-Real World-
The future Admiral Smoker's inflammatory statements sent shockwaves through every Marine observing the Sky Screen. The audacity of his criticism left officers speechless—such words could end careers and destroy reputations.
Tashigi noticed the hostile stares directed at her superior from surrounding Marines, worry creeping into her voice. "Captain Smoker, we should take our transfer orders and leave immediately."
At present, Smoker held only the rank of Captain, not Admiral. His future self's brutal honesty about Marine corruption could create significant enemies and unnecessary complications. "Let's go," he agreed grimly.
Much of what his future self had expressed reflected his current thoughts, though Smoker had never explicitly compared justice to a business transaction. Having the parallel drawn so starkly illuminated uncomfortable truths about the organization he served.
Both his rhetorical skills and personal strength had clearly developed remarkably over the intervening years. Despite the immediate political danger, Smoker felt encouraged by this glimpse of his potential. Unfortunately, his optimism proved short-lived.
"Captain Smoker," Admiral Sakazuki's aide appeared beside him, blocking their exit route. "Admiral Akainu wishes to discuss the concept of justice with you. Please delay your departure until this meeting concludes."
As expected, advance knowledge of the future carried significant drawbacks. Meanwhile, the Sky Screen's revelations about the reformed Marines grew even more startling.
-Broadcast-
"Gin, you'll be encountering the Straw Hat Pirates again, won't you?" Smoker inquired during their shipboard conversation.
"I have no idea where those people have been hiding for the past 5 years," Gin replied with evident frustration. "Their appearance at Fish-Man Island caught our intelligence network completely off-guard. The Sea God's Treasury has never appeared in any Marine records, and news of Queen Otohime's resurrection will probably spread across the seas within days."
Initially, reports of resurrection had emerged only through Straw Hat Pirate testimonies, leaving Sky Screen observers skeptical. However, confirmation from two Marine Admirals lent undeniable credibility to the claims. The legendary blade Tenseiga—capable of reviving the dead—truly existed.
"Straw Hat Luffy and his crew are behaving exactly as they did 5 years ago," Gin continued, his tone shifting to a more administrative register. "I've already submitted their updated profiles to Marine Headquarters. They've been classified as an Adventure Group, which means they pose no immediate threat to our operations."
This marked the first time anyone had heard the term "Adventure Group" applied to former pirates.
As the name suggested, Adventure Groups focused primarily on exploration rather than criminal activity. This classification applied to pirate crews that had committed no actual crimes, representing a fundamental shift in Marine policy. Under the reformed system, such organizations weren't considered priority targets, allowing the Marines to concentrate resources on genuinely dangerous threats.
The concept originated from Acting Fleet Admiral Artoria's core philosophy: establish the broadest united front and unite all forces that can be united. Even certain pirates who had committed no actual crimes could potentially become allies. The key was distinguishing between primary and secondary contradictions—avoiding the strategic error of pushing potential allies into enemy hands.
"The acting Fleet Admiral's Adventure Group classification really has streamlined our operations," Smoker observed with approval. "We can even issue bounties or search missions to these groups. Some of the braver ones actually complete the assignments, giving us much greater control over maritime activities."
"Though only Admiral Sakazuki would consider implementing collective punishment policies against the relatives of hardened criminals," Gin added with obvious distaste.
Both Admirals recalled Admiral Akainu's iron-blooded methodology, finding even their own radical sensibilities disturbed by his extremism. When two hardliners considered someone excessively harsh, the implications were deeply troubling.
Admiral Sakazuki's reputation had grown even more notorious in the future timeline. Collective punishment—a system where individuals with specific relationships to criminals received punishment alongside the actual perpetrators—represented an exceptionally cruel legal methodology that Sakazuki intended to expand and systematize.
The Sky Screen shifted perspectives, revealing a heated argument between Sakazuki and the acting Fleet Admiral.
"Acting Fleet Admiral," the towering Admiral's voice carried dangerous undertones as he loomed over Artoria's diminutive form, "I submitted my report days ago. Why haven't you issued the authorization order? our prison resources are being wasted on unnecessary feeding toward scum."
5 years of combat had left additional scars across Sakazuki's face, while his three-meter frame made the 1.6-meter Artoria appear almost childlike by comparison.
"Sakazuki, slamming your fists on my desk won't change my decision," Artoria replied with steely resolve. "Your collective responsibility system has exceeded all reasonable boundaries. Executing pirates' immediate family members is one matter, but you're proposing to extend punishment to three entire bloodlines. This latest report requests authorization to execute over 3,000 people. Do you want to transform Marine Headquarters into an abattoir?"
Artoria rarely displayed such anger, but these deliberations involved thousands of human lives. A single signature could condemn more than 3,000 individuals to death.
The "three bloodlines" referred to paternal, maternal, and spousal family lines. In Admiral Sakazuki's worldview, any pirate committing crimes at sea warranted the complete extermination of all three bloodlines as a deterrent to future criminals. Years of such policies had turned the waters around Marine Headquarters' execution grounds into permanently red seas.
"I have a desk full of formal complaints about your methods, Sakazuki," Artoria's voice rose dangerously. "Get out of my office. If you continue pursuing such extremist policies, I'll strip you of your Admiral rank and reduce you to Seaman Recruit."
Admiral Sakazuki merely snorted derisively, snatched his rejected report, and stormed toward the door. If the acting Fleet Admiral had ordered him to leave, he would comply—but his wounded pride would demand satisfaction elsewhere.
After his departure, Artoria wearily ran her fingers through her golden hair. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku... why did you leave me with so many troublesome subordinates? Sakazuki gives me nothing but headaches."
Behind the exhausted blonde officer hung a prominent plaque bearing the inscription "Justice Reigns Over the World." This wasn't mere decoration—throughout her 5-years tenure, Artoria had dedicated herself to implementing this philosophy in practical terms.
"The acting Fleet Admiral's military achievements have far exceeded any previous commander," Smoker continued his conversation with Gin. "I wonder how much longer the World Government will maintain her 'acting' status."
"The World Government is simply deceiving itself at this point," Gin replied with obvious satisfaction. "3 years ago, the acting Fleet Admiral deployed four Admirals to completely eliminate forces on Baltigo—the Revolutionary Army's headquarters. Dragon's carefully trained organization was utterly uprooted. The heads of his north sea commanders became trophies marking our promotions."
"Two years ago, the acting Fleet Admiral personally designed a trap that lured the Red Hair Pirates into a devastating ambush. Eight Admirals attacked simultaneously from concealed positions. Even a Yonko crew couldn't survive such overwhelming force—they were swept into history's garbage bin, leaving only Red-Haired Shanks himself alive."
"Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku's justice was merely empty rhetoric. Fleet Admiral Artoria genuinely leads the Marines toward world domination. Eventually, there will be only one voice commanding these seas."
As Smoker concluded his remarks, his expression transformed into the same mixture of admiration and fanaticism that Gin had displayed earlier. Only such a powerful Marine organization deserved their absolute loyalty.
Following the Admirals' conversation, the Sky Screen displayed an image that sent chills through every pirate organization worldwide.
A blonde figure sat elevated on the central throne of a massive conference chamber, flanked by six Marine Admirals on each side. All twelve of the future's Marine Admirals appeared in this single, terrifying tableau.
The three original Admirals—Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Kuzan—occupied the central positions closest to the Fleet Admiral, while nine additional officers had somehow achieved equal standing with these legendary monsters. For pirates across the world, this represented their worst possible nightmare made manifest.
The age of Marine supremacy had truly begun.
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