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''Marine Headquarters, Marineford.''
"I didn't expect you to pay me a visit..." Rowen raised an eyebrow in surprise but stepped aside from the doorway. "Please, come in, Admiral Aokiji."
"Pardon the intrusion." Aokiji nodded politely and stepped into the courtyard, nodding in greeting to Zephyr, who was lounging in a chair under the sun.
"Zephyr Sensei, it's been a while."
"Oh? Aokiji? You here to mooch off a meal too?"
Aokiji: "..."
With a faintly exasperated smile, Aokiji shook his head and then turned toward Rowen, who was donning the Justice cape adorned with the dragon-patterned epaulets.
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), may I have a word with you in private?"
"Sure."
---
Inside the courtyard house, the two sat across from each other. Rowen poured a pot of hot tea for Aokiji while sipping on a bottle of juice himself.
As Aokiji noticed the tea stalk standing upright in his cup, he chuckled lightly and began:
"I came here to thank you, Rowen."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has explained the truth to me. Although, from where I stand now, it's still only a possibility, had it truly resulted in irreparable harm to the Marines, I know I'd regret it deeply."
During his time recovering from his injuries, Sengoku, now relieved of his official duties, privately approached Aokiji to reveal the true intentions behind Rowen's actions.
Upon learning the full story, Aokiji wasn't exactly moved— he wasn't that kind of person— but he did feel deeply grateful to Rowen for his efforts in safeguarding Marine strength by playing the villain and spurring him to action.
"You're being too kind, Admiral Aokiji. This was merely my duty as a Marine." Rowen replied with an air of righteousness, though a mischievous grin quickly spread across his face:
"Besides, while it's not technically my fault, that thunderstorm that ultimately cost you the fight? Feels like the heavens had it out for me, doesn't it?"
"As long as you don't hold it against me, we're good."
Aokiji: "..."
"My injuries still haven't fully healed… Can we not rub salt in the wound, please?!"
_(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻_
With an annoyed look, Aokiji stared daggers at Rowen, making the latter feel just a bit guilty.
After a long silence, Aokiji shook his head and stood up, a smile returning to his face.
"I feel much better after saying all that."
"From here on, as fellow Admirals, let's encourage each other and move forward."
"Well said, well said..."
Rowen raised his glass of juice, gesturing in a toast toward Aokiji.
---
As Rowen closed the door and returned to the courtyard, Zephyr leisurely sipped his tea and glanced up.
"He's leaving already?"
"What else? Do I invite him to dinner?" Rowen rolled his eyes. "Shuzo only bought enough groceries for the few of us. Whose portion should we give up for him?"
"Tch, stingy!"
Zephyr shook his head, just as he was about to make another remark when—
Suddenly, a vague yet ominous feeling of danger surged in the air. Both men turned their heads toward the courtyard wall.
"Sigh, looks like tonight's dinner won't be peaceful after all."
Zephyr clicked his tongue in mild frustration, rising from his chair and placing one hand behind his back.
"I'm heading to the back to smoke a cigarette... Don't tell Ain!"
"...Don't worry. She's been invited to a ladies' gathering by Vice Admiral Momousagi. She won't have time to bother us old guys!" Rowen snapped back with irritation.
At that moment, the two powerful presences that had been clashing dissipated, causing a gentle breeze to sway the willow branches.
''Knock, Knock, Knock!''
The front door was knocked upon once more. Rowen responded and walked over to open it.
"Please come in, Fleet Admiral!"
"Sorry for the disturbance."
Standing there was Akainu, still wearing his iconic blood-red suit adorned with plum blossom patterns, his Justice cape draped over his shoulders, and his baseball cap firmly in place.
However, the epaulets on his shoulders now signaled to the world that he was no longer the renowned "Admiral" Akainu but the highest authority in the Marines—''Fleet Admiral'' of Marine Headquarters!
Striding into the courtyard, Akainu took the seat of honor at Rowen's gesture. Without even taking a sip of water, he got straight to the point.
"Rowen, there's something I need you to handle."
"What's so urgent that it couldn't wait for me to come to your office? Why come here in person?" Rowen frowned with a puzzled expression on his face.
"This matter requires utmost secrecy. I don't trust anyone else to handle it, and no hint of it can be leaked."
"Please, Fleet Admiral, do explain!"
Seeing the gravity in Akainu's tone, Rowen straightened up, his expression serious.
"I suspect..."
Akainu glanced cautiously around, ensuring no eavesdroppers, then leaned in and whispered:
"Something has happened to the Celestial Dragons!"
Rowen: "…"
_(￣△￣)_
'What expression am I supposed to have right now? A smile? Yeah, no… Definitely not.'
"Wha... What do you mean?"
Suppressing his urge to make sarcastic comments, Rowen asked with a twitching corner of his mouth:
"You mean 'them'? As in, multiple? Not just one?"
"Exactly!"
Akainu misinterpreted Rowen's speechlessness as shock and nodded empathetically.
"After Saint Mjosgard's death was blamed on Bartholomew Kuma, the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) ordered all Celestial Dragons to remain in the Holy Land for their protection, forbidding any outings."
'No, let's be honest— it's more like imprisonment...' Rowen silently griped to himself.
"But think about it, Rowen," Akainu continued.
"It's been six months— six entire months— since any Celestial Dragon has been seen outside the Holy Land!"
Akainu's face grew grim.
"Not stepping out of the Holy Land for half a year, and even within the Holy Land, they've seemingly gone silent, rarely appearing. Doesn't that strike you as strange given their usual behavior?"
"It... is rather odd," Rowen admitted, steadying himself.
"But Fleet Admiral, you're aware of the chaos caused by Orrick's betrayal. If 'that figure' locked them up for a year or more as punishment, wouldn't that be unsurprising?"
Akainu, as Fleet Admiral, undoubtedly knew of Imu's existence. Even if he hadn't before, his appointment ceremony in the Holy Land would have revealed the truth.
"No, I don't think it's just confinement," Akainu replied, shaking his head.
"It feels more like most of them have outright disappeared— leaving no trace whatsoever."
"Even if it's a punishment, there should be some movement in Pangaea Castle. But there's nothing— it's complete silence."
Rowen narrowed his eyes, understanding the implications.
"So… you want me to mobilize the Assassination Force to investigate the Holy Land and uncover the truth?"
If that's what Akainu was suggesting, it was dangerously overstepping boundaries.
"Absolutely not!"
To Rowen's surprise, Akainu outright rejected the idea, glaring fiercely.
"Don't even think about doing something so treasonous!"
Rowen: "…"
Akainu delivered a subtle rebuke before continuing with a serious tone:
"After reviewing the timeline, I found that the disappearance of the Celestial Dragons coincided with the execution of Jason. Therefore, I have reason to suspect that Orrick did something to the Celestial Dragons, forcing them to go into hiding!"
"The reason given to us now is nothing but a smokescreen to cover up the truth!"
Seeing Rowen nod thoughtfully and listening intently, Akainu felt a surge of satisfaction.
No wonder everyone aspires to be Fleet Admiral.
'So, this is how it feels?'
'It feels so good!'
Even Marine's Soryu (Azure Dragon) had to pay close attention to him. As an Admiral, Akainu never received this level of deference. Wait a second— something's not right!
Akainu froze for a moment.
'Back when I was still an Admiral, Rowen was just a Vice Admiral. Why wasn't he afraid of me at all?'
'What gave him the nerve?'
Akainu couldn't figure it out but quickly dismissed the thought. Shaking off the distraction, he said earnestly:
"So, Rowen, I want you to assign trustworthy personnel within the Assassination Force to focus on finding Orrick."
"We must uncover the truth as soon as possible! If necessary, be prepared for the worst-case scenario."
If something truly had happened to the Celestial Dragons, it would unleash an unprecedented storm upon the world.
As Fleet Admiral, Akainu saw it as his duty to prepare for any potential disaster, even if the situation was unclear and the Gorōsei hadn't disclosed the truth to him.
"Understood!"
Rowen gave a solemn salute and nodded in agreement.
"Suddenly, I realize there's some potential leverage in this situation," Rowen mused internally.
"Too bad the timing isn't right yet, or else..."
Akainu's resolute nature meant he wasted no time. He nodded at Zephyr, who had walked over and turned to leave.
As he reached the gate, he paused and looked back.
"Oh, and about Aokiji— Sengoku already told me the truth..."
"Thanks for your efforts, Rowen!"
Tipping the brim of his cap, Akainu stepped out and closed the door behind him.
Rowen sat in his seat, stunned for a moment. Finally snapping out of it, he gripped his teacup so hard it shattered, his smile devoid of warmth.
"Heh… Sengoku!!!"
"Stick your head over here, and I'll give you an eternal buff you'll never forget!"
---
'(End of Chapter)'