The Iron Quartet Reunites

Not long after returning to Marine Headquarters, Jon was taken away.

"Do you know why I had you brought here, Commander Jon?"

Jon had already expected that upon returning to Marine Headquarters, he would face disciplinary action. However, he didn't expect that the person he would be meeting was none other than Admiral Sengoku.

Sengoku was a Marine Admiral—why would he bother dealing with a single Commander who made a mistake?

"Yes, Admiral Sengoku. Please, go ahead. No matter what the punishment is, I have no objections," Jon responded immediately.

Now was not the time to argue. The less he spoke, the fewer mistakes he could make. Admitting his faults was the smartest move.

Sengoku said, "It's good that you're willing to acknowledge your mistakes, but simply admitting fault isn't enough. The G52 incident may not have been entirely your responsibility, but as the commanding officer, you must bear the consequences."

"I understand," Jon answered respectfully.

"As the first student of Zephyr, I have heard about you countless times. Zephyr has repeatedly praised your potential, saying you will become a pillar of the Marines in the future. Even Tsuru has spoken highly of you. On top of that, I was personally impressed by your abilities last time. I have always had high hopes for you," Sengoku continued.

"But—"

His tone suddenly shifted.

"Based on what happened this time, your actions were not what a qualified leader should have done. You lack proper analytical skills, you failed to take full responsibility for your subordinates, and you allowed yourself to be easily influenced by others."

"As a leader, you are the brain of your unit. You should not let others sway your decisions so easily. Do you understand?"

Jon remained silent.

Sengoku wasn't wrong. Jon had indeed changed the ship's course on a whim without fully considering the consequences. At the time, he hadn't thought too much about it, but in hindsight, he realized his mistake.

As Sengoku said, a true leader must not only consider the immediate situation but also take responsibility for their subordinates.

"Eight hundred men were lost because of one reckless decision. Do you know how many complaints have been filed against you recently? Besides the ones from within the Marines, even the Kingdom of Rhodes has lodged a formal complaint with the Five Elders, accusing you of disrespecting them."

"I don't understand. According to Zephyr and Tsuru, you are a bright young man. Why are you so impulsive? Don't you realize that, until you have absolute strength and status, many times you must learn to endure?"

"I wouldn't even be saying this much to you if it weren't for Zephyr and Tsuru standing up for you. If you were anyone else, I wouldn't have bothered."

Sengoku's tone was harsh, his sharp questioning leaving Jon speechless.

"There's no need to say more. I'll go straight to your punishment—"

After hearing Sengoku's verdict, Jon's face darkened.

For the next three years, he would be ineligible for promotion.

During this period, he was not allowed to leave Marine Headquarters without authorization.

This was essentially a career setback for Jon. Though it was only three years, in reality, once those three years passed, it would take even longer for him to climb back up. The punishment had severely hindered his future promotions.

Jon had always aimed to become an Admiral, but now, this punishment was delaying his career by several years.

He hadn't expected Headquarters to come down on him this hard. This was difficult for him to accept.

"I can see you're not happy about this, but this is Marine discipline. Those who achieve merit are rewarded, and those who make mistakes are punished. Though harsh, this punishment is actually the result of people pleading on your behalf. If not for that, you would have been exiled to one of the Four Seas' branch bases instead."

Sengoku could clearly see Jon's frustration, but the punishment had already been decided.

In fact, this was already the lightest possible sentence after Tsuru and Zephyr intervened. Otherwise, Jon would have been sent away from Headquarters, and once that happened, it would have been nearly impossible for him to return. Unlike a transfer, an exile was a permanent stain on a Marine's record.

"I understand, Admiral Sengoku."

Though he was furious, Jon had no choice but to accept.

Sengoku added, "Don't be too discouraged. Though this punishment limits your mobility and promotion, it's only temporary. You're still young, and you have great potential. The Marines need people like you. Consider this a learning experience."

Sengoku actually supported keeping Jon at Headquarters.

After all, Jon's Devil Fruit ability was incredibly useful. Even though the Marines weren't short on food, in times of crisis, Jon's ability could mass-produce supplies, which would be a crucial strategic advantage.

As long as Jon hadn't committed an unforgivable offense, Headquarters wouldn't want to lose him.

Jon left frustrated.

After some thought, he headed to the Marine Intelligence Division to meet with Vice Admiral Tsuru.

"You've already heard the verdict?"

Seeing Jon's sulking face, Tsuru smiled knowingly.

Jon nodded. "Yeah. Just met with Admiral Sengoku. He told me about my punishment."

Tsuru said, "This punishment may seem severe, but it's actually not a bad thing for you. You're still too young and too impulsive. You need time to calm down and reflect. Consider this an opportunity to polish your patience."

She knew that Jon hadn't realized the bigger picture yet.

Right now, because of the G52 Incident, Jon had made many enemies within the Marines. While none of them were particularly high-ranking, his reputation had taken a major hit.

By staying at Headquarters, he was actually being protected.

In two or three years, once this incident faded from memory, Jon's future would no longer be affected.

It might delay his promotions, but in the long run, it wouldn't be a fatal setback.

"For now, just focus on training. You still have a lot of untapped potential in your ability. If you ever need guidance, come see me. I may not understand your Devil Fruit, but I can still offer advice."

"Yes, Vice Admiral Tsuru. I won't let you down."

Jon finally accepted his fate.

If he was going to be stuck here for three years, he would train and develop his abilities.

After all, strength is the only thing that truly matters in this world.

No amount of political maneuvering could replace power.

After a few more words of advice, Jon left Tsuru's office.

Before he could return to his quarters, a female Marine approached him.

"Commander Jon, someone is here to see you."

To Jon's surprise, the people waiting for him outside were Borsalino (Kizaru), Sakazuki (Akainu), and Dragon.

"Jon," Borsalino called out, grinning. "Sakazuki and Dragon haven't seen you in a while. Since we're all here, let's go out and catch up!"

Jon chuckled. "I thought you guys came to laugh at my misfortune. I'm fine with a reunion, but I've been restricted to Headquarters, so we'll have to find somewhere close by."

Dragon smirked. "I already heard about your punishment. Took a nasty fall, didn't you? Now you understand that even the Marines aren't as easy to navigate as you thought."

Jon sighed. "Yeah, I really screwed up this time. I'm in a bad mood, so I want a good meal. You guys are paying."

Sakazuki, usually silent, suddenly spoke.

"I'll pay."

Borsalino laughed. "Oh? How generous! Let's go to that expensive place on the east side—"

Sakazuki's face twitched.

He instantly regretted offering.

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