At the beginning of Sea Circle Calendar year 1496, Marine Headquarters underwent another major personnel reshuffle.
Early that year, "Black Arm" Zephyr officially stepped down as Admiral and became chief instructor of the Naval Academy and head of the Elite Training Camp!
Meanwhile, Admiral Sengoku began systematically taking over the Fleet Admiral's duties. Under Kong's guidance, the two slowly began the transfer of power.
With an Admiral's seat at Marine Headquarters vacant, younger officers such as Gern and Sakazuki began taking on core combat missions.
In July, during the second half of that same year, Gern attended a rank-conferral ceremony at Marineford and was officially promoted to Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral!
That same month, Ensign "White Rabbit" Lipo Hope received an exceptional promotion to Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel for her outstanding performance in the defense of G-7 Fortress.
Marine Headquarters Second Lieutenant "Gold" Gild Tesoro and Stella held their wedding, exchanging vows beneath the flag of justice.
Not long after getting married, Tesoro began working hard to build up his military achievements. Finally, in the last month of 1496, he led his men in wiping out a massive pirate fleet and was awarded the rank of Headquarters Major.
Among the pirates, the more notable newcomers that year included:
A lone man with a single sword, who sank the pirate fleet of West Blue mafia "Boss" Marlon and single-handedly slew Marlon, a former member of the Rocks Pirates.
He was Dracule Mihawk, whose reputation as the master swordsman "Hawk Eyes" resounded throughout the Grand Line.
There was also Donquixote Doflamingo, who used the String-String Fruit to massacre the North Blue Nobles' Council and began building his family.
And Gecko Moria, who began challenging Kaido and prepared to establish the Thriller Bark fleet.
That same year, the Shichibukai system was launched, with Crocodile