Everyone present was a genuine heavyweight. Aside from Hina, who'd slipped in through the back door, not even ordinary Vice Admirals had been invited to this meeting. That alone spoke volumes about its importance.
Fleet Admiral Kong didn't bother with lengthy preambles or formalities. He settled into his chair, turned to Zephyr with a warm smile, and said, "Congratulations, Zephyr. You're finally getting what you've wanted for so long."
Zephyr chuckled, his weathered face creasing with amusement. "Brother Kong, after all these years, you're really going to let me go?"
"The situation didn't allow it before," Kong replied, his tone carrying a hint of regret. "But now? You can retire in peace."
Admiral Sengoku accepted a cup of tea from Hina with a grateful nod, then turned to Zephyr. "I have to admit, I'm envious. Retiring so soon must be nice."
Zephyr's laughter boomed through the room. "Envious? I'm the one who envies you, Sengoku! Hahahaha!"
The others joined in, the tension easing as laughter rippled around the table.
Unlike Zephyr, Admiral Sengoku had made it abundantly clear that he intended to assume the role of Fleet Admiral when the time came. Everyone in the room knew it. Retirement wasn't in his future, not for a long while yet.
Zephyr's situation was different. The tragedy that had befallen his family years ago had left him emotionally and mentally drained. Later, chronic asthma had compounded the issue. While the Marine medical system kept it well-managed, rarely flaring up these days, his physical condition had undeniably declined. Over the past few years, he'd devoted his energy almost entirely to training the next generation of Marines, which left him unable to fulfill the active duties expected of an Admiral.
Though he'd never officially retired until now, he'd been operating in a semi-retired capacity for some time. Today would make it official. The Admiral's seat would finally be vacated.
There was no stiffness to the proceedings. Kong chatted amicably with everyone for a few minutes before rapping his knuckles lightly against the table. "Formalities aside, does anyone here object to Zephyr stepping down as Admiral?"
Finn, the only other Admiral present, leaned back in his chair and smiled. "No objections from me. Of course, I'm sad to see you go, Instructor, but this has been your dream for years. We can't stand in the way of that."
Vice Admiral Tsuru set down her teacup, her expression serene. "Let him go already. Make room for the younger generation. Finn's done an exceptional job these past few years."
Admiral Sengoku nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Even though Finn doesn't go out on field missions often, thanks to him, the Marines' internal funding has been doubling year after year, and the pace is accelerating. His contributions are undeniable."
Finn grinned, raising one hand in mock defense. "Hey, you have to give me opportunities to go on field missions. Besides, if an Admiral has to deploy every single day, doesn't that just prove the Marines are incompetent?"
That drew chuckles from around the room. He had a point. If situations required someone of Finn's caliber to intervene constantly, it would reflect poorly on the organization as a whole.
One by one, the officers present offered their congratulations, their words heartfelt and genuine. Zephyr accepted them all with a broad smile, and the matter was officially settled.
Then, with deliberate reverence, Zephyr reached up and unpinned the Admiral's epaulettes from his coat. He rose from his seat and walked toward Kong, the weight of the moment evident in the slow, measured pace of his steps.
Just as he was about to hand them over, he paused. His voice wavered slightly, tinged with emotion. "You know… I've been thinking about this moment for years. But now that it's here, now that it's time to hand these over, I find myself… reluctant."
The room fell silent.
Those epaulettes had been with him for the better part of his life. They represented countless battles, immeasurable sacrifice, and a legacy forged in blood and sweat. Letting them go, even willingly, wasn't as simple as he'd imagined.
Kong's expression softened. He leaned back in his chair and waved a dismissive hand. "No need to return them. Keep them. You won't need to wear them anymore, but they're still yours."
Zephyr blinked, surprised. Then a slow, genuine smile spread across his face. "Thank you, Fleet Admiral. Truly."
And with that, Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr officially retired. He shed the title, the burden, and the immense weight of being one of the World Government's supreme military officers. He was free. From now on, he would simply be the Principal of the Marine Academy, a role far more suited to the man he'd become.
