Chapter 1091: Show Us the Admiral's Splendor!
Chapter 1091: Show Us the Admiral's Splendor!
By the fourth day of the banquet, Navy officers came and went, but except for those on urgent missions, all were gathered in the main plaza at Headquarters. Cloaked in hooded cloaks, they stood rigidly at attention. Though the numbers weren't as grand as the Ten Thousand strong during the Top War era, there were still two to three thousand present.
They gathered for one momentous occasion.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office atop Headquarters' tallest building—far from the banquet hall—several figures sat in tense anticipation.
Sakazuki sat in the main seat biting down on a cigar, his gaze lowered in silence.
Garp, Sengoku, and Crane formed a triangular seating arrangement. Crane shook her head helplessly as Garp and Sengoku bickered over rice crackers.
Lucius Kro lounged on a sofa, sipping tea with refined elegance and the occasional amused smile.
Kuro played shogi with a blind man in purple robes and hooded cloak.
"Sennichite, huh? Scary stuff, Kuro", Lucius Kro chuckled, glancing sideways.
"What can I do? Seriously, why are you so good at this when you're blind?!" Kuro twitched, addressing Yi Xiao across the board.
"I discern positions by sound. Each move creates a unique tone. We've drawn four times already—are you letting me win, little brother?" Yi Xiao replied calmly.
Sennichite—the technical term for a repeated shogi position occurring four times—wasn't intentional. Kuro hadn't been throwing games; he'd simply never learned proper strategy. The match existed purely to pass time with the old blind man.
After all, today was Kuro's promotion ceremony. Yi Xiao came to celebrate, and two bored souls started playing.
"Is it almost time?"
After their fourth stalemate, Kuro leaned back and extinguished his cigar. Embarrassing. He'd thought a blind man would be an easy opponent, yet they still reached stalemate. Pointless.
Sakazuki nodded. "Jyando should have arrived. At noon, you'll become an Admiral."
John Jaendo—Giant race Vice Admiral—had attended the banquet specifically for this ceremony. Kuro chose him for his booming voice, a necessity for projecting authority.
Giant race members entered the Navy at Vice Admiral rank by racial birthright, their combat prowess innate. Though here, Jaendo served more as an instructor and orator than front-line fighter.
"Report!"
As Sakazuki spoke, the door slammed open. A giant in pale-yellow uniform adorned with medals marched in, saluting crisply. "Vice Admiral John Jaendo reporting for duty!"
"Time's near."
Sakazuki stood. "Jyando, start."
"Sir!"
Jaendo saluted again, then nodded at Kuro with a smile. He strode first to the balcony, facing the massed Navy below.
From Vice Admirals to majors, all were legendary officers from the Grand Line era.
Kuro sighed at the sight, glancing at Lucius Kro. The latter grinned and followed Jaendo toward the balcony.
At high noon, the sun reached its zenith.
"Any cowards wanting to escape—do it now!!" Jaendo bellowed. "This place tolerates no weakness! After the chaos following Top War, this fortress stands for peace!!"
"The people's weakness isn't their fault—they're just civilians, unable to resist Pirates. But WE are Justice! Whenever wicked influence rises at sea, the Navy must drive it away at full power! In Justice's name, expel all wickedness!!"
"Expel all wickedness!!"
The Navy roared. At the front, Vice Admirals Kas and Wilbur shouted loudest, faces flushed with excitement.
"Today!!" Jaendo continued. "We reach a historic moment! Admiral Borsalino—our illustrious Navy officer who served faithfully for decades—will now retire!!"
"He's an old-school Navy, a pillar of Justice since our earliest days! Yet even Lucius Kro Admiral has moments of frailty, aging, and limits to his power!"
"Retire." Though expected, the words sent murmurs rippling through the room.
Another pillar of the Navy would step down—following Zeff, Sengoku, and Garp. Of the new generation's Three Admirals, only Sakazuki remained. These veterans had served decades, fighting alongside the Admirals as they climbed ranks. Now another comrade retired. Though anticipated, the moment left many adrift.
"Don't falter! Where's your Justice!!" Jaendo barked. "Does losing an Admiral mean you can't execute Justice anymore? Justice walks with us! Our goal is expelling wickedness, not relying on Admirals to do it!"
His words reignited resolve. Postures straightened anew.
Lucius Kro appeared beside Jaendo, waving lightly at the crowd. "Oooh~ Scary how many people there are! Keep doing your best, everyone!"
"That's right! The words of Lucius Kro Admiral—toil on!!" Jaendo thundered. "True, he retires—but not from Navy service! He simply makes way for more qualified hands! With one Admiral stepping down, we welcome a New Admiral!!"
At his roar, every head lifted toward Castle Tower.
"Your moment." Crane patted Kuro's back, smiling. "Show them the young Admiral's mettle."
Kuro crushed his cigar's ember, shrugged, and walked to the balcony, meeting the Navy's collective gaze.
"Our new Admiral joined the Navy decades ago, earning outstanding merits defeating countless Grand Line pirates—the Golden Lion Kuro!!" Jaendo roared, face crimson with effort.
His sheer volume seemed almost excessive.
Why so loud? Kuro inwardly winced. Can't this be more low-key?
(End of Chapter)
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