Mid-December, Marineford Era 1498.
The symbol of peace, the East Blue.
An unprecedentedly heinous kidnapping incident had occurred. While the Celestial Dragons who had traveled to the East Blue for sightseeing were visiting Seiga Island in the Kingdom of Goa, they were kidnapped by Dragon, a member of the "Freedom Army."
Vice Admiral Garp of Marine Headquarters happened to be returning from "visiting relatives" at the time and "ran into" the kidnappers at sea. He successfully rescued the Celestial Dragons from the Freedom Army and protected their lives.
Many years after the destruction of the Rocks Pirates, another heinous organization had reached its claws toward the Celestial Dragons.
The World Government issued a wanted bounty for Dragon of the Freedom Army, the kidnapper at the time, offering the terrifying sum of 1.5 billion Beli—dead or alive.
The Marines who had "assisted" Vice Admiral Garp in rescuing the Celestial Dragons all received commendations from Marine Headquarters.
Late December.
In the early morning, thick, chilling fog blanketed Marineford. Though sunlight pierced through the fog and shone upon the ground, it offered no warmth at all.
The naval port of Marine Headquarters was sparsely populated. Aside from the Marines conducting routine patrols, there was hardly anyone else in sight.
Yet unlike the desolate harbor, the auditorium at Marine Headquarters was packed with people.
Today, a special rank conferment ceremony was being held in the auditorium of Marine Headquarters.
It was an auditorium capable of seating two thousand people, and every seat was occupied. At the very front stood a raised platform, where Fleet Admiral Kong of Marine Headquarters was speaking through an amplified Den Den Mushi.
The general gist was nothing more than a "brief" summary of the Marines' contributions and achievements over the past year, along with a look toward the