"Alright," Kong said, his tone shifting back to business. "That settles Zephyr's matter. However, the Admiral position cannot remain vacant. Does anyone have suggestions? Who should fill the seat?"
Finn and Borsalino were seated off to the side, half-hidden in the corner. Hearing the question, Finn nudged Borsalino with his elbow and grinned. "Hey, Admiral Candidate. Don't you have any thoughts?"
Borsalino turned to him, one eyebrow raised in mild surprise. "Don't you support Sakazuki?"
"When did I ever say I supported Sakazuki?" Finn replied, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, that guy's planning to compete with me for Fleet Admiral once he gets promoted. Why would I make it easier for him?"
Borsalino smirked. "Really? I saw you helping him capture Kaido two years ago. And when you were promoted to Admiral, he backed you without hesitation. I figured you two had been working together behind the scenes this whole time."
"It's not the same thing," Finn said with a shrug. "Sakazuki and I are in healthy competition, not mortal enemies. We're colleagues. When he needed help, of course I helped. As for my promotion, our interests aligned at the time. That's the only reason he moved up to Admiral Candidate so quickly."
"So… you're supporting me, then?" Borsalino asked, his tone teasing.
"Don't flatter yourself," Finn shot back, waving him off. "I'm not supporting anyone, and I'm not opposing anyone either. If I had to pick, I'd say Kuzan would make a solid Admiral. But that's just my opinion."
Kuzan, who'd been listening quietly from his own seat, finally spoke up. His voice carried a note of mock indignation. "What do you mean, 'if I had to pick'? What, I'm not good enough? I'm an Admiral Candidate too, you know."
Finn laughed outright. "You really aren't ready, Kuzan. Sakazuki has been stationed at G-1 for two years. Borsalino's been managing Punk Hazard. Both of them have the field experience and leadership credentials. You? If you want to be an Admiral, you'll need to get deployed somewhere first and prove yourself. This round isn't your turn."
Kuzan glared at him for a moment, then sighed and smiled ruefully. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
It really didn't have anything to do with him this time.
Finn shifted his attention back to Borsalino. "Alright, be honest. Are you planning to compete with Sakazuki? If you're serious, I'll recommend you right now."
Borsalino rolled his eyes. "Forget it. Punk Hazard suits me just fine. Compared to me, Sakazuki is better suited to be an Admiral." He paused, then added, "At least… that's the case right now."
"At least right now?" Finn echoed thoughtfully, but he didn't press further.
Admiral Sengoku had been watching the three of them banter for a while, reading between the lines. He cleared his throat. "In that case, I formally recommend Sakazuki for the position. Does anyone object?"
"What about Gion?" Finn said suddenly.
Everyone in the room paused, turning to look at him.
Finn leaned forward slightly, his expression calm but deliberate. "Everyone here knows Gion's strength. She's a Logia-type Devil Fruit user with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Her power is exceptional. She's also been stationed at G-7 for several years now, managing operations there. She just needs the Admiral Candidate designation. I'm planning to transfer her back to headquarters soon and recommend her for that position."
He wasn't expecting Gion to become an Admiral now, of course. That would be unrealistic. But Finn was planting seeds. Gion had been away from the core of Marine Headquarters for years, and if she was going to return to the upper echelons, people needed to be reminded of her qualifications. She deserved to be in the conversation.
Sengoku nodded slowly, understanding the subtext. "Gion is absolutely capable. In terms of seniority, strength, and experience, she's on par with Sakazuki. But as you said, she hasn't been designated an Admiral Candidate yet."
He smiled faintly. "Perhaps when I retire, Gion will be ready to compete for the Admiral position."
It was a gracious acknowledgment, and the others murmured in agreement. Finn nodded, satisfied. "In that case, I have no further objections."
Sengoku turned his attention to Borsalino. "What about you, Borsalino? You have the credentials to compete with Sakazuki."
In truth, Sengoku preferred Borsalino over Sakazuki. The two had worked closely when Borsalino was younger, serving as Sengoku's assistant for a time, and their relationship was strong. But Borsalino clearly had no interest in pursuing the position right now.
