Smoker recounted everything that had happened at G-3 without missing a single detail.
From the moment Zephyr sparred with Hawk and spent an entire night drawing up a new training regimen, to the moment he watched in disbelief as Zoro and Sanji revealed monstrous talent that broke every rule of common sense.
Kuzan listened with genuine interest.
Of the so-called "first unit" under Hawk, Kuzan had only met one member in person: Rear Admiral Dane, who had remained behind to oversee G-3.
The young man had indeed impressed him. Calm, disciplined, capable of handling overwhelming paperwork and military pressure… someone rare and precious within the Navy.
But according to Smoker, Dane was not even the strongest among them.
Above him stood two newcomers so absurdly talented that even Zephyr, a man famous for never laughing during training, had reportedly laughed out loud in disbelief.
That was something worth paying attention to.
After all, Zephyr had personally raised almost every high-ranking officer in Marine Headquarters.
If two newcomers could make him break that stoic front, then their talent must be extraordinary.
A new generation was rising within the Navy.
And at the center of that rising force was Hawk.
A new power.
A new system.
A new direction.
Kuzan could already sense it, faint but unmistakable, like a new constellation slowly emerging in the night sky.
He exhaled softly, amused.
The stronger the next generation became, the more secure the Navy's future would be.
"If Borsalino and Sakazuki heard about this…" Kuzan murmured, a small grin tugging at his lips. "They would be very interested."
Sakazuki, of course, desired nothing more than overwhelming power for the sake of absolute justice.
The existence of these new monsters meant that more soldiers would be capable of enforcing that ideal.
As for Borsalino
That lazy man would probably be thrilled too.
After all, the more talented juniors appeared, the less he would need to take action himself.
Kuzan could already imagine him drawling:
"Oh my, why don't we let those terrifying rookies handle it instead."
Then his steps suddenly stopped.
"What about me…" Kuzan whispered to himself.
For a moment, memories from long ago rose like frost.
After Ohara, his heart had frozen.
His so-called "Lazy Justice" was nothing but a shield
A way to avoid confronting the corruption of the World Government
A way to numb his own helplessness
A quiet surrender beneath the guise of indifference.
He had locked away the fire inside his heart
The fire that once burned for justice
The fire he no longer dared to acknowledge.
Then Hawk appeared.
A young man who refused to compromise.
Someone who shattered every rule placed in front of him, whether hidden or explicit.
Someone who did not beg for change but created it with his own hands.
He built a new foundation for the Navy
Its own economy
Its own military power
Its own will
Unaffected by anyone.
Was this not the future they had all longed for
Sengoku, Garp, himself
Even Sakazuki in his own extreme way
Had dreamed of a Navy that could say "No" to the World Government.
A Navy strong enough that tragedies like Ohara would never happen again.
A Navy capable of guiding the seas.
Kuzan let out a soft laugh.
From Marineford to Skypiea, from Skypiea to G-3, and now to Alabasta
Everything he had witnessed along the way had cut through the haze that had clouded him for twenty years.
The confusion that had plagued him
The hesitation
The numbness
All shattered in this moment.
His frozen heart began to thaw, melting into steam.
Steam that swirled upward, becoming something powerful
Something ready to reshape the world.
"It is time…" Kuzan whispered, his eyes becoming sharp and clear.
"Time for justice to burn again."
Whoever dared stand in the way
Whether a Yonko
Or the World Government itself
Would be turned into an eternal sculpture of ice.
That was Kuzan's vow.
That was his reborn justice.
Smoker watched Kuzan's sudden shift in aura and scratched his head.
What in the world had gotten into him?
Before he could ask, hurried footsteps echoed across the dock.
Tashigi appeared at the front of a group coming from the command post, followed by King Cobra in formal royal attire.
"Admiral Aokiji!" Cobra greeted, bowing deeply.
"No need for formalities, King Cobra," Kuzan replied. His tone was calm, but there was unmistakable power behind it.
He pointed at the massive cargo crates covered in oilcloth, guarded by headquarters elites.
"These crates contain the gold the Navy will convert into military funding."
"And there will be more. Much more. How this gold is transformed and distributed… we leave that in your hands."
Cobra looked at the towering crates, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.
This was only the first shipment.
More would follow.
The Navy was truly severing its dependence on the World Government.
And Alabasta would become the pivotal partner in this unprecedented transformation.
After a deep breath, Cobra steadied his emotions.
"Admiral Aokiji, please rest assured. Alabasta may have suffered from war, but our foundations stand strong. Our nation possesses a population of more than ten million, vast lands, and a long-standing mercantile tradition."
"I will form a royal trade consortium immediately. We will begin purchasing the finest stone, wood, and steel from around the world."
He paused, then added, "As for the gold, a portion will be crafted into artwork and sold through underground auctions and noble channels to convert them into clean Belly."
"The entire commercial power of Alabasta will operate at full strength to transform this gold into the Navy's supplies: weapons, warships, and logistical support."
Kuzan nodded. "Good. After discussing with Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Hawk, we have decided that Alabasta will receive one-tenth of all converted funds to support national development and public welfare."
"One-tenth is too much!" Cobra rejected immediately, almost shouting.
His face flushed with emotion, mixed with both shame and gratitude.
"You do not understand! When we took down Crocodile, the Belly seized from him… Vice Admiral Hawk did not take even a single coin. He left it all to Alabasta!"
"The Navy saved my country. Supporting the Navy is our duty! How could we take payment for that?"
"King Cobra…" Kuzan's voice became solemn.
"A prosperous Alabasta is the Navy's greatest proof. The world must see it with their own eyes. That is how we demonstrate that the Navy's new justice is real."
"An impoverished Alabasta would only make people think this new Navy is just another empty promise."
"But a thriving Alabasta will become the Navy's brightest banner. A beacon that draws all who yearn for justice."
Kuzan placed a hand over his chest.
"The Navy will use this wealth to tell the world…"
"To walk with justice is to walk toward prosperity."
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