Giovanni slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was wood. Aged planks forming a low ceiling above him. His vision swam for a moment, the world tilting slightly as awareness crept back in. There was a faint rocking beneath him, steady and rhythmic, like the breathing of the sea itself.
"…Where am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
To his side, the quiet rustle of paper stopped.
Benn Beckman, seated on a chair beside the bed, lowered the newspaper he had been reading and glanced over. "Oh," he said calmly, "you're up."
Giovanni turned his head toward the sound, squinting slightly. Benn sat there with his usual composed posture, one leg crossed over the other, a cigarette resting idly between his fingers though it wasn't lit.
"Where… are we?" Giovanni asked weakly.
Benn allowed himself a faint smile. "We're on the Red Dawn. The pirate ship of the Red-Haired Pirates." He nodded toward the bed. "You should rest more. You're not fully healed yet."
Giovanni blinked, then slowly pushed his arms against the mattress as if testing his body. "No," he said after a second, surprised, "I actually feel great. How long was I out?"
"About eight hours," Benn replied.
"That long?" Giovanni muttered, clicking his tongue.
Benn's eyes flicked briefly toward Giovanni's torso, wrapped tightly in clean bandages beneath the thin blanket. "That's actually a quick recovery, considering the cut Mihawk gave you."
Giovanni followed his gaze and looked down at himself. The bandages rose and fell with each breath. He reached out, fingers brushing lightly against them.
"That scar's most likely permanent," Benn added.
Giovanni smiled.
"No," he said quietly, almost pleased, "it's better that way." He leaned his head back against the pillow. "It'll be a constant reminder that I need to grow stronger."
Benn watched him for a moment, then exhaled through his nose. "It's impressive," he said, "how obsessed you are with getting stronger."
Giovanni let out a short laugh. "What can I say? When monsters like you and Shanks are in the crew, it becomes very clear how far behind I am." He turned his head slightly. "Speaking of Shanks… where is he?"
Benn glanced toward the small round window, where sunlight spilled in from outside. "No idea. If I had to guess, he's somewhere on the island. Either gambling, drinking, or doing both at the same time."
Giovanni nodded slowly. "I see."
He swung his legs over the side of the bed.
A sharp grunt escaped him as his feet touched the floor, his body protesting the sudden movement. His knees trembled for a brief second.
"Gio," Benn said flatly, "you've healed a bit, not fully. You shouldn't be getting out of bed yet."
Giovanni straightened anyway, teeth clenched for a moment before the pain dulled. "No, Benn," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "If I spend my entire time on this ship, who's going to comfort all the women on this island who are suffering emotionally?" He placed a hand over his chest. "They need an anchor like myself to lean on."
Benn stared at him.
"…What are you even talking about?"
Giovanni ignored him and limped over to a coat hanger fixed against the wall. Hanging there was his black coat. He grabbed it, slinging it over his shoulder with practiced ease despite the stiffness in his movements.
"You wouldn't understand, Benn-kun," Giovanni said solemnly. "It's about the intricacies of love and companionship. Concepts only the delicate and enlightened can truly grasp."
Benn's brow twitched. "Putting a bunch of words that sound smart together doesn't make you smart."
Giovanni laughed loudly. "Your mind is too narrow, Benn-kun."
As he turned, his eyes landed on the newspaper resting loosely in Benn's hand. "Hey," he said, pointing at it, "is that a newspaper? What's the headline?"
Benn glanced down at it again. "Yeah. The News Coo dropped it off earlier." His expression sharpened slightly. "According to this… there are now three new Admirals."
Giovanni's eyes widened slightly.
"Three new Admirals?" he asked. "Doesn't that make six now?"
Benn Beckman let out a short laugh. "No. Three Vice Admirals were promoted. Listen."
He adjusted the newspaper in his hands and began reading aloud.
"Big News from the World Government. Following the destruction of Ohara, the Marines have announced sweeping promotions across their highest ranks."
Benn's tone grew more serious as he continued.
"Three Vice Admirals have been elevated to the title of Admiral for their roles in the operation. Sakazuki, now Admiral Akainu. Borsalino, now Admiral Kizaru. And Kuzan, now Admiral Aokiji."
Giovanni felt a subtle chill crawl up his spine.
Benn went on.
"Furthermore, former Admiral Sengoku has been promoted to Fleet Admiral, assuming full command of the Navy."
He paused briefly, then added more quietly, "And Kong has stepped down as Fleet Admiral as he's been promoted to a high-ranking position within the World Government itself."
Benn lowered the paper slightly. "Big News Morgans calls it the dawn of a new age of justice."
Inside Giovanni's mind, everything went still.
So the Ohara incident has already happened…
His jaw tightened.
Nico Robin is probably on the run right now. Her mother… already dead.
For the first time since leaving the North Blue, the weight of this world truly settled on him. A world where justice was selective. Where entire islands could be erased and branded necessary.
His fingers curled slowly into a fist.
If I'm not strong enough… I'll be crushed by the same kind of power.
Benn noticed the change in his expression.
"What's wrong, Gio?" he asked.
Giovanni blinked and snapped back to reality. "Ah, nothing. I was just thinking… the name Kuzan sounded familiar."
Benn raised an eyebrow. "Familiar? Do you know him?"
Giovanni stepped closer. "Let me see."
He leaned over and looked at the photograph printed beneath the article, three men standing side by side. Akainu. Kizaru. And Aokiji.
Giovanni nodded.
"Yep. That's Kuzan."
Benn looked up at him. "You've met him?"
"He came to my village once," Giovanni said casually. "He tried to headhunt me into joining the Marines."
Benn's eyes widened slightly in suprise. "And you said no?"
Giovanni shrugged. "Technically, my mother did. She said I was too young to make decisions like that."
He turned away, stretching his arms as he started toward the exit of the cabin.
"But it doesn't matter anymore."
He waved a hand over his shoulder.
"Stay here alone, Grandpa Benn. The ladies of this island are waiting for me."
Benn Beckman watched him go, then shook his head with a quiet chuckle.
"I really do have to look after idiots," he muttered.
________________________________________
Support me on Patreon. [Patreon.com/tenten100?]