So, True Love?

Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

"Bastard, why did you drag me into your oath?"

"Old man, you're the most important person in my heart. Wouldn't swearing on you make it more convincing?" Yaen said matter-of-factly.

"Very well. I hope you're not lying, kid. Otherwise, you..."

At that point, Fleet Admiral Sengoku inadvertently glanced toward Vice Admiral Tsuru before continuing. "Otherwise, you'll be sorry."

"Enough, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Stop fooling around."

Vice Admiral Tsuru lightly rolled her eyes at Sengoku, then took the Den Den Mushi from his hand and asked directly.

"Boy Yaen, explain the situation in detail. What exactly happened?"

?!

Yaen.

Vice Admiral Tsuru was there too? That was close!

Compared to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru was obviously much harder to fool.

Yaen's thoughts raced as he considered how to answer her question.

Originally, Yaen had planned to casually fool Old Man Sengoku first, then wait until he had straightened out the Remaining Marine Soldiers aboard the Warship.

Second Lieutenant Hope could then report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself, and the matter would naturally be over.

But now, that apparently would not work.

"Well, here's what happened..."

Yaen cleared his throat and spoke in a voice that carried lingering fear.

"After the Warship passed through the Gate of Justice and entered the massive whirlpool, we suddenly encountered the Gate of Justice on the Impel Down side gradually opening, and we discovered traces of 'Golden Lion' Shiki."

"To prevent 'Golden Lion' Shiki from hijacking the Warship and escaping, I immediately ordered the Warship to move away from the Gate of Justice. However, we were ultimately slower than 'Golden Lion' Shiki, who caught up to the Warship and launched an attack."

"Afterward, faced with the various unreasonable demands of the ferocious Great Pirate 'Golden Lion' Shiki, our Marine Soldiers bravely stepped forward, dared to draw their swords, and fearlessly sought to arrest 'Golden Lion' Shiki in defense of justice upon the seas."

??

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Vice Admiral Borsalino.

"So, this little brother Yaen led the Marines in driving back 'Golden Lion' Shiki?" Vice Admiral Borsalino asked in a teasing tone.

Not only Vice Admiral Borsalino, but Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru also clearly doubted him.

After all, if a mere shipful of Marine Soldiers could drive away or capture 'Golden Lion' Shiki, then the Marines would not have suffered such tremendous losses because of him back then.

Is this kid trying to claim credit for himself?

Good. Doubting me is right. Not believing me is even better...

Completely different thoughts arose at the two ends of the Den Den Mushi.

Then Yaen changed tack without the slightest pause.

"Dying for justice as Marines is naturally our honor, but I deeply understand that dying for nothing has no meaning. Therefore, I promptly stopped our troops from clashing with 'Golden Lion' Shiki, preserving As Much As Possible of our living strength."

Seeing the Den Den Mushi imitate Yaen's righteous expression, Vice Admiral Tsuru could not help glancing at Sengoku and asking.

"You taught him that? Making cowardice sound so justified?"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku's mouth twitched slightly, but he also breathed a sigh of relief.

This approach perfectly suited Yaen's character. There was no mistake about it.

As for Vice Admiral Borsalino, he vaguely caught a whiff of someone cut from the same cloth.

That vague, evasive attitude, that slippery approach where no one could find anything to pin responsibility on—it seemed a little familiar.

"Reporting to Vice Admiral Tsuru, this isn't cowardice!" Yaen declared loudly.

"I simply did not wish for my subordinates to make pointless sacrifices. I wanted them to preserve their lives and wait for the moment to uphold justice. You must understand, enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens requires even more courage than boldly dying, especially for my subordinates."

After a pause, Yaen changed tack and said directly.

"If this act of avoiding battle has created a bad impression of the Marines, I am willing to bear all responsibility for it. Even if I am dismissed and investigated, I will have no regrets."

Advancing by retreating... Little brother Yaen is no simple man, Vice Admiral Borsalino silently thought.

In this situation, leaving aside whether the Marines would hold Yaen accountable for being captured by pirates as the Warship's commanding officer, even if he truly were punished, he would gain a reputation as a tragic commander who cared for his subordinates and earn the respect of countless Marines.

That respect was far more valuable than the mere rank of captain.

However, Fleet Admiral Sengoku knew very well that if the Marines truly dismissed Yaen, the boy would probably laugh himself awake from his dreams.

"Stop spouting nonsense. What happened afterward? Why did Shiki leave? And where are you now?" Fleet Admiral Sengoku pressed.

Having bought himself some time through his nonsense, Yaen had already figured out what to say next.

"Afterward, 'Golden Lion' Shiki wanted to recruit me to become a pirate? How could that possibly work? I come from a proud Marine family, so naturally, I refused to the death."

"But that despicable, shameless 'Golden Lion' Shiki threatened the lives of my beloved subordinates, so I could only stall for time and try to wait for reinforcements from Marine Headquarters."

Then, under the utterly baffled gazes of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the others, the Den Den Mushi imitated Yaen's voice and let out a deep sigh before speaking.

"Afterward, during my conversation with 'Golden Lion' Shiki, I learned that the reason he wanted to recruit me, the Fleet Admiral's son, was because he firmly believed Roger wasn't dead, but had been secretly hidden away by the Marines. He wanted my help rescuing Roger."

"But reality is reality. 'Pirate King' Gol D. Roger is already dead. That is an indisputable fact."

"After that, overwhelmed by grief and indignation, 'Golden Lion' Shiki was so heartbroken that he coughed up blood, then left alone in dejection."

After a pause, Yaen, afraid that Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru would not believe him, continued.

"Oh, right. When 'Golden Lion' Shiki left, he also said, 'For ten years, life and death have lain vast between us. Though I do not think of you, I cannot forget you...'"

???

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Vice Admiral Borsalino.

Yaen added, "Old Man, judging from 'Golden Lion' Shiki's expression and tone, he seemed completely devastated. I'm worried he might not be able to endure such a blow and could do something foolish like kill himself. If you want to arrest him, you should act quickly."

Suicide?!

Was this dying for love?!

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Vice Admiral Borsalino.

"Could there be some secret past between Roger and Shiki that we Marines never knew about?" Even as Fleet Admiral Sengoku said it, he found it absurd.

"Seems... not impossible..."

Vice Admiral Borsalino adjusted his amber-tinted sunglasses and said, "Back then, didn't Shiki storm into Marineford and cause havoc precisely because he wanted to rescue Roger?"