He shook his head. "I'll pass. I'm not considering it at the moment."
"Very well," Sengoku said, not pushing further.
Zephyr had already retired and wasn't going to weigh in. Vice Admiral Tsuru was sipping her tea and reviewing a document, clearly content to remain neutral. Finn had no objections, and Sengoku had formally proposed Sakazuki.
Fleet Admiral Kong surveyed the room. "Then it's settled. We'll appoint Sakazuki on a provisional basis. I'll submit the proposal to the higher-ups for approval. Once that's finalized, we'll summon him back to Headquarters. Does anyone want to take over G-1 after he leaves?"
This was essentially a formality. The higher-ups were unlikely to block Sakazuki's promotion at this stage. And if he was leaving G-1, someone would need to assume command there.
Finn thought for a moment, then said, "When Sakazuki returns, let the new Admiral make his own arrangements."
Kong glanced at Finn, then nodded. "Agreed."
It was striking how different this process was compared to when Finn had been promoted to Admiral. Back then, it had been a brutal uphill battle, a fight against entrenched World Government interests every step of the way. But now, Sakazuki's path seemed almost smooth by comparison. No resistance, no complications.
Those who plant trees enjoy the shade, Finn thought wryly. The groundwork he'd laid years ago was paying dividends now. These were the fruits of the Marines' ongoing struggle against World Government overreach.
Hina had told Finn earlier that this meeting was about Instructor Zephyr's retirement. Now that Zephyr had officially stepped down and Sakazuki's promotion was all but confirmed, Finn assumed the meeting was wrapping up. He was already thinking about heading back to his office, maybe taking a nap.
But before he could suggest adjourning, Fleet Admiral Kong spoke again.
"Now then," Kong said, his tone shifting. "Let's discuss Vice Admiral Tsuru."
Borsalino looked up in surprise. Tsuru herself raised her head, confusion flickering across her usually composed features.
"Does anyone object," Kong said slowly, deliberately, "to recommending Vice Admiral Tsuru to serve as Chief of Staff of the Marines?"
The room went silent.
It was clear this was an impromptu decision from the Fleet Admiral. Finn, Borsalino, even Sengoku and Tsuru herself, all looked momentarily stunned. Only Garp seemed unbothered, though he was only half-listening anyway.
After the initial shock wore off, Finn was the first to respond. He raised his hand without hesitation. "As an Admiral of the Marines, I support this proposal wholeheartedly."
There was no reason to object. After the disaster at Spring Queen Island years ago, the previous Chief of Staff had been stripped of rank and reduced to a civilian. Though the Intelligence Department had worked tirelessly to restore the Marines' reputation in the years since, the Chief of Staff position itself had remained vacant. People still referred to Tsuru as "Chief of Staff" in private, but it was unofficial, and the lack of formal recognition had always felt wrong.
As someone who'd once served under Chief of Staff Tsuru, Finn owed her a great deal. He wasn't about to stand in the way of her rightful restoration.
Besides, there was no one else in the Marines better suited for the role. If there had been, the position wouldn't have stayed empty for so long.
Garp snapped out of his daze and quickly added, "I support it too!"
Sengoku's face lit up with unmistakable joy. He looked absolutely delighted, which made Finn smirk inwardly. The Laughing Buddha and Chief of Staff Tsuru, huh? There's definitely something going on there.
Even though it had been an impromptu proposal, it passed quickly and unanimously.
And with that, Vice Admiral Tsuru officially reclaimed her title as Chief of Staff of the Marines.
The meeting adjourned shortly after, the participants filing out one by one. Finn lingered for a moment, watching Tsuru accept quiet congratulations from Sengoku and Kong. She looked composed as always, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.
Good, Finn thought. She deserves this.
He turned and headed for the door, Hina falling into step beside him. As they walked back through the corridors of Marineford, Finn allowed himself a rare moment of contentment.
Things were moving forward. The old guard was stepping down, and the new generation was rising to take their place. It wasn't perfect, and it never would be. But it was progress.
And progress, in this world, was worth celebrating.