Special Combat Power Recruitment Mechanism

Hmm?

The moment Yaen heard the questioning voice, Observation Haki spread almost instinctively, clearly sensing a tall figure appearing beside him.

Whoosh!

Sengoku only saw Yaen's figure flash from the sofa, instantly appearing at the side of the office.

"So fast!"

Having witnessed the entire thing, Sengoku narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered.

"And what was that technique just now? It was somewhat similar to Marine Six Styles: Soru, yet it was an entirely different movement technique."

"Yaen, you brat, you've really been hiding a lot!"

Now fully awake, Yaen saw that he was in Sengoku's office, especially with Sengoku squinting as he examined him, and could not help but think, This is bad.

Having been completely relaxed, Yaen had been startled by the suddenly appearing voice. Lacking a sense of security, he had almost instinctively used the technique known as Shunpo, directly opening up distance from the source of the voice.

However, Yaen had never displayed this movement technique called Shunpo in front of Sengoku before.

As his thoughts raced, Yaen put on an expression of lingering fright, lightly patting his chest with one hand as he said repeatedly.

"You scared me to death! Who was that? You scared me so badly that I even leaped with all the strength I had as a baby."

As Yaen shifted his gaze, he discovered that the person standing beside the sofa was a tall, lean man with a headscarf wrapped around his head, dark skin, and a pair of sunglasses.

Marine Admiral Aokiji?!

But Yaen quickly came to his senses.

In this era, when even Sengoku was still an admiral, Kuzan had not yet been promoted to Marine Admiral Aokiji.

If Yaen remembered correctly, Kuzan currently held the rank of vice admiral.

However, once Sengoku was promoted to fleet admiral, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino—those three monsters whose strength had already far surpassed that of ordinary Marine vice admirals—would likely all be promoted at the same time.

Kuzan gently lifted his sunglasses, carefully scrutinized Yaen, and said.

"Not bad strength, but why have I never seen you before? And why are you being so disrespectful, sleeping in Admiral Sengoku's office?"

By the end, Kuzan's tone carried considerable displeasure, leaving Yaen's head almost full of question marks.

Sleeping in Sengoku's office—weren't you, Kuzan, the most diligent at doing that? You even practically carried an eye mask around with you.

If Yaen had been blindfolded, he would have thought Sakazuki was the one scolding him.

But Yaen quickly recalled something.

Marine Admiral Aokiji Kuzan, who would later uphold Lax Justice, had been a passionate young man in his youth. The justice he championed was called Passionate Justice, so it was normal for him to say such things.

With that thought, Yaen lightly scratched his head and said mildly, "Sorry. I couldn't control myself and fell asleep."

"Couldn't control yourself?" Kuzan's tone grew even more dissatisfied as he asked.

"This is Admiral Sengoku's office, one of the places that symbolizes justice and order across the Great Sea. Just how shallow is your justice that you can sleep here?"

Hearing that, Yaen's expression turned somewhat strange. "Well... once you experience this kind of joy, you won't be able to control yourself either."

"Impossible! Even if I, Kuzan, never slept for the rest of my life and died from a mental breakdown, I would absolutely never do something so disrespectful!" Kuzan declared firmly.

Yaen did not argue with Kuzan further. He merely remembered those words in silence, waiting for an opportunity to repeat them in front of Kuzan someday.

Watching this, Sengoku nodded in satisfaction.

Kuzan's passion-filled justice was exactly what Yaen needed to correct his usual lax behavior.

Hadn't Yaen, who was usually full of excuses and reasons, chosen to remain silent in the face of Kuzan's impassioned speech?

It seems that entrusting Yaen to Kuzan's guidance really is a good choice.

Sengoku inwardly praised Vice Admiral Tsuru's wisdom. Then, after clearing his throat twice to draw Kuzan and Yaen's attention, he said.

"Vice Admiral Kuzan, this is my son, Teffimoe Yaen, a promising young man determined to join the Marines and uphold justice."

At this, Yaen's mouth twitched slightly. He almost instinctively retorted, "No, I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

However, Yaen ultimately suppressed the impulse, lest Sengoku lose face before his subordinate.

Kuzan's face was full of surprise. He looked at Sengoku, then at Yaen, and asked doubtfully.

"Admiral Sengoku, is this really your son? You two don't look very alike."

The moment those words were spoken, Sengoku's expression stiffened somewhat, and he could not help glancing at Yaen.

Handsome, gentle, refined...

It could be said that aside from both Yaen and Sengoku wearing glasses, even Sengoku had to admit that their appearances were vastly different.

"Adopted son. Yaen is the adopted son I took in overseas many years ago."

To keep Kuzan from overthinking it, Sengoku somewhat reluctantly offered an explanation before changing the subject.

"However, because Yaen has lived outside Marineford for many years, his personality has become somewhat lax."

"I see." Kuzan nodded, then asked, "Then what do you mean, Admiral Sengoku?"

Sengoku glanced at Yaen, whose expression remained utterly unconcerned, and a faint smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he said.

"Vice Admiral Kuzan, as you just saw, Yaen is quite capable. It would be a waste of combat power to have him join the Marines directly as an ordinary soldier, especially when the overall situation across the Great Sea is far from stable..."

After a pause, Sengoku noticed the changing expression on Yaen's face and continued.

"So, I intend to activate the 'Special Combat Power Recruitment Mechanism.'"

Hearing this, Yaen could no longer hold back and said in quick succession.

"Hey, Old Man, don't go too far. This mechanism doesn't apply to me. You're messing around."

"How doesn't it apply? You were the one who specifically suggested establishing this mechanism. Think about it carefully." Sengoku said with a smile.

At that moment, Yaen suddenly felt as though he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

Back then, Yaen had suggested that Sengoku establish the "Special Combat Power Recruitment Mechanism" in order to leave a loophole in the Marines' strict promotion system—one that could be used in the future to recruit Fujitora and Ryokugyu, two powers on the level of Marine Admirals.

"No, Old Man. My strength is nowhere near the standard for 'special combat power.' You're being ridiculous," Yaen said sharply.