章 55: 55. Sengoku: I Support Akira
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"Welcome back to Marineford."
The warship docked at the port, and Akira, along with the others, descended the stairs.
The sea breeze blew, making the cloak of justice behind him flutter dramatically.
Dozens of soldiers, standing in two neat rows, greeted them with steel guns in hand, saluting in unison.
With his hands in his pockets, Akira walked forward slowly, under the admiring eyes of everyone present.
Instructor Zephyr, Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, and Admiral Candidate Borsalino were waiting with a group of officers and generals.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Zephyr stepped forward and spoke first.
Akira waved his hand dismissively. "It's not me who worked hard, but the rest of you. I just watched the whole show."
Even though he had used the replica Shiki and Kyōka Suigetsu, he hadn't lifted a finger. So, it wasn't wrong to say he was merely a spectator.
Zephyr nodded silently, then glanced over at Admiral Sengoku.
"Brother Sengoku, I..."
Zephyr hesitated, unsure of how to proceed.
To be honest, he felt a bit apprehensive about facing Sengoku at this moment. After all, to help Akira earn one trillion berries quickly, he had effectively "betrayed" his good brother. If it hadn't been for his assistance in the end, Akira wouldn't have been able to close the trillion-berry gap so easily.
If that gap hadn't been filled, and without the support of both the low-level soldiers and high-ranking generals, the position of Fleet Admiral would still belong to Sengoku.
Though he did it for the sake of the Marines and justice, Zephyr found that when actually facing Sengoku, he didn't feel as innocent as he had hoped.
Sengoku noticed the internal struggle of his old friend.
He didn't say much, instead taking the initiative to walk forward. Opening his arms wide, he embraced Zephyr tightly, while jokingly saying in a mock "threatening" tone:
"You bastard, you owe me ten meals at the most famous hotel in the Sabaody Archipelago for not helping me. I'll absolutely bankrupt you; otherwise, I won't be able to let go of this grudge."
Initially, Sengoku had been puzzled and somewhat critical of Zephyr's actions, but once he understood the severe situation the Marines were facing at the time, he could see why Zephyr acted as he did.
After all, the plan he had devised to capture the notorious pirate wouldn't have been enough to save the Marines, nor the world.
Only by ensuring everyone followed Akira's orders could the Marines secure the funds needed to pay everyone. And with salaries, soldiers would continue to fight.
As long as the soldiers had the courage to fight, the Marines wouldn't fail in confronting the era of great pirates.
Thus, Sengoku harbored no lingering resentment towards Zephyr for overtaking him and rallying the generals to support Akira.
After all, they were all acting in the name of justice, not out of personal ambition.
Still, a bit of "punishment" was in order, to keep Zephyr from overthinking things. Besides, setting the meeting at a hotel allowed the two of them to enjoy a long-overdue conversation over drinks, ensuring no hard feelings lingered because of the incident.
Zephyr sighed in relief.
He hugged Sengoku back with both hands and laughed heartily, "Don't just stop at ten meals; a hundred meals are fine. When the time comes, Brother Garp and Sister Tsuru will join us too."
"Bwahahaha, you said it! Don't expect me to hold back then."
Garp laughed loudly, already imagining the delicious food, and couldn't help but wipe the saliva from the corner of his mouth.
Zephyr was stunned and suddenly felt a pang of regret.
In the Iron Four Corners of the Marines, Garp alone could easily take on all three of them combined.
While Sengoku might have been joking about bankrupting Zephyr, if Garp really decided to eat to his heart's content, it could actually happen. The hotels in the Sabaody Archipelago aren't cheap, after all.
Zephyr silently started calculating how much he had left in his savings.
"Eat whatever you want, everything will be reimbursed by headquarters," Akira said with a smile, noticing Zephyr's concern and stepping in to help.
With trillions in Marine Bank, no one could put a dent in it, even if they tried. If a little money could restore relationships, it was a big win for both the Marines and Akira.
