章 118: Getting a Daughter
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In the holy city of Mariejois, Brontes found himself standing at the foot of the mechanical stairs leading to the heart of the city.
Underneath these stairs, slaves labored endlessly, their cries of despair reaching Brontes, who had grown increasingly weary of such sorrow during his time in Mariejois.
As Brontes watched, a procession began to form at the bottom of the stairs. This group was made up of kings from various nations of the world, along with their guards. Some were even accompanied by princes and princesses.
"Greetings, your majesties, and welcome to Mariejois!" Brontes called out, nodding politely as the kings started their ascent.
"It's truly an honor to be welcomed personally by Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok." One of the kings, visibly astonished by Brontes's presence, said in a surprised voice.
"King Asno, you look the same as you did four years ago, ever so young." Brontes responded with a polite comment.
"Ah, I've aged. In fact, I'm in the process of choosing a successor. But Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok, you..." King Asno's gaze lingered on Brontes's youthful appearance with curiosity.
"May I ask how old you are this year?"
"I'm forty." Brontes replied.
"Forty? You don't look a day over thirty." A female monarch chimed in.
"Well, Queen Morollo, it's really nothing special. Perhaps it's just good genes that keep me from aging." Brontes chuckled lightly.
"It's hard to believe. I'd love to know if there's a secret to your youth." Queen Morollo said, her tone was playful and curious.
"If I had such a secret, I would surely share it with you in the future, Your Majesty." Brontes responded with a smile, shaking his head slightly.
"Please, come in." Brontes said, moving aside to welcome the kings and queens into Mariejois.
As the they passed by, Brontes noticed King Wapol of the Drum Kingdom among them, picking his nose as he drew nearer.
This was Wapol's first visit to Mariejois since ascending to the throne of the Drum Kingdom.
At that moment, a young girl with bright blue hair, full of excitement and charm, approached Brontes. She was holding onto the hand of a dignified man and was followed by two men in casual attire.
"It's been quite some time, King Cobra." Brontes greeted the dignified man with a warm smile.
"Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok, you honor me too much. I've actually been hoping to extend an invitation for you to visit Alabasta again." Cobra replied with a gracious smile, reflecting on their familiarity that dated back to Brontes's days as an Admiral, a time during which he had visited Alabasta.
"And this must be the daughter you spoke of last time." Brontes's attention shifted to the little girl who looked up at him, curiosity sparkling in her large blue eyes.
"Yes, this is my daughter, Vivi. Vivi, this gentleman is a good friend of your father's, Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok. But you can just call him Brontes-Oji. He's actually a bit younger than your dad." Cobra explained, his voice filled with a gentle kindness.
"Hello, Brontes-Oji. But, you don't really look like you could be dad's friend." Vivi said in an adorable manner.
"And why is that?" Brontes asked, intrigued by her comment.
"You're more handsome. How could you be only a few years younger than my dad?" Vivi pondered aloud, her little index finger tapping her chin innocently.
"Hahaha!"
Hearing this, Brontes couldn't help but burst into laughter, a genuine, hearty laugh that he hadn't experienced in a long time. In a spontaneous gesture, he removed a medal from his chest.
"What a charming young lady you are. This is for you." He said, as he handed the medal to Vivi.
"Brontes, what are you doing..." Cobra started, taken aback by the gesture, a sentiment shared by everyone present as their curiosity was piqued.
The other kings couldn't hide their astonishment at the sight of the medal in Vivi's hand.
"Could that medal be..."
"The highest honor medal!"
The medal Brontes had given to Vivi was immediately recognized by most of the kings, causing a stir of surprise.
It was not just any commendation but the highest award medal bestowed by the World Government. The efforts required to receive such a medal were monumental, involving contributions considered the most challenging in the world to achieve.
Since the inception of the World Government, only a select few had ever been awarded this medal, and without exception, they were all Marine Admirals.
This is why the medal is often referred to as the Marine Admiral's Medal, a prestigious award that Marine Admirals earn through their substantial contributions to the world.
While the honor medals for Vice-Admirals and those with lower ranks are handed out by Marineford, the issuance of the Marine Admiral's medals falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the World Government.
Furthermore, for a medal to be awarded, approval must be obtained from all member nations of the World Government.
When Brontes removed this esteemed medal from his own chest to present it to a princess from another country, it naturally caused quite a ripple among the onlookers.
"Brontes, you simply can't give away this medal like this!" Cobra understood the profound significance of the medal.
Although it didn't make one an Admiral by itself, it stood as a symbol of the identity of an Admiral. It was a token deeply cherished, displayed only during significant events such as the World Conference.
The medal was more than a representation of an Admiral's role; it was a symbol of honor and respect from nations around the world for the Admiral's grandiose contributions.
This small piece of metal encapsulated a great deal of meaning, and at that moment, many kings felt a surge of envy towards Cobra, particularly for his daughter, who was only ten years old.
The dignitaries present had brought their own offspring, but it was only Cobra's daughter who had caught Brontes's special attention—so much so that he had unfastened the highest honor medal from his uniform to gift it to the young girl. Jealousy was an understandable reaction.
