Bali Island.
Shouted slogans echoed over the vast beach.
Rows of Marines trained on the beach, split into two teams to spar with each other.
A murderous atmosphere hung between the teams, as though they regarded one another as true mortal enemies.
Zephyr stood on a raised platform, directing the troops through their drills.
"You must see your opponents as pirates! Celestial Dragons! Mortal enemies!"
"What are you doing! Showing mercy will only send you to your doom!"
"What's with those tears! Can your tears save the people!"
Old Billy stood to one side, assisting Zephyr with the training. His heart was still filled with respect for his former instructor.
The once-obscure Bali Island had already taken on an entirely different appearance under Old Billy and the newly arrived Zephyr.
On the beach, warmed by the sun, two beach loungers stood side by side, with a small wooden table between them.
Sengoku and Kuzan, who had once represented the Marines' greatest fighting strength, had become like two ordinary retirees after leaving the World Government's Marines, looking utterly devoid of fighting spirit.
Wearing sunglasses and swim trunks, their upper bodies bare, they lounged leisurely in the sun. A plate of sliced grilled meat sat on the little wooden table beside them.
Sengoku let out a long breath, feeling the blazing sunshine, then stretched hard and murmured to himself, "It's been so long since I last relaxed like this."
Without even opening his eyes, Kuzan grumbled with his hands behind his head, "This is much more comfortable than dealing with that endless paperwork at Marineford."
Sengoku rolled his eyes at Kuzan and complained, "How many days were you even Fleet Admiral? How could you have had that much paperwork? I dealt with paperwork for decades, and even I didn't complain as much