The next morning, the sun rose slowly into the sky, casting down brilliant golden light.
Its warm glow spread over the sea, turning the surface into a sheet of glittering gold.
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford—
inside the Fleet Admiral's office—
several of the Navy's highest-ranking figures had already gathered early that morning.
Among them were Hero Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru.
Zephyr had also returned to Headquarters the previous day and was now present as well.
And finally—
there was the highest authority in the Navy itself:
Fleet Admiral Kong.
"Zephyr, you're really going through with the final trial today?"
Kong asked.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
Zephyr nodded.
"These students are about to graduate."
"Before they officially leave, I need to evaluate their actual strength."
"That's the only way to assign them properly—whether to branch bases across the Four Blues…"
"or to keep the most outstanding of them here at Headquarters."
At the moment, it was roughly eight in the morning.
There was still about an hour before the final trial began.
"And Kai's taking part too?"
Garp asked immediately, eyes already full of interest.
A whole year had passed, and he was more than curious to see with his own eyes how strong his absurdly gifted grandson had become.
Just hearing about it from others was no longer enough.
"Yes. Everyone is participating."
"Kai is indeed very strong, but I still want to test him myself."
"I want to see exactly how far that monster has grown."
Zephyr's answer made Garp burst out laughing.
"Then I absolutely have to go watch."
Then his expression turned teasing.
"Zephyr… don't tell me you're going to lose to that brat."
"If even a Marine Admiral gets beaten by a five-year-old, then it won't just be embarrassment."
Zephyr gave him a sidelong look.
"You really think I'd lose?"
"I may not be stronger than you, but you're seriously underestimating me."
At that point, Kong cut in before the two could drift into another argument.
"That's enough. Both of you, settle down."
Then, after a pause, a trace of anticipation appeared in his eyes.
"To be honest, I don't have anything especially urgent this morning either."
"So I'll come along and watch as well."
"I'd like to see for myself what kind of level this year's cadets have reached."
In truth, of course, Kong was also curious about Zephyr's clash with Kai.
That was the real reason he intended to personally go to Training Ground Number One.
"If even the Fleet Admiral is going, then I can't exactly stay behind."
Sengoku coughed lightly.
He absolutely would not admit that he, too, was deeply curious about how strong Kai had become.
"Then let's all go together."
Tsuru suggested simply.
And so, before the trial had even begun, the entire top tier of the Navy had quietly turned their attention toward it and made plans to watch it in person.
"You lot…"
Zephyr was speechless.
He had only come to report the matter to Kong as usual, yet somehow the final result was that the entire upper command now wanted to attend.
"Fine. Do whatever you want."
Zephyr waved a hand helplessly.
He only hoped their presence would not place too much pressure on the cadets.
"By the way, Zephyr."
Garp suddenly asked, "How did the graduation trial at sea turn out?"
"There was a bit of an accident."
"But it was handled."
"Kai single-handedly wiped out a pirate crew worth over a hundred million and removed the unexpected variable."
"As for the rest… nothing especially worth mentioning."
The moment Zephyr said that, Garp's grin grew even wider.
"That's my grandson!"
The room instantly fell silent.
Here it comes again.
That old bastard was using every chance he got to brag about his grandson—
while also indirectly bragging about himself.
Annoying.
Completely shameless.
And the worst part?
No one could even properly refute him.
Because Kai really was that outstanding.
"Enough, Garp. Behave yourself."
Kong's temple twitched as he spoke in irritation.
Garp only scratched his head with a laugh.
Then Zephyr's expression shifted slightly.
"Fleet Admiral… about the Seven Warlords proposal…"
Kong shook his head before he could even finish.
"The order has already come down from above."
"None of us can change it. Not you, not me."
"So stop trying to obstruct the matter."
"This isn't something we have the power to reverse."
At those words, the mood in the room grew a little heavier.
If it were up to them, none of them would want to publicly legitimize pirates.
Otherwise, what would be the meaning of the Navy's existence?
Granting legal status to pirates—
it was absurd to the point of mockery.
"The people in the World Government are all idiots!"
"Useless in every way!"
Garp was the only one who dared curse them openly.
Even Kong, as Fleet Admiral, would never voice such a thing aloud.
Only Hero Garp had the status to get away with it.
"Kai's old man…"
Kong muttered under his breath before continuing more firmly.
"In another while, we may have to move forward with the Seven Warlords plan."
"You should all prepare yourselves."
"We'll need to start identifying pirates worthy of being recruited."
"That kind of thing has nothing to do with me."
"Leave it to Sengoku and Tsuru. They're much better suited for that sort of work."
With that, Garp slipped away first, clearly uninterested in staying any longer.
Seeing Garp leave, Kong could only sigh.
Still, he did not try to stop him.
He understood Garp's personality too well.
That man was simply too straight for something like the Seven Warlords project.
If he were sent to recruit prospective Warlords—
he would probably just beat every candidate to death on the spot.
After that, Kong, Sengoku, and Tsuru spoke a little longer.
Eventually, their discussion came to an end.
When they looked up again, it was nearly nine.
"Let's go."
"It's time we see exactly what kind of level this year's students have reached."
And so Kong, Sengoku, and Tsuru headed together toward Training Ground Number One.
At that same moment, Kai, Smoker, Tina, and the others still had no idea—
that the match they were about to fight against Zephyr, the Marine Admiral, had already drawn the attention of the highest levels of Navy command.
One by one, the top brass of the Marines were heading there.
The battle had not even begun—
and yet it was already the center of attention.
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