It was a large, well-lit white room, easily accommodating over fifty people. Several miniature ship replicas were displayed on rows of shelves while nautical charts and graphs along with topographic island maps were either rolled up and stacked atop each other, or were hanging from the walls on all sides of the room. In the middle was a massive wooden table and over it was a large-scale map of world and blue seas with cartography tools scattered along its edges. It was where strategic planning and maritime tactics were usually discussed.
Across the room, opposite to its entrance, were transparent glass sliding doors leading to a garden balcony overlooking the entirety of Marineford. Many have said that this was the best view on the island, but most often than not, only one individual had the luxury of experiencing such a sight on a daily basis.
It was close to an hour past dawn and Vinsmoke Sanji, current commander-in-chief of the marine naval military, found himself staring blankly at the horizon before taking a few puffs of the cigarette he was holding between the base of his right hand's index and middle finger.
More lean than muscular, his skin appeared scarred and wrinkled, while his blond hair lacked its former luster as it had completely grayed. Dressed in an untucked white frilled dress shirt, black dress pants, and black leather shoes, despite being hooked to numerous intravenous lines and having both his legs encased in metal casts, Sanji silently sat in a reclining wheelchair, enjoying his morning.
Nearing the age of eighty, Sanji knew all too well that he was long past his prime. He no longer was the brash youth he was before; he was merely another old man who now had a lot on his shoulders.
It had been less than a decade since the reformation of the Marines, yet they still had inadequate manpower to sufficiently help all the seas, be it the Four Seas, Grand Line, or the New World. Everyday they searched and screened for recruits suitable to serve their cause, regardless of their questionable backgrounds or unique eccentricities. Fortunately, their more recent crop of applicants for the naval military seemed promising.
In his left hand, Sanji had a sealed envelope with the letter of approval for the new ensigns along with a list of their names that was to be delivered to the designated officer in charge for them, Captain Salamanca.
The still scenery that Sanji's gaze had fixated on was soon disrupted as a circular door cut out of the air itself suddenly appeared. Sanji's eyes immediately turned into massive protruding pink hearts as the door opened outward from the middle, revealing his most trusted aid.
"Lisa-chwaaaan~! Seeing you always helps start my day off~!" Sanji's nonchalant and serious demeanor turned saccharine in a heartbeat.
"Good morning, Mr. Prince." Lisa said in a stern, almost apathetic voice. She was far too used to Sanji and his "habits".
"You're always so cute when you act all serious~!" He continued, rubbing his clenched fist against his cheeks, trying his best to appear endearing.
"If I may ask, have you gone through the documents I left you, sir?" Straight-faced and straight to the point, being strictly professional and duty-bound were the characteristics that made her the perfect assistant to the commander-in-chief.
"Of course~! I have them right here; signed and sealed~" He said while his hand was extended forward, waving the letter towards Lisa.
"Thank you for always complying with your deadlines, sir." As long as Sanji did what was expected from him, Lisa had no reason to complain. Behind his bouts of pervertedness and inappropriate playfulness with women, Sanji was a man highly respected, and equally feared by many. He was, in a way, a worldly treasure by himself for all the accomplishments both he and his allies achieved throughout their lives.
"But before you leave, maybe you could join me for some breakfast~? I could whip you up some South Bird Eggs Benedict or an Fairy Pumpkin Crostini~? We also have some Blood Flower Tea, Oolong, and Black Hennessy Coffee~".
Sanji continued on, listing more of the exquisite choices available in his personal pantry. He failed to realize that he no longer had the letter in hand and Lisa had already left before he even started to ramble.
In the south eastern coast of Marineford lies a thick bamboo grove atop a hill. It was considered a maze due to the natural bamboo’s incredible length, thickness, and bizarre growth patterns. Unlike typical bamboo, the ones that grew in this particular area were oriented differently, causing them to take zigzag-like shapes and resulting to the formation of numerous pathways within the small forest. If fortunate enough, one would end up in the center where a clear saltwater hot spring was located; this was where the Rainbow Koi were found. They were large saltwater fish with prism-like scales, which caused miniature rainbows to form once they came in contact with sunlight.
Word around Marineford was that the pond itself possessed revitalizing properties and was ideal for recuperation when back from missions. However, a certain individual developed a liking to this place, eventually causing a decrease in its number of visitors. In time, most decided to simply avoid it.
