(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks and appreciate all who support me)
(T/N: Enjoy!!)
<><><><><><>
With a calm smile, Arashi spoke, his voice steady, bringing quiet to the gathered Marines. All eyes turned toward him.
"Today is the same as yesterday, and tomorrow will be the same as today—just an ordinary day for us Marines. The only difference," he said, "is that there's a new Fleet Admiral."
"That's all!"
Marineford fell into absolute silence. No one made a sound.
"The world is still in chaos. Every moment, injustice continues to spread. In the New World, pirates are battling fiercely over Whitebeard's former territory."
"Countless civilians are dying in the crossfire, losing their homes to war." At this, Arashi let out a heavy sigh. "As Marines, the burden we carry on our shoulders remains immense."
"To bring order to these stormy seas—that is the ultimate mission of those of us who act in the name of justice." His voice was calm, but every word struck with force. "It's time we acted in pursuit of that justice."
A light breeze brushed over their heads. From below, the Marines looked up at the powerful figure on the platform.
His words weren't flashy, but they were clear and honest—this was his inauguration speech. Simple, straightforward, and from the heart.
"Starting today, I am the new Fleet Admiral of the Marines. Because of this, we'll be implementing a series of new reforms in the coming period."
"These may upset certain powers or hurt some feelings. But this is the direction the world is heading. As Marines, you must be prepared to act according to the principle of justice."
Arashi's voice remained calm. Many in the crowd tensed slightly, their expressions shifting. "Now…" he continued. "Let's move on to something else."
With that, the crowd turned their attention to two figures slowly approaching from not far away.
One was tall and broad-shouldered, his Marine uniform stretched tight over his frame. The other had a cigar between his lips and a calm smile on his face.
Both wore Marine caps, their chests decorated with an array of medals. "We will be filling two Admiral positions," Arashi announced, sparking a wave of shock.
"It really is them!"
"One is the Sand-Sand Fruit user, former Vice Admiral Crocodile. Rumors say he once infiltrated the Seven Warlords of the Sea as a pirate. His strength is immense."
"The other is the Demon Heir, Douglas Bullet—Commander of the West Blue—who once held off the Dark King Rayleigh during the Marinford War!"
"Their strength is undoubtedly Admiral-level."
"But why only the two of them? During that war, Vice Admiral Rosinante, Vice Admiral Buggy, Vice Admiral Smoker, and Vice Admiral Kuina all showed strength that could rival even Whitebeard!"
"Don't be ridiculous. How could they promote so many Admirals at once?"
"Admirals hold one of the highest ranks in the Marines. It's not just about strength. They must also have extensive experience and great prestige."
The crowd broke into lively discussion, followed by a round of applause.
Amid the excitement, Crocodile and Bullet stepped forward, bowing respectfully toward the assembled crowd before turning to face Arashi.
"Congratulations," Arashi said with a gentle smile. "You've finally made it."
Their eyes wavered, emotions welling up inside. Even though they'd tried to suppress it, stepping onto that stage filled them with uncontrollable pride.
Long ago, they were infamous pirates known across the seas—until Arashi subdued them and now, they stood here, promoted to Admirals.
They almost couldn't believe it. Arashi solemnly fastened the Admiral shoulder insignias onto them, his movements precise and respectful.
"Return to your seats," he said with a chuckle.
The two snapped back to reality, exchanged a glance, and took a deep breath before turning away.
After nodding to Aokiji and Kizaru, they sat down, their eyes locking on Arashi.
At this moment, they understood something—standing before them was the man they now served under. Behind them stood thousands of Marines.
Without realizing it, they had become second only to Arashi in rank. They now held real power.
"In addition to the two new Admirals," Arashi continued, "after discussions with former Fleet Admiral Sengoku, we've decided to announce the appointment of several Vice Admirals as 'Admiral Candidates' during this meeting."
This announcement sent another wave of surprise through the crowd.
Admiral Candidates?
While the title had existed before, it was never formalized as a position.
It was more of an honorary label for Vice Admirals considered strong enough to potentially be promoted in the future.
But now, Arashi was turning it into an actual designation. Did this mean future changes in the Marine structure?
After all, an Admiral Candidate, by name alone, meant someone who could be promoted to Admiral at any time, depending on circumstances.
"They are," Arashi declared. The crowd fell silent. Everyone wanted to hear which Vice Admirals had been chosen.
"Vice Admiral Gion, also known as Momousagi."
"Vice Admiral Tokikake, also known as Chaton."
"Vice Admiral Rosinante, Vice Admiral Smoker, Vice Admiral Buggy, and Vice Admiral Kuina."
"These six," Arashi announced, "after careful evaluation, will be designated as Admiral Candidates!"
The names caused a stir. At first there was a pause, then waves of intense discussion. Gion and Tokikake were veteran Vice Admirals, long considered strong contenders.
Rosinante, Smoker, Buggy, and Kuina had all proven themselves in the Paramount War with outstanding performances. In terms of power alone, each was well worth the recognition.
