Kapitel 2: 2. Acting Fleet Admiral!
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The "Butterfly Effect" is something Akira has been increasingly worried about in recent years.
After traveling for six years, the world remained unchanged, with everything developing just as it had in the original story, with no apparent alterations.
But when Sengoku walked into the office with a livid expression, the reality became clear.
The series of changes caused by his "butterfly" flapping its wings had finally arrived.
In the original story, when Kong was promoted, Admiral Sengoku was the undisputed candidate to become the next Fleet Admiral of the Marines.
No one challenged him.
No one could surpass him.
Sengoku was the clear No.1 in strength, experience, and even within the Marines' network.
But now, he has a contender.
Normally, a Vice Admiral could never pose a threat to an Admiral.
But this isn't Blue Star; it's the world of One Piece.
The new Fleet Admiral of the Marines is typically recommended by the previous Fleet Admiral and then appointed with the approval of the Five Elders.
This process has been consistent for hundreds of years, but there are two general exceptions.
Over twenty years later in the original story, after Sengoku resigned following the Summit War, he wanted Aokiji to succeed him as Fleet Admiral, while the Five Elders preferred Akainu.
Although Sengoku had already stepped down, the Five Elders, as the ultimate authority, could have ignored Sengoku's recommendation and directly appointed Akainu.
In the end, Akainu emerged victorious, but what if Aokiji had won?
The Five Elders would have had to accept Aokiji as the Fleet Admiral.
This situation can be reversed. Even if Kong were injured by Patrick Redfield and made a poor decision by choosing an ordinary Vice Admiral as Fleet Admiral, but the Five Elders preferred Sengoku, that ordinary Vice Admiral would still have a chance to compete with Sengoku for the position.
Especially now, with Kong being promoted instead of resigning.
As the supporter of the new Fleet Admiral, Kong still has influence and connections. Even if he recommends an ordinary Vice Admiral, the Five Elders would have to think carefully.
"The position of Fleet Admiral... is still up for grabs."
"As long as Sengoku steps down voluntarily, the Five Elders will have no objections."
He could have endured the darkness if he hadn't seen that glimmer of hope.
But today, Kong's ambition stirred something within Akira, and he truly wanted to compete for the position of Fleet Admiral.
If he wins, he could use this as a stepping stone to achieve the power of self-preservation he's always dreamed of.
If he loses, the worst-case scenario is leaving the Marines.
Considering the dangerous times ahead, leaving the Marines might not be such a bad idea.
As he thought about this, Akira habitually took off his glasses, pulled out a clean white handkerchief from his straight black suit, and carefully wiped the lenses.
His gaze was so focused that he didn't seem to notice Sengoku, who was standing just a meter away from him.
Sengoku, who had just entered, also ignored Akira, fixing his gaze on Kong with his small glasses, filled with anger and confusion.
At that moment, it became clear: they were now rivals.
...
...
"Sengoku, sit down!" Kong exhaled a puff of smoke, pointing to the sofa chair against the wall.
But in this tense situation, how could Sengoku sit down?
"Why?"
Sengoku stepped forward, slamming his large hands on the table, leaning in as he tried to suppress his anger. His tone was fast and intense: "Fleet Admiral, you must understand the consequences of Roger's words before his execution."
"What's coming is bound to be a chaotic, dangerous era of intense struggle, with the shadow of pirates spreading across every corner of the world."
"In times like these, the world needs Marine justice more than ever."
"We need a strong, charismatic leader to give the people confidence."
"Fleet Admiral, you...you should...at least not..."
Sengoku struggled to find the right words at the end.
But everyone in the room knew exactly what he meant.
In this new era of pirates, not only do the people need confidence, but so do the rank-and-file soldiers of the Marines.
And how do you provide them with that confidence?
There's nothing more fitting than an Admiral with exceptional strategy, the strength to command the seas, and the support of countless followers.
Who fits this description?
Isn't it obvious? Who else but Sengoku the Buddha?
But Sengoku was too modest to boast or promote himself so directly.
Kong's face was completely obscured by the smoke, his expression unreadable.
No one could tell what he was thinking.
Seeing this, Akira raised his eyebrows slightly, recognizing that it was his moment to make a move.
"Ah, good morning, Admiral Sengoku."
Akira put on his glasses, now polished enough to reflect light, and casually waved his right hand to draw attention.
Sengoku turned his head slightly, looking at him with an expressionless face, as though he were staring at a stranger.
He had overheard part of the conversation outside the door and now found it strange—wondering where Akira had found the courage and confidence to vie for the position of Fleet Admiral.
Setting aside whether he even had the ability, the sheer audacity to try was a statement in itself.
As colleagues, they had worked together for four years.
Even if their friendship wasn't deep, it wasn't as if they were strangers.
But Akira felt the tension was understandable.
Putting himself in Sengoku's shoes, if he were the one vying for the position of Fleet Admiral, only to be challenged out of the blue, he'd definitely be upset too.
"Admiral Sengoku, what you said earlier isn't entirely accurate."
Akira directly challenged Sengoku's previous statements and, without giving him a chance to respond, asked, "I want to know, what is Marine to you?"
Sengoku frowned slightly, initially unwilling to engage, but after a moment's thought, he decided to answer.
"Marine is absolute justice! The purpose of our existence and our actions is to ensure that tens of millions of ordinary people around the world can live stable lives."
"Of course, our Marine will always stand for justice. But can you describe it more vividly and specifically?" Akira pressed on.
"Vividly? What do you mean by that?"
"For example, using an anthropomorphic metaphor," Akira suggested.
