In the year 1517 of the Sea Calendar, Sengoku was finally appointed Fleet Admiral of the Navy, though temporarily.
His first act as Fleet Admiral was to petition the World Government to recall Garp.
In his report, he wrote that Garp had been diligently overseeing the deepest levels of Impel Down for years, taming even the most unruly prisoners.
Moreover, with the seas becoming increasingly chaotic, it was a waste to confine someone of Garp's caliber to a single prison.
Sengoku's affection for Garp ran deep, evident in how his first initiative as Fleet Admiral revolved around him. The World Government, unwilling to offend their new Fleet Admiral, agreed to his request, especially since Sengoku's argument made sense.
However, they didn't grant it unconditionally. Before approving Garp's reassignment, they tasked Sengoku with establishing the Seven Warlords of the Sea system.
Sengoku wasn't naive, he immediately recognized it as a "dirty job." Accepting it would undoubtedly earn him a fair share of criticism. But for Garp, Sengoku gritted his teeth and agreed.
Thus, Garp returned to Marineford and was swiftly reinstated to his position. Sengoku even tried to leverage the momentum to push Garp for an Admiral position.
For the first time, Garp didn't outright refuse the promotion. However, the World Government rejected Sengoku's proposal outright. Saturn himself called Sengoku and tersely said:
"Don't push your luck."
After that, Sengoku never brought it up again.
Garp, upon his return to the Navy, looked visibly aged. It wasn't just the toll from having his lifespan drained by Carl—it was his spirit. The once carefree and boisterous Garp seemed gone, replaced by an ordinary Vice Admiral, devoid of any special titles.
Sengoku, though distressed by this change, had no time to dwell on Garp's state of mind. As Fleet Admiral, he was preoccupied with the chaos of the Four Emperors and the establishment of the Seven Warlords system.
Fortunately, Tsuru was there to assist him. Both shared a philosophy of caution and stability, and under their leadership, they managed to temporarily "stabilize" the situation at sea—though at the cost of the Four Emperors expanding their territories unchecked.
...
By 1520 of the Sea Calendar, in Mary Geoise, within the estate of the Figarland family, Lucia knelt beside Carl's bed. He was encased in a crystalline, blood-red cocoon.
"Young Master," Lucia murmured softly, gazing at him, "Aramaki's Admiral nomination has been blocked by Warcury again today. Who knows how long he'll remain a candidate Admiral?"
She paused before continuing. "Do you remember Vergo, the one who served under Doflamingo? He's now one of the Seven Warlords. Sengoku must have been desperate—he didn't even realize Vergo was a subordinate of Doflamingo before appointing him."
From across the room, Sugar, who was cleaning, muttered, "Lady Lucia, you've mentioned this to the Young Master before."
Nearby, Monet flicked Sugar on the head. "Mind your tongue!"
"Sorry!" Sugar quickly lowered her head, apologizing to Lucia.
Lucia glanced at her and sighed, "It's fine. I just thought the Young Master might be interested in such things, so I brought it up again."
After so many years together, Lucia had developed a bond with her companions, treating them with warmth that contrasted sharply with her usual demeanor.
Boa Hancock and Nico Robin were also in the room, standing quietly behind Lucia. They watched her tenderly speak to Carl. Over the years, aside from training, Lucia spent nearly all her time in Carl's room, talking to him.
Since Carl last spoke 14 years ago—uttering just three words, "Wait for me"—he had remained silent.
Lucia's devotion hadn't gone unnoticed. Her once jet-black hair had a streak of white, and her strikingly cold face bore a weariness and sorrow that never seemed to fade. Yet, when she looked at Carl, her expression softened into a warm smile.
She gently touched the cocoon's surface and said, "Young Master, there's a pirate named Monkey D. Luffy causing quite the stir recently. He defeated one of the Seven Warlords, Moria. This year alone, two Warlords have fallen to him. It's like he's slapping the World Government in the face."
Unbeknownst to her, Carl's finger twitched within the cocoon—so slight that even Lucia, closest to him, didn't notice.
She stared at her reflection in the cocoon's glossy surface. Noticing a faint wrinkle near her eye, she instinctively touched her cheek and murmured, "Young Master, am I getting old? Do I look unsightly?"
From behind, Boa interjected, "Lady Lucia, you're as beautiful as ever. I think you're the most stunning here!"
Lucia chuckled self-deprecatingly and turned to Carl. "Young Master, will I become an old, white-haired woman by the time you wake up? Will you still recognize me then?"
Her voice trembled as tears welled in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly.
Then, a soft cracking sound echoed: "Crack…"
Lucia froze, and everyone else in the room turned their attention to the cocoon.
A thin, jagged crack had appeared on its surface.
Lucia gasped, unable to contain herself. She threw herself onto the cocoon and cried out, "Young Master!!"
The cracks spread rapidly, webbing across the cocoon until it shattered with a thunderous crash.
Carl opened his eyes. Two golden beams of light shot forth before dimming, revealing pupils that shimmered like molten gold.
He sat up slowly, brushing a fragment of the cocoon from his face.
Looking down at the stunned Lucia, he spoke softly, "Lucia…"
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