Canary

"Ah..."

Sengoku looked at the handsome young man beneath the slightly dim yellow light, who seemed somewhat embarrassed, and for a moment, he failed to react.

Only after a while did Sengoku feel warmth spread through his heart. Fighting back the urge to let the tears welling in his eyes fall, he asked,

"You little brat, did you prepare this to celebrate my promotion to Fleet Admiral of the Marines?"

"More or less..."

Yaen folded his arms across his chest and said, his eyes wandering and his words somewhat insincere,

"It was just a side benefit. Actually, I simply felt inexplicably happy when I realized that from now on, I'd be the Fleet Admiral's godson."

Hearing this, Sengoku inexplicably felt a little nervous and uneasy. He thought to himself,

Could it be that after this trip out with Kuzan, this child has really come to his senses? Has he gained a whole new understanding of justice, and now feels proud and honored that I've been promoted to Fleet Admiral?

But in the next moment, Yaen's words caused Sengoku's expression to freeze.

"With you, Old Man, backing me up from the top, who in Marineford would dare mess with me from now on? Wonderful! How could such a great occasion not be celebrated?"

Sengoku immediately snatched up a plate of food and hurled it at Yaen, cursing furiously,

"Even if I've been promoted to Fleet Admiral, that doesn't mean I'm your shield for throwing your weight around! This sea respects strength above all else..."

"You good-for-nothing brat, stop right there."

"You're driving me mad! Stop! Today, I'm definitely going to teach you a proper lesson!"

Not far from the courtyard where Sengoku lived, Kuzan, who had been lying there counting the stars, glanced in that direction. Watching the two constantly leaping shadows reflected against the window, he sighed faintly.

"Truly, a loving father and filial son. What a warm life."

In another direction, Vice Admiral Tsuru was just about to head out and discuss some details of tomorrow's Promotion Ceremony with Sengoku when she noticed the commotion in his courtyard and turned back.

"Sister Tsuru, what's wrong?" Gion, who was following Vice Admiral Tsuru, asked.

"Nothing. It seems that child Yaen has returned. This is a rare moment for the father and son to spend together, so let's leave them to it," Vice Admiral Tsuru said gently.

Hearing this, Gion looked toward Sengoku's courtyard.

"Bang!"

A chair suddenly crashed through one of the windows and slammed onto the road, shattering into pieces.

Amid the indistinct noise, Gion also heard booming sounds coming from Sengoku's courtyard.

"Sister Tsuru, this... perhaps you should go and stop them? They're fighting, aren't they?" Gion asked.

Vice Admiral Tsuru shook her head.

"Gion, you still don't understand. Men's romance is simply incomprehensible. This is also how they express their feelings."

"Really?" Gion said, clearly puzzled.

"You're still young..."

Vice Admiral Tsuru turned and walked toward the house as she continued, "Let's go back. You'll naturally understand this sort of thing in the future."

"Oh."

Gion answered, glanced once more toward Sengoku's courtyard, and then turned to follow Vice Admiral Tsuru back inside.

The next day.

Under the witness of countless Marines in Marineford, Admiral Sengoku took over the heavy responsibility from the previous Fleet Admiral, Kong Gokei, and assumed the position of Fleet Admiral of the Marines.

"Everyone, the situation across the sea is worsening by the day. Because of the lies spoken by the Pirate King before his death, the number of pirates throughout the sea continues to increase. Chaos, plunder, and slaughter... are all constantly spreading!!!"

"And what is our mission? What is the mission of the Marines? What is the justice we uphold?"

"..."

"Today, I will assume the position of Fleet Admiral of the Marines. In the name of 'Reigning Justice,' I swear that I will lead the Marines in suppressing every form of evil across the sea."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku's long and impassioned speech left Yaen completely unmoved, but it made the Marines across the world grow incredibly excited.

"Well, perhaps it's because I'm not a Marine yet and we're standing in different positions, so I can't understand Old Man's passion?"

Yaen muttered this under his breath. Fighting back the urge to yawn, he did his best to maintain the spirited bearing expected of a Fleet Admiral's family member and participated fully in the entire Promotion Ceremony.

What Yaen found somewhat boring was that none of the many countermeasures Old Man Sengoku had painstakingly prepared had been needed, since no pirates had come to cause trouble.

Otherwise, this Promotion Ceremony would have been much more fiery and thrilling.

But this was the normal outcome. The Marines had just executed the "Pirate King," Gol D. Roger, during this period and captured the "Golden Lion," Shiki. Their deterrence across the sea was still immense.

Ordinary underlings would never have had the chance to break into Marineford, while the Great Pirates would not rashly offend Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who needed to establish his authority.

Afterward, as the newly appointed Fleet Admiral, Sengoku formally took charge of all Marine affairs and plunged into another round of ceaseless work.

What made Yaen quite happy was that Sengoku seemed to have forgotten about him—or perhaps had given up on forcing him to become a Marine—and paid little attention to him as he lazed around in Sengoku's courtyard every day.

"This is the life..."

Every day, Yaen basked in the sun, watered the flowers, and, whenever he had nothing else to do, wandered around with a birdcage in hand and his other hand behind his back.

"Entering a Zen retirement life ahead of schedule. Wonderful!"

Sixteen-year-old Yaen thought this with immense satisfaction, and the whistle he was blowing grew louder and more rhythmic.

The Canary in the cage tilted her head. Humanlike intelligence shone in her eyes as she looked at Yaen and let out a soft, melodious sound.

"Good girl. You're learning quickly..."

Yaen smiled and continued walking his bird, not forgetting to point at the Marines passing by and comment on them, as though patiently teaching the Canary.

The graceful Canary was also highly intelligent, responding to Yaen from time to time.

At the same time, the Navy High Command was holding an important meeting. It concerned the promotion arrangements and transfers of a large number of Marine officers.

With Fleet Admiral Sengoku taking office, even though he had no intention of purging the previous Fleet Admiral's faction,

in order to control the great ship known as the "Marines" as smoothly as possible while it sailed upon the tides of the era, Fleet Admiral Sengoku naturally had to make the necessary personnel changes in various important positions.

"Very good. Everyone has worked hard on this meeting for three days. For now, let's arrange the promotions and transfers as discussed..."

Sengoku, seated at the head of the conference room, gave a brief summary before continuing,

"Additionally, there is one final matter concerning a problem reported by Vice Admiral Kuzan. I believe it requires further study."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku then distributed the prepared materials to the Navy High Command members present and said,

"That is, how we should supervise the Marines in the Four Seas."