To be honest, Kuzan was completely dumbfounded.
What the hell happened? He had resigned from his post as Admiral less than two years ago, and suddenly the seas had become unrecognizable.
The World Economy News Paper had been spreading chaotic reports that seemed to change by the hour.
Day One, morning: According to reports, the Heavenly Tribute submitted by allied nations across the Four Seas was attacked almost simultaneously. The authority of the World Government had been brazenly provoked by a group of clowns.
Day One, noon: Filthy, lowly, world-destroying butchers had landed in the Four Seas, burning, killing, and plundering without restraint. It seemed the World Government needed to reassess the current situation.
Day One, afternoon: The cannibalistic demon army was advancing toward allied nations under World Government control. The Holy Land Mary Geoise had to respond.
Day Two, morning: The rebel army had illegally occupied Enies Lobby. Following the "Mary Geoise Attack Incident," the Holy Land was once again under threat.
Day Two, noon: The rebels had taken the Sabaody Archipelago. Celestial Dragons were killed. The Navy Headquarters' inaction had placed the Red Line in danger.
Day Two, afternoon: The Imperial Army had already assaulted the Red Line. How would the Five Elders respond?
Finally, Day Three: Bathed in the radiance of the God-Empress, the Astartes Legions would arrive today in Her loyal New World.
This... what the hell. That "Big News" Morgans really knew how to follow the wind.
Stripping away Morgans' exaggerated flattery, Kuzan roughly pieced together the drastic changes that had taken place over the two days of his vacation.
In other words, the World Government was gone. The great pirates of the New World had been annihilated. The seas had welcomed a new ruling power—the Empire.
As for what exactly the Empire was—Revolutionaries, remnants of some legendary pirate from a bygone era, or perhaps the return of a massive ancient kingdom—Kuzan did not yet know.
Then came the confirmed footage of Navy Headquarters, under the leadership of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, surrendering to the Imperial Army with almost no resistance. That was what truly left Kuzan in disbelief.
Sakazuki... surrendered without a fight?
The newspaper reports left the retired Admiral Kuzan—who had been vacationing at a hot spring island somewhere in the New World—utterly stunned.
Yes, Kuzan had always disliked Sakazuki's hawkish doctrine of "Absolute Justice," believing that such uncompromising iron-blooded ideology was far too inhumane. He had fiercely opposed Sakazuki's succession as Fleet Admiral after Sengoku stepped down.
Though their ideals clashed, one could not deny Sakazuki's ironclad military character. There was no way he would surrender to pirates or bandit-like rebels.
Your greatest rival often understands you best. Kuzan had fought Sakazuki in a ten-day life-and-death battle on Punk Hazard in the New World. He knew him inside and out.
From Sakazuki's voluntary surrender, Kuzan could confirm only one thing—the Empire was absolutely not a transformation of the Revolutionaries or pirates.
Just as Kuzan was agonizing over who exactly the Empire was, who this God-Empress might be, and what the Astartes Legions were—
Buru Buru
His former superior Sengoku and his career rival Sakazuki both called him via Den Den Mushi at the same time, asking him to return to the new Navy Headquarters. The Navy needed his help. Every bit of strength could improve the Navy's treatment under the Empire.
And so, despite his reluctance, persuaded by Sengoku and many fellow officers, Kuzan returned to the new Navy Headquarters—on the condition that he was merely observing and would not rejoin the Navy.
After that, there was no "after." The Navy needed additional combat strength to negotiate better restructuring terms with the Empire. The Astartes Legions never gave Kuzan the chance to clarify that he was no longer a Marine. He was simply stuffed onto a warship along with the upper echelons of Navy Headquarters—and taken into outer space.
Only after meeting Sakazuki again within the Third Legion Black Marlin's floating fortress did Kuzan finally learn the full story.
Sakazuki's words, the overwhelming might of the Empire's military, and the sensation of looking down upon his home planet from outer space—all of it deeply shook Kuzan.
Looking out through the viewport, rows upon rows of enormous orbital cannon batteries came into view. The bustling decks, the internal hangars where countless small warships moved in and out in tense rhythm...
Heh. Did he even have a choice?
The sheer scale of activity instantly dispelled any fleeting thought of escape.
Take it one step at a time. Go with the flow...
