The New World, G-1 Branch. The front line of the war.
Watching lightning rise from the Holy Land, Tsuru let out a long breath of relief.
"He finally made it back?"
Whatever treasonous plans Sakazuki and Ron were plotting, Tsuru knew neither of them wanted anything to happen to the Holy Land.
That would do the seas no good, do the people no good, and run counter to the justice they believed in. Tsuru could not say for certain what drove Ron, but she understood Akainu.
If this went against justice, Akainu would never have let Ron take the lead.
Still...
It was far too bold!
Remembering Kong's cold, resolute gaze before he left that morning, the veteran marine pressed a hand to her forehead, her brow furrowed with worry.
Glug... glug...
On the hospital balcony, Kureha tipped back a bottle of strong liquor. A smile hung on her aged face.
"Heeheeheehee. What an interesting brat."
"He's got far more nerve than Rocks or Roger ever did!"
Kureha had reached the same conclusion as Tsuru. Then her smile faded, and her voice filled with wistfulness.
"And he's far stronger, too..."
"Imu... I bet he's giving you a headache as well."
By "stronger," she meant more than raw power. She meant things that could never be discussed openly, yet mattered enormously to every Affiliated Nation.
Across the seas today, the name "Azure Dragon" could stop a rebellion in an entire nation. Even if the rebels fought their way into the palace and seized the king, all the ruler had to say was that the navy would never tolerate anyone siding with rebels. They would have no choice but to let him go and submit.
Outsiders saw only Ron's terrifying reputation from his earlier years, when he had plotted against the Four