Marine stretched his neck, staring out toward the approaching ship.
What came into view was an imposing vessel with an antique, almost regal design.
It stood nearly twenty-five meters tall and stretched more than sixty meters from bow to stern.
A two-story superstructure rose from the deck, while a royal flag fluttered high above it.
The banner of the Shikkearu Kingdom.
Very few people still remembered that flag.
After Shikkearu fell, its captured royal banners had been taken as trophies and stored away among the Celestial Dragons’ collections.
Unfortunately for Kael, Borsalino happened to recognize it.
He had spent enough time around Mary Geoise to remember the banner.
The Shikkearu royal family…
Borsalino rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
That kingdom had been troublesome.
The force sent against it had included officers of Vice Admiral rank.
The Marines hadn’t been the main force behind the operation, but they had still participated.
“The World Government handled most of it…” Borsalino muttered to himself.
“Especially the forces assigned to protect the Celestial Dragons.” The current Fleet Admiral was Kong.
Rumors said he would soon be promoted to Commander-in-Chief, which would naturally leave the position of Fleet Admiral vacant.
Who would succeed him was another question entirely.
Either way, these were unstable times.
Any officer with ambitions of reaching the upper ranks needed achievements, influence, and a clear path forward.
“How troublesome…” Borsalino’s expression shifted.
He had finally remembered something else.
During the final stages of the Shikkearu campaign, the attackers had tried to seize Black Rose Castle on Kuraigana Island.
It had been the symbolic heart of the royal family’s power.
But after landing on the island, they encountered a young swordsman.
One boy.
And that boy had held off more than three thousand men.
In the end, the attacking force withdrew.
They might have been able to kill or capture him if they’d continued throwing men into the battle.
But the casualties would have been horrific.
And even if they succeeded…
Who could guarantee another monster like him wouldn’t emerge afterward?
“If that’s really him…” Borsalino raised an eyebrow.
“Then I suppose I should take a good look.” If the swordsman from Shikkearu had survived, there was every reason for him to resent the Marines.
Especially the forces involved in that campaign.
Borsalino’s lazy face stretched into a faint smile.
“Scary…” Despite the perpetually casual way he carried himself, Borsalino was rarely as inattentive as he appeared.
Most of the time, he was observing.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Offending a great swordsman was troublesome enough.
Offending one who operated independently, with no organization or superior to keep him in check, was even worse.
Thump.
The ship settled against the dock.
Kael stepped down from the Arbiter.
Behind him came a young swordsman with golden, hawk-like eyes and a presence sharp enough to immediately draw attention.
Both brothers wore refined clothing befitting their aristocratic background.
The difference was in their weapons.
Kael’s sword was long, slender, and elegant.
Mihawk’s enormous black blade looked far heavier and far more imposing.
“Kael!” Zephyr strode forward.
“It’s been a long time.” His short purple hair shifted in the sea breeze, and the Marine coat draped over his shoulders fluttered behind him.
The years had not been kind to Zephyr.
After losing his family, he had aged noticeably.
Kael studied him for a moment.
“You’re still an Admiral?” There was genuine surprise in his voice.
The first time Kael had met Zephyr, the older man had been devastated by the deaths of his wife and child.
He had wandered into Kuraigana Island almost by accident and ended up receiving Kael’s hospitality.
Kael had only been eleven at the time.
Mihawk had barely begun learning noble etiquette and swordsmanship.
Zephyr nodded.
“Yeah.” “You told me not to bury myself completely in teaching.” His expression softened.
“You said that if pirates were the reason I’d lost everything, then I should spend more of my strength actually suppressing piracy instead of retreating from the front lines.” “So I withdrew my resignation.” Kong had never formally stripped Zephyr of his Admiral rank while the resignation request was being considered.
That made returning to active duty relatively simple.
Kael nodded.
“That explains it.” Then he smiled faintly.
“How have you been?” “Did keeping busy help at all?” Zephyr let out a breath.
“It did.” Then his expression changed.
“There’s only one problem.” Kael raised an eyebrow.
“I still miss your liquor.” Kael laughed.
“I brought some.” Zephyr’s eyes immediately lit up.
“It’s called Peach Blossom Dew.” “It’s not as harsh as the liquor you tried before.” Kael tapped the flask at his waist.
“But the flavor lingers.” Garp scratched the back of his head.
“With a name like that, it has to be good!” He immediately started walking.
“Come on.
We’ll find somewhere on Sabaody and drink properly.” “Not yet, Uncle Garp.” Kael waved him off.
“I need to sell the grain and fruit first.” Then he gestured toward the Arbiter.
“Oh, and I picked up a few pirates on the way here.” “Help me cash in their bounties.” At Kael’s signal, Quinn appeared on deck carrying Jackal’s corpse over one shoulder.
Two bound pirates were dragged behind him and thrown onto the dock.
Borsalino, who had just approached, stopped.
His expression changed for the first time.
They ran into him on the way here?
He looked more closely.
“Oh…” “That’s Jackal.” Borsalino recognized him almost immediately.
“He’s been fairly active in the first half of the Grand Line recently.” He scratched his cheek.
“Thanks for dealing with him.” “But…” His expression became awkward.
“There might be a small problem with collecting the bounty.” Kael raised an eyebrow.
“What problem?” At this point in his life, Borsalino had yet to become an Admiral.
Without the authority and imposing reputation that would come later, he looked even more like an unusually suspicious middle-aged man.
Borsalino pursed his lips.
“Marine Headquarters has been shifting most of its attention toward the second half of the Grand Line.” “So they’ve temporarily stopped paying outside bounty claims for pirates worth less than fifty million Berries.” Kael stared at him.
Borsalino shrugged.
“The official reasoning is that pirates at that level should be manageable by the Marines without outside assistance.” His tone became faintly annoyed.
“Which is pretty embarrassing, if you ask me.” “Headquarters issues the bounty posters…” “And then refuses to pay when someone actually brings the pirate in.” Zephyr’s eyebrows immediately drew together.
“When was that order issued?” “Oh.” Borsalino glanced at him.
“Admiral Sengoku approved it.” Then he smiled lazily.
“You’re usually focused on field operations, Teacher.
Guess nobody bothered telling you yet.” Garp and Zephyr exchanged a look.
This was awkward.
“I see.” Kael smiled.
He didn’t seem particularly bothered.
Mihawk, however, was far less forgiving.
“So this is how much a Marine bounty is worth?” His golden eyes turned cold.
“No wonder there are more pirates every year.” “Now, now.” Borsalino raised both hands.
“Don’t blame me, young man.” “I don’t make the rules.” His shoulders lifted in a helpless shrug.
“Either way, Headquarters won’t redeem Jackal’s bounty directly.” “His bounty is too low.” Then Borsalino paused.
“There is another option.” Kael looked at him.
“A Marine officer can take custody of the pirate and record the capture as part of their own service record.” “In exchange, that officer compensates you privately.” Zephyr immediately began calculating his current allowance.
His expression became increasingly painful.
Then he sighed.
“Fine.” He turned toward Kael.
“We’ll do it that way.” “I can’t have you taking a loss after doing the Marines’ job for us.” Zephyr glanced at Jackal’s corpse.
“You’ve helped me out.” “With this capture added to my record, it’ll strengthen my standing as Admiral.” Kael stared at him.
Zephyr continued, “In return, I’ll arrange 50,000,000 Berries in support funds for Kuraigana Island’s forces.” “A thank-you from me.”
Add to library.
Send some Power Stones.