Zephyr's eyes lit up, and his mood brightened. "Akira, you're bold! I'll take you up on that offer.
"Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, Momonga, you, you… and you too," he said, pointing to nearly every general behind him. "Everyone join us. No need to find another time, let's do it tonight."
The generals, unable to refuse their instructor's invitation, nodded eagerly.
Tsuru chuckled but said nothing.
"Let's go see Fleet Admiral Kong," Akira said once everyone had quieted down.
With that, he led the way toward the office building in the heart of Marineford.
Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru formed a semicircle around him, following like a protective guard.
Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Kuzan walked closely behind them.
The remaining generals followed according to their rank and seniority, forming the rear of the procession.
"Hey… Look, what's going on? Why are Sengoku and Hero Garp following behind Vice Admiral Akira?"
"Has Vice Admiral Akira become Fleet Admiral? But that can't be right—Fleet Admiral Kong has been in headquarters recently and hasn't officially taken Vice Admiral Akira to the Holy Land to meet the Five Elders."
"Such strong Haki… I hope I can be like Akira someday, with all the top brass following me."
"Looks like Sengoku really respects Akira."
"Honestly, making Akira the Fleet Admiral wouldn't be bad."
The Marines busy in Marineford Square couldn't help but stop and watch in shock and amazement.
At that moment, the scene resembled a triangle.
Akira led at the front, followed by the various generals and officers, resembling a pack of wolves following their alpha.
Akira ignored the curious eyes of the soldiers around him, focusing solely on his destination—the Fleet Admiral's office.
Walking without interruption, he soon reached the entrance and stepped inside.
The "monsters"—Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru, and the other high-ranking Marines—entered with him.
The rest of the generals stopped in the corridor, straining to listen.
They all worked within the same system and were familiar with each other. They knew that, barring any unexpected events, a new Marine Fleet Admiral would be chosen today.
The display in the square had already made it clear, but without official confirmation, they remained on edge.
Inside, Fleet Admiral Kong sat on his throne, arms crossed, his tiger-like eyes shifting between Akira and Sengoku. After a moment, he spoke:
"Akira, Sengoku, two months ago you both agreed that whoever could achieve a feat that convinced the public would take over as Fleet Admiral."
"Have you decided the winner?" Fleet Admiral Kong asked.
Although Akira's achievements over the past two months clearly made him the victor, it wasn't Kong's place to declare it. The decision had to come from those involved.
Swish.
Everyone instinctively turned their attention to Sengoku.
Sengoku knew he needed to voice his decision. Having already made up his mind, he wasn't about to go back on his word.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and, in a formal tone, addressed Kong and all the assembled generals:
"Fleet Admiral Kong, the result is clear."
"Akira's accomplishments in the past two months are undeniable, and his leadership has earned my full respect.
"I believe that under his guidance, the Marines will be able to bring an end to this era of great pirates."
"Therefore, I fully support Akira as the next Marine Fleet Admiral."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
At that moment, everyone remained silent, and even the generals outside the door seemed to hold their breath.
Kong waited for a full ten minutes.
Seeing that no one objected—not even Garp, Zephyr, or Tsuru, who all showed their support—he nodded in approval.
There was no need to consult the opinions of the lower-ranking soldiers. Akira had already won their loyalty by fulfilling his promise to pay their salaries in full, even exceeding their expectations. Although Sengoku was highly respected, loyalty and tangible benefits outweighed fame in this situation.
As for the other Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals, they followed the lead of the Admirals. With Sengoku and his three lifelong comrades all backing Akira, they had no choice but to agree. Objecting would be futile, especially for the more conservative Vice Admirals who knew better than to embarrass themselves.
"Very well! Akira, come with me to the Holy Land to meet the Five Elders," Kong declared, rising from his seat and heading towards the door.
"Huh..." Akira finally allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief.
After two months of intense effort, the position of Marine Fleet Admiral was finally within his grasp.
As long as the Five Elders approved today, his interim status would be lifted, and he would officially become Fleet Admiral Akira.