"Anthropomorphism? Comparing the vast Marine to a human? That's absurd and ridiculous..." Sengoku sneered, shaking his head. "Vice Admiral Akira, don't change the subject. We should be focusing on—"
Before Sengoku could steer the conversation back to the topic of the Fleet Admiral position, Akira interrupted him.
Taking a step forward, his bright eyes unwavering, Akira stared directly at Sengoku and spoke deliberately, "Then let me share what Marine means to me. I see it as an immensely powerful giant."
"The soldiers who die for justice are the blood that drives this giant."
"The officers across the world are the vital organs that circulate that blood."
"And the powerful Admirals? They are the fists that uphold authority..."
"A giant?" Sengoku found himself contemplating Akira's words, the imagery surprisingly resonant.
"And what about the Fleet Admiral?" Sengoku asked.
"The Fleet Admiral, of course, is the indispensable brain of this 'giant.' For a giant to be truly formidable, it needs the strongest brain, one that matches its physical strength. Only then can the Marine wield its power effectively, becoming invincible and unstoppable at sea."
"For the brain, sheer strength isn't necessary; in fact, it can be a burden."
"Wouldn't it be more logical to have a flexible, intelligent person in the position of Fleet Admiral, rather than someone whose head is filled with muscle?" Akira finished, emphasizing the word "Fleet Admiral" with pointed precision.
Sengoku, no ordinary man, quickly stepped forward, refusing to back down, and loomed closer with an air of intimidation.
"So, you believe you're the smartest brain in Marine, capable of commanding this 'giant'?" Sengoku challenged.
"Of course, who else but me?" Akira responded without a hint of embarrassment.
On Blue Star, he had spent days and nights studying the "Thick Skin Theory," refining his approach. If he played the humble, polite, and reserved card now, he'd be proving himself a fool.
And in the world of pirates, such tactics wouldn't hold any weight either.
"Did you forget that I am The Resourceful General Sengoku? Do you think that title was self-appointed?" Sengoku countered.
"And I am the Shinma Akira. In my view, the role of the staff department can easily replace the strategic role you pride yourself on."
"You're arrogant..."
"I'm just stating the truth."
By the end of their exchange, the two were practically nose-to-nose, glaring at each other with bloodshot eyes, on the verge of a physical confrontation.
"Ahem..."
In the thickening tension, Kong finally intervened.
He coughed a few times and separated the two with a wave of his hand.
"What Vice Admiral Akira just said is reasonable. It's true that the position of Fleet Admiral is best suited for someone intelligent."
"And his Marine career has certainly demonstrated his sharp mind."
"Sengoku, the reason I made this decision is because I don't want to hold you back. You're at your peak now. If you're bogged down by endless paperwork every day, you'll end up like me, and your strength will decline..."
Kong touched his still aching chest and spoke earnestly, "In the past, that Redfield would flee if he encountered me, but who would have thought he'd become so powerful after just a dozen years."
"You don't want to be overtaken by Whitebeard in a few years, do you?"
Hearing this, the doubts lingering in the depths of Sengoku's eyes started to fade.
He began to understand why Kong had made such a decision.
But...
He still had concerns about entrusting such an important position as Fleet Admiral to someone so young.
"For the people, for justice, I'm willing to sacrifice my strength," Sengoku stated firmly. "I can't trust Vice Admiral Akira! At the very least, if I were in charge, I'm confident that under my leadership, the Marines would bring an end to the era of great pirates sparked by Roger."
End the era of great pirates? Big words.
After more than 20 years, not only did you fail to end it, but you poured fuel on the fire, making it burn even more fiercely.
"So, you just doubt my abilities? Fine! We still have two months before Fleet Admiral Kong's promotion. I'll use this time to prove to you whether I'm fit to be the Fleet Admiral."
Akira's brows furrowed tightly as he boldly stepped forward.
"That's what you said. If you don't achieve results that I can acknowledge, you'll step down on your own. I don't want to fall out with a colleague," Sengoku countered.
"And what if I do achieve something in these short two months?" Akira challenged.
"Then I'll accept your position as Fleet Admiral and follow your orders in the future," Sengoku responded.
"Alright! It's a deal."
After the two reached an agreement, Kong was pleased with the outcome.
It's fortunate that both of them are intelligent officers rather than mere fighters. Faced with this situation, their first instinct was to prove their worth through achievements, not by physical confrontation.
Of course, in a real fight, Akira wouldn't stand a chance against Sengoku.
But the main reason is that this agreement heavily favors Sengoku.
What can anyone accomplish in just two months? Especially at a time when the pirates are emerging in full force.
Even if Sengoku asked himself, he knew he couldn't achieve anything substantial in such a short time that would convince others.
That's why he agreed to this deal.
Akira was well aware that he was at a disadvantage, but he had no other choice.
In terms of strength, connections, and experience, Sengoku completely overshadowed him.
If Akira truly wanted to take the position of Fleet Admiral from such an opponent, he'd have to accept some harsh conditions as the necessary cost.
...
That afternoon, Kong convened all the officers and generals of Marine Headquarters for a meeting.
During the meeting, he announced that due to needing two months of recuperation, he was appointing Vice Admiral Akira as the acting Fleet Admiral.
Under the gaze of countless shocked, puzzled, and concerned officers, Akira took the position of acting Fleet Admiral.
Everything proceeded smoothly, though some generals clearly showed dissatisfaction or looked for faults. However, upon seeing that Admiral Sengoku remained silent and seated with a sullen expression, they held their tongues.
"I've set the stage for you. Whether you can pass this test depends on you," Kong remarked as he left Marineford.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein