Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

But he quickly regained his composure.

"I'm just...doing what I think is 'necessary'."

"Kay's tone was flat and emotionless, "In order to maintain order in the Navy, and to eliminate the evil that must be eliminated, sometimes... we have to take some... more direct and effective measures."

He neither directly refuted nor fully admitted it, but explained his behavior in a way that seemed reasonable.

Fujitora remained silent for an even longer time.

His unseen eyes seemed to pierce through Kai's cold exterior, revealing the struggles deep within him and... the darkness that was quietly growing.

“Kai…” Fujitora’s voice carried a hint of… earnest advice, “Power is for protection, not destruction.”

Order is for peace, not oppression.

'Necessary evil'... is an extremely dangerous path. Once you step onto it, it is easy to... lose your true self and eventually... become the very thing you once hated the most.

"

"I know you have experienced unimaginable pain and betrayal."

Fujitora sighed, “But… don’t let hatred and obsession with power cloud your judgment.”

Go and see (with your own eyes) those ordinary people struggling at the bottom of society who yearn for peace and tranquility.

Perhaps they are the ones we should truly protect.

"

Fujitora-senpai... are you still worried about me? Or are you trying to... enlighten me?

A complex warmth swept through Kai's heart, but it was quickly covered by an even harder chill.

He knew his senior meant well.

He also knew that the "benevolence and righteousness" of his predecessors might be the more "correct" path.

but……

“Senior,” Kai said slowly, his tone still respectful, but with an undeniable firmness, “the ‘benevolence and righteousness’ you speak of may be very beautiful.”

But in my opinion... it's too fragile in this chaotic and cruel world.

"

"Only by establishing an absolute, unchallengeable order! Only by using the strongest and most effective means to completely eradicate the roots of chaos! Only then can we truly bring about... lasting peace and tranquility! Even if... this process requires paying some... a price you cannot accept!"

"The paths we take may be different."

But I believe... my choice is also for... some form of 'justice'.

"

Kai's words drew a clear line between him and Fujitora.

After listening, Fujitora fell into a long silence once again.

He could clearly sense Kai's almost obsessive, distorted "belief."

He knew that his once highly regarded "disciple" (in his heart) seemed to have embarked on a path that was completely different from his own, a path filled with danger and darkness.

He wanted to say something more, to offer some more advice.

But in the end... he just sighed softly.

"...Everyone has their own way of doing things."

Do it yourself.

"

After saying this, Fujitora, leaning on his cane and sword, slowly turned and left, with an indescribable sense of loneliness and...disappointment.

Watching (and sensing) Fujitora-senpai's receding figure, which seemed heavier than before, Kai felt a strange emptiness and a stinging pain in his heart.

The deep bond between them—once like that between master and disciple, like that between father and son—seems to have truly begun to crack.

Moreover, as they each choose a different path, this rift will likely only deepen, eventually becoming impossible to mend.

Kai stood there, motionless for a long time.

In the end, he simply turned around silently and walked in the opposite direction from Fujitora into that... shadow that belonged to him, a shadow that was even colder and lonelier...

With his undeniable strength and the impressive achievements he has accumulated over the past two years that are enough to make anyone take notice—successfully hunting down (or participating in the encirclement and suppression) several New World pirates with bounties of over 100 million, destroying multiple large underground criminal organizations, and even making outstanding contributions in border conflicts involving the Four Emperors' forces—Kai's path to promotion within the Navy is almost unstoppable.

After successfully completing an extremely dangerous and important secret mission personally assigned by Fleet Admiral Akainu, Kai's name was finally officially put on the list of promotions for the highest-ranking officers in the Marine Headquarters!

With the strong recommendation of the Marine Headquarters (mainly the hawks led by Akainu) and the final approval of the World Government's top brass, Kai... was officially appointed as... a Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters!

From vice admiral candidate to full vice admiral, it may seem like just a step, but in the strict hierarchy of the navy, it means a huge leap in power and status!

Becoming a vice admiral at headquarters means that Kai has truly entered the Navy's core decision-making circle and has greater power and influence!

He can command a much larger naval fleet!

He can mobilize more naval resources and intelligence!

He can even participate to some extent in formulating naval operational plans and strategic policies!

He was only one step away from the highest level of power that could truly influence the world and shape order! That was... a naval admiral!

Kai's promotion has once again caused quite a stir within the Navy.

