"Sengoku , stop cursing."
"Hand over the gift quickly.
"I also want to see how the Admiral of the Navy gives gifts."
Facing Sengoku 's scolding, Zephyr directly retorted.
Didn't he understand Sengoku 's character by now?
If Sengoku really thought the gifts he and Borsalino gave were too extraordinary, he would've already turned into a giant Buddha, coated it in gold, and smacked them both with the Buddha's Palm.
How could he just curse a few words?
Hearing what Zephyr said, Borsalino, Tokiake, and Gion all turned their eyes toward Sengoku.
Even Rosen was a little curious about what kind of graduation gift Sengoku would give him.
"At least I won't be as unruly as you two."
Facing everyone's gaze, Sengoku snorted coldly, then pulled a folded letter and a bronze-colored Den Den Mushi from the inner pocket of his Admiral's coat.
"Rosen, this is the letter of appointment from Navy Headquarters."
"From now on, you will serve as the Admiral of the North Sea, in charge of all branches in the North Sea."
"Holding this bronze Den Den Mushi allows you to forcibly connect to any branch in the North Sea. It gives you the right to mobilize all branch navies within the North Sea at any time, without needing to apply to your superiors."
After speaking, Sengoku handed Rosen the North Sea Admiral's appointment letter along with the bronze Den Den Mushi.
"Good fellow."
"Using public power for personal gain."
Zephyr and Borsalino looked at each other and said in unison.
He had actually turned personnel appointments into a graduation gift. This move was even more outrageous than theirs.
"You two are out of line. That's not abuse of power.
"I am the Fleet Admiral of the Navy. Within headquarters, all matters, big or small, are decided by me."
"So this is called reasonable, legal, and compliant. Do you understand?"
Sengoku's expression didn't change. He spoke with confidence.
Gion: "…"
Tokikake: "…"
Zephyr and Borsalino didn't know if they understood or not, but they were both stunned by the three in front of them.
In the past, they had always believed that this kind of thing…
Abusing power for personal gain, trading favors, manipulating authority was filthy. It could only be hidden in the shadows, never brought into the light.
But what about now?
Sengoku, Borsalino, and Zephyr were doing exactly that openly, under the sun yet none of them thought it dirty or shameful.
And the more outrageous thing was… neither Gion nor Tokikake thought it was wrong either.
Because whether it was the golden Den Den Mushi that could summon a Buster Call at will, the Navy Admiral's Justice coat, or the bronze Den Den Mushi that commanded the entire North Sea fleet…
Both Gion and Tokikake believed Rosen deserved it.
And the truth was, Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral; Borsalino, a candidate Admiral; and Zephyr, a former Admiral
All believed Rosen was Qualified.
None of them Feared being discovered by other officers of Headquarters.
So instead of hiding, they openly handed Rosen all this power in front of Gion and Tokikake, right at the main gates of the Naval Academy.
…
"Headquarters Vice Admiral?"
When Rosen unfolded the appointment letter of the North Sea Admiral, he saw that in addition to the title, it also listed his awarded rank.
Navy Captain.
And not just any captain
A Headquarters Vice Admiral.
On the surface, a Vice Admiral didn't seem like a big deal. There were plenty around Headquarters. But tell him..was there any case in history of a cadet being promoted to Headquarters Vice Admiral immediately upon graduation?
Not one.
And more importantly
Before reaching the rank of Vice Admiral, military rank wasn't the key thing.
Authority was.
The title of North Sea Admiral given by Sengoku was a position with true authority.
A Headquarters Vice Admiral by itself wasn't much.
But a Headquarters Vice Admiral who also held absolute command over all branch bases in the North Sea… was a different matter entirely.
Especially one who had just graduated, without any service record or battlefield achievement.
Looking at the history of the Navy, this was unprecedented.
…
"Don't get too attached to these things in front of you. Focus on the future."
"North Sea Admiral, golden Den Den Mushi, bronze Den Den Mushi—these are just tools to familiarize you with naval duty."
"The North Sea is only a place for you to gain some experience and get used to naval affairs."
Seeing Rosen, fresh out of the academy, suddenly burdened with so many symbols of power, Sengoku worried he might be swayed by youthful pride. So he reminded him sternly.
"I understand, Teacher Sengoku ."
"I won't let you down."
Rosen looked at the pile of symbols of authority in his hand, but his eyes didn't waver.
To him, the golden Den Den Mushi and the bronze Den Den Mushi were just toys.
Even the title of North Sea Admiral, with its vast powers, didn't stir his heart.
Because Rosen understood one thing
Headquarters was his home.
The New World was his Battlefield.
Everything now was just experience and transition.
A stepping stone to familiarize himself with naval duty, laying the foundation for the day he inherited Sengoku's seat as Fleet Admiral.
What's more, Rosen knew clearly that it wasn't that he was granted these powers as an exception.
It was because he had the ability to bear them.
This wasn't charity.
It was his due.
How could he be blinded by such trifles?
….
"Your dedicated warship is already docked at the harbor."
"Built by the Carrera Company, it was recently shipped from Water 7."
"It comes with an assigned crew and is always on standby for departure."
"Since this is your first time setting sail, and you're unfamiliar with the Grand Line, the North Sea, and naval operations, I've also selected an experienced officer to act as your adjutant on this trip."
"Of course, this is only temporary."
"If you find the man unsuitable, you can replace him yourself once you're familiar with North Sea affairs."
As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku was thorough. He considered every detail, big and small.
He knew Rosen's strength had already reached the pinnacle of Headquarters.
His posting to the North Sea wasn't about testing his combat ability
It was about building experience, accumulating merits, and learning administration… but preparing him for the position of Admiral
And eventually Fleet Admiral.
So the adjutant Rosen needed wasn't a strong fighter, hr needed someone seasoned in naval affairs.
Capable of helping him handle complex seas, politics, and climates.
Besides, Sengoku knew Rosen would definitely take Douglas Bullet with him.
The "Demon's Heir," defeated and taken in by Rosen, had spent the past days recovering under the Navy's best medical care. His strength had already surpassed what it was when he left Impel Down.
With such a monster at his side, Rosen hardly needed another powerhouse as his adjutant.
….
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Teacher Sengoku ."
Rosen truly felt Sengoku's meticulous care. Every angle, every possibility—considered.
These were things Zephyr had never taught him.
After all, the First Division of the Navy could only train him to have the combat power of an Admiral.
But they couldn't teach him how to be a qualified Fleet Admiral.
Looking across all of Headquarters
Only Sengoku, the man who also bore the Conqueror's Haki
And sat in the Fleet Admiral's chair
Could teach him that.
...
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