Akira nodded to Sengoku, offering a brief farewell, and then followed Kong out.
The generals in the corridor instinctively parted to make way for him.
As Akira's figure receded into the distance, Sengoku watched with mixed emotions.
He knew that when Akira returned, he would be the one in charge.
"Don't stare too long, Sengoku. He's gone," Garp said, snapping Sengoku out of his thoughts. "Honestly, being Fleet Admiral is a lot of trouble, so don't worry too much about it."
"I still remember when we first joined the Marines, our dream wasn't to become Fleet Admiral," Zephyr added, trying to lighten Sengoku's mood. "Getting too caught up in power struggles can lead you down the wrong path."
Tsuru nodded in agreement. "Akira has as much dedication to justice as we do. Making him Fleet Admiral might not be such a bad thing."
Sengoku listened quietly and then smiled, feeling more at ease.
"Don't worry about me, I'm not that kind of person," Sengoku replied with a chuckle. "Let's just wait for Fleet Admiral Akira to return!"
"Akira, good luck!" he thought to himself.
As Akira was about to leave the office building, two familiar figures appeared in front of him.
Gion stood there, gently holding Rouge's hand, her lips parting slightly as she silently encouraged him.
Akira smiled.
But when his gaze met Rouge's, his eyes flickered slightly, revealing a moment of unspoken emotion.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, I want to take Rouge to the Holy Land. What do you think?" Akira asked as he quickened his pace to walk beside Kong.
"Rouge? The woman carrying Roger's blood?" Kong glanced at Rouge, noticing her pregnancy, and immediately understood Akira's intentions. Akira wanted to use this opportunity to present Rouge to the Five Elders and secure a promise that she wouldn't be hunted down.
"I agreed to keep her alive on the condition that she would contribute to curbing the era of great pirates. Do you think she has fulfilled that role?" Kong asked.
"I believe she has done an admirable job," Akira responded confidently. "Over the past two months, she has traveled the world, attempting to atone for her connection to Roger. When many doubted my Honey plan, she didn't falter. Instead, she worked tirelessly to assist the soldiers."
"She even risked her life to deceive the Beast Pirates. For someone who is just an ordinary woman, I think that's commendable."
Akira's resolve to protect Rouge and her unborn child, Ace, was not only a matter of personal promise but also tied to the consequences imposed by a system he adhered to. If he failed to resolve the crisis surrounding mother and child within the specified time, he would lose 16,000 experience points—a precious resource that had been hard to accumulate. After two months of effort, Akira still hadn't reached 10,000 experience points, making it imperative that he avoid any penalties.
Given that today was a special day, with his upcoming meeting with the Five Elders as the new Fleet Admiral, Akira hoped that making this small request would be met with approval.
Kong shook his head but offered no criticism, simply stating, "You don't need to take her with you. She doesn't have the qualifications to step foot in the Holy Land as a sinful person."
"Just bring it up with the Five Elders when the time comes."
Rouge, despite being the mother of Roger's child, was just an ordinary woman with no strength or influence, aside from her beauty. She didn't warrant a special audience with the Five Elders.
Akira nodded, accepting Kong's decision without further comment.
The warship at the port was already prepared. As Akira and Kong boarded the deck, the soldiers immediately set a course for the Holy Land.
"Here, take these," Kong said, suddenly pulling out ten boxes of cigars from his pocket and handing them to Akira.
Akira accepted them, puzzled. Why so many cigars? Was he supposed to hand them out once they arrived at the Holy Land? The gesture seemed oddly reminiscent of something from another world.
"Don't ask too many questions now. You'll thank me when we leave the Holy Land," Kong said in a low tone, not offering any further explanation.
Akira frowned slightly, but after considering it, he chose not to press for more information. He pocketed the cigar boxes, trusting that Kong wouldn't mislead him.
"Just in time, I was running low on cigars," Akira remarked, lighting one as he settled in to quietly wait for their arrival at the Holy Land.
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