"During Borsalino's tenure in the North Blue, unless directly ordered by Headquarters, he barely lifted a finger. The rampant piracy worsened to an unbearable degree, forcing Headquarters to reassign him."
"And what about Rear Admiral Sakazuki?" Gion asked, startled at first, then unconvinced.
Sengoku let out another sigh.
"Sakazuki… Do you know why he was reassigned from the North Blue?"
"That kid completely disregarded the political sensitivities between nations and the safety of civilians. He crushed every pirate he encountered with an iron fist, causing catastrophic destruction in numerous towns and countries…"
"In the end, over ten member nations couldn't tolerate the damage anymore. They collectively expressed dissatisfaction and pressured Headquarters to remove him. Only then did we reluctantly transfer him out of the North Blue."
Gion: …
Kaji: …
Sengoku massaged his temples, a fresh headache brewing.
"In short, due to the unique situation in the North Blue, only Darren is capable of maintaining the delicate balance there."
"Unlike the two of you who grew up in the comfort of Marineford, Darren is a native of the North Blue. He climbed his way up from the very bottom, starting as a lowly seaman recruit. His rise is not without merit."
"His military achievements are outstanding, his strength remarkable. He is decisive yet tactful. In the North Blue, he navigates the gray areas of both law and the underworld with ease."
"Moreover, did you know?"
"Both Sakazuki and Borsalino supported his promotion to North Blue Captain this time."
"For Darren to gain the approval of those two, it's proof enough of his abilities and methods."
At this point, Sengoku's tone grew weightier, like a seasoned elder imparting wisdom to the younger generation.
"You two, especially you, Gion, grew up in Headquarters, sheltered by countless mentors and instilled with the most orthodox interpretation of justice. Your understanding of justice and the Navy is still very shallow."
"This time, both Tsuru and I decided to send you to the North Blue to broaden your horizons and learn something valuable."
"That kid Darren is cunning and clever. Staying by his side will teach you far more than staying in Headquarters ever could.
…..
The transponder snail call ended.
In the spacious office of the branch Captain, Gion and Kaji sat in silence, staring at each other, speechless.
Having grown up in Headquarters, nurtured and protected, and taught the most righteous ideals of justice, they couldn't fathom how someone as corrupt and depraved as Darren could receive such high praise from Admiral Sengoku.
What shocked them even more was that Sakazuki and Borsalino, those two prodigies, arrogant and brimming with talent, both acknowledged Darren's strength and methods.
Considering how drastically different their personalities, philosophies, and approaches were, it was like comparing night and day.
"This… this can't be real…"
Gion muttered in disbelief, her eyes vacant as she sat frozen in place. The events since arriving in the North Blue had dealt a massive blow to her once "pure and innocent" worldview.
Click…
The sound of a lighter igniting interrupted her thoughts.
"Kaji, what are you doing?! Are you smoking his cigars?!"
Gion turned to see Kaji lighting a cigar with a lighter, and her anger flared.
Kaji flinched, trembling under her icy glare. He stammered,
"Well… didn't Admiral Sengoku say we should learn from Darren?"
Gion: …
"When Sengoku told you to learn from him, did he mean picking up his bad habits of smoking, drinking, and womanizing?!"
Gion seethed, her teeth grinding in frustration.
Hurriedly, Kaji stashed the cigar away but mumbled under his breath,
"I don't know… smoking, drinking, and womanizing don't seem too bad. Maybe that's what makes a good Marine…"
"What did you just say?!"
"I-I said you're absolutely right, Gion."
"…"
"No, I can't accept this." Gion stood abruptly, her eyes gleaming with renewed determination.
She clenched her fists tightly.
"Justice must be pure, it cannot be tainted with filth!"
"I have to stay here and reform that scoundrel Darren! I'll help him turn over a new leaf!"
"I won't let his 'corrupt' and 'rebellious' justice tarnish the Navy's reputation in the North Blue!"
Sitting nearby, Kaji covered his face, speechless as he watched Gion brim with righteous resolve.
Meanwhile, his thoughts wandered to more… imaginative places.
Military-civilian cooperation… caring for the people…
"Hehehe…"
Whatever crossed his mind, it was enough to make him chuckle lecherously under his breath.
"Stop grinning! Get to the training grounds, now!"
Gion shot Kaji a sharp look and barked coldly.
