Chapter 200: “Where are you?”  (2)

Above the sea, a Marine warship surged forward, racing into the distance.

On the deck, two generals, each draped in the coats of Naval Headquarters Rear Admirals, stared ahead with tense, distorted expressions.

Then, in the blink of an eye—

"Click! Click! Click!"

An explosion of freezing air erupted violently over the sea. 

In mere moments, the surrounding waters froze solid, turning into an endless expanse of ice. The once-sailing warship of the Naval Headquarters was now trapped in this frozen sea, unable to move.

"Why?! Why are you leaving the Marines, Aokiji?! Zephyr-sensei?!" 

Smoker's voice thundered across the frozen landscape as he glared at the figure aboard a distant ship, his confusion visible.

Aokiji's ideals resonated deeply with Smoker. 

Though they hailed from different generations within the Marines, both had trained under Zephyr and formed a bond of mutual respect. To say they were friends was no exaggeration. 

And Zephyr had been more than just a teacher to Smoker; he had played a pivotal role in shaping his career within the Marines.

But now, both Aokiji and Zephyr had chosen to leave the Marines together, an act that Smoker simply could not accept. Defying the higher up orders, he had commandeered Hina's warship in a desperate pursuit.

"Ah la la, you've actually managed to catch up here?" 

On the distant ship's deck, Aokiji—or rather, Kuzan—exhaled a puff of frosty breath. 

No longer in his Admiral uniform, Kuzan had donned casual clothes and sunglasses, his appearance far removed from his former rank. Though his body bore scars from severe burns, they were nowhere near as extensive as those in another timeline, and his legs remained intact.

Following the issuance of a new bounty for the Entei Pirate Ship and the resolution of several internal Marine matters, Naval Headquarters Marshal Sengoku had resigned his position to World Government Commander-in-Chief, Kong.

Unlike the resignation that followed the battle in the original timeline, this one went smoothly, with even Kong offering little resistance. 

During the Flame Emperor Incident, Sengoku had single-handedly shouldered the burden of leading all of Marine Headquarters. 

Though they were ultimately defeated, it was a battle they were destined to lose; even the might of the Marine Headquarters was no match for three emperors at once, along with top-tier combatants like Rayleigh.

More critically, their opponent had been none other than the most feared man on the seas in this era—Portgas D. Ace, also known as Flame Emperor. A man whose power, Haki, and combat prowess surpassed that of the Four Emperors.

Even when the Five Elders finally arrived on the scene, they were forced to compromise in the face of Flame Emperor's calculated strategy and overwhelming might.

The Buster Call, an embodiment of the world government's absolute justice, had never been more justified.

Given such an opponent, no one could fault Sengoku for Marine Headquarters' defeat.

However, a loss is a loss, and someone had to bear the responsibility.

Moreover, as long as Sengoku remained Marine Fleet Admiral, the entire Naval Headquarters, and indeed all of the Marines, would remain haunted by the specter of failure from the Flame Emperor Incident.

In such circumstances, changing leadership was the best course of action.

Yet, despite his resignation, neither Kong nor the World Government wished to see Sengoku fully retire from the fray. After all, the Entei Pirate fleet still roamed the seas, plotting their next unknown move.

During the Flame Emperor incident, the Five Elders had caught a glimpse of the ambition burning within this man's heart. His aim was nothing less than to overthrow the world government and dismantle the Heavenly Throne itself.

What unnerved them even more was Sengoku's post-battle analysis of the Flame Emperor battlefield maneuvers, which he had gathered through his mastery of the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Big Buddha.

His report, shared with the Five Elders, suggested that Flame Emperor's worldview was dangerously misaligned with their own. 

Even the Five Elders, who held the greatest power in the world, felt a chill at this revelation.

During the Flame Emperor incident, something had seemed terribly off. 

Portgas D. Ace, now Flame Emperor, had controlled the flow of the conflict with an almost eerie perfection, leaving the Five Elders with no choice but to follow his lead. 

Though they had compromised in the end, once they returned to the sacred land of Mariejois, the weight of the situation gnawed at them, making them realize just how much they had been manipulated.

They conducted a thorough investigation into the background of Portgas D. Ace.

From Portgas D. Rouge, wife of the Pirate King to Roger, entrusting Ace to his trusted friend, Garp. Ace grew up in Garp's hometown before eventually setting out to sea.

