28 Chapter 27

In the ocean nearby the Marine Base G-2, there lied one marine ship, floating by. Within such ship, one Marine Officer, characterized by the orange-coloured hair and slit eyes, sat next to a wooden table that had a Den Den Mushi on top of it.

<<...Contrary to our expectations, Goldtooth pirates lost even after giving them one of our valuable resources.>> The deep voice spoke through the Den Den Mushi, <<Without a doubt, Goldtooth's strength should've far surpassed that of a Vice Admiral's, and his crew should've easily defeated a small division consisting of five Marine Officers only. I must admit, that I am filled with nothing but disappointment at the current time.>>

"Do not fret. There is no point in lamenting over something that has already happened." The orange-haired Marine Officer, who formed a gentle smile on his face, said softly, "As long as we manage to keep ourselves hidden, there will always be the next time, big brother. Or should I say, Admiral Seidohebi?"

<<Oh please, Bayard, you know that such a title is nothing but a mockery to me.>> The voice replied with a snort, before stating, <<But now isn't the time for us to chit-chat; do not stall any longer. The longer it takes for the promised 'backup' to arrive, the more suspicious they will get.>>

"Of course, I will. You know me." The Marine Officer, now known as Bayard, said pleasantly,

"All for the glory of the sky."

<<Heh, well said.>>

__________

"The remaining soldiers, treat the wounded. Captain Happy, move Rear Admiral Stainless to safety and prioritize his recuperation." Standing in front of the frozen Vane and Bruiser, Kuzan immediately ordered, "Signalman, call the headquarter and report the situation. Additionally, ask when the backup will arrive."

"""Yes, sir!"""

Turning to Gion, Kuzan commanded, "Gion, check the ins and outs of the Goldtooth pirates' ship, which is docked on the other side of this island. Bring back any useful medical equipment."

"Yes, sir!" Gion immediately dashed after a strict salute, away from where I currently stood.

"Vice Admiral Kuzan!" One marine soldier, who was looking at the sea ahead through the binoculars in his hands, suddenly spoke up, "I sight one marine ship approaching us... it seems to be the division under the command of Vice Admiral Bayard!"

Perking up to the marine soldier's words, I looked at the sea. Indeed, one marine ship, which seemed to be the same model as Kuzan's, was rapidly sailing at this island; the backup was finally here.

"...Keep your eyes on them." Kuzan stated seriously, before, without hesitation, shattering the frozen figures of Vane and Bruiser—killing them off in a single go.

My eyes narrowed. This wasn't like Kuzan, to give up the chance to interrogate the captured criminals. However, I understood that his sudden decision lied on the approaching Marine ship, and that there must've been a reason why. Therefore, following his suit,

"White Snake," My hand, immediately morphing into a rapidly travelling white snake of smoke, shot out at the cuffed and unconscious Avery, before coiling around Avery tightly.

Subsequently, its colour suddenly subverted into pitch black—setting Avery's entire body on a potent fire, and reducing the teen into ashes in an instant.

"It's a good thing that you are a fast learner, Smoker." Kuzan commented as he gazed at the burnt corpse of Avery emotionlessly, "The current development of events won't allow us to interrogate them, and I fear for the worst."

Pointing at the Marine base G-2 behind us, Kuzan then ordered me, "Now, inspect the base and check if there is any survivor left, and..."

Kuzan's expression darkened as he spoke,

"...look for the base commander, Vice Admiral Victorious. Make sure to bring me the full report of his state."

My eyes narrowed. Kuzan seemed to be concerned about the approaching backup as far as I could deduce.

"Leave it to me."

Morphing my body into smoke, I quickly flew into the opened entrance of G-2.

Swoo...

Rooms, rooms, and more rooms. Corpses that used to be the marine soldiers, all scattered with burnt marks on them.

'Explosions,' I noted, 'Avery's works.'

Travelling further, I only sighted empty and damaged facilities. Plundered or destroyed, there was nothing of use in this hollow and horrifying base.

'Dead. Dead... Also dead.'

Turn right. Spread smoke all around for a thorough inspection. See if anyone is alive, especially Vice Admiral Victorious.

'...Vice Admiral Victorious, huh,' I thought as my half-smoke body rushed through the quiet hallway that was painted with blood, 'I did hear about him before. A relatively young Vice Admiral like Kuzan-san, who was well-known to be a faithful believer of moral justice—'

I stopped, with my body slowly returning back to its human form. In front of me, there was one corpse lying in a pool of blood. Unlike the other corpses, this one, in particular, was violated to a horrifying degree—eyeballs plucked out, nose cut, limbs disfigured, and torso full of baseball-sized holes. Judging by the corpse's attire, his rank was... Vice Admiral. Finally, within proximity, there was a badge, one which symbolized one's status as the base commander.

I was currently looking into the mutilated corpse whose name was Vice Admiral Victorious.

"Ha..."

I massaged my temples and closed my eyes, away from the gory sight ahead of me, trying to ease myself.

'...One thing I can say for sure, is that these wounds aren't Avery's work. That explosive lad is incapable of controlling his strength, and uses his fruit ability at every single chance possible. Based on this, and based on the fact that Bruiser had trouble facing Rear Admiral Stainless, it has to be Goldtooth himself who was responsible for doing this.'

Repoening my eyes with a deep frown, I speculated,

'The best answer I can come up on this incident, is that Goldtooth harboured hatred for Vice Admiral Victorious. Upon finding out the information, he immediately sailed out.'

'However... this brings yet another inquiry; just how did he acquire such information, that Vice Admiral Victorious led the Marine Base G-2? With newspaper being the sole source of information available to everyone, and with this world being filled with vast oceans, receiving the whereabouts of Vice Admiral Victorious, in the lawless New World, doesn't seem easy.'