Submerged from the waist down with his back resting against a large rock, Roronoa Zoro, the appointed leader of the Mercenary Corps, made use of the ponds healing capabilities to soothe his aching muscles. He had just finished his routine morning exercises consisting of ten thousand push-ups and ten thousand overhead swings using an iron rod with oversized weights stacked on it.
Zoro was still known far and wide as the infamous “Pirate Hunter”, but after taking a good look at him, it was obvious that time had taken its toll on his body. His hair had begun to thin and turn pale green while some of his muscles appeared contracted. Multiple scars and wounds from hard fought battles had accumulated over the years, covering his whole body.
While Zoro was enjoying the silence and calming warmth, his right eye slightly opened as he felt a familiar presence.
“…Karma.” The former pirate spoke in a low-toned, stringent voice. “Here, boss.”
Immediately after replying, a small female, befitting the disembodied voice that was heard earlier, had appeared out of nowhere. Her visage apparently breaking out of what seemed to be some sort of camouflage. She was dressed in ninja apparel and possessed a long, scaly green tail with hair that appeared tail-like as well.
She was momentarily left speechless given the sight that was in front of her. Aside from Zoro, several Rainbow Koi were sitting beside him, apparently taking a break from all the swimming that they do. They too wanted to enjoy the springs themselves.
Regaining her composure, she quickly spoke. “I’m here to pick up the…” Before she could finish her statement, Zoro interjected with a question that seemed to hold quite the amount of weight, given his tone of voice.
“Did you bring it?”
Karma couldn’t help but take a deep gulp before answering the pirate hunter. “Yes boss; it's right here.” She immediately pulled out the large gourd that was strapped to her back and tossed it towards Zoro.
Catching it with one hand and pulling out the cork that sealed it, Zoro took a whiff of its contents and poured a cup for each Rainbow Koi, before taking a chug for himself.
“Cheap West Blue alcohol always tastes the best.” He said with a grin on his face before taking another swig.
“Glad you liked it, boss. But could I get the…” Before Karma could finish, Zoro interrupted her again by pointing towards his back. Behind him, there was a crumbled piece of paper with what looked to be a bloody thumbprint; this was actually a list of new mercenaries that needed Zoro’s approval before being allowed to join. What caught Karma’s eye though, were the five iconic sheathed blades beside it. He was known to be a Gotoryuu Master, but It had been over a decade since the pirate hunter drew his blades. There were several rumors behind this strange vow, but none were certain on the reason.
Picking up the list, Karma’s body slowly blended into the environment and disappeared.
Across the room, opposite to its entrance, were transparent glass sliding doors leading to a garden balcony overlooking the entirety of Marineford. Many have said that this was the best view on the island, but most often than not, only one individual had the luxury of experiencing such a sight on a daily basis.
It was close to an hour past dawn and Vinsmoke Sanji, current commander-in-chief of the marine naval military, found himself staring blankly at the horizon before taking a few puffs of the cigarette he was holding between the base of his right hand's index and middle finger.
More lean than muscular, his skin appeared scarred and wrinkled, while his blond hair lacked its former luster as it had completely grayed. Dressed in an untucked white frilled dress shirt, black dress pants, and black leather shoes, despite being hooked to numerous intravenous lines and having both his legs encased in metal casts, Sanji silently sat in a reclining wheelchair, enjoying his morning.
Nearing the age of eighty, Sanji knew all too well that he was long past his prime. He no longer was the brash youth he was before; he was merely another old man who now had a lot on his shoulders.
It had been less than a decade since the reformation of the Marines, yet they still had inadequate manpower to sufficiently help all the seas, be it the Four Seas, Grand Line, or the New World. Everyday they searched and screened for recruits suitable to serve their cause, regardless of their questionable backgrounds or unique eccentricities. Fortunately, their more recent crop of applicants for the naval military seemed promising.
In his left hand, Sanji had a sealed envelope with the letter of approval for the new ensigns along with a list of their names that was to be delivered to the designated officer in charge for them, Captain Salamanca.
The still scenery that Sanji's gaze had fixated on was soon disrupted as a circular door cut out of the air itself suddenly appeared. Sanji's eyes immediately turned into massive protruding pink hearts as the door opened outward from the middle, revealing his most trusted aid.
"Lisa-chwaaaan~! Seeing you always helps start my day off~!" Sanji's nonchalant and serious demeanor turned saccharine in a heartbeat.
"Good morning, Mr. Prince." Lisa said in a stern, almost apathetic voice. She was far too used to Sanji and his "habits".
