The CP9 team had finally realized just how enormous the gap between themselves and an Admiral truly was.
Even when Kojin deliberately matched their raw strength and speed, his sheer combat experience combined with the two forms of Haki gave him a completely overwhelming advantage.
More importantly, he controlled the intensity perfectly; the pressure was terrifying, yet never so suffocating that they were completely helpless to fight back.
The battles were fierce from start to finish. Compared to their struggle at Enies Lobby, the strain they felt now was on an entirely different level.
For an entire day, they cycled endlessly between attacking and getting beaten down. Yet during that same span, their growth was obvious even to themselves.
"Haki..." Kaku muttered. "It's the power to sense both yourself and the world around you."
His body was covered in bruises and severe contusions, but his spirits were higher than ever. "In the heat of battle, my perception of it is becoming clearer and clearer."
He slowly raised his head to look at Lucci, who was sitting cross-legged nearby, resting. A hint of genuine admiration flashed through Kaku's eyes.
'Lucci's talent is even greater than mine. His understanding has probably gone much deeper.'
'I have to admit, Admiral Kojin's combat-based training really does accelerate growth.'
Kaku then turned his head toward the rest of the agents lying sprawled across the training ground, groans and muffled complaints filling the air.
"The only downside... is that anyone who can't endure this level of punishment will be eliminated very quickly."
The practical combat training had lasted nearly the entire day, only winding down around sunset. The members of CP9 were completely spent.
Meanwhile, the towering figure who had been beating them up all day looked utterly unaffected, chatting and laughing as though nothing had happened.
'But under this kind of pressure, we'll definitely become much stronger than before.'
A subtle smile appeared on Kaku's face. Joining the Marines and choosing to follow that man seemed to have been one of the best decisions CP9 had ever made.
---
Time passed.
Kojin's high-intensity training continued for three days, putting the entire CP9 team through absolute hell.
In truth, this style of special training wasn't new; he had used it years ago on Smoker, Buggy, Rosinante, and even Doflamingo. The results had always been exceptional: anyone who survived the beatings improved at a pace far beyond what they could normally achieve.
Talent varied from person to person, of course, but Kojin had already noticed that Rob Lucci had clearly grasped the core nature of both types of Haki. In other words, the prodigy of CP9 had already reached the point where he could begin refining and training them on his own.
Sitting in a chair beside the field, Kojin quietly observed the group.
Most of the Baroque Works members had some potential, though nothing extraordinary. Only Daz Bones truly stood out.
Ever since swearing loyalty to Kojin, he had thrown himself into training with almost obsessive determination, conditioning his body, honing his swordsmanship, and swinging heavy training weights day after day without rest. Sweat, effort, and pure willpower poured out of him endlessly.
'They're all promising seeds for the future,' Kojin thought with a faint smile.
Unlike Smoker, Rosinante, and the others from years ago, these people already possessed solid foundations. For someone like Rob Lucci, all he had ever lacked was the right direction and opportunity; once pointed down the correct path, his growth would be astonishing.
Just then, a detachment of Marines approached from a nearby street, led by a young Rear Admiral.
A moment later, the officer came to a halt before Kojin and saluted.
"Admiral Kojin! The Warlord meeting is about to begin. Fleet Admiral Sengoku has requested that you preside over the proceedings."
Kojin narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled. "Is that so? I thought it would take a little longer."
The Rear Admiral answered respectfully, "All the Warlords who intend to attend have already arrived. As for those who haven't... Fleet Admiral Sengoku believes there's no need to waste time waiting for them."
Kojin nodded and slowly rose to his feet. "Then let's go. I'd like to see what kind of figures these famous pirates of our era really are."
The Rear Admiral bowed his head, only daring to step forward after Kojin had taken the lead.
To be entrusted with such a critical responsibility immediately upon returning to Headquarters, combined with all the recent legends and rumors surrounding him, there was practically no one in Marineford who didn't view Kojin with absolute awe.
---
Marine Headquarters.
Inside a spacious conference room, only a handful of people sat around an enormous round table.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sat quietly reviewing documents, her aged face stern and her brow tightly furrowed.
The meeting should have started long ago, but at Sengoku's request, it had been pushed back to today. Tsuru naturally knew the reason: during the originally scheduled window, a certain major figure had walked out of Impel Down.
Still, delaying a Warlord meeting wasn't a major issue. She slowly lifted her eyes and glanced at the figure seated directly across from her.
A towering man sat there like an iron statue, expressionless and completely silent, Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, known throughout the world as "The Tyrant."
It was rare for a Warlord meeting to feature such cooperative attendees. Usually, getting even two Warlords to show up was considered a miracle. Sometimes only one attended; sometimes none at all. That was just standard operating procedure.
Suddenly, Tsuru's brow furrowed deeper.
Off to the side, two Marine guards had unexpectedly begun scuffling.
"Hey! Hey! What are you doing?! Let go!" One Marine suddenly wrapped his arm tightly around the other officer's neck.
