章 8: 8. Words Are Scary, I Will Break Them With One Effort
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"Fleet Admiral, would you like to have lunch in the office?"
It was noon, and the soldier opened the door to ask, as he usually did.
But as he took a closer look, he was immediately shocked.
The acting Fleet Admiral was slumped in his seat, his face pale, and he looked as gaunt as someone who hadn't slept for days.
"Fleet Admiral, are you alright? Please wake up... Fleet Admiral."
"I'm going to call the medic!"
The anxious soldier was about to run out when Akira's bony hand grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"Quick, give me meat... a lot of meat."
Hoarse and weak words escaped from his dry lips.
"Okay, just a moment, just a moment."
The soldier quickly ran out.
...
Soon, steaming plates of fish were brought in and devoured at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Akira, who had been drained of energy, began to recover. Except for his slightly pale complexion and extreme fatigue, he appeared no different from before.
"No, elite-level proficiency isn't enough... I have to increase the mastery of the Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon so I can replicate those invincible bosses."
"And this monster-level physique isn't cutting it either."
Two hours later, Akira, full from his meal, lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
The morning's test had some surprises, but thankfully, it wasn't dangerous.
It also helped him gain a deeper understanding of the Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon's abilities.
Copying top figures from other worlds? No problem.
But there are two prerequisites:
First, the body must be strong enough to handle the strain of copying their strength.
Second, the fruit's ability must be developed to the top level. Otherwise, like before, with only elite-level proficiency, he could only copy a character like Nezuko. Trying to replicate a more powerful one would lead to the embarrassing situation of collapsing after just a meal.
In short, until his own strength reaches a certain level, he shouldn't even think about copying characters far stronger than himself.
"Experience points, I need to earn more experience points."
Akira clenched his fists tightly and muttered, "Since I have this fruit, I can't waste it."
"I need to secure this Fleet Admiral position first."
Akira didn't know if the activated system would "crash" if he lost the Fleet Admiral position.
But even if it didn't, he wasn't about to let himself be removed from this seat.
After all, if he missed this rare opportunity, the next chance to become a Fleet Admiral might not come until the Summit War more than 20 years later.
And gaining a lot of experience points would be easier as a Fleet Admiral.
Knock, knock!
"Fleet Admiral, the Chief of Staff has issued an emergency order for all officers and generals to attend a meeting."
"Master Tsuru personally explained that she hopes you can attend as well."
Just as Akira was contemplating how to secure his position as Fleet Admiral, a soldier knocked on the door and delivered unexpected news.
Akira wasn't sure what had happened, but it must be serious if the Chief of Staff issued a summoning order, which was rare.
He packed the Bat-Bat Fruit Model: Vampire in a wooden box, hid it in his cloak, and got up to head towards the meeting room.
On the way, many generals, also summoned, hurried out of their offices.
There are two systems in Marine Headquarters: civil and military.
In the "Military" department, the generals are usually those who go to sea to perform missions and fight pirates, with the highest position being Admiral.
In the "Civil" department, more people handle clerical work. The Staff Department oversees all departments, such as the News Department, the Bounty Department, the Logistics Department, etc., with the highest position being the Chief of Staff.
Although the Chief of Staff holds the rank of Vice Admiral, their real power rivals that of an Admiral.
Anyone familiar with the inner workings of the bureaucracy knows that a title is just that—a title. True influence is what matters most.
So when Tsuru issued a summoning order, even Admirals wouldn't dare skip the meeting, let alone Vice Admirals and those below.
Of course, while there are two systems, it doesn't mean that military officers are inherently superior to those in the civil department, nor that those in the civil department are confined to office work forever.
For example, when manpower is scarce and the enemy formidable, the powerful Tsuru herself will be dispatched to the battlefield—
Doflamingo, who was forced to flee in a panic, can testify to that.
"Gion, Gion, wait up! Don't walk too fast—you might hurt your feet."
"I've reserved a table at a high-end restaurant in the Sabaody Archipelago. Will you join me for a candlelight dinner tonight?"
"You look so beautiful when you're angry."
"..."
At the corner, two figures appeared and bumped into Akira unexpectedly.
Walking in front was Momousagi Gion, who looked annoyed yet helpless as she tried to fend off her admirer.
She was tall and slender, wearing a pink short dress that highlighted her long, toned legs. A colorful spider tattoo adorned her curvaceous figure, adding to her allure.
Her long, wavy black hair flowed freely as she moved, and her captivating eyes could enchant anyone who gazed into them. It was no wonder people referred to her as the Marine Goddess.