Although doubts and dissatisfaction still exist, compared to the uproar when he was promoted to major general before, this time, the opposition is significantly smaller.

After all, Kai's terrifying strength and outstanding achievements over the past two years have been enough to convince the vast majority of people (or rather, they dare not disobey).

He is no longer just the "blind major general" who rose to power through "luck" and "background" (his relationship with Fujitora).

·0 requests for flowers········

He has proven himself with his ruthless methods and illustrious achievements... a monster who truly deserves to stand in this position!

Kai himself didn't feel much joy about this promotion.

For him, military rank and status were merely tools and stepping stones to achieving his ultimate goal.

What he cares more about is the increase in actual power and resources that this promotion brings...

After becoming a lieutenant general, the first thing Kai did was to consciously build and cultivate his own "team".

He knew very well that to truly gain a foothold in the vast and complex system of the navy and ultimately achieve his goals, personal strength alone was far from enough.

He needs a direct force that is absolutely loyal to him, capable of understanding and efficiently executing his orders!

He could no longer accept temporary assignments of subordinates as he had done before.

Those people were either suspicious of him and ostracized him, or they were incompetent and unable to keep up with his pace, or... they were simply spies planted by other factions around him!

He needs... a "sword" and a "shield" that truly belong to him!

So he began to use his authority as a lieutenant general, as well as the "prestige" (or rather, "infamous reputation") he had built up during his two years of missions, to selectively... look for and recruit some people he considered "usable".

His selection criteria were not based on the other party's background or faction, but rather on their strength, execution ability, and whether they could understand and agree with his (at least superficially) philosophy of "order" and "efficiency".

..............

These candidates vary.

Some of them were young, radical officers who had witnessed Kai's formidable strength and decisive methods in previous missions and developed a certain degree of "admiration" or "awe" for him.

They may also share a dislike of the Navy's bureaucracy and certain "weak" practices, and yearn to follow a hardline leader who can bring about "real change."

Some are "marginal figures" who are frustrated in the Navy for various reasons (such as offending their superiors or coming from a low-level background and having no connections), but who possess considerable strength or special skills (such as being proficient in intelligence analysis, weapon modification, or possessing a special Devil Fruit ability).

Kai extended an olive branch to them, offering them opportunities for promotion and platforms to showcase their talents in exchange for their loyalty.

There were even some soldiers who were "rescued" from the brink of death by Kai during some extremely dangerous missions.

These people felt an almost fanatical gratitude and loyalty to Kai, and were willing to go through fire and water for him.

Kai used his keen Observation Haki to carefully examine each potential candidate.

He could easily "see" through the other person's true thoughts—was they genuinely loyal? Or did they have ulterior motives? Was they trustworthy? Or a potential threat?

Like a shrewd chess player, he carefully selected his pieces and gradually gathered them around him through a combination of kindness and severity, and clear rewards and punishments.

Gradually, a small but highly capable elite force, whose members were absolutely loyal to Kai (at least on the surface), began to take shape.

This unit might be seen as an "outlier" and a "dangerous element" by other naval commanders.

But for Kai, this was the first step in building his own power within the cold and massive naval system! It was also a crucial foundation for him to realize his greater ambitions (obsessions) in the future!

He would use this power, which obeyed only his commands, to execute his will more efficiently, to... sweep away all obstacles that stood in his way of establishing a "new order"! Whether it was pirates... or... any other being!

Time slips away silently, like sand through your fingers.

Two years may not be a short time for ordinary people, but for these strongmen who pursue power and destiny on the Grand Line, it seems like just a blink of an eye.

The aftershocks of the world-shaking Marineford War are still reverberating in every corner of the world, but the new era's landscape is gradually taking shape over the past two years.

Blackbeard Teach, like a giant beast lurking in the dark abyss, has stirred up a bloodbath in the New World. His sphere of influence and terrifying power are expanding day by day, and he is beginning to show signs of rivaling the other three old Yonko.

Those supernovas, known as the "Worst Generation," are like catfish thrown into a shark tank, venturing into the more brutal waters of the New World, stirring up storms and constantly challenging the old order and the strong.

After suffering heavy losses in the Marineford War and the change of Fleet Admirals, the Marine Headquarters, under the iron-fisted rule of the new Fleet Admiral Akainu, has become even more hardline and aggressive.

They not only strengthened their control over the first half of the Grand Line, but also committed most of their forces to the New World, engaging in fiercer battles against the Four Emperors and the increasingly rampant pirate forces.