Less than five minutes later, with Sakazuki’s battleship leading the way, rchant ships flying the flags of the great news agencies eased toward the shore.
Reporters in dark business suits spilled from their cabins, jaws dropping at the ravaged Oval Military Port.
"W-what happened here?"
"Wasn’t today the Shichibukai induction?"
"Did soone attack Marine Headquarters?"
"Half the port looks destroyed..."
They traded horrified looks, whispers dovetailing into the clatter of shutters as caras began to snap without pause.
Sakazuki, cap brim shadowing a grim face, strode straight to Darren. His gaze skimd Crocodile and the rest before pinning Bullet. "What happened?" he asked, voice like ice. "Who’s responsible?"
Darren lifted a shoulder, resignation threaded through his tone. "What else? The Shichibukai couldn’t see eye to eye. They started brawling the mont they t."
"So you just let them run wild?" Sakazuki’s eyes narrowed to slits, his voice colder still.
"I’d just arrived," Darren said, pointing at Sengoku with a helpless grin. "I was in the middle of diating."
"But it was Admiral Sengoku who nearly sank the entire port."
Sakazuki went still. Darren could see his expression darken.
"Welco to Marine Headquarters," Sengoku said, stepping forward to face the assembled press with a genial smile. "On behalf of all Marines, I extend our warst greetings."
"The induction ceremony will begin shortly. Please proceed to the Highest Military Conference Room in the Fleet Admiral’s Office."
---
The Military Conference Room.
A Marine guard showed Darren to his seat.
Sengoku’s glance felt a shade resentful—perhaps Darren was imagining it, perhaps not.
The seating had been reworked into a tiered lecture hall. A temporary rostrum with a microphone stood at the front, facing a long rectangular conference table.
Six Shichibukai sat in a row at the massive table, bodies and auras starkly different, each wearing a unique expression.
The observation seats were filled with senior officers, Sengoku at their head. Dozens of fad journalists had their caras already leveled, faces flushed with the nearness of history.
"Who’s going to officiate?" one reporter whispered.
"Ordinarily it’d be the Fleet Admiral, ’Steel Bone’ Kong."
"No—Kong’s in the Holy Land reporting to the Governnt. Sengoku has most of his duties here now."
"So Sengoku’s in charge after all?"
"Looks like it."
...
Sengoku cleared his throat and took the stage.
He drew a long breath and arranged a stiff smile. "Normally, I would preside over this Shichibukai investiture."
"However, I believe the younger generation may have more in common with our new allies. Therefore, Vice Admiral Rogers Darren of Marine Headquarters will oversee the ceremony."
Drowsy eyes sharpened along the Shichibukai bench—so brightening, so sneering, so grinding their teeth, so rely intrigued.
Darren froze, glancing at Tsuru.
She wore a resigned look, lifted a hand for silence, and murmured, "Fleet Admiral Kong called. He was furious when he heard Sengoku nearly destroyed the port and ordered the change."
Ah. So that’s why Sengoku had been shooting him that particular look.
"Darren, you look aweso! Get up there already!" Kuzan whooped, pumping a fist.
Shaking his head, Darren straightened his tie, rose, and walked onto the platform.
He took the microphone from Sengoku as the Admiral muttered through clenched teeth, "Young Darren, I’ve gone to great lengths for you."
"After all I’ve sacrificed, you owe , don’t you?"
Darren’s mouth twitched. He forced a pleasant smile. "I’m deeply grateful for Admiral Sengoku’s support. I can never repay your kindness, but I’ll see to the port’s reconstruction personally—at my own expense."
Sengoku’s face gentled into a satisfied grin. He clapped Darren’s shoulder and turned to the room, beaming. "A thunderous round of applause for Marine Headquarters’ rising star—my most trusted right hand—Vice Admiral Darren!"
Darren began clapping. The room followed.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The ovation swelled into a storm.
Under the strobe of flashbulbs, Darren held a composed smile. "My thanks to Admiral Sengoku for this trust. It’s an honor."
The room hushed; only keyboards rattled and shutters clicked.
"The Shichibukai system is a historic strategy of the World Governnt, enacted by Marine Headquarters. It recruits powerful combatants to reinforce our ranks and counter the growing pirate threat."
"Per its charter, a candidate’s bounty is revoked upon appointnt."
He let a wry note edge his smile as he glanced at the six seated below.
"Let us congratulate them. From this mont, they stand as loyal allies of the Marines and the World Governnt."
Applause rolled again.
Crocodile and the others stiffened slightly, unpleasant mories tugging at their faces.
"All right," Darren said, "let’s announce codenas for the new Shichibukai."
Every Marine in the gallery ca to attention.
"Donquixote Doflamingo—forr bounty, 250 million berries. Shichibukai codena: Flamingo."
"Crocodile—forr bounty, 281 million berries. Shichibukai codena: Sand Crocodile."
"Moria—bounty, 218 million berries. Shichibukai codena: Moonlight Bat."
"Dracule Mihawk—bounty, 369 million berries. Shichibukai codena: Hawk-Eyes."
"Fisher Tiger—bounty, 263 million berries. Shichibukai codena: Blood Dragon."
"Douglas Bullet—forr bounty, 2.174 billion berries. Shichibukai codena: Demon Heir."
Darren leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing in a predator’s smile. "Congratulations. Welco to the ranks."
He turned to the press and opened a hand. "We’ll now take questions. Please, go ahead."
Silence held for a beat.
Then hands shot up like blades of grass. Darren pointed at one.
"I’m with the New World Scandal Sheet," the reporter said, eyes burning behind a tidy moustache. "It’s quite a coincidence that four of the six appointed Shichibukai have only one arm. Rumor says you, Vice Admiral Darren, were responsible for those losses. Is it true?"
Crocodile and the others scowled in unison. Gasps rippled; flashbulbs strobed. Every curious, gossiping eye locked on the tall, handso Vice Admiral at the podium.
The flashes quickened.
Darren sighed inwardly. "It was a misunderstanding in the course of negotiations," he said evenly. "We’ve already reconciled."
He paused, then said, firm and clear, "But to answer your question... yes. I did it."
The conference room went deathly silent for a heartbeat.
Then erupted into chaos.
To be continued...
Reviews
All reviews (0)