December, 1498 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
The symbol of peace, the East Blue.
An unprecedented and vicious kidnapping took place.
While traveling and vacationing in the East Blue, a Celestial Dragon visiting Shika Island, a territory of the Goa Kingdom, was abducted by the revolutionary group known as the Self-Brave Army—led by none other than Monkey D. Dragon.
At that time, Vice Admiral Garp was "visiting family" and on his return journey when he happened to "encounter" the culprit at sea. He successfully intercepted the kidnappers and rescued the Celestial Dragon from Dragon's hands, preserving the noble's life.
Since the fall of the Rocks Pirates, no other organization had dared to lay hands on a Celestial Dragon until now.
In response, the World Government issued a wanted poster for Monkey D. Dragon of the Self-Brave Army, with a bounty of a staggering 1.5 billion Beli, dead or alive.
As for the Marines who "assisted" Vice Admiral Garp in the rescue, they were all officially commended by Marine Headquarters.
Late December.
Morning mist hung heavy over Marineford, shrouding the ground in a cold, damp haze. Sunlight filtering through brought little warmth.
The naval port of Marine Headquarters was quiet and mostly empty, aside from a few patrolling Marines. But in sharp contrast, the ceremonial hall inside headquarters was filled to capacity.
Today, a special promotion ceremony was being held.
The massive hall could seat up to two thousand people, and every seat was taken. At the very front stood a raised platform, where Fleet Admiral Kong of Marine Headquarters stood addressing the audience through a Den Den Mushi microphone.
He was delivering a speech that briefly summarized the Navy's major achievements from the past year, along with hopeful remarks about the institution's future.
Seated directly below the platform were the highest-ranking and most powerful officers of the Navy.
Admiral Sengoku the Buddha sat in the front row, flanked by his old comrades, Vice Admiral Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru, and just beyond them, the former Admiral Zephyr.
To the sides of these central figures sat many seasoned officers with golden epaulettes.
In the second row sat the current Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters—Borsalino, Sakazuki, and several other rising stars.
The further back the rows went, the lower the rank.
Fleet Admiral Kong eventually finished his lengthy remarks and invited the honorees of today's ceremony to step forward.
The first to ascend the stage was Captain Bogard, Garp's adjutant. Right behind him followed a red-haired youth, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who had only returned to Marine Headquarters a day earlier.
After the two stepped up, several other young Marines ascended one by one. They were all crew members from Garp's ship, witnesses and participants in the Shika Island Incident.
Below the platform, Zephyr beamed with pride as Yoriichi stepped forward. He raised his hand and began clapping softly. Following his lead, the entire hall erupted in warm applause.
"Oi, Garp, why aren't you clapping?" Zephyr asked with a grin. "Your son may have left the Navy, but he still did something good before going."
Garp sat there with arms crossed, saying nothing. Zephyr chuckled and continued applauding.
Following the successful rescue of the Celestial Dragon in the Shika Island Incident, Garp and his crew had been publicly praised by the World Government.
Hero Garp had once again performed a great service. Originally, Fleet Admiral Kong had even intended to award Garp a medal today, but Garp refused outright.
To Garp, protecting a Celestial Dragon, whom he saw as little more than garbage, had been repulsive enough. Being awarded for it? Unthinkable.
But the rest of Garp's crew weren't nearly as stubborn. For most lower-ranking Marines, a promotion was a rare opportunity, something not to be turned down lightly. They all accepted their honors without hesitation.
Bogard had initially wanted to follow Garp's example, but after being scolded thoroughly, he too accepted his "reward" without further resistance.
As for Yoriichi, he had no hesitation whatsoever. The goals he pursued required strength—and rank. If there was an opportunity to rise, Yoriichi would take it.
Even more so because this promotion… was a "gift" from Dragon.
There was no reason to refuse it.
For his role in assisting Garp, Bogard was promoted to Commodore, while Yoriichi Tsugikuni was promoted directly from Lieutenant Commander to Captain. The rest of the crew also received promotions, most jumping two ranks, with a few advancing three.
From his seat, Garp looked at Yoriichi on the stage, his eyes narrowing as he listened to Zephyr teasing him.
"Tch… you're right," Garp muttered. "That fool did at least one good thing before leaving."
"If Yoriichi made it to Captain, it's definitely thanks to that idiot."
"So young and already a Marine Captain… Yoriichi will definitely become one of the pillars of the Navy in the future!"
Zephyr was briefly stunned by Garp's rare praise, then frowned and growled, "Hey, Garp, stay away from Yoriichi."
"You already twisted Dragon's mind. I'm not letting you interfere with Yoriichi's growth."
But Garp ignored him, eyes still fixed on Yoriichi. A wide grin stretched across his rugged face.
"Now hold on. I plan to give Yoriichi all the guidance I can," Garp said casually. "Since that brat Dragon left, I'll be sure to train Yoriichi myself. No way I'm letting him walk the same path."
Zephyr's expression darkened. He grabbed Garp by the collar and shouted, "I said no!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Garp just laughed in response.
As the two veterans bickered like children, Sengoku and Tsuru turned and glanced at them, both letting out a long sigh.
Sometimes, those two really were like kids.
Fortunately, their noisy exchange was drowned out by the applause echoing through the hall.
After the ceremony concluded, Yoriichi and the others stepped down and returned to their seats. But now, the atmosphere shifted.
The tension in the room grew heavy.
"The promotion ceremony ends here," Kong announced.
"Now comes the real reason I gathered you all."
"We begin the war council."
"Our target, the Roger Pirates, whose combined bounties approach ten billion Beli!"
As Kong spoke, the hall dimmed. A massive projection screen descended behind him, and a Den Den Mushi began projecting images.
First appeared the legendary pirate ship, the Oro Jackson.
Below that were the bounty posters of more than twenty Roger Pirates, their bounties ranging from tens of millions to several billion.
"The Roger Pirates have made a name for themselves across the New World. Their total bounty is immense."
"Our mission, complete annihilation of the Roger Pirates."
"This… is war."
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