"This era has produced countless talents within the Marines," Arashi said. "Especially among the younger generation. I look forward to seeing how they grow."
His eyes shifted toward the rear rows, where Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Daz Bonez sat. All wore shoulder insignias of Commodore-level officers—proof that they'd been promoted.
"Well then," Arashi concluded, "this simple inauguration ceremony ends here."
"My apologies for taking up your time." He gave a slight bow and turned to leave.
Many were surprised by how brief the ceremony had been, but that simplicity earned him respect. The Marines appreciated it—direct, without unnecessary words.
Arashi, after all, had risen from their ranks. And he represented their values perfectly.
As the Marines in the square began to disperse in small groups, Garp and Sengoku exchanged glances, smiling.
"Well, looks like you can finally rest easy now," Garp laughed.
"Not quite," Sengoku sighed. "That brat's waiting for us in the office."
"Oh?" Garp raised an eyebrow.
"Let's go hear what he has to say," Sengoku replied.
Moments later, they stepped into the room—and immediately noticed the giant plaque behind Arashi's desk. Sengoku froze in shock.
"Justice of Equality Across the World."
What the hell was this?
It was clearly just his old plaque with the word "equality" sloppily squeezed in. The crooked handwriting was clearly Arashi's. He didn't even try to hide it.
Pulling out chairs, the two old Marines sat across from him.
"Well then," Garp said. "What did you drag us in here for?"
Arashi glanced down at the files on his desk, frowned, and pushed them aside.
"First," he said bluntly, "the Seven Warlords system will be abolished."
The statement stunned them both.
"That's a government-recognized organization," Sengoku frowned. "You're going to dismantle a system that's lasted over ten years on your first day in office?"
"A pirate is a pirate," Arashi said coolly. "Legitimizing them only burdens the world further. There's no benefit to it."
"Second, I'm forming a secret unit."
"It will be small, but elite. They'll gather global intelligence and carry out classified missions as needed."
Sengoku and Garp stared at him.
"and what does that have to do with us two retired old men? I need you both to lead this unit," Arashi said with a smile.
The room fell silent. "I knew you wouldn't let me enjoy retirement," Sengoku sighed.
"You brat, still dragging us old geezers around," Garp said, half-laughing.
Arashi gave a small smile. "With great power comes great responsibility."
The two veterans paused, silently repeating the phrase. The more they thought about it, the more it made sense.
"This unit," Arashi said, "will be called SWORD. They'll handle intelligence gathering, covert operations, and more."
"I've already assembled a group of highly capable young elites. I'll be counting on the two of you to guide them."
"Oh, so now we're your babysitters?" Garp chuckled, though he didn't object. He picked up the personnel list.
"Rob Lucci," he muttered, eyes narrowing slightly.
Sengoku looked up, visibly surprised. "Isn't he one of your most talented subordinates? You're really handing him over to us?"
Garp nodded in agreement as he spotted other names—Koby among them. All young, all with immense potential.
"A fine blade is forged through trials," Arashi said.
"SWORD will be the Marines' cutting edge—sharp and precise. Before the main forces even move, they will strike from the shadows." He smiled softly.
The SWORD unit—within Arashi's vision—was a blade aimed straight at the enemy's heart.
It was formed by the most powerful, experienced, and elite members of the Marines. Their purpose: to gather critical intelligence and carry out confidential missions.
In essence, SWORD was the Marines' equivalent of CP—capable of both internal and external operations.
"This position can only be held by two people. Because next, I intend to cut into the heart of the Marines themselves."
"To repel outside threats, we must first stabilize the inside. If we want to unite the Marines into one solid force, the internal impurities must be purged."
Arashi's gaze sharpened slightly as he spoke in a deep voice. Sengoku and Garp remained silent, focused intently on the SWORD dossier in their hands.
In the upper-right corner, a bold red stamp read: Top Secret. After a long silence, Sengoku finally put the file down, sighing with a complicated expression.
"From a glimpse, I can already tell... your ambition far exceeds what I expected."
Arashi smiled faintly. "This is only the beginning. To complete the grand vision in my heart, there's still a long way to go."
Sengoku frowned deeply and fell into thought. After a moment, he slowly nodded.
"Alright. The SWORD plan... is definitely intriguing. So, your primary target is the New World? In other words, you plan to move against that pirate-dominated sea?"
After asking this, Sengoku grew pensive. The New World had always been considered off-limits for the Marines—a paradise for pirates.
Despite years of effort, the Marines had never truly extended their power there.
At most, they had established a few isolated bases.
But relying solely on those, trying to control the chaos of the New World, was nothing but a pipe dream.
"The New World, as it stands now, is still barren to me. For the Marines, it must be taken, even if it costs us years of effort, and a tremendous amount of energy."
Arashi's eyes narrowed as his voice dropped lower. "Barren?" Sengoku was stunned. But almost instantly, his eyes lit up with understanding. His heart trembled.
