[TIOP] Chapter : 127

"Shouldn’t you two be back at headquarters training the new recruits? What brings you all the way out here?" Jack asked, visibly surprised to see Sengoku and Garp on board.

“We’re not full-time instructors, you know,” Sengoku replied with a slight scowl, curling his lip. “We’re just consultants. Ever heard of that term?”

Jack muttered under his breath, “Still doesn’t give you an excuse to come here just to stir up trouble. I bet Fleet Admiral Aokiji pawned you off on me.”

But with their keen senses, the two seasoned veterans easily picked up on his mumbling.

Bang!

“Watch your mouth, brat!” Garp said with a grin, landing a firm but playful fist on Jack’s head. “Just because you’re an admiral now doesn’t mean you’re too grown-up for a smack!”

Rubbing the spot on his head, Jack chuckled wryly. Thank goodness they were on his ship—if this had happened at the G1 base, his image would’ve taken a serious hit.

Trying to keep things light, he asked with a wary smile, “So… where are you two headed? If it’s on my route, I’d be happy to give you a lift.”

“We’re heading to your G1 branch,” Garp said with a wide grin, exchanging a knowing look with Sengoku. “We’ve heard the base is quite the sensation. Figured we’d go see what all the fuss is about.”

Jack groaned internally, but kept his expression composed. “Ah, I see. What an honor! How long are you planning to stay? If it’s more than a day, I’ll have accommodations prepared at the G1 branch. If it’s just a short visit, I’ll make sure we’re ready for your return voyage.”

“Hahaha, relax!” Garp laughed. “We’re free as birds these days—no official duties to worry about. Who knows? If we like it there, we might stay a while. With us stationed at G1, not even Kaido would dare make a move!”

Jack couldn’t argue with that. With the former Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the legendary navy hero Garp present, even someone as reckless as Kaido would think twice. Still, Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that these two old-timers had ulterior motives.

Before long, the Pearl pulled into the G1 branch’s port. The moment it appeared, the entire base buzzed with excitement. Jack wasn’t just an admiral here—he was a symbol of pride and strength, revered like a superstar.

“Hey, who’s that walking ahead of Admiral Kurohyou?”

“Are you blind? That’s his sensei—Garp the Fist! The navy legend himself! Word is, he turned down a promotion to admiral just to avoid answering to the World Government. He retired alongside Fleet Admiral Sengoku after the Marineford War.”

“Wait, then that must be…!”

“Yeah, that’s Sengoku the Buddha!”

The crowd's excitement grew as they recognized the two towering figures. But to Jack’s surprise, both Sengoku and Garp carried themselves with remarkable grace and humility. They exuded the authority of seasoned veterans, but tempered it with a warm, approachable demeanor that won the admiration of the onlookers.

“Haha! So, what do you think?” Sengoku laughed as they arrived at the G1 base. “Did we embarrass you too much?”

Jack could only smile bitterly. He’d momentarily forgotten—these weren’t just any old men. They were legendary figures who had long mastered the art of commanding respect.

He left them to their own devices, giving Kalifa and Lena a few quick instructions before returning to his training.

Meanwhile, Lena approached the two visitors with a respectful salute. “Sengoku-sama, Garp-sama! Apologies for the delay. We’ve prepared rooms for you both.”

Sengoku looked at her with a soft expression. “You’ve grown so much, Lena. I still remember when Jack brought you in—just a shy little girl. Now look at you: confident, capable, and essential to his team.”

“Thank you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!” Lena beamed, her eyes narrowing with joy.

“I’m not a Fleet Admiral anymore,” Sengoku said gently. “There’s no need for such formality. If you don’t mind, just call me Grandpa.”

“Alright then… Grandpa Sengoku,” Lena replied naturally.

Even during his tenure, Sengoku had always held a fondness for Lena. Now that he was free from the burdens of command, he could finally show it openly.

Garp chuckled. “I’m technically still a vice admiral, but it’s all just on paper. You should call me Grandpa too!”

Lena giggled and said, “Okay! Grandpa Garp!”

The two old men burst into laughter, clearly delighted.

Jack, meanwhile, had no idea how the two veterans were spending their time at G1—he was fully immersed in his training. Lena took on the task of hosting them, which naturally meant more work for Kalifa. Thankfully, with everything running smoothly, she managed without issue.

Elsewhere, Sakazuki wasn’t wasting time. On the third day, he received formal approval from the World Government: the navy was now authorized to begin large-scale recruitment.

“Kuzan, the conscription order from the World Government just arrived. Should I take care of it?” Sakazuki asked, handing the document to Aokiji.

Jack had already anticipated this development and explained the implications to Aokiji in advance. So although Aokiji feigned irritation, he ultimately gave Sakazuki the green light with little resistance.

As Akainu walked away, Aokiji’s lips curled into a cold smirk. “Sakazuki… we really underestimated that kid. But after this, I think you'll start paying closer attention.”

Soon, a massive global conscription campaign began. While the New World was still overrun by pirates, the four seas—East, West, North, and South—as well as the first half of the Grand Line, remained firmly under Navy and World Government control. As Sakazuki had expected, countless individuals with a sense of justice stepped forward to join the Navy ranks.

However, just as the recruitment concluded, Aokiji—as the Fleet Admiral—commanded all new recruits to report to Marineford. Standing before them, he delivered a rousing speech. Unbeknownst to most, the speech had been carefully crafted by Jack.

Next to him stood Sakazuki, his expression stormy. At this point, it was impossible not to see the game that had been played. He had been the one to labor over the recruitment process, negotiate with the World Government, and handle all the groundwork. And yet, it was Aokiji who took the stage, basking in the glory. How could he not be furious?

But could he say Aokiji had done anything wrong? Not really. It was perfectly natural for the Fleet Admiral to address the new recruits. And that short speech did more than motivate—it clearly established who held the true reins of power. The new generation now knew who their leader was: Fleet Admiral Aokiji. Sakazuki was just one of the admirals under him—and that was enough to drive the point home.

Off to the side, Kizaru watched the scene unfold with amused detachment. But deep down, a chill ran through him. That guy’s terrifying…

It only took a few lines from Aokiji’s speech for Kizaru to realize that Jack was the one behind it. And because he understood Jack’s strategic mind, he knew exactly what had happened. When Akainu first pitched the recruitment idea, Jack had given his support—within minutes.

Was it three minutes? Five? Or even less?

Yet in that brief window, Jack had already devised the perfect countermeasure—one that allowed Aokiji to take center stage while keeping Akainu’s efforts in check. That level of foresight was what made Jack truly dangerous.

Watching Akainu fume in silence, Kizaru instinctively took a step back. Better not to get caught in his line of fire… that guy's not above lashing out.

At the end of his speech, Aokiji turned to Sakazuki with a pleasant smile and added, “Admiral Akainu was the one who made this recruitment drive a success. He’s worked tirelessly. And since you’ve already seen the process through, I’d like you to oversee the training of the new recruits as well.”

Hearing this, Akainu's expression finally softened a bit. But he didn’t realize this was Jack’s idea—meant to defuse his temper before it boiled over.

Initially, Aokiji had been hesitant to grant Sakazuki more control. But Jack had only said one thing to change his mind:
“No matter how strong the Navy becomes, there can only be one Fleet Admiral.”

And he was right. So what if Sakazuki trained new soldiers and gained influence? In the end, they were still Navy. And as long as Akainu remained under the chain of command, he would have no choice but to obey the Fleet Admiral’s orders.

Aokiji's strength lay in his steady hands. As long as he did his job without missteps, Akainu would find no real opening. And the longer that balance held, the more secure Aokiji's position would become.

After the conscription event ended, Sengoku and Garp slowly made their way back to headquarters. It was only then that Jack realized the old veterans had seen this coming all along. Their move to the G1 branch hadn’t just been a visit—it had been a strategic retreat from the brewing internal tensions.

Though they were now officially retired, their actions showed they had no desire to witness infighting within the Navy.

Still, Aokiji’s maneuver surprised even them. Akainu’s plans had been outflanked, but the Navy remained stable—for now. After Granny Tsuru explained the situation in full, the three veterans could only sigh, accepting that times had changed.

“We’re getting old,” Sengoku muttered with a wry smile.