Following closely behind her was Tokikake, who still bore bruises on his face. He trailed after her with a flattering smile.
"Akira, what a coincidence! Are you heading to the meeting too?"
Gion's eyes brightened, and a cheerful smile spread across her pretty face as she waved in greeting.
"Yes, shall we go together?" Akira replied with a smile.
After all, one doesn't strike a smiling face, and besides, he and Gion were old acquaintances.
When Kong was transferred to headquarters a few years ago, Momousagi was a high-profile recruit, just like him.
Back then, the two of them were classmates under Zephyr's tutelage;
Then they served as colleagues on a general's warship, rising through the ranks until they commanded ships on their own missions...
Later, Akira gained numerous military accomplishments through his strategic thinking, while the genius Momousagi took a different route.
As a native of the pirate region, she had remarkable talent in swordsmanship and physical strength. Wielding the famous sword at her waist, she slashed her way to the rank of Vice Admiral with speed and precision.
There were even rumors at headquarters that the two were a rare "golden couple" of the Marines, perfectly complementing each other.
It was said that Gion was aware of these rumors, and strangely, she didn't deny them. Instead, she blushed in front of everyone.
This reaction only fueled the gossip further.
Of course, the "Gion Fan Club," led by Tokikake, wasn't about to let it slide and did everything in their power to squelch the rumors.
During that time, however, Akira was preoccupied with Devil Fruits and spent most of the year on missions, so he was oblivious to the gossip.
"Okay!" Momousagi smiled, quickening her pace to walk alongside Akira.
"Akira, you look so haggard. Has the pressure been getting to you?"
"A bit."
"If you need any help, just let me know."
"Thanks, I won't hesitate."
"..."
The two of them continued chatting, completely ignoring Tokikake.
Seeing the goddess being so easily taken away by a man he despised, Tokikake trembled with rage.
What's so special about this damn guy anyway?
Thin-skinned and tender, can't even lift a sword, let alone fight pirates. All he's good for is scheming from behind the scenes. Is he really better than me?
Why is everyone so optimistic about him? Fleet Admiral Kong, Gion, even Vice Admiral Garp reprimanded me because of him.
Is it all because of his good looks?
With clenched fists, Tokikake stepped forward, blocking their path, and loudly declared:
"Gion, you shouldn't get too close to this kid. He's not good enough for you."
"A coward who hides behind his soldiers—how does he even dare to compete with Admiral Sengoku for the position of Fleet Admiral?"
"Didn't you say you despise people who don't know their place? Well, this guy is the epitome of that."
Tokikake finished speaking, glaring provocatively at Akira, ready for a confrontation. He was eager for Akira to get angry and throw a punch. If that happened, Tokikake wouldn't hold back. After all, Akira was just an acting fleet admiral with no real authority.
Among all the Vice Admirals in the department, aside from the three monsters, Tokikake wasn't afraid of anyone.
But contrary to Tokikake's expectations, Akira didn't react with anger. Instead, he looked at Tokikake with pity—almost as if he were looking at a pathetic dog.
That gaze was infuriating, as if Akira was seeing Tokikake as nothing more than a groveling fool.
"What's with that look, you bastard?" Tokikake shouted, enraged. "Am I wrong?"
"No, you're quite right," Akira replied calmly, stopping Gion, who was ready to draw her sword, with a reassuring hand.
He had seen many sycophants like Tokikake and felt nothing but pity for them. Giving them too much attention only encouraged their desperate need for validation.
Tokikake was strong, and in a few years, he would reach the level of an Admiral candidate, becoming one of the main pillars of the headquarters.
But it was precisely because of this potential that Akira looked down on him even more.
Tokikake was a man of great strength. Even if he was a little short, a little sleazy, and a little older, he would never lack female attention if he wanted it. He could have his pick from both proper and less savory avenues.
Yet here he was, lowering himself to grovel before a woman.
Yes, Gion was stunningly beautiful. Any normal man would be attracted to her, and Akira was no exception. But he would never degrade himself like Tokikake did.
They were not the same type of people, and Akira had no common ground with him.
"Let's go."
Akira chuckled, walking past the stunned Tokikake with his hands casually in his pockets. Ahead, the conference room came into view, and someone inside had already noticed them.
As Akira walked away with confidence, Gion's eyes flickered with something—perhaps admiration—but she quickly regained her composure and hurried to keep pace with him.
