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Chapter 968: Vice Admiral and Vice Admiral Are Not the Same
Chapter 968: Vice Admiral and Vice Admiral Are Not the Same
Joe Rudolph signed the contract, selected a navigational route, then returned to pick up his clan members.
Even the ship had been borrowed from the Navy—though not an official warship. Kuro had simply gifted him one from the fleet’s stock.
Back in Banotemiral, Kuro had seized a batch of pirate ships and had extras to spare, so he handed one to Joe Rudolph.
After collecting his clan members, Joe Rudolph would scout along the navigational route to select an ideal base for himself, officially beginning his duties as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Yet just days after his departure, an outdated wanted poster was released.
As a Catfish Half-Fishman, Joe Rudolph excelled at swimming and diving, making his aquatic combat prowess slightly superior to his land-based abilities—though not by much, considering his hybrid nature.
Still, his epithet came easily.
Due to his affinity with water, he was bestowed with the epithet “Deep Diver.”
[Deep Diver] Joe Rudolph, bounty: three hundred and fifty million Beri.
However, as a Seven Warlord of the Sea, this wanted poster was rendered obsolete the moment it was issued. Kuro, though, wanted it circulated worldwide to cement public recognition of the new Warlord.
Yet within these few days, something caught Kuro’s attention.
His subordinates had all received collective promotions.
This didn’t surprise Kuro. They had defeated the Blackbeard Pirates, after all. Though the Seven Warlords of the Sea had assisted, they were independent entities outside the Navy—a necessary cost for enjoying their privileges.
Kuro himself couldn’t be promoted. But such a monumental achievement demanded recognition. Since Kuro couldn’t ascend, the merits were distributed among his subordinates.
Lida, Klah, Kas, Wilbur, and Ai En were all elevated to Vice Admirals. Ai En, now a Vice Admiral, led a warship to patrol the G-3 Sea Area with Binz.
Others received explosive promotions as well.
Donald and Sazil became Commanders, while Ju Geng also attained the rank.
Moer and Fen Ni, though lacking notable achievements, were still promoted to Commander—a rare leap in ranks.
After all, Kuro’s faction now boasted five new Vice Admirals, equal to him in military rank. They were no longer his subordinates.
Kuro felt genuinely pleased.
Finally, those troublesome subordinates were off his hands. Especially Kas and Wilbur—no longer his men, their actions bore no relation to him, nor did he bear responsibility as their superior.
“Kuro Mr.!”
Kas and Wilbur barged into the dining room where Kuro sat alone, eating.
“Vice Admiral Kas. Vice Admiral Wilbur,” Kuro greeted with a smile, adding gently, “You’re both Vice Admirals now, equals to me. There’s no need to report to me anymore. You have the authority to decide many matters yourselves now.”
Kas and Wilbur exchanged a glance, their expressions serious.
“Regardless, you’re still our superior in our hearts.”
Kuro waved his hand. “No need. As Vice Admirals, you wield considerable decision-making power. If you consult me on everything, you might as well not accept the promotion. Headquarters granted you this rank expecting you to lead independently. There’s no need to involve me in every matter.”
Kuro gestured dismissively. “Make your own decisions. I can’t intervene anymore.”
As Kas opened his mouth to speak, Wilbur suddenly pulled his sleeve. Their eyes met, and Kas abruptly nodded.
“I understand.”
“Then attend to your duties.”
Kuro twirled noodles with his fork, speaking between bites.
“Understood. We’ll take our leave.”
The two bowed and departed.
Kuro’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. He had no intention of meddling—being free of those bothersome subordinates suited him perfectly.
This was inevitable for any Navy officer. One couldn’t let their own stagnant position hinder the advancement of those beneath them.
If he himself could ascend, he’d already be an Admiral!
The Navy had countless precedents of subordinates rising to peer status with their former superiors. Kuro found this neither unusual nor unacceptable.
On the contrary, he believed his faction remained intact despite his hands-off approach.
Ai En was an exception—her ties to Zeff’s faction and the Doves within the Navy, along with her lingering loyalty to the Fishman faction, placed her in a triangular allegiance. Though she continued patrolling the G-3 Sea Area, she’d relocate the moment Headquarters issued new orders.
Others, however, bore the Fishman faction’s unmistakable imprint.
Though no longer his subordinates, did they truly dare defy him?
Let them try.
“Kuro! Kuro!”
Before Kas and Wilbur had even left, the door burst open again. Lida stormed in, plopping down beside him, her face flushed with irritation.
“Who upset you?” Kuro poured himself a cup of wine, unfazed.
“I don’t want to be a Vice Admiral,” Lida grumbled.
“Why not? As a Vice Admiral, you can command a base freely,” Kuro reasoned.
“I don’t like it. I’m used to staying by your side. Kas and Wilbur were reassigned—don’t make me leave too!” Lida’s face fell into a pout.
“Fine. I’ll talk to Gramps. I’ll hold off on your transfer order. And Klah’s too—I can’t manage without him.”
Klah, who’d just entered, paused mid-step.
“What do you think, Klah?”
Kuro turned, addressing him.
Adjusting his glasses, Klah hesitated before sighing.
“I have no objection.”
Truthfully, he’d wanted the transfer.
Now a Vice Admiral, he deserved to establish his own faction—a position of true status within the Navy!
Though Klah knew he belonged to Kuro’s faction, that didn’t mean he couldn’t build his own. After all, even Kuro was part of Lucius Kro’s Admiral faction, yet maintained his own sub-faction.
Klah had hoped to station himself in his own base, cultivating his own subordinates, just like Kas and Wilbur who’d already accepted their transfer orders.
He’d come in intending to ask when his order would arrive—only to hear Kuro’s words.
Game over.
No chance.
What transfer?
Even as a Vice Admiral, Klah understood hierarchy.
Were all Vice Admirals truly equal?
Was Kuro merely a “regular” Vice Admiral?
That man was the heir to an entire Admiral faction!
Even if Klah established his own sub-faction, it would still exist under the umbrella of Kuro’s faction, which itself belonged to the Admiral faction.
He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he and Kuro were true peers.
They were fundamentally, irreversibly different.
(End of Chapter)
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