"You're always so cute when you act all serious~!" He continued, rubbing his clenched fist against his cheeks, trying his best to appear endearing.
"If I may ask, have you gone through the documents I left you, sir?" Straight-faced and straight to the point, being strictly professional and duty-bound were the characteristics that made her the perfect assistant to the commander-in-chief.
"Of course~! I have them right here; signed and sealed~" He said while his hand was extended forward, waving the letter towards Lisa.
"Thank you for always complying with your deadlines, sir." As long as Sanji did what was expected from him, Lisa had no reason to complain. Behind his bouts of pervertedness and inappropriate playfulness with women, Sanji was a man highly respected, and equally feared by many. He was, in a way, a worldly treasure by himself for all the accomplishments both he and his allies achieved throughout their lives.
"But before you leave, maybe you could join me for some breakfast~? I could whip you up some South Bird Eggs Benedict or an Fairy Pumpkin Crostini~? We also have some Blood Flower Tea, Oolong, and Black Hennessy Coffee~".
Sanji continued on, listing more of the exquisite choices available in his personal pantry. He failed to realize that he no longer had the letter in hand and Lisa had already left before he even started to ramble.
In the south eastern coast of Marineford lies a thick bamboo grove atop a hill. It was considered a maze due to the natural bamboo’s incredible length, thickness, and bizarre growth patterns. Unlike typical bamboo, the ones that grew in this particular area were oriented differently, causing them to take zigzag-like shapes and resulting to the formation of numerous pathways within the small forest. If fortunate enough, one would end up in the center where a clear saltwater hot spring was located; this was where the Rainbow Koi were found. They were large saltwater fish with prism-like scales, which caused miniature rainbows to form once they came in contact with sunlight.
Word around Marineford was that the pond itself possessed revitalizing properties and was ideal for recuperation when back from missions. However, a certain individual developed a liking to this place, eventually causing a decrease in its number of visitors. In time, most decided to simply avoid it.
Submerged from the waist down with his back resting against a large rock, Roronoa Zoro, the appointed leader of the Mercenary Corps, made use of the ponds healing capabilities to soothe his aching muscles. He had just finished his routine morning exercises consisting of ten thousand push-ups and ten thousand overhead swings using an iron rod with oversized weights stacked on it.
Zoro was still known far and wide as the infamous “Pirate Hunter”, but after taking a good look at him, it was obvious that time had taken its toll on his body. His hair had begun to thin and turn pale green while some of his muscles appeared contracted. Multiple scars and wounds from hard fought battles had accumulated over the years, covering his whole body.
While Zoro was enjoying the silence and calming warmth, his right eye slightly opened as he felt a familiar presence.
“…Karma.” The former pirate spoke in a low-toned, stringent voice. “Here, boss.”
Immediately after replying, a small female, befitting the disembodied voice that was heard earlier, had appeared out of nowhere. Her visage apparently breaking out of what seemed to be some sort of camouflage. She was dressed in ninja apparel and possessed a long, scaly green tail with hair that appeared tail-like as well.
She was momentarily left speechless given the sight that was in front of her. Aside from Zoro, several Rainbow Koi were sitting beside him, apparently taking a break from all the swimming that they do. They too wanted to enjoy the springs themselves.
Regaining her composure, she quickly spoke. “I’m here to pick up the…” Before she could finish her statement, Zoro interjected with a question that seemed to hold quite the amount of weight, given his tone of voice.
“Did you bring it?”
Karma couldn’t help but take a deep gulp before answering the pirate hunter. “Yes boss; it's right here.” She immediately pulled out the large gourd that was strapped to her back and tossed it towards Zoro.
Catching it with one hand and pulling out the cork that sealed it, Zoro took a whiff of its contents and poured a cup for each Rainbow Koi, before taking a chug for himself.
“Cheap West Blue alcohol always tastes the best.” He said with a grin on his face before taking another swig.
“Glad you liked it, boss. But could I get the…” Before Karma could finish, Zoro interrupted her again by pointing towards his back. Behind him, there was a crumbled piece of paper with what looked to be a bloody thumbprint; this was actually a list of new mercenaries that needed Zoro’s approval before being allowed to join. What caught Karma’s eye though, were the five iconic sheathed blades beside it. He was known to be a Gotoryuu Master, but It had been over a decade since the pirate hunter drew his blades. There were several rumors behind this strange vow, but none were certain on the reason.
Picking up the list, Karma’s body slowly blended into the environment and disappeared.
INTRODUCTIONS
