Chapter 144: Marine Special Chapter (Part 1)
The entire land of Marineford was in ruins.
Marine soldiers with injuries could be seen patrolling everywhere.
The ground was filled with cracks and craters. Everywhere one looked, there was only emptiness and devastation.
Only a few temporary buildings had been erected.
It was obvious—
Marineford could no longer serve as Marine Headquarters.
The Navy would need to find a new base.
The sun slowly set as waves crashed gently against the shore, scattering beautiful sprays of foam.
A man with silver hair, bare upper body, and a coat of Justice draped over his shoulders sat on a reef, a cigar in his mouth releasing thick smoke.
Smoker watched everything.
He saw the grim expressions of the Marines.
He saw civilians standing in front of their destroyed homes—faces numb, eyes empty.
Some of them even broke down and cried.
The War of the Best had taken away their families, lovers, friends, and homes.
"—Haa…"
Smoker clenched his teeth.
His fists tightened so hard that veins bulged across the back of his hands.
Suddenly, a cold hand rested on his shoulder.
Admiral Aokiji (Kuzan) sat down beside him.
"Ahh… Smoker, you seem to be in a bad mood."
Aokiji took out a bottle of liquor and sighed.
"This was Instructor Zephyr's favorite drink… mine too."
"Want some?"
Smoker turned his head slightly.
"…Sherry?"
Aokiji smiled and handed it over.
"This is… the most manly drink."
Smoker grabbed the bottle and gulped it down.
"Kuzan… tell me."
"If I were stronger… could this kind of thing have been prevented?"
Smoker's face turned red from the alcohol, but his eyes only became more lost.
Compared to hunting pirates…
He believed that the true duty of justice was protecting civilians and fellow Marines.
His eyes were filled with sorrow and anger.
Sorrow for the civilians.
Anger at his own weakness.
Aokiji glanced at him and patted his shoulder.
"Don't think too much."
"You've already done very well."
"I saw everything you did."
"Keep getting stronger."
"You'll eventually find your own justice."
This wasn't empty praise.
Smoker might not have qualified to fight among the top-tier monsters at Marineford, but his performance across the battlefield had been no worse than most Vice Admirals.
In terms of strength alone—
He was already qualified for the rank of Vice Admiral.
To achieve such growth in just one week was astonishing.
It was safe to say that Smoker's future would start at Vice Admiral level…
And perhaps even reach Admiral.
"What about Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
Smoker changed the topic.
Aokiji shrugged helplessly.
"Post-war compensation."
"Treating the wounded."
"Providing temporary housing for civilians."
"Relocating Marineford."
"And the growing number of pirates…"
"Sengoku's practically drowning in work."
"So honestly—"
"Being Fleet Admiral isn't a job for humans."
"…Huh?"
Smoker blinked.
"Hasn't the World Government provided any support?"
"The World Government?"
Aokiji's expression turned slightly mocking.
"The Five Elders are still recovering from their injuries."
"And they're blaming the Marines for failing to capture a powerless brat."
"You expect them to spend money meant for the Celestial Dragons' luxury lifestyle to support the Navy?"
Smoker fell silent.
Funding had always been the Navy's biggest problem.
The Marines relied entirely on World Government funding.
Which meant—
All Marine actions were controlled by the Government.
This situation had lasted for hundreds of years.
It was also the main reason the Marine high command—despite disliking the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons—never dared openly oppose the World Government.
Far out at sea, massive waves surged.
A gigantic steel warship cut through the ocean as seawater gushed from its sides.
At the bow stood a tall, broad figure.
His short purple hair whipped wildly in the roaring wind.
Behind him, the large white Marine coat fluttered violently.
On its back, the black word—
"Justice"
—danced like a raging dragon.
Standing beside him were two others.
A beautiful woman with long wavy sea-blue hair, wearing a blue cloak and black high heels.
And a tall man carrying a long sword on his back.
"Who is that?"
"He looks incredibly strong…"
New Marine recruits whispered among themselves.
Clearly the man was someone important—
Yet none of them recognized him.
Just then—
Figures rushed in from all directions.
They wore Marine uniforms and carried swords.
Their expressions were solemn as they lined both sides of the road.
When they looked at the towering figure ahead of them, their eyes filled with excitement and admiration.
"Instructor Zephyr!!"
Onigumo, Doberman, Strawberry, Momonga, and other Vice Admirals stood in formation.
Zephyr looked across their familiar faces.
A bold smile appeared on his lips.
"So after all these years…"
"You still remember me."
"Instructor Zephyr, you must be joking!"
"As your students, we will never forget those wonderful training days!"
Vice Admiral Strawberry spoke with emotion.
However—
When he said the word "wonderful"…
The other Vice Admirals twitched slightly.
"Instructor Zephyr, may we ask why you've come to Marine Headquarters?"
Even the usually cold Onigumo forced out a rather awkward smile, his voice unusually gentle.
If Garp was the spiritual symbol of Marine soldiers…
Then Zephyr was the pillar of the Marine officer corps.
It could be said that this man had personally shaped the Golden Age of the Marines.
"I just came to talk with Sengoku about something."
Zephyr chatted casually with the Vice Admirals as they walked.
Soon they arrived at the temporary Fleet Admiral office.
"Damn it, Garp! Stop stealing my rice crackers!"
"What's the big deal? You weren't going to finish them anyway!"
…
Zephyr pushed open the door.
BANG!!
A wooden chair suddenly flew straight at him.
Zephyr froze.
He smashed the chair into pieces with a single punch and stared blankly at the scene inside.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had rolled up his sleeves, exposing powerful arms as he stormed toward Garp.
"You bastard!!"
"Look at the people you raised!"
"And you're still eating my rice crackers?!"
"You're going to choke to death on those things!!"
Meanwhile, Garp had been cornered against the wall.
He protected the rice crackers in his hands like treasure.
His face was bright red.
"What does that have to do with me?!"
"Your plan just sucked! You couldn't stop my grandson!"
"Maybe you should stop calling yourself the 'Strategist' and start calling yourself the 'Idiot'!"
Sengoku: "Damn it! Fight me one-on-one if you dare!"
Garp: "Who's afraid of who? With those soft punches of yours?!"
Sengoku: "Don't make me slap you in front of Tsuru!"
Garp: "Don't cry when you lose!"
The two massive men shouted at each other like street brawlers.
"—Ahem."
At the only intact desk in the room, Great Staff Officer Tsuru coughed lightly.
"You two…"
"What kind of behavior is this?"
The moment Tsuru spoke—
Both Sengoku and Garp instantly shut up.
They shrank their necks, glared at each other, and quietly sat down like obedient children.
Nearby, Ain and Binz stared in complete shock.
These crude old men…
Were their second and third greatest idols.
At that moment—
Their world collapsed.
"…Ahem."
"Zephyr?"
Only now did Sengoku and Garp notice the man standing at the door.
They blinked in confusion.
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