Tatsuki stood up and walked to the center of the room, his voice low. "Come with me. To the G-5 Branch."
"G-5? That junkyard?" Sakazuki frowned, clearly full of disdain for that place.
"Yes, a junkyard." Tatsuki's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Here, you hit dead targets every day. But those heinous pirates are constantly passing through G-5, pouring into the New World to harm even more civilians."
"Your so-called 'Absolute Justice' has no place to be exercised here. You're just engaging in a meaningless act of self-satisfaction."
Tatsuki's words struck hard at Sakazuki's heart.
"But there, you can carry out your 'Justice' to the end. Any pirate who passes through G-5, no matter who they are, is to be arrested. Those who dare to resist are to be killed on the spot. No one will care if you dye that sea red."
Sakazuki's breathing grew heavy, and billowing black smoke began to rise from his fists.
Tatsuki turned to Borsalino again. "Borsalino, think about it."
"In the New World, pirates are numerous. You just have to fly into the sky and fire off a few lasers, and it'll be a massive achievement."
"Finish your work, then clock out to drink tea. No one will check your attendance. Isn't that much more efficient than putting on an act here at HQ?"
Borsalino stroked his chin, his sunglasses reflecting light. "That sounds like it really has potential."
"As for Kuzan."
Tatsuki patted the shoulder of the still-dazed Kuzan, speaking earnestly.
"Sleep wherever you want. It's far from the central authorities. You can ride your bike across the sea for days, and no one will care."
"And..."
Tatsuki's voice became serious. "Only there, facing true great pirates, can your abilities be truly tempered."
"If you stay here, you'll just become flowers in a greenhouse, never able to reach the peak."
All three fell silent.
As the strongest trio of this generation, hailed as "monsters," deep down, they each had their own pride. None of them wanted to start their retirement at this age, and even less did they want to watch their peers leave them behind.
Seeing that these three were already tempted, Tatsuki sighed.
His acting skills were back online.
He turned around, his back to the three, his shoulders trembling slightly, looking exceptionally desolate.
"Besides... I've already decided to go. I didn't originally intend to drag you along, but when I think about how the four of us have been together since the training camp, and now I'm going to the New World alone... if I die one day at the hands of some great pirate, I won't even have anyone to collect my body..."
"This..."
Kuzan was the first to break, he had the softest heart.
He scratched his head, sounding a bit embarrassed. "Ah, well, since you've put it that way, I'm not the kind of person who lacks loyalty. That... I'll just go with you."
"Can't be helped then." Borsalino shrugged and put away his nail clippers.
"Since Tatsuki said so, it would be quite troublesome if we let you die out there alone. After all, no one else would send me such good tea."
Sakazuki didn't speak. He just silently picked up the box of cigars and nodded firmly.
At that moment, the room was filled with a touching atmosphere of "deep brotherhood."
"Great! I knew you guys were loyal. You're my good brothers."
Tatsuki suddenly spun around, the loneliness on his face vanishing instantly, replaced by the wild joy of a successful scheme.
"Since everyone has no objections, then it's settled."
Slap!
He suddenly pulled a document from his coat and slammed it heavily onto the table. It was an official transfer order already stamped with Kong's big red seal.
"No need to thank me. To prevent you from regretting it, I already applied for the transfer orders for you this morning."
Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan, were still feeling moved just a moment ago. But as they looked at the document where even their names had been filled in, their expressions instantly froze.
Wait... isn't something wrong with this plot?
Before we even agreed, you already had it done?
Which means... whether we agreed just now or not, we'd have to go?
"See clearly, I am the G-5 Base Commander."
Tatsuki picked up the transfer order, pointing at the position appointment on it, laughing shamelessly.
"And you three are my direct subordinates."
Tatsuki adjusted his tie, held his head high, and swept his gaze over these three future greatest military powers of the Marines, his voice filled with peak delight. "So, from now on, in public..."
"Remember to call me 'Sir'."
Looking at the three faces that looked as if they had swallowed flies—uncomfortable yet unable to argue, Tatsuki's mood reached an absolute high.
—
As night fell, the bustle of Marineford gradually quieted down.
Inside Tatsuki's private office, only a single warm yellow desk lamp remained lit.
He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his Marine uniform and leaned lazily against the leather sofa, swirling a glass of top-tier red wine from the North Blue in his hand. The crimson liquid left an ambiguous curve on the glass.
He was waiting for someone.
Knock.. Knock...
A gentle, almost timid knocking sound echoed.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and a slender, graceful figure slipped inside before immediately locking the door behind her.
Gion's face was filled with anxiety and unease, and her eyes were slightly red.
"Tatsuki..."
Her voice trembled slightly. "Outside... everyone is saying that you've offended the Gorosei and are being exiled to the G-5 Branch? Is it true?"
Over the past two days, rumors of the "Fall of the Marine Supernova" and "Tatsuki Leaving the Capital in Tears" had already spread throughout the headquarters.
Naturally, Tatsuki himself had played a part in fueling these rumors.
The script of a tragic hero always reaped unexpected results.
Gion was clearly affected. In her heart, Tatsuki was an invincible hero and the future light of the Marines, and he shouldn't be exiled to such a chaotic frontier.
Tatsuki set down his wine glass and beckoned to her, a gentle smile on his face that could melt any unease. "Silly girl, come here."
Gion obediently walked over to him like a kitten waiting for its owner's comfort.
"Don't listen to the nonsense people are saying outside." Tatsuki took her hand and pulled her to sit on his lap. "To me, it's just a change of scenery to uphold justice."
He didn't explain much further. Instead, his gaze shifted to the Konpira at Gion's waist.
"Let me see if you've been slacking on your homework these past few days."
The familiar line caused a blush to instantly rise on Gion's cheeks. She obediently closed her eyes and tilted her head up slightly.
[Ding! Detected that the host is using his position to impose workplace unspoken rules, verbal induction, and physical contact on a female subordinate!]
[Judgment: Although this is a consensual interaction, it seriously tarnishes the serious superior-subordinate relationship within the Marines!]
[Violation Points +20... +15... +30...]
'Mute notification sounds.'
Tatsuki muttered in his heart, then lowered his head and kissed those trembling lips.