This man was clearly aiming far beyond just destroying the Four Emperors or wiping out pirate factions. But then... what was his true goal?
Sengoku's brows furrowed tightly. In his mind, he pushed himself: Be bolder, think further! He knew just how insane Arashi's mind truly was. Suddenly, a chilling thought hit Sengoku.
"Don't tell me...! His goal is to take over and unify the New World?! That's... far too unbelievable!"
But from another perspective, If the Marines could use their own strength to suppress the pirates in the New World, unify the nations and forces across that vast region...
Wouldn't that make them equal to the combined power of the current Four Emperors? At that point, they might even have the strength to challenge the World Government itself.
"This kid... is too bold!"
Sengoku was completely shaken. What Arashi was planning was a step-by-step approach—gradually closing in on the World Government.
Then, finally initiating a grand battle that would shake the entire world. So much for cooperating with the World Government—that was all smoke and mirrors!
Arashi's path was clear—he wanted to overthrow the very rulers atop the Red Line.
"Third," Arashi continued, "I intend to launch a global recruitment effort."
"I'll gather exceptional talent from around the world—regardless of their background. Anyone truly powerful may even be promoted beyond standard rank."
His voice, laced with a calm laugh, pulled Sengoku out of his shock.
"Recruitment, huh?" Sengoku murmured. "The Marines have always recruited—that's nothing out of the ordinary."
"One month from now, I'll strike at the Warlords. Starting with capturing the last remaining one—Dracule Mihawk."
A cold glint flashed in Arashi's eyes. Ever since he took the role of Fleet Admiral, his actions had been explosive and swift.
"What about the others?" Garp asked curiously.
"They'll be drafted into the Marines," Arashi said with a casual smile.
Garp and Sengoku were speechless. They had to admit—the younger generation was ruthless. Even the powerful Warlords were nothing more than minor obstacles to him.
"I'll trouble you, Teacher Garp, and you, Senior Sengoku, to prepare yourselves."
"Your first mission is to bring the recruits on that list—go to Dressrosa and establish the Marines' first base there. Second, gather intelligence on Wano."
Arashi paused briefly. "Once we've resolved the internal issues and coordinated the forces, We'll begin our campaign into the New World."
At these words, both Sengoku and Garp turned serious.
"With Whitebeard now in Impel Down and much of his territory lost, this is our best opportunity," Arashi said with a quiet smile.
Sengoku's sharp eyes noticed the pen in Arashi's hand, swiftly signing his name on a document on the desk.
"You're deploying two Admirals to Fish-Man Island?!" That was no small matter.
The tension between Fish-Men and humans had always run deep.
Many nobles, due to twisted tastes, paid high prices on the black market to buy Fish-Men as slaves. To them, owning Fish-Men had become a disgusting display of status.
"If we want to enter the New World and cleanse the world, Fish-Man Island must be a card firmly in our grasp!"
Arashi's voice was low. "As the gateway to the New World for pirates, the Marines must have their power rooted there."
"Whatever the World Government or King Neptune of the Ryugu Kingdom may think, I couldn't care less."
Sengoku sighed. He knew—no matter what he said now, there was no way Arashi would change his mind.
"Be cautious," he warned. Fish-Man Island had always been a sensitive zone. It was easy to trigger a chain reaction there.
Arashi smiled gently. "Don't worry."
The two nodded and turned to leave. Since they had agreed to follow him, they would do their best.
And truthfully, venturing into the New World to accomplish something great, had always been a dream they longed for.
....
Time passed.
A month had flown by since Arashi assumed the role of Fleet Admiral.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, He sat in a wooden chair, leaning back, a massive plaque behind him inscribed with the words: Justice Equal to Sovereignty.
His eyes were half closed, arms resting on the desk, fingers tapping softly—
as if he were waiting for something.
"Pere pere pere pere"
"Kacha"
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi rang beside him.Arashi opened his eyes, reached out, and answered it.
"Fleet... Fleet Admiral, sir! The fleet tasked with capturing the world's greatest swordsman is ready!"
"Led by Admiral Kizaru, assisted by Vice Admirals Buggy and Rosinante—this mission will be a complete success! To ensure absolute victory, we still need one more person—"
Arashi suddenly chuckled.
"Oh? Who's missing?" the officer asked.
"Me," Arashi replied flatly, then hung up.
During Sengoku's time as Fleet Admiral, he rarely ventured out. But Arashi was different. His era was destined to be one of ceaseless war.
He drew back the arm resting on the desk and began to rise, when suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply.
[Wealth, fame, power, strength... All the things you've fought so hard to obtain—
Are you willing to give them up to begin your new life that belongs to you or continue to find the meaning of your life?]
In the void before him, a word before him appeared.
No—that wasn't it. They had appeared suddenly, not before his eyes, but directly inside his mind.
If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 10 advanced Chapters for you guys.
patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:COI NOVEL TIER (PLEASE DONT SUBS THROUGH IOS PLATFORM)