Conveniently, Sakazuki had obtained permission to kneel before the Emperor of the Empire. Kuzan decided to tag along and see for himself what kind of Empire had earned Sakazuki's admiration.
As for his earlier plan to cooperate with "Blackbeard" Marshall D. Teach—that idea was tossed straight into the clouds.
"You're going to the Imperial Capital too?" Hands in his pockets, adopting the attitude of a tourist, Kuzan asked in a warm tone.
"Yes." Robin nodded tersely.
"Hey now, don't be so dull. Tell me—why did the Imperial Army take an interest in you?"
With no Marine or World Government obligations weighing on him anymore—and with the era of great pirates in his homeland effectively over—Kuzan felt unusually relaxed. His demeanor was free and easy.
"Archaeological knowledge, perhaps. Or maybe it was incidental. I'm not entirely sure, Admiral Aokiji..."
"My~ No need for the Admiral codename. Just call me Kuzan. I'm merely a civilian now, shamelessly squeezed into the section of the bridge allocated to the Navy."
He waved off her honorific casually.
"...Your hand." Robin's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Ah, that's simply the price for aiming too high. Clearly, I lost."
Lightly lifting his severely burned right hand—its skin entirely gone—Kuzan tapped his left foot without hesitation.
Facts were facts. He had lost to Sakazuki. Though Sakazuki had not tried to kill him, the duel for the Fleet Admiral position had left the entire right side of his body severely burned, and he had lost his left leg. Now he walked with a prosthetic limb made of ice.
"Seeing you puts me at ease. Saul's efforts weren't in vain."
Adjusting the round sunglasses on his nose, Kuzan's expression seemed much the same as before.
"Saul... who knows. It might have turned out worse," Robin said softly, her expression complicated as she gazed at the water-blue planet beyond the viewport. "It's beautiful... too bad we didn't reach it on our own."
"How pessimistic~" Kuzan sighed lightly.
...
The conversation tapered off. As the silence between them grew increasingly awkward—
"Ahahaha! Kuzan, is she the little girl you let escape during the Ohara Buster Call? What a coincidence."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku?" Robin asked uncertainly, turning toward the voice.
"Ahaha, what's wrong? Can't believe it's me? Hehehe..."
He was no longer wearing the Navy justice coat. Dressed in a short-sleeved floral shirt and shorts, hair and beard completely white, Sengoku held a plate of delicate pastries and spoke with his mouth half full.
"Want some? Legion Commander Liver treated us to Imperial cuisine."
"Uh... no, thank you."
"Ah, old man Sengoku, give me some."
Robin declined as a matter of course, but Kuzan had no such reservations.
After handing Kuzan a few pieces, Sengoku suddenly shuffled in front of Robin, waggling his brows at her.
"Really don't want any? It's delicious."
"I really don't need any, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Though she had not eaten in some time, and though Sengoku's demeanor was extremely amiable, Robin could not relax around him. She did not know him well.
The stark contrast between the stern, rigid Fleet Admiral of her memory and the joking, almost goofy retiree before her left her at a loss.
Which one was the real Sengoku? Was this his true nature, suppressed by the responsibilities of command? Or were both versions masks? Perhaps both were him. Only he would know.
"Oho~ So you two were hiding here... Oh? Nico Robin. Long time no see."
The voice arrived before the man—gratingly lazy, carrying that unmistakable sly tone. One hand in his pocket, the other holding a teacup, and likewise without the Navy coat, Borsalino strolled over.
"Admiral... 'Kizaru.'"
"Oho~ No need to worry. It's the Empire's era now. You're not some criminal anymore. A wanted fugitive of the previous regime? I've no interest in arresting you."
Without even glancing at Robin, Borsalino stood beside Sengoku and said leisurely, "Old man, Sakazuki's looking for you. Legion Commander Liver sent word—the fortress is about to open the trans-spatial webway. We're departing."
As his words fell—
Vrrr—!
Warning lights inside the floating fortress flashed red three times in rapid succession. Instantly, a cold metallic male voice echoed from the speakers.
"All personnel, attention. Trans-spatial webway navigation preparations complete. Jump will commence in thirty minutes..."
"Repeat. All personnel, attention. Trans-spatial webway navigation preparations complete..."
Thirty minutes passed swiftly.
The long-dormant Honkai particle engines tore open the dark void. The rift they produced was deeper than the void itself, violent Honkai particle energy boiling within.