She also said:
"Maybe the person I said who doesn't know their place is you!"
Those words, combined with the situation, shattered Tokikake's confidence.
He looked up, trembling with rage, and pointed at Akira, who had already reached the conference room door.
"What's so special about that bastard? A shameless guy who 'rewards himself' in the office—something even I wouldn't do."
The hallway fell silent. The conference room also became eerily quiet.
Akira stopped and turned to face Tokikake.
After what felt like an eternity...
"Pfft!"
A few generals burst into laughter as they walked out of the conference room.
Among them, the "non-cooperative" group was particularly blatant, watching with mocking eyes, eager to see Akira humiliated.
"So, the so-called 'informed sources' who slandered me in the newspaper this morning were all because of you, huh?" Akira asked coldly.
"Yes, it was me. If you dare to do it, don't be afraid of getting exposed."
"As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Have you ever seen me 'reward myself'?"
"No, but when Gion whispered to Staff Officer Tsuru in private, I overheard it."
Tokikake was practically buzzing with excitement at this point.
He saw the cold glint in Akira's eyes and knew he had finally struck a nerve. Akira was finally acknowledging his presence.
And no matter how Akira responded now, whether or not the rumor of him 'rewarding himself' was true, it would deal a heavy blow to his reputation and personal image.
At that point, it wouldn't just be about whether Akira could keep the position of Fleet Admiral; it would be a question of whether he could even remain in the headquarters.
No soldier would want to follow a man who just became the acting Fleet Admiral and then "rewarded himself" in the office. Even if someone didn't care, they'd still be branded as part of a "self-rewarding" group by their peers.
Tokikake, reveling in the drama, pointed at Gion and immediately declared, "Gion wouldn't lie about this. She said she heard you doing that in the Fleet Admiral's office!"
All eyes turned to Gion, who suddenly flushed bright red, frantically waving her hands in denial.
"No, no... I didn't..."
Gion wasn't foolish—she knew that if she confirmed this, it would cause severe damage to Akira's reputation.
And after calming down over the past few days, she realized that, based on what she knew about Akira, it was unlikely he would do such a thing. She must have misunderstood.
Just as she was about to lie and deny the whole thing, a large hand patted her shoulder.
Akira moved to Gion's side, his expression puzzled. "I didn't expect you to be outside that day. Why didn't you come in?"
He recalled that the only possible misunderstanding could have been the day he upgraded his physique to a monster level. He had made some... indescribable noises due to the overwhelming sensation.
But... getting stronger felt so incredibly good that he couldn't help himself.
"Well, I..." Gion stammered, unable to respond.
"I see!"
Seeing her shy and flustered expression, Akira understood. This was probably the first time Gion, who had never been in a relationship, encountered such a situation. Her first instinct was to flee.
Akira hadn't expected that, despite being a Vice Admiral, Gion had a side like a shy little girl.
But now, there was a problem!
He had indeed made some noises, and not only had Gion heard them, but the whole situation was now public.
And the one person who could prove his innocence, Gion, had run away out of embarrassment.
In other words, Akira was now in a situation akin to being covered in mud—regardless of the truth, the stain wouldn't come off easily.
"Dear colleagues, I did make some misleading sounds for certain reasons, but please don't jump to conclusions," Akira said, glancing around at the crowd.
"You say that, but where's the proof?" Tokikake shot back immediately.
The crowd grew noisier, with whispers and sneers clearly visible on many faces.
Seeing this, Akira smiled.
"Proof? I don't intend to prove anything."
"Because, for some people... they only believe what they want to believe."
"Gossip is dangerous, and people's minds are unpredictable. What they think is their business. But..."
"As for the fact that you smeared and slandered me in the newspaper, I can't just let that slide."
Instead of being intimidated, Tokikake was thrilled by Akira's words.
He could tell that Akira was planning to escalate the situation.
And that was exactly what he wanted.
"So what are you going to do, Acting Fleet Admiral? Run to the Holy Land and complain to Commander-in-Chief Kong?"
"Or maybe just utter a few weak, empty threats?"
Akira didn't respond. Instead, he adjusted his glasses with his left hand, pulled a pen from the inner pocket of his coat, and focused inwardly.
[Host has made up his mind to use Vice Admiral Tokikake as a stepping stone to establish authority. As a leader, instilling fear in subordinates is crucial; this action aligns with Task 3. 100 experience points have been awarded.]
[Ding! Would you like to spend 1000 experience points to upgrade the 'Development of Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon' to monster level?]
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