Leaving the shadows of the headquarters building behind him, Kane didn't head straight back to his office.
He first visited the headquarters' exclusive store for senior officers. Patting the check in his pocket, Kane sneered coldly. He didn't use that "selling-oneself money," instead opting for the Berries he had privately stashed away in the Germa Vault.
"You can't catch a wolf without risking your child, and you can't get free elite enforcers without spending Berries."
A few minutes later, carrying three exquisitely packaged gift boxes and humming a tune, he headed toward the special-grade officers' dormitory building.
That was where his three "monster" classmates from the Zephyr Elite Training Camp lived.
They were also his predetermined Navy F4 team, destined to dominate the New World.
...
Click.
Pushing open the heavy oak door, a complex aroma blending cigar smoke, tea fragrance, and a faint chill greeted him.
Inside the spacious four-person luxury suite, the atmosphere was as fragmented as ever.
By the window, Borsalino wore his flashy yellow-and-white striped shirt and sunglasses. He sat with his legs crossed, trimming his nails while humming an unknown tune and examining his wrinkled face in the mirror.
In the corner of the room, Kuzan wore an eye mask printed with a silly-looking seagull pattern. He lay sprawled on the bed, snoring thunderously. A snot bubble hanging from his nostril expanded and contracted with each breath, threatening to burst at any moment.
On the floor in the center of the room, Sakazuki was bare-chested, revealing rock-hard muscle definition. He performed difficult one-handed handstand push-ups, sweat dripping from his firm jaw onto a small puddle that had formed on the floor.
"Well, well, all the Lieutenant Commanders are here?" Kane casually closed the door behind him and locked it.
Hearing the noise, Borsalino lazily lifted his eyelids, Sakazuki continued his exercises without pause, and Kuzan... Kuzan kept blowing bubbles.
"Brought you some local specialties." A harmless smile played on Kane's lips as he flicked his wrist, sending three gift boxes flying accurately toward the three men.
Snap.
Borsalino caught the dark red wooden box and raised an eyebrow. He slowly unwrapped it, and an exceptionally rich tea aroma instantly filled the air.
"Oh~?" Borsalino's eyes lit up behind his sunglasses, his usual sleazy demeanor fading somewhat. "This is East Blue first-grade black tea? Kowaine~ Kane, this is nobility-grade stuff. Did you strike it rich?"
"Anything's worth the price when it's for my brothers," Kane said with deep affection.
Meanwhile, Sakazuki caught the flying metal box with one hand while maintaining his handstand with the other. Opening it, he found two neat rows of premium cigars from a West Blue godfather's private plantation—impossible to buy on the market.
Sakazuki stopped his exercises and flipped back onto his feet. He picked one up and sniffed it, the spicy, intense tobacco scent making his furrowed brow relax.
"Thoughtful," he said in his deep voice, his tone still gruff but clearly appreciative.
As for Kuzan...
Pop! A hard card accurately burst his snot bubble and landed on his face.
Kuzan jolted awake, groggily grabbing the object on his face. "Huh? Who's ambushing me..."
When he realized it was a redemption ticket for the "Polar Walker Limited Edition Off-Road Bicycle," his sleepiness instantly vanished.
"Wow! Is this that limited edition model I couldn't buy?!"
Kuzan scrambled up, clutching the ticket as if embracing his dream lover.
"Kane! You're my sworn brother!"
Seeing the satisfied expressions on the three men's faces, Kane's smile widened even more.
Kane pulled over a chair and sat squarely in the center of the room, lighting a cigarette. Taking a deep drag, his originally cheerful expression gradually turned serious, even carrying a hint of melancholy.
"The gifts are nice, brothers, but don't you think... this kind of life has become somewhat too boring?"
The atmosphere in the room grew slightly tense.
"Boring?" Borsalino blew on his fingernails. "Yee~ Drinking tea, reading newspapers, clocking out on time, occasionally capturing some small-time pirates with bounties over a hundred million - this is the life I've always dreamed of~"
"Stop pretending, Borsalino."
Kane flicked his cigarette ash, his piercing gaze directly cutting through Kizaru's facade.
"In a place like headquarters, with Admiral Sengoku watching over us, Teacher Zephyr keeping an eye on us, and having to deal with all those tedious formalities, can you really spread your wings?"
