Setting sail from headquarters

"What is faith? What does it mean?"

"Faith is born in the human heart and dies in human nature."

"What makes our Navy soldiers set life and death aside to fight pirates?"

"Perhaps many soldiers don't know."

"They have only a vague idea."

"What is that vague idea?"

"It is faith."

"It is protection."

"It is the wish that ordinary people around the world no longer have to wake in terror in the middle of the night."

"An army with unwavering faith can win every battle and overcome every defense..."

"..."

"..."

"What is my justice?"

"In the past, the first lesson instructors taught soldiers joining the Navy was to follow their own justice."

"That is wrong."

"Soldiers grow up in different environments and receive different educations."

"First, they must develop sound views of the world, life, and values."

"Then they must be guided to understand what justice truly is."

"Without proper guidance, many soldiers' justice will eventually stray down the wrong path."

"Such as lazy justice, humane justice, uncertain justice, dark justice... and absolute justice."

"And to understand what true justice is, we must understand what we are fighting for."

"It is protection."

"It is protecting the future of innocent civilians, even if our arms and legs are broken."

"It is..."

"..."

Morris held the booklet, growing more astonished with every page he turned.

It was like a sudden awakening. His blood surged, and his very soul trembled.

"This...!"

"This...!"

For a moment, he could not even form a complete sentence.

Every word in the booklet struck deep into his soul, leaving his mind blank.

The booklet held no earth-shattering secrets. It simply defined faith and justice from various angles in clear, concise terms.

Sakazuki rose and walked over to Morris.

"Vice Admiral Morris, consider this a gift to mark your appointment as an instructor."

"For the Navy's future."

Morris stood and straightened his clothes. He wanted to say something, but did not know how to express it.

"This gift is far too precious."

"Thank you, Sakazuki."

"I..."

"I..."

He bowed solemnly to Sakazuki.

"There's no need to say more, Vice Admiral Morris."

"It's all for the Navy's future."

"One day, the Navy's justice will reach the ends of the world."

Sakazuki cut off Morris before he could struggle to say how he would repay him.

"Yes, one day..."

As he listened to Sakazuki, Morris seemed already able to picture that scene. He gently stroked the booklet in his hands and murmured those words.

Early the next morning, Marineford's harbor gradually came alive.

Load after load of supplies was carried into the hold.

The warship weighed anchor.

Sakazuki stood on the upper deck, looking down at the officers and soldiers lined up below.

His gaze swept across them as his adjutant began the roll call.

"Doberman."

"Here!"

"..."

"Strawberry."

"Here!"

"..."

"Dalmatian."

"Here!"

"..."

"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, sir! Roll call complete. All personnel present. Awaiting your orders!"

"Set sail."