The next day.
Early morning.
Warm sunlight poured through the towering floor-to-ceiling windows of the Fleet Admiral's office, overlooking the oval-shaped naval port. But despite the brightness outside, the atmosphere inside the spacious office was heavy with tension.
Fleet Admiral Kong looked worn from his journey. His usually resolute face showed clear signs of exhaustion.
Sengoku and Tsuru stood before him, eyes full of anticipation. Their hands fidgeted slightly as they waited in silence, hoping the elder—just returned from Mary Geoise—would give them the answer they had long awaited.
"So... Fleet Admiral Kong?"
Kong pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face, lit a cigar, and took a deep draw. Only then did he finally look up at the two of them.
A weary but genuine smile slowly appeared on his face.
"The process wasn't easy, but the government finally approved it."
"That's great!"
Sengoku clenched his fists and gave a heavy pump of excitement, unable to hold back his voice.
Only in private with Kong would this usually stern, composed Marine Admiral reveal such a youthful reaction.
Tsuru couldn't help but laugh too, letting out a long sigh of relief.
They both knew exactly how important Kong's trip to Mary Geoise had been. Besides delivering his official report, he had a crucial mission—to request financial support from the World Government for the reconstruction of Marineford, as well as for medical treatment for the wounded and compensation for the fallen after the war.
Shiki's reckless assault on Marine Headquarters had done far more than just destroy buildings and infrastructure.
Countless civilians lost their homes and were forced to flee. Many more lost their lives in the chaos.
Against the highest levels of combat power in the world—forces capable of shaking the very balance of the sea—the lives of ordinary people were as fragile as ants, helpless in the face of overwhelming might.
And the Marines had suffered heavily as well. The soul monster army summoned by Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, inflicted massive casualties on the Marine forces.
According to incomplete statistics, at least 50,000 civilians were killed in the Battle of Marineford, more than 15,000 Marines died in the line of duty, and the number of wounded was beyond counting.
Over the past few days, Sengoku and Tsuru had been overwhelmed by the work of postwar relief and reconstruction. They'd barely had time to sleep.
But even the most capable leaders can't build without resources. The Marine budget had already been tight before the war, and this unexpected disaster had only made things worse.
With both funding and manpower running low, even the brilliant minds of Sengoku and Tsuru were stuck.
Now, with Kong successfully securing additional military funds from the World Government, they could finally relax a little.
It was incredible news.
The dead could not be brought back, and the pain of those left behind would not vanish—but with enough support, at least some hope could be restored.
Kong let out a puff of smoke shaped like a dragon and smiled.
"How've things been at headquarters while I was away?"
Sengoku immediately straightened up and replied with a serious expression.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral Kong—everything in Marineford is proceeding normally!"
"Reconstruction is moving ahead step by step. Now that funding is secured, compensation and medical aid for the wounded can also proceed without delay."
Kong nodded in satisfaction.
Sengoku's abilities were unquestionable. Aside from raw combat strength, his all-around leadership made him the strongest candidate to succeed Kong as Fleet Admiral.
"Right, how did the hearing for Sakazuki and the other two go?"
As if suddenly recalling something, Kong's expression turned a little strange.
"When I was in Mary Geoise, I bumped into the folks from the Inspection Department. Their attitude was... oddly enthusiastic. They just kept going on and on about how outstanding that kid Daren was…"
At those words, both Sengoku and Tsuru's expressions shifted subtly.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, the hearing... went relatively smoothly."
"It's just—strangely enough, the officials who had been pressing Daren hard suddenly changed their tune completely after receiving a Den Den Mushi call midway through."
"Is that so..."
Kong mused for a moment, then shook his head.
"Never mind. It's not that important."
"That kid Daren has always been thorough in his work. If he managed to shut down those arrogant bureaucrats, it's just a sign of his capability."
"There's one more matter."
Sengoku straightened up and spoke solemnly.
"Go ahead," said Kong.
Taking a puff from his cigar, Kong narrowed his eyes.
"The graduation ceremony for the training camp is all set for today, isn't it?"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral. Reporters from the major newspapers have already arrived at headquarters. Sakazuki and the other two will be decorated at the same time as part of the ceremony," Sengoku confirmed.
"Good,"
Kong nodded, then continued, "What about Zephyr's side? Everything under control?"
"Let's not have another incident like the last two times."
He gave a helpless, pained expression, as though recalling something best forgotten.
Sengoku's mouth twitched slightly before replying with emphasis,
"Don't worry, Fleet Admiral."
"Zephyr's already spoken with Daren. There shouldn't be any problems this time."
At that, Kong gave a slow nod.
"That's good. Even though the war ended with us managing to hold Marineford, it was, in truth, a devastating defeat."
"Casualties were severe. The losses immeasurable. The overall mood at headquarters is bleak and lifeless, and morale throughout the ranks is dangerously low."
"In times like this, holding a graduation ceremony—and letting Daren, the hero who protected Marineford, speak to rally the troops—can go a long way in lifting spirits."
"Of course, the propaganda effort shouldn't be overdone."
"For now, our guiding policy must remain 'seeking steady progress.' The focus should be on swiftly rebuilding headquarters and regaining our strength."
"At least in the short term, we're in no position to launch another large-scale war."
As he finished speaking, a cautious glint flashed in Kong's weathered eyes.
Though he had managed to wring additional funding from the World Government, it wasn't much—nowhere near enough to support another full-scale campaign.
At least, not for the foreseeable future.
Still, there was some good news: with the war's end, the situation in the New World had begun to stabilize.
Shiki had gone into hiding once more, vanishing without a trace.
Big Mom and Kaidou had both quieted down as well.
This rare moment of peace gave the Marines a chance to rest, regroup, and rebuild their fighting strength.
And the younger generation—Sakazuki, Borsalino, Daren—were steadily coming into their own.
As time went on, the Marines' advantage over the pirates would only grow stronger.