Borsalino's nail-clipping hand paused slightly. Though he didn't speak, the reflection in his sunglasses clearly flickered.
Kane gave him no time to recover, suddenly turning to Sakazuki who was wiping sweat.
"And you, Sakazuki. How much has your ability improved from punching dead targets every day?"
Sakazuki sharply lifted his head, his eyes burning with suppressed anger. "What are you trying to say?"
Kane stood up and walked to the center of the room, his voice deep.
"Come with me. To the G-5 Branch."
"G-5? That garbage dump?"
Sakazuki frowned, clearly filled with contempt for that place.
"Yes, exactly - the garbage dump."
Kane's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Here, you're punching dead targets every day. Meanwhile, those vicious pirates keep streaming through G-5, flooding into the New World to harm more civilians!"
"Your so-called 'Absolute Justice' has nowhere to be exercised here!"
"You're just engaging in meaningless self-satisfaction!"
Kane's words struck hard at Sakazuki's heart.
"But there, you can carry out your 'Justice' to the fullest."
"Arrest every pirate who passes through G-5, no matter who they are! Kill on the spot any who resist! You could dye that sea red and no one would stop you!"
Sakazuki's breathing grew heavy, black smoke billowing from his fists.
Kane then turned to Borsalino. "Borsalino, think about it."
"In the New World, pirates are as numerous as hairs on an ox."
"You just need to fly up and casually fire a few Laser Beams to earn great merit."
"Clock out for tea after racking up achievements, with nobody checking your attendance."
"Isn't this much more efficient than putting on an act at headquarters?"
Borsalino stroked his chin, sunglasses glinting. "That does sound... quite promising~"
"As for Kuzan."
Kane patted the still-dazed Aokiji's shoulder, speaking with profound sincerity.
"Go sleep wherever you want. It's a place far from the reach of authority—you could ride a bicycle on the sea for days and no one would care."
"And..."
Kane's voice turned serious. "Only there, facing true great pirates, can your abilities truly be tempered."
"Staying here, you'll just become flowers in a greenhouse, never reaching the pinnacle of 'Admiral'!"
The three fell silent.
As the strongest trio of their generation, hailed as "monsters,"
each harbored their own deep-seated pride.
None wanted to start coasting at this age, nor watch their peers leave them behind.
Seeing these three were already tempted, Kane suddenly sighed.
His acting skills kicked in again.
He turned his back to them, shoulders slightly trembling, appearing especially desolate.
"And... I've already decided to go."
"I didn't originally plan to drag you along, but... thinking about how the four of us have been together since training camp, and now I'm going to the New World alone—what if I die at the hands of some great pirate someday, with no one even to collect my body..."
"This..."
Kuzan was the first to crack; he had the softest heart.
He scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "Well, since you put it that way, I'm not one to abandon a friend. I'll... I'll go with you."
"Really, what a bother~"
Borsalino shrugged, putting away his nail clippers.
"Since Kane said so, it would be troubling if you died out there alone~ After all, no one else sends me such good tea."
Sakazuki didn't speak.
He simply picked up the box of cigars and gave a firm nod.
For a moment, the room was filled with a touching atmosphere of "brotherly bond."
"Great! I knew you were loyal! My true brothers!"
Kane spun around, the desolation on his face instantly replaced by the glee of a scheme succeeding.
"Since no one objects, it's settled!"
Slap!
He pulled a document from his coat and slammed it onto the table.
It was an official transfer order, already stamped with Fleet Admiral Kong's bright red seal!
"No need to thank me! To prevent any regrets, I applied for your transfers this morning!"
Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan, who had just been moved,
froze as they saw the document with their names already filled in.
Wait...
Doesn't this feel a bit off?
You already processed it before we even agreed?
So... whether we agreed just now or not, we're going?!
"Look closely—I'm the G-5 base commander."
Kane picked up the transfer order, pointing at the position appointments, laughing unrestrainedly.
"And you three are my direct Lieutenant Commanders."
Kane straightened his tie, lifted his head, and swept his gaze over these three future pinnacles of the Navy, his voice brimming with delight:
"So, from now on, in public..."
"Remember to call me 'sir'~ my Lieutenant Commanders."
Looking at their three faces, twisted as if they'd swallowed flies yet unable to refute,
Kane's mood soared to its peak.
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