In just a year of becoming a pirate, Ace orchestrated several major incidents—the Alabasta affair, the Enies Lobby raid, and most recently, the Flame Emperor incident. He is the undisputed mastermind behind the current unrest across the seas.

The World Government has meticulously tracked Ace's actions and rise to power. With such a straightforward history, the question that perplexes them is how Ace came to know so many deep and hidden truths.

Even the Five Elders themselves felt that this man had anticipated their every move—including their transformations, their forms, and even their immortality.

By the time they arrived on the battlefield, Ace had already unleashed the terrifying power of his Devil Fruit, transforming into his ultimate form. In this state, the Observation Haki of even the Five Elders couldn't reach him. The immense power of his devil fruit had become so overwhelming that their keen senses couldn't get near him. 

Despite this, their eyes remained sharp enough to pick up on his expressions. And as they underwent their transformations and revealed their secret immortality, Ace's face betrayed no surprise—everything seemed to be going exactly as he had predicted.

It was utterly abnormal.

Their transformed states and immortality were some of the most well-guarded secrets in the world, known to only a select few, not even most members of the Knights of God. Yet, Portgas D. Ace remained unfazed, as if these mysteries were already familiar to him.

When Sengoku later used his ability to analyze Ace's worldview, even the Five Elders felt a creeping sense of dread.

Ace, without question, carried the bloodline of Gol D. Roger, the deceased Pirate King. But what was deeply unsettling was Ace's perspective on the world. It was as if he was omniscient, understanding things that no one else could, almost as if he was all-knowing and all-powerful.

The feats he had accomplished were unlike anything seen since the establishment of the World Government eight hundred years ago—or even in the ages before the Great Kingdom's fall.

Ace seemed capable of mastering every facet of Devil Fruit powers and pushing them beyond their natural limits. Not only that, but he had knowledge of secrets only the highest authorities were privy to. 

Without a doubt, there was a monumental secret hidden within Portgas D. Ace.

What frightened the Five Elders most was that they had no idea what Ace's true limits or mysteries were. However, one thing was certain: in this era, the greatest threat to the World Government was no longer "Rocks" or "Joyboy." 

It was Portgas D. Ace!

To prepare for the final confrontation with this terrifying man and to ensure his complete eradication, the World Government had to brace for the worst. One option under consideration was to create another "blank century," erasing this period of history entirely.

To combat the chaos caused by Flame Emperor, they needed to bolster their forces significantly. As such, the Five Elders ordered Commander-in-Chief Kong to accept Sengoku's resignation as Marine Fleet Admiral, but they denied his request for full retirement. Instead, they appointed Sengoku as Naval Headquarters' Chief Inspector.

After some thought, Sengoku accepted the role without hesitation. 

After all, the Marine Headquarters was now facing a pirate crew far more dangerous than the Four Emperors. The Entei pirate fleet was led by the strongest, most feared man in the world today.

If Sengoku were to retire completely, Marine Headquarters would not have the strength to uphold justice at sea.

Following Sengoku's resignation from his role as Marine Fleet Admiral, the search for his successor began. Aokiji and Akainu were the two main candidates for the position.

Though Akainu had suffered defeat during the Flame Emperor Incident, Aokiji seemed the more suitable candidate for Marine Fleet Admiral at this time. Sengoku himself strongly endorsed Aokiji for the role.

However, for the greater good of the World Government, the Five Elders backed Akainu as the next Marine Fleet Admiral. Despite Akainu's defeat, the loss had largely been borne by Sengoku alone, minimizing its broader impact. 

In the eyes of the World Government, preserving Marine's image was less important than securing their interests.

What Sengoku didn't expect was that Aokiji would initiate a direct confrontation with Akainu for the title of Marine Fleet Admiral.

The duel lasted five grueling days and nights, with no one knowing the exact events that transpired on the island where they fought. But under the influence of their opposing Devil Fruits, the island transformed into a landscape of ice and fire.

In the end, Aokiji emerged from the battle, announced Akainu's victory, and declared his own departure from the Marines.

Even Akainu, despite his victory, looked far from triumphant. Only he, having fought Aokiji, understood that his opponent had never wanted to become the Marine Fleet Admiral. Aokiji had used the battle to sever his ties with both the Marines and the dove generals who supported him.

