It seemed like being a Fleet Admiral meant never-ending paperwork.
While reviewing documents, Kong spoke without looking up. "Sit down, Sakazuki. Just give me a moment."
Sakazuki nodded and took a seat in one of the chairs nearby. Enel hovered beside him, seated on his miniature Maxim model, quietly observing the office with curious eyes.
The room was simple—mostly wood, with clean, unadorned carvings etched into the support pillars. Furnishings were minimal: the Fleet Admiral's wide desk, a few sofa-like chairs, and not much else.
Behind Kong loomed a massive framed display that stretched across the entire back wall. At its center was a single, commanding character: Justice. It dominated the space, radiating Kong's unwavering conviction.
Several minutes passed in silence before Kong placed the pen down and looked up at Sakazuki with a faint nod. "Good to see you're alright. But next time, don't be so reckless. You're not yet strong enough to take on those long-established pirates. If you fall out there, it's not just a loss for the Marines, it's a loss for the whole world."
"Understood," Sakazuki replied simply.
Kong studied his expression, then sighed inwardly. 'Yeah… that went in one ear and out the other.'
He shook his head with a trace of helplessness, then reached for his teacup. "You really are..." he muttered, before shifting his attention to the floating boy nearby. "And this one?"
Sakazuki waited just long enough for Kong to raise the cup to his lips before answering. "This is a new recruit. His name is Enel. He's a Logia-type… user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
Pfft!
A burst of tea sprayed from Kong's mouth mid-sip. He stared at Enel, stunned.
On the other hand, Enel seemed to notice something odd. Just as Sakazuki caught Kong's surprised reaction, the corners of his own mouth twitched ever so slightly.
That tiny smirk—it was exactly like Carlo's.
Enel's eyes widened as he stared at Sakazuki. 'So that's why Carlo acts so sinister! He learned it from him!'
Kong, still eyeing the boy, suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Good! This is great. The little guy's got some spark in him! Hahaha! So, what's your plan for training him?"
Sakazuki gave a slight smile. This was exactly why he'd come.
"I'm planning to leave him under Vice Admiral Morris's care for now. Then I'll arrange a few tutors to teach him the basics. After a couple of years, I'll enroll him in the Marine Academy."
Kong nodded in approval. "Morris, huh? That works. He never had children of his own. Having a kid around might brighten his days a bit."
As he mentioned Morris's lack of family, Kong's expression dimmed briefly, as if an old memory stirred within him. He let out a quiet sigh, but brushed the thought aside.
"Alright then, plan out what Enel needs to learn. I'll assign the best instructors we've got in the Marines to teach him. As for housing, let him stay with Morris. He could use the company."
"Thank you, Fleet Admiral," Sakazuki said.
Enel also looked at Kong and spoke in a clear, crisp voice. "Thank you, Grandpa Fleet Admiral."
Kong's smile grew even wider. "What a good kid," he said warmly. "Go find Morris and tell him the news."
Sakazuki gave a nod. Their goal was achieved. He turned and led Enel out of the office. Just before the door closed behind them, Enel's voice echoed back into the room.
"Goodbye, Grandpa Fleet Admiral!"
Kong's smile lingered long after they were gone. That bright, innocent voice seemed to sweep away the exhaustion of the day. With renewed energy, he picked up his pen and returned to the mountain of paperwork.
'Everything's moving in the right direction...'
...
Beneath the towering stone walls, Sakazuki and Enel walked away from Marineford's central fortress, heading toward the Marine Academy. At this hour, Vice Admiral Morris was likely there.
Sakazuki glanced at Enel, who was floating beside him on his Maxim model, and spoke. "Not bad. Keep it up."
The boy grinned wide. "Hehe."
Like a parent taking their child for a walk, the tall and small figures slowly faded into the sunlit distance.
...
Marineford, Marine Academy.
Sakazuki led Enel across the training grounds, passing by rows of classrooms and drills in progress.
Some cadets stood in formation, others practiced hand-to-hand combat, while instructors lectured on the seas and their perils. The entire space pulsed with purpose and discipline. Enel's eyes flicked from one scene to the next, absorbing it all.
'I'm going to be one of them someday...'
He couldn't hold back the smile tugging at his face.
