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"What?"
Kong blurted it out before he could stop himself, surprise flashing across his eyes.
Everything he'd carefully prepared to say was instantly cut short.
He narrowed his eyes and looked at the young vice admiral standing before him.
"Roger has already been executed," Kyle said calmly."The seas are relatively stable for now. If I stay at Headquarters, there isn't much work for me to do."
"So I'd like to transfer to one of the Four Seas."
He spoke with a light smile, his tone easy.
"Is that so?"Kong fell silent for a moment.
He understood immediately. This kid clearly knew the situation he was in and had taken the initiative to request a transfer, sparing Kong the awkwardness of having to bring it up himself.
Everyone knew that although the Navy was spread across the entire world, Headquarters held a naturally higher status than any of the Four Seas. It was closer to the center of power and offered far better promotion prospects.
By voluntarily leaving Headquarters, Kyle was essentially giving up any chance of moving further up the ladder.
That was not an easy choice.
"In fact," Kong said slowly, "there are a few vacant commander positions along the Grand Line."
"Send me to the Four Seas," Kyle replied without hesitation. "It's quieter there."
"I've been through too many battles lately. I want to rest for a while."
He smiled as he spoke.
Kong froze slightly. Looking into the young man's eyes, a flicker of guilt passed through his heart.
What a rare talent. What a waste.
"…All right."
"The West Blue branch is currently short of a commander. You'll go there."
"You'll be responsible for all Navy operations across the entire West Blue."
With a soft sigh, Kong made the decision.
"Yes, sir!"
Kyle snapped a salute, then turned and left.
Watching that tall figure gradually disappear from sight, Kong sighed again.
"What a damn good seed."
"He could've become an admiral. Even fleet admiral."
After a pause, he shook his head.
"Let's hope time makes the world forget what happened."
"If that day comes, he might still have a chance to be used again."
But that was no longer something Kong could concern himself with. It was easy to foresee that for a long time to come, Kyle's situation would remain unchanged.
And no matter how great one's reputation once was, time eventually erased everything.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
This was the day Kyle would depart for the West Blue to take up his post.
The official documents appointing him to the G-18 base, granting him full authority over the region, had already been issued the day before. Headquarters' orders had likewise been delivered to the relevant West Blue departments.
Once Kyle arrived, he would become the highest commander of G-18, holding the position of supreme commander.
It was a post of immense authority, overseeing every Navy unit across the entire West Blue, from towns and islands to whole kingdoms.
Still, compared to Headquarters, it fell short.
For Kyle, though, it was more than enough.
The supreme commander of an entire sea was like a feudal governor. Within his territory, he was very much a king in his own right.
That morning, both Kuzan and Borsalino came to see him off.
"I've been to G-18 before," Borsalino said with a sigh. "It's huge. Three thousand elite troops, heavily fortified. A real fortress."
"Taking that post, Kyle, you'll be living comfortably. I'm honestly jealous."
The envy and admiration on his face were completely genuine.
Kyle chuckled. "For you, Borsalino, that position would actually suit you perfectly."
"Tell me about it," Borsalino agreed enthusiastically.
Commander posts were usually very relaxed. Clock in, clock out. If things were annoying, you could just leave them to your subordinates or secretaries and manage your own schedule however you liked.
Only during major mobilizations or emergencies ordered by Headquarters would you really need to step in.
"Take care of yourself, Kyle," Kuzan said, his expression heavy.
"Don't lose heart. You're still young. You'll have another chance."
"You're making it sound like I'm being exiled," Kyle said helplessly.
Kuzan didn't argue. He simply patted Kyle on the shoulder. The look on his face said everything.
Under normal circumstances, commanders along the Grand Line were usually vice admirals. In the Four Seas, most were only rear admirals or commodores.
As for garrisons stationed on islands, in towns, or within kingdoms, they were often commanded by officers at the captain level.
For a vice admiral with immense prestige, someone who had captured Roger and Golden Lion Shiki, to be sent to the Four Seas…
That was exile, plain and simple.
A short while later, the three of them waved goodbye.
The warship, its prow adorned with a golden scepter, slowly sailed out of the harbor, passed through the Gates of Justice, and drifted farther and farther away.
"To return to the world's greatest fortress again," Kyle murmured,"who knows when that'll be."
"West Blue's supreme commander still holds real power," Crocodile said quietly, his eyes flickering.
"If there's anything you want to do, that's the best place for it."
Kyle smiled faintly but said nothing.
He had taken the initiative to request a transfer to the Four Seas for his own reasons and plans.
As for the details, they would depend on how the situation unfolded.
"Where's Rouge?" Kyle asked softly after a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Sabaody Archipelago," Bullet replied.
"And there's something else," he added.
"Hm?" Kyle turned to him.
"Headquarters contacted us yesterday," Crocodile said with a thin smile."Bullet, Ivans, Old T (T-Bone), all of us."
"They want us to stay at Headquarters. Promised promotions later on."
Bullet let out a cold laugh.
"Is that so?" Kyle said distantly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"And what do you think?"
"Hah!" Bullet burst out laughing, staring straight at him."Does he really think I joined the Navy because I wanted to be a Marine?"
"I joined because of you!"
"So that one day, I could completely surpass you!"
"And because of that ambition in your heart… the kind that even made Roger feel fear!"
Silence fell.
The figure ahead of them stood motionless.
After a long time, a faint voice drifted back.
"You'll see."
It was quiet, but both Bullet and Crocodile heard it clearly. They smiled.
"Of course we refused," Crocodile said calmly, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"In the entire Navy, only you, Kyle, are worth following."
"On that point, Ivans, the others, Bullet and I all think the same."
"Is that so…" Kyle murmured.
"There's one more thing," Crocodile said after a brief pause.
"Go on."
"Rosinante left."
"He's carrying out another mission under Sengoku's orders."
Kyle's gaze tightened slightly, but he didn't respond.
"That kid hesitated for a long time," Bullet said. "He finally made up his mind yesterday."
"He cried and begged us to pass along a message to you."
"I'm sorry."
Kyle still didn't comment on it. After a long silence, he let out a soft sigh.
"Set course for Sabaody."
His eyes looked distant as he stared ahead.
After all, apologies only meant something when said face to face.
Rosinante.
"..."
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