Suddenly, the purple-crimson energy entwining the void fracture surged toward the fortress. Viewed through the void-field shielding array and the fortress armor plates, the massive circular rift enveloped the structure entirely.
It drifted and plunged within a sea of violet-red particles. Nothing beyond could be seen clearly. The view was hazy, direction impossible to discern.
"What will the Imperial Capital be like?"
...
Honkai Dimension. Imperial Capital. Shanglin Garden. Glazed Palace.
A resort-like estate encircled by a great lake and lush gardens. Its scenic waters, aquatic life, vegetation, beasts, terraces, and pavilions formed a panorama of abundance.
The main structure resembled a crystal palace rising atop more than a dozen broad steps. Its overall tone carried warm rippling hues like flowing water, the palace itself radiating a soft glow.
"Your Majesty!"
Arisa, returning victorious, looked up.
Across from the fountain at the Sea God Gate, beside the shimmering lake, Selene sat casually on the third tier of steps, enthusiastically flicking a fishing rod.
Before her stood the Legion Commanders of the various Astartes Legions. At the moment, these burly warriors were awkwardly manipulating what looked like toothpicks in their hands.
There was no helping it. Selene had provided them with ordinary fishing rods meant for regular human physiques. For these heavily armored demigods who started at three and a half meters tall, using such tools—without allowing any Honkai energy reinforcement—
It was like asking a warrior to thread a needle—strength with nowhere to apply it.
Beside each of them lay piles of snapped rods.
They pinched the rods between two fingers, terrified of breaking them again, staring at one another wide-eyed. The sight was undeniably comical.
"The army's refitting is underway. Today, whoever catches the most—this Empress will reward him with five additional large battleships."
"OHHH—!"
Without exception, the Legion Commanders originated from the Imperial Guard Selene had once personally commanded. They were old subordinates.
Outside formal court assemblies, when Selene was in high spirits, they still dared to cheer and howl.
"Don't let anyone end up empty-handed. That would be embarrassing..."
Nodding toward the exuberant Arisa to signal she had noticed her arrival, Selene called out loudly. Then she flicked her rod, and an attendant hurried forward to take it.
With such a delightful 'slacking off' activity underway, and yet I sent Liver out on duty... that feels a bit unfair...
Seeing Arisa return, Selene suddenly felt the faintest trace of guilt toward a certain fellow slacker.
Sigh. I'm just too considerate.
"Your Majesty! I brought you a gift!"
Bounding over with energetic steps, Arisa beamed in anticipation of praise.
"A gift? What is it? A Devil Fruit? Or Vegapunk?"
Seeing the bright smile on Arisa's face, Selene did not probe her state directly. She genuinely did not know what gift Arisa had prepared.
Selene did not monitor others every moment nor rummage through their memories. A surprise was better left as a surprise.
In the world of One Piece, in Selene's view, only Devil Fruits and Vegapunk truly qualified as gifts. At most, one could add recruitment manpower from that world.
Devil Fruit users did not fear seawater itself—they feared Seastone. Their apparent weakness to the sea stemmed from the seastone factor contained within the waters of their world.
And seastone, being a specialty mineral, was not some ubiquitous iron ore. It would not exist in every world.
As for Vegapunk—Selene was purely coveting his research capability.
In a world averaging cold weapons, flintlock rifles, and smoothbore cannons, under a World Government that was anti-intellectual and fond of technological and cultural suppression, Vegapunk had still developed laser weapons, cyborg modifications, and advanced robotics.
Impressive.
Praised as being five hundred years ahead of current technology, hailed as a scientist five centuries beyond human intellect—such acclaim was not unfounded.
"Huh?! Um... um... neither."
Tilting her head adorably, Arisa tapped her lower lip, humming thoughtfully.
"It's mermaids!"
"...What? Mermaids?"
Selene's hand, which had been stroking Arisa's head, froze mid-motion. The corner of her eye twitched.
Well. It was Arisa. Even with renowned teachers, her thought process remained uniquely her own.
"Very well. Mermaids it is. It's a kind gesture. Bring them up. House them in the Water Forest Garden within the Imperial Palace..."
After a pause, Selene looked at Arisa, whose eyes were sparkling.
"Place some in your own palace as well. Don't you like them?"
"Mm-hmm! Your Majesty, I even met a crybaby..."