Kaji blinked in confusion. "Training grounds? Why? Are we training already? We just got to the North Blue after a bumpy journey. Isn't this too much?"
Gion placed a hand on the golden blade at her waist, her eyes gleaming sharply.
"That bastard Darren wants to spar with us, doesn't he?"
Her face lit up with competitive determination.
"I'll see for myself if this so-called North Blue Captain deserves his title."
As one of the Headquarters' beloved prodigies, Gion naturally had her own pride and principles to uphold.
…..
321st Branch
Training Grounds
The sky was bright, and the sea breeze was brisk.
Dust swirled across the wide-open training grounds. Along the edges stood rows of weapon racks holding various armaments; spiked clubs, massive blades, polearms, and more.
Farther away were dozens of humanoid stone targets, while in the distance, a line of cannons waited for drills. On the other side rested a dilapidated, abandoned warship.
Many of the marines stationed at the 321st branch were already engaged in routine training, but their eyes often strayed to the center of the grounds where a solitary figure stood.
Darren was in the middle of the field, shirtless, clad only in black military pants, performing one-finger push-ups.
"1997, 1998, 1999, 2000…"
After completing 2,000 push-ups with his right hand, he switched to his left.
"1, 2, 3, 4…"
His movements were steady, each push-up executed to perfection, with a rhythmic grace.
His chiseled, explosive musculature paired with his wild, untamed aura made him resemble a prowling predator, a leopard poised to strike.
This was the scene Gion and Kaji walked into when they arrived at the training grounds.
"Didn't expect him to be this dedicated to training," Gion muttered.
Though still angry, she begrudgingly admitted her surprise. Marines stationed in the Four Seas often slackened their discipline, especially given their distance from Headquarters. Training was frequently perfunctory unless a surprise inspection loomed.
Yet here was Darren, known for his indulgent and corrupt lifestyle, pushing himself with an intensity far beyond expectation.
"Tch, it's nothing special…" Kaji scoffed, hands in his pockets, though a hint of envy tinged his tone.
In truth, he was a little shaken.
After observing a while longer, they watched as Darren completed another 2,000 push-ups.
"Here to train as well?" Darren asked, brushing the dust off his hands with a grin.
Under the sunlight, sweat trickled down the deep contours of his jawline and muscles, emphasizing the striking allure of his rugged physique.
From a distance, several female marines sneaking peeks at the scene had hearts and stars in their eyes.
Even Gion was momentarily taken aback, her thoughts flashing to Lady Margaret's infatuation with him.
No wonder…
She shook her head quickly, unwilling to be swayed by mere appearances. It wasn't about his looks, Darren's type was simply rare among the Navy.
She thought of Sakazuki and Borsalino, then glanced at the slouching Kaji beside her. Compared to them, Darren, despite being a lecherous scoundrel, seemed oddly more tolerable.
Still, she hadn't forgotten her purpose here.
She needed to teach him a lesson to curb his arrogance and remind him not to overstep.
"No need, Captain Darren," Gion said firmly.
"We're here to test your strength, aren't we, Kaji?" She turned to her companion.
"Huh? No way! That's so much effort…" Kaji began but immediately straightened when he caught the murderous intent in Gion's eyes.
"Of course! Captain Darren, let's see what you're made of as the North Blue's Captain!" he declared, puffing out his chest dramatically.
"Oh? Are you sure?" Darren's lips curled into a sly smirk.
"You're both elites from Headquarters. If we spar, I'd ask you to go easy on me…" His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Though still young and inexperienced compared to their future selves, Gion and Kaji were prodigies nurtured by the giants of Headquarters.
Darren, born and bred in the North Blue, was curious to gauge their abilities firsthand.
More importantly, he'd been itching for a chance to knock these two "inspectors" down a peg.
The Navy, at its core, was an organization where strength dictated authority. Beating them soundly was the only way to make them obedient.
Otherwise, their constant nitpicking and interference would be far too troublesome.
"Don't worry, Captain Darren," Kaji said with a toothy grin, his eyes darting mischievously.
"Since you gave me those cigars, I'll make sure to hold back just enough."
As the thought of finally roughing up Darren crossed his mind, Kaji's grin grew wider.
Gion, on the other hand, unsheathed her golden blade, her expression cold and furious.
If reason wouldn't work, she'd let her blade do the talking. She would prove to this depraved, debauched scoundrel what true justice meant.
Each of them harbored their own motives, their lips curling into sly smiles.