209 With the Justice System

South Blue.

On a Marine warship preparing to set sail.

"..."

Aramaki lay lazily on a deck chair, bare-chested, a cigarette dangling unlit from his lips.

Sunlight poured over his chest, illuminating the large tattoo inked with the words "Death Within the River," standing out vividly under the light.

"Ahhh...!"

He let out a satisfied groan.

"I'm finally going to see Sakazuki again!"

At that moment—

Buru buru buru buru

The Den Den Mushi on the small table beside him began to ring.

"Hmm?"

Aramaki reached over and picked up the receiver.

"Moshi moshi?"

From the other end came Sakazuki's deep, gravelly voice.

"Aramaki..."

"Huh?!"

The sound made Aramaki jolt upright from the recliner in an instant, all traces of laziness vanishing from his face.

"Sakazuki?!"

"There's an emergency mission. Head to the G-5 branch."

"Provide reinforcements for Hawke."

"..."

"!!!"

"Yes!"

Aramaki sprang to his feet, slamming both boots onto the steel deck with a heavy thud.

In that moment, his expression shifted from indolence to near-maniacal fervor!

Reinforcements for Hawke!

He had just joined the ranks of Justice, and already there was an urgent mission that required him to act?!

And it was personally assigned by his idol—Sakazuki!

"Hawke..."

A wild fire of excitement burned in Aramaki's eyes.

That man who, during the Paramount War, single-handedly erased the Yonko Red-Haired Shanks from existence!

The man Sakazuki himself called "the future of the Marines!"

Now, he was in danger!

And Aramaki—he would descend from the heavens as the surprise strike!

"Hawke, here I come!"

Aramaki stomped down hard.

RUMBLE—!!!

The entire warship shook violently!

Under the terrified gazes of the surrounding Marines, the steel deck cracked inch by inch.

From those fissures, countless deep-green vines as thick as bowls burst upward like awakening serpents!

Each was covered in vicious thorns, writhing, twisting, and weaving through the air in wild frenzy!

In the end, behind Aramaki, they intertwined to form a massive, tightly sealed green flower bud.

Whoosh—

Aramaki leapt into the air and landed steadily within the bud, its petals folding in to enclose him completely.

His crazed voice boomed dully from within.

"Justice, to the death!"

The next second—

BOOM—!!!

The enormous bud contracted sharply, then exploded in a deafening roar!

Aramaki's entire body was launched skyward like a green meteor shell, propelled by that terrifying burst of power!

He tore through the clouds, leaving behind a long green streak across the blue sky, whistling toward the New World!

...

West Blue.

"Well then, Issho-san."

Kuzan leaned casually against the dock railing, the sea breeze brushing through his slightly curled black hair, carrying with it a pleasant coolness.

"I won't be joining you in stirring up trouble in the New World."

The Marines had already mobilized enough power there to crush any remnants of the old era.

From the very beginning, this war had no suspense.

Now, what the Marines needed was a stage—

A stage where these newly joined warriors with hearts of Justice could show their strength.

For example...

The man standing before him—someone he had shared a long and meaningful conversation with.

They had spoken about the definition of Justice, the state of the world, and finally, the safety of ordinary people.

Kuzan found that even though this man was blind, his heart could see clearer than anyone else's.

He despised evil.

But more than that, he despised those who hid behind banners of "balance" and "stability," treating countless lives as pawns in their game of power.

He wished to abolish the Shichibukai system, to demand accountability from the World Government on behalf of the people.

And now, the Marines had done exactly that—

Even more thoroughly, more decisively!

So, he had agreed—without hesitation.

He agreed to join this new Navy, unshackled by any chains, devoted solely to its own vision of Justice.

"Admiral Aokiji flatters me."

Issho turned his closed eyes toward Kuzan with unerring precision, a gentle smile on his face.

"I'm merely doing my humble part... and taking the chance to meet—"

"That young man you call 'the future of the Marines.' I'd like to see what kind of man he truly is."

"Go, Issho-san..."

"Let your Justice be carried out to the very end."

"Well said!"

Issho gave a small nod, tapping the ground lightly with his cane sword.

He was grateful—grateful that he had joined the Marines in this era.

An era where the Navy no longer compromised with evil or bowed to power.An era where they placed the safety of civilians above all else.

This was the Justice he had sought all his life—one of compassion and righteousness, worth giving everything to protect.

"Then, I shall take my leave."

As his words fell—

Voom—

A field of invisible force spread outward from him.

The ground beneath his feet, along with countless shards of stone and dust, defied gravity and began to float upward.

Issho's body rose slowly with them.

His purple robe billowed wildly in the wind, and the man himself shot toward the heavens like a violet comet.

Straight toward the New World—undaunted and resolute!

...

Meanwhile.

Holy Land—Mary Geoise.

At the docks, a fleet stood silently in formation.

At its head was a massive warship, pure white from bow to stern, its prow carved with the supreme emblem of the World Government.

The fleet, disguised as part of the CP0 organization, was preparing to depart for the New World on a secret mission.

"..."

The Supreme Commander of the God's Knights—Saint Figarland Garling—stood expressionlessly beside the gangway.

Behind him, a row of God's Knight members stood silently, faces hidden beneath the shadows of their hoods.

Tap, tap, tap—

Five sets of footsteps approached from afar.

The silhouettes of the Five Elders appeared on the pier.

They exchanged glances, each face burning with suppressed fury and grim determination.

Without a word, the five of them nodded slightly to one another and boarded the pure-white warship one by one.

"..."

The fleet began to drift away from the port—no sirens, no farewell, disappearing into the vast ocean like ghosts.

Their destination was singular.

The New World, G-5 Branch.

The future of the Marines—Admiral "Blood Hawk" Rayne Hawke!