"I can't breathe! What the hell is wrong with you?!" the restrained officer choked out in alarm.
"I-It's not me!" the attacker cried out in a panic. "My body isn't listening to me!"
The sudden commotion instantly shattered the quiet inside the conference room, turning the atmosphere chaotic. Tsuru merely watched with a frown, her hands folded over her documents, remaining completely silent.
"Doflamingo!" someone suddenly barked, turning toward a man who had slipped into the room unnoticed. "Was this your doing?!"
"Fufufufufufu!" Doflamingo chuckled darkly. "Let's just hurry up and finish this boring meeting. I doubt anyone here has that much free time."
As he spoke, he swaggered forward, hopped directly onto the conference table, and sat cross-legged on top of it, his gaze locking onto Tsuru.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru... if I had to guess, this meeting is simply about picking Crocodile's replacement, right? So why not just make the decision yourselves and inform us afterward?"
Tsuru's expression didn't flicker, her voice remaining dry and calm. "That's not a decision I can make. And besides... I'm not the one presiding over this meeting."
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses. "Oh?" He grinned. "So it's Fleet Admiral Sengoku, then? Where is he?"
A cold smile touched Tsuru's lips. "I'd advise you to be a little less arrogant before he arrives."
Doflamingo paused, a shadow passing over his face.
Whoever was presiding over a meeting of this scale had to be one of Marine Headquarters' highest-ranking figures, it certainly wouldn't be an ordinary Vice Admiral.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from the shadows of the outer hallway.
"I've been listening for quite a while, yet no one has even gotten to the point," a cool, collected voice drifted into the room.
Doflamingo looked surprised for a fraction of a second before laughing again. "Well, look at that... the last person I expected to show up actually made an appearance."
The nearby Marine guards swallowed nervously as they stared at the newcomer.
A tall man carrying a massive, cross-shaped black blade on his back strode in and unceremoniously took a seat.
One officer whispered his name with a trembling voice. "Dracule Mihawk... 'Hawk-Eyes'!"
Among the Seven Warlords, there were clear tiers of power. While the gaps weren't always massive, a few of them were genuine, world-class monsters, and standing right before them was the world's greatest swordsman. Even among his peers, Mihawk occupied a class of his own.
"I'm only here because something piqued my interest," Mihawk stated plainly. "Now tell me... what exactly is the point of this meeting?"
Silence fell over the room. No one answered.
Tsuru continued scanning her documents. Doflamingo, seemingly struck by a sudden realization, stopped causing trouble. As for Bartholomew Kuma... his presence remained as faint and stoic as ever.
Mihawk glanced around the room, a frown forming on his face at the heavy, awkward atmosphere. "What? Did the Marines summon us all the way here as some kind of joke?"
The officers present felt their hearts jump into their throats, cold sweat breaking out on several foreheads as the tension spiked.
Then…
Footsteps echoed from the doorway once more.
A tall figure emerged from the darkness of the corridor, the Marine coat draped over his broad shoulders fluttering softly as he stepped into the light.
"The Marines have never been an organization with a sense of humor," a calm voice declared. "Mihawk."
Everyone's expression shifted instantly.
Doflamingo's pupils contracted. As he stared at the broad-shouldered man walking into the room, his grin faded and he fell completely silent. For the first time, a trace of genuine tension ran through him.
The person presiding over the Warlord meeting was actually 'this' man?
"Kojin," Mihawk murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So you're the one hosting this gathering?"
"That's right," Kojin replied with a slight smile. "That would be me."
Taking a few steps forward, he pulled out a chair and sat down casually. He then shifted his gaze toward Doflamingo, who was still perched atop the conference table.
"Behaving so recklessly in someone else's house isn't exactly good manners, Doflamingo."
A flash of light reflected off Doflamingo's sunglasses. A moment later, he hopped down from the table and seated himself properly in a chair.
The surrounding Marines stared in sheer disbelief. For a ruthless pirate like Doflamingo to be this compliant was completely unprecedented.
"So Sengoku really sent you to handle this," Tsuru said, looking up with a quiet sigh.
"Not just this meeting," Kojin smiled. "From here on out, all matters regarding the Seven Warlords fall under my authority."
His eyes swept across the three Warlords present. Though his tone was conversational, there was an unmistakable weight behind his words. "So I hope we can all maintain a productive working relationship moving forward."
Mihawk remained silent. Doflamingo offered a tight smile. For the first time, even Kuma reacted, his calm gaze fixing upon the unfamiliar Admiral.
"And one more thing," Kojin added, his head turning toward the shadows near the entrance. "As for the rat lurking in the corner... don't make me drag you out myself."
The room froze.
As his words echoed off the walls, another figure slowly crept out into the light. The man's face was deathly pale, his eyes wide with fear and anxiety.
"Laffitte," Kojin's voice turned icy. "What exactly are you doing here? If you can't give me a satisfactory explanation... you aren't leaving this room alive today."
(End of Chapter)
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