Despite their own royal statuses, the kings could not help but acknowledge the overwhelming influence of the Fleet-Admiral.
Even though Brontes was no longer active within the Marine, to these monarchs, his authority loomed even larger than that of the current Marine Fleet-Admiral Sengoku.
After all, Brontes was not only charged with their protection but also played a key role in managing the affairs of the world nobility.
Brontes's influence was virtually unmatched, sitting just a notch below the prestigious Five Elders of the World Government.
While the kings did hold high statuses within their own countries, in terms of military might and authority, they were no match for Brontes.
"Thank you, Brontes-Oji, but I can't accept this." Vivi said, gently shaking her head.
"Why not? Don't you like it?" Brontes was surprised by her response.
"I do." Vivi admitted with an innocent nod.
"If you like it, then it's yours. It really isn't something of much value." Brontes assured her with a gentle smile.
"But..." Vivi's gaze shifted around to the others nearby. Despite her young age, she sensed the importance of the medal, understanding that it held great significance.
"It seems very important to you, uncle. I can't accept it." She insisted, shaking her head determinedly.
"Hahaha!"
Brontes responded with a hearty laugh. Then, in a swift motion, he lifted Vivi up, stroked her head, and between chuckles said: "It's mine to give to whomever I wish. But, to keep the tongues from wagging, let's try something different. King Cobra, you know I'm not getting any younger, forty and without a child of my own. I've grown quite fond of Vivi, so I've decided to adopt her as my daughter."
"Ah?!!"
Cobra stood, utterly astounded, far more taken aback by this decision than the offering of the highest honor medal.
He struggled to grasp Brontes's sudden decision to adopt Vivi. This move was an unequivocal blessing for both Vivi and all of Alabasta.
With Brontes as her adoptive father, who would dare bully Vivi or disturb the peace of Alabasta?
Cobra was not the only one stunned by Brontes's declaration. The other kings present from various nations, as well as the marine soldiers standing behind Brontes, all shared in the astonishment, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief at Brontes's unexpected decision.
"Although it might seem a bit unexpected, Vivi, do you like me?" Brontes asked, his gaze softening as he looked at Vivi, almost as if he was looking at his own daughter. Perhaps it was because of his unique personality and his particular views on life that Brontes hadn't found a suitable partner and had decided to stop looking. However, his affection for children was undeniable, and from the moment he saw Vivi with her captivating blue eyes, he was drawn to her.
Despite his desires for a family, Brontes's commitments had left him with neither the time nor the opportunity to find a partner. Now, upon meeting the ten-year-old Vivi, the idea of adopting her as his goddaughter felt right to him. Her small, adorable appearance, coupled with her evident sensibility, struck a chord with Brontes. Although he had never been a father, the idea of having a kin, much like his relationship with Zed, appealed to him as he grew older.
"To be Brontes-Oji's daughter?" Vivi repeated, her eyes growing wide with surprise and sparkling with an innocent curiosity.
"Yes. Do you like your uncle? Uncle doesn't have any children of his own, so if you become uncle's daughter, you can keep this medal without any problem." Brontes explained, his smile was gentle and encouraging.
Vivi turned her head towards Cobra, seeking his opinion.
Cobra, though initially surprised by Brontes's proposition, gave his nod of approval.
He might not have fully understood Brontes's intentions, but he trusted him. Having known Brontes for many years, Cobra was familiar with his character and was confident that Vivi would not come to any harm under his care.
"Yes!" Vivi exclaimed with enthusiasm after seeing her father's affirmative response.
"Hahaha!"
Brontes let out another hearty laugh, placing the highest honor medal into her small hand and affectionately kissed her on the cheek.
"From today onward, you're my daughter. If anyone ever dares to bully you, I will take care of them." He declared with a joyful laugh, understanding now the happiness that Whitebeard felt surrounded by his children.
Brontes realized, perhaps he might never marry or have a romantic partner in his life, but having Vivi as his daughter filled that void, giving him a sense of family he hadn't experienced before.
"Yes, Brontes-Oji!" Vivi replied, her voice ringing with happiness as she accepted the significant gift.
"No need to call me Brontes-Oji anymore. Just call me what you would call Cobra." Brontes said with a beaming smile.
"Papa! Papa!" Vivi said, a bit hesitant at first but then more confidently.
Brontes's heart swelled with joy at her words. Without further ado, he took Vivi by the hand and led her into Mariejois, paying no mind to the kings around them.
While it might have seemed impolite to overlook such dignitaries, Brontes's esteemed status and formidable strength made such breaches of protocol forgivable.
As Brontes and Vivi ventured into Mariejois, leaving the gatherers behind, whispers of envy began to spread among the kings.
Cobra's daughter being adopted by Brontes was no small matter. Once word of this arrangement spread, it was clear that Alabasta would be viewed in a new light.
In the eyes of many, Alabasta had just acquired protection akin to that of a Yonko's, turning this relatively modest island nation in the New World into a place no one would dare to meddle with lightly.
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