Akainu had no choice but to face Aokiji's plan head-on.

With the power of the Lava-Lava Fruit at his disposal, Akainu held the upper hand in terms of strength over Aokiji. However, when it came to Aokiji's ability to retreat from battle, even Akainu couldn't stop him. 

He could only watch as Aokiji left the battlefield, admitted defeat, and officially resigned from the Marines.

Around this time, the vacant position within the Seven Warlords of the Sea was filled by Edward Weevil, a self-proclaimed "Whitebeard II." This pirate had previously attacked a Marine recruit ship, resulting in the deaths of many of Zephyr's students—a tragedy that shattered Zephyr's faith. On that very day, Zephyr resigned from the Marines.

Kuzan, upon learning of these developments, approached Zephyr's ship to speak with his former mentor. However, this was also when Smoker's warship arrived, setting the stage for the current confrontation.

"Turn back, Smoker. We're not the same anymore," Kuzan stated calmly as he gazed at Smoker and Hina in the distance. "Now, I am a pirate."

"A pirate?! You?!!!" Smoker exclaimed in shock, his disbelief echoed by Hina, who stood frozen beside him.

The news of Aokiji leaving the Marines was one thing—but to hear that he had become a pirate? The revelation left them stunned.

Zephyr, who overheard the exchange from his ship, raised his eyebrows and cast a cold gaze at Aokiji. Though Zephyr had left the Marines, he never intended to become a pirate. His goal was to establish a new Marine organization, one that would bring an end to the era of pirates through his own methods. The thought of his proud former student choosing the path of piracy only deepened the rift between them.

"Are you betraying justice, Kuzan?" Smoker yelled angrily, his face contorted with frustration and disbelief.

"Betraying justice? No," Kuzan replied with calm conviction. "Where I'm headed 'is' justice."

"Where are you going?!" Hina interjected, unable to restrain herself.

Kuzan straightened up, his usual slouch disappearing as his expression became serious. His eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, gleamed sharply. 

"Let me reintroduce myself," Kuzan said, standing tall. "I am Kuzan, captain of the Entei Pirates' Grand Fleet."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.

Smoker, Hina, and all the Marines froze in disbelief. Even Zephyr, along with Ain and the other students nearby, felt their hearts skip a beat. Captain of the Entei Pirates' Grand Fleet? Kuzan, the former Admiral of Headquarters—one of the World Government's highest-ranking officers—was now serving under Entei, the very man who had defeated Marine Headquarters in the Flame Emperor Incident?

"Are you joking?! Kuzan!!!" Smoker's eyes turned red with rage, unable to process the betrayal he was witnessing.

With a roar, half of Smoker's body turned to smoke as he rushed toward Kuzan, wielding his ten-seastone-tipped weapon, intent on subduing the former admiral.

But Kuzan remained unphased. "Ah la la, if you attack me now, Smoker, it'll be considered an act of war against the Entei Pirates," he said in his usual relaxed tone, though his words carried a chilling finality.

Hina, alarmed, yelled out, "Stop, Smoker! We don't have the authority to attack a crew that ranks above even the Four Emperors!"

She knew full well that Kuzan's strength was leagues above their own, and should Smoker persist, he would likely meet his end.

Just then, a ringing sound broke the tension—the den-den mushi in Kuzan's pocket. The unmistakable sound of the communication device froze everyone in place. Smoker, Hina, Zephyr, and his students all stared wide-eyed as the phone rang, knowing what it signified.

Kuzan, unbothered, met Smoker's gaze without a hint of hesitation. The Entei Pirates, the world's strongest pirate crew, could only be challenged with direct authorization from the highest level of the World Government. Acting without that would lead to catastrophe. Kuzan, still possessing the power of the Frozen-Frozen Fruit, could easily turn them all into ice sculptures at sea if it came to that.

Smoker stopped mid-air, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Kuzan, but he knew the grim reality—Marine Headquarters had no authority to engage the Entei Pirates without approval.

The phone rang again, "Buru Buru!" 

And then, a voice broke through, filled with a hearty laugh. It was unmistakable—Flame Emperor.

Kuzan, maintaining his composure, glanced at the phone. It was only out of respect for his past connection with Smoker and Hina that he had entertained this conversation for as long as he did.

He answered the call. 

"Buru Buru! Click."

"Kuzan," the voice on the other end commanded, "where are you?"