Kane closed his eyes, savoring the cold, powerful pupil energy entrenched deep within them.
It wasn't until the cigar between his fingers burned to the end, scorching his skin, that he jolted awake.
"A true hunter, after enjoying a successful hunt, immediately begins planning the next one," he murmured to himself, picking up the Den Den Mushi on the table.
He didn't contact Fleet Admiral Kong, nor the Five Elders. Instead, he dialed a number all too familiar to him.
Brr-brr… click.
On the other end of the line, a young woman's voice, brimming with delight and shyness, immediately responded, even mimicking Gion's slightly flushed cheeks.
"Big Brother Kane! Your injuries… are they better now?"
"Yes, they're almost healed," Kane replied, his tone instantly shifting to a gentle, magnetic quality, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.
"Gion, I need you to do something for me. A… top-secret mission that only you can handle."
"Yes!!" Gion's voice on the other end shot up an octave, trembling with excitement, almost cracking.
"Please give the order! Whether it's climbing a mountain of blades or diving into a sea of fire, I'll do it without hesitation!"
"It's not that serious," Kane chuckled softly. "Aren't there many uninhabited islands near the G-5 Branch?"
"Find one with a pleasant climate and the most secluded location."
"Then, build a… comfortable, cozy, and absolutely safe cabin on it."
"Remember, this must be kept strictly confidential. Use only the most reliable workers."
Silence fell on the other end.
Only Gion's hurried, feverish breaths could be heard, coming in intermittent bursts.
Her mind raced, countless romantic scenes exploding like fireworks in her thoughts.
A secret, cozy cabin, just for the two of them?
On a remote, uninhabited island far from the noise of the world?
Even though Big Brother Kane hasn't fully recovered from his injuries, what he wants most right now is to build a home for the two of us… on a secluded island?
Is this… a hint of a proposal?!
"Understood!" Gion's voice trembled with tears, yet brimmed with exhilaration. The sound of her drawing her Named Sword, Kumbhira, could even be heard on the other end.
"Don't worry, Big Brother Kane! I'll personally oversee the construction! I'll make sure it's the most beautiful, sturdiest love nest… no, cabin in the world!"
After hanging up, Kane rubbed his hands together in satisfaction.
Raising the bloodline of the Pirate King, the future Ace, right under the nose of the Navy's G-5 Branch.
If this plan were ever exposed, the explosive Violation Value it would generate was enough to bring a smile to his face.
…
The next day.
Kane draped the brand-new "Calamity" Admiral's Coat over his shoulders.
Though his body was strong enough to punch a Sea King to death, he deliberately slumped his shoulders, putting on an air of "frailty" and "helplessness."
He pushed open the door to the Fleet Admiral Office, where Fleet Admiral Kong was frowning over a stack of budget reports.
"Kane? Why aren't you resting at home?" Kong was startled to see him enter, quickly dropping his pen and rising to offer support.
Kane "painfully" waved a hand, refusing assistance, and staggered step by step to the sofa before sitting down with a suppressed groan of pain.
"Fleet Admiral, I managed to survive, but my three brothers..." Kane's tone was desolate, his eyes dim, filled with worry and guilt for his comrades.
Fleet Admiral Kong was taken aback. "Sakazuki and the others? Aren't they doing fine? I heard they demolished the training ground just yesterday."
"No, they're not fine."
Kane stared intently into Kong's eyes, putting on a tragic, righteous front for his brothers.
"During their time at G-5, those three withstood pressure from all sides in the New World, even turning the tables to wipe out several major pirate crews. Their achievements are outstanding!"
"In the South Blue, you know how brutal Roger's crew members are. Those three risked their lives to shield me, especially Sakazuki—to protect me, his back was slashed countless times by the Dark King Rayleigh! He nearly bled out!"
Sakazuki, who was at the training ground, suddenly sneezed, looking utterly bewildered.
"And what was the result?" Kane's voice suddenly rose, brimming with indignation.
"Now I've been promoted to Admiral, but if those three remain mere Captains, what will people say about me, Kane? They'll say I play favorites, only care about my own rise, and ignore my brothers' lives!"
"What will the Navy soldiers think? They'll be disheartened!"
Fleet Admiral Kong's old face twitched.
In all his years of leading troops, this was the first time he'd seen a newly promoted Admiral come not to demand money or authority, but to plead for promotions for his colleagues.
Of course, he knew those three monsters were the future hope of the Navy.
But according to standard procedure, they would need at least three to five more years of service at G-5 before they could possibly be promoted to Rear Admiral.
"This goes against regulations," Kong said, rubbing his temples. "They've only been Captains for a year..."
"Regulations are rigid, but people are flexible!"
Kane slammed the table with a perfectly controlled force—the table didn't break.
But his whole body seemed to recoil from the impact, swaying violently as his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Pfft—!"
A mouthful of bright red "clotted blood" sprayed from his lips, splattering across the expensive wool carpet.
Of course, it was actually a premixed juice of premium tomatoes and cherries he'd hidden in his mouth earlier—excellent in taste and perfect for visual effect.
"Kane!"
Fleet Admiral Kong was genuinely alarmed now, rushing over in a flash to support him. "What are you doing?! Your injuries haven't healed yet!"
Seeing Kane in such a state—vomiting blood yet still fighting for his brothers' futures—struck the softest part of Fleet Admiral Kong's heart.
What regulations? What procedures?
In the face of a hero who burns his life for Justice and bleeds his heart out for his comrades, they're all fucking nonsense!
[Ding! Host has successfully twisted the Navy Fleet Admiral's decision through masterful acting and moral coercion!]
[Violation Value +5000!]
"Alright, alright, stop vomiting blood! I agree!" Fleet Admiral Kong waved a hand, completely yielding.
"I'll immediately apply to the Five Elders for a special promotion channel! Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino... these three will be formally promoted to Navy Headquarters Rear Admirals! Satisfied?!"
Kane knew when to quit. Wiping the "blood" from the corner of his mouth, he shakily stood up with Kong's support and gave a wobbly salute.
"Fleet Admiral, your great kindness... this junior... all of us in G-5... will never forget it!"
"I'll... take them to the South Blue now, to take over those... 'ill-gotten goods.'"
Watching Kane's back as he quickly slipped out, Fleet Admiral Kong felt something was off.
This kid... why does he seem to be walking much more steadily than when he came in?
Two hours later, at the port.
Kane's personal warship was ready to set sail.
Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino each wore different expressions as they looked at the freshly issued, ink-still-wet promotion documents in their hands.
"Rear Admiral?" Kuzan scratched his head, his eyes somewhat confused. "I just made a trip to the South Blue, and now I'm promoted?"
"Yoh~ Kane sure gets things done efficiently~" Borsalino trimmed his nails, but his gaze behind his glasses thoughtfully drifted toward Kane, who stood on the deck commanding with calm authority.
Sakazuki stared at Kane, silent for a long moment before finally uttering, "Next time something like this happens, give us a heads-up."
Hearing this, Kane turned around, his face showing no trace of pride. He simply pointed toward the direction of the South Blue, his tone growing somewhat somber.
"We're all brothers, no need to worry about these things."
As the warship slowly sailed away from Marineford, the wind pressure around Kane's body surged violently.
He looked toward the distant horizon, a slow smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"You guys take your time sailing. I'll go ahead to take stock of the 'spoils.'"
As soon as the words left his mouth, his entire body transformed into a sky-rending green tornado. Ignoring everyone's stunned gazes, he shot straight into the clouds and vanished into the sky in an instant.