...
Inside the principal's office of the Academy, Vice Admiral Morris sat behind his desk, carefully reviewing and planning the teaching curriculum.
The training curriculum issued from Marineford served as the master guide for all the marines across the world.
Unlike Zephyr, who later stepped down from his role as admiral to become an instructor, a vice admiral's rank was already sufficient to act as the academy principal. Zephyr had chosen to teach personally, to lead by example. And indeed, he successfully trained generation after generation of elite marines.
But Morris had set his sights on something even broader—to educate the marines of the entire world.
He wanted to gradually shape marines everywhere through subtle influence, letting changes take root silently until, one day, generation after generation of marine soldiers would grow up with a new mindset. And then…
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sudden knock pulled him from his thoughts. Morris set down his pen and called out, "Come in."
Sakazuki stepped inside with Enel beside him.
Morris's face lit up with a warm smile. "You brat, when did you get back? Hahaha!"
"Got back this morning," Sakazuki replied with a smile. Then, he looked at the boy beside him. "This is Vice Admiral Morris."
Enel looked up at Morris and greeted him with a cheerful voice. "Hello, Grandpa Morris."
The older man chuckled. He looked at Enel in uniform, his gaze full of kindness. "Hello there, little Marine warrior."
Sakazuki spoke up to formally introduce him. "Vice Admiral, this is Enel. He has the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
Morris blinked in surprise. "Rumble-Rumble Fruit? Great! That's wonderful, Sakazuki!"
Clearly, the news delighted him.
"I'm counting on you to teach him," Sakazuki added, his tone serious.
Morris stared at him, hardly believing what he just heard. "You want me to teach him?"
Sakazuki nodded. "Yes. And he can keep you company, too."
Morris got up and stepped forward to examine Enel more closely. The boy's calm, respectful demeanor softened him immediately. He began asking about Enel's past. As the child recounted his story, Morris's gaze grew even more gentle, full of affection.
But before they could talk more, a messenger arrived and whispered a few words to Sakazuki. The vice admiral stood up, and turned to leave.
Enel waved goodbye from behind. Sakazuki didn't turn around—he just lifted his hand and gave a brief wave before walking away.
Once he was out of sight, Morris couldn't hold back his excitement. Forgetting about work entirely, he grabbed Enel and headed out into town.
...
Inside a bustling shop, Morris's voice echoed energetically.
"Wrap this, this, this, that one, and those three. Send it all to No.17, Alley 2."
Enel's curious voice followed. "Grandpa Morris, isn't this a bit too much?"
Morris chuckled happily, waving off the concern. "Not at all. And just call me Grandpa. No need for the name."
Enel said crisply, "Grandpa."
Morris broke into hearty laughter. "Good! Hahaha! And pack these too!"
"Come on, Grandpa's taking you home."
Their voices faded into the distance...
...
Meanwhile, Sakazuki had made his way back to the port, but this time not to board his own vessel.
Guided by a messenger, he soon spotted Admiral Sengoku at the docks, overseeing the loading of supplies.
Sakazuki stepped forward and called out respectfully. "Admiral Sengoku."
The admiral turned at the sound and responded with a faint smile. "Sakazuki."
At this point in time, Sengoku wore his signature afro and round glasses. Compared to his composed future self, he exuded a sharper, more intense presence.
Sakazuki got straight to the point. "Admiral, what kind of mission requires this level of urgency?"
Sengoku's expression changed at the question, a hint of frustration crossing his face. "It's that mad dog, Byrnndi World. Rumor is, he's been raiding everywhere for materials—something about building a massive ship. Because of his Devil Fruit, he's been almost impossible to catch.
"This time, higher-ups received intel, saying he was spotted on a small island in the New World. We're ordered to investigate. If possible, capture him alive."
Sakazuki nodded slowly. 'Byrnndi World... a real headache.'
With the More-More Fruit enhancing his speed, catching him was no small task.
'That kind of intel... seems Cipher Pol is already being deployed behind the scenes.'
A little while later, after giving Carlo instructions to handle routine affairs in his absence, Sakazuki boarded the battleship headed for the Red Line.
As the ship departed, he stood quietly on deck, gazing toward the vast sea.
'More-More Fruit…'
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