...Then there was only one answer left, wasn't it?

'There's a spy, or spies, in the Marine. There are those who joined their hands with the pirates, for whatever motive that they may have—hold on.'

My eyes widened, finally understanding why Kuzan killed Vane and Bruiser just before. Quickly morphing my body into smoke, I began to fly out of the base, as quickly as possible,

'It was clearly stated by the headquarter beforehand that the backups will swiftly be provided, yet we were left by ourselves to deal with the Goldtooth pirates. Those so-called backups... they are likely to be the traitors themselves.'

__________

"I apologize for the delay, Vice Admiral Kuzan," Bayard, the orange-haired and slit-eyed Vice Admiral, bowed politely with a sincere expression, "It seems that Goldtooth planted many of his subordinate pirate crews all around the base, and they tenaciously blocked our way."

Then, making a smile on his face, Bayard said to Kuzan whose expression was cold, "And considering how I struggled against those pirates alone, imagine my surprise when I found that you managed to neutralize them, all by yourselves. I currently am filled with nothing but respect for you, Vice Admiral Kuzan."

"...It has only been a year."

"Sorry? I cannot follow what you are trying to speak of."

Kuzan spoke up with his eyes shadowed,

"A year ago, Victorious-san dismantled the Goldtooth, and while Goldtooth was being transported to the Impel Down, he miraculously escaped somehow. A year—that's the amount of time he spent in the New World, rebuilding his crew from the scratch." Kuzan said coldly, "In the New World, most of the pirates end up joining one of the big three—even the hundreds that were situated on this beach was a stretch for Goldtooth."

"And here, you say 'subordinate pirate crews?' Do you truly think that highly of Goldtooth?"

"Haha... I do not understand the sudden hostility aimed at me, Vice Admiral Kuzan," Bayard smiled gently, "Though your reasoning is logical to some extent, it is a speculation in the end. The truth is that my division faced many pirates, and nothing more."

Kuzan was about to speak once again, however, Bayard then placed his arm around Kuzan's shoulder in a friendly manner, and whispered into the former's ear,

"...And you know, don't try to dig in too deep, my comrade in justice... they are watching over you."

Bayard's eyes swept over the injured marines at the back, who were being lifted up by the others capable of moving. Kuzan frowned upon noticing this, for he knew that Bayard was indirectly threatening him of the consequences that will follow if he were to act rashly.

"A person is meant to live by the fate he or she is destined with. Vice Admiral Kuzan, the targets of your hostility should be the pirates, not your fellow Vice Admiral." Backing off from Kuzan, Bayard chuckled jokingly. Then, he turned around and ordered his division,

"All men, help out our fellow comrades, who just had a rough battle!"

"""Yes, sir!"""

With his back still facing Kuzan, Bayard stated, "We will take over the authority over the remaining Goldtooth pirates, from here on. I suggest that you return to Marineford and get a nice rest, Vice Admiral Kuzan."

Kuzan stood still, with his face headed down.

When Smoker rushed out of the base, such was the scene that was laid out in front of him.

__________

It was a cloudy night, in the middle of the sea. The waves were gentle, and the dim light of the moon was blocked by the thick layer of clouds, such that the entire sea fell into the darkness.

Our ship sailed by alone, peacefully. Bayard's division remained at G-2 to clean up the base, with the remnants of Goldtooth pirates under their care.

Tonight, all marines were given temporarily relieved of their night duties, and were allowed deep sleep for the sake of the rest. Instead of them, it was Kuzan himself who was sitting outside, ensuring that there was no threat around; I bet that Gion probably is hugging her sword like a doll as she slept.

But Kuzan wasn't alone at the current moment. I, finding myself unable to sleep, sat next to him, staring at the mild waves that softly crashed over the ship.

"Vice Admiral Victorious's corpse was... given a cruel treatment, Kuzan-san." I said in a disheartened tone, "Though I came to view many dead ones by now, none of them would be able to compare to what I saw today."

Closing my eyes, I felt the cold wind breezing through. Kuzan, without responding, popped open a bottle of liquor in his hands.

"There are spies in our ranks, Kuzan-san," Speaking up once more, I muttered solemnly, "Someone told Goldtooth, one full of hatred, the whereabouts of Vice Admiral Victorious."

"Spies..." Kuzan sighed, "...won't be the right way to describe them."

He then sighed once more, being unable to conceal his down-hearted state.

"There are those who identify themselves as being affiliated with the World Government rather than the Marine. Getting enlisted and entering the ranks of Marine is an easy process, and in order to keep the Marine under their control, the World Government planted their eyes here and there… It is a custom that's been continuing since the past, and I was simply reminded of it today."

"World Government..." I clenched my fists clenched unconsciously. The words spoken out of Kuzan meant,

"Victorious-san wasn't 'attacked' by the pirates, but rather, 'eliminated' by the World Government."

I was at loss for words.

"He was someone who followed his heart, refusing to heed the orders from the World Government. Heh... look where his rebellious tendency got him." Kuzan raised up his other hand, which was holding onto a bottle of liquor, and gazed into the bottle,

"Jerez, Zephyr-sensei's favourite... perfect on days like this."

I watched as Kuzan chugged down the alcohol with a painful expression on his face.

"The ocean sees... the beginning of the world, and the ocean knows... the end of the world..."

He seemed hollow and lost, not knowing where to go. Within this dark sea, he seemed more stranded than he ever has been.

"Thus... it calls us towards... the way we must take... Thus... it leads us towards... a proper world..."

Lowering the bottle, Kuzan poured the remaining liquor into the sea.

"Enveloping... pain and suffering... greatly and kindly wrapping them up..."

"The ocean sees... the beginning of the world... and the ocean knows... the end of the world..."

We continued to sit by as the ship sailed through the night, completely worn out both physically and mentally.