"Rosen."
"I have only one request for your trip to the North Sea this time."
"Can you promise me?"
After Sengoku finished explaining all the things Rosen needed to pay attention to before going out to sea, his expression suddenly turned serious.
"Please go ahead."
Rosen looked at Sengoku solemnly.
"Things in the North Sea are a bit chaotic."
"Pirates are rampant and unscrupulous."
"As the Admiral of the North Sea, you have an obligation to let the entire North Sea hear the sound of the navy's sword."
Sengoku stared straight into Rosen's eyes, speaking word by word.
Obviously.
He didn't just intend for Rosen to deal with Donquixote Doflamingo's looting of the Heavenly Tribute, but also to make sure that the most chaotic of the Four Seas,the North Sea, where pirates ran wild, would hear Rosen's blade.
"Not just the North Sea."
"Even at Marine Headquarters, you will hear what you wish."
"Teacher Sengoku."
Rosen met Sengoku's gaze and nodded slightly.
"Good."
"I'll be waiting here at Headquarters."
"I await the sound of Rosen's sword echoing across the North Sea and reaching even the Grand Line."
Sengoku smiled, his voice filled with anticipation.
…..
After bidding farewell to Sengoku, Zephyr, and Borsalino and refusing their offer to see him off…Rosen walked out of the Naval Academy for the first time without Zephyr and Borsalino by his side.
But two people still accompanied him temporarily.
That was Gion, who helped him with his suitcase, and Tokikake.
"Aren't you going to the North Sea to take up the post of Admiral?"
"Brother."
"This doesn't look like the way to the docks."
At first, Tokikake didn't think much of it. He simply wanted to send Rosen off and catch a glimpse of his new ship.
After all, this was a lieutenant Admiral–level officer. Naturally, he would be given an exclusive warship.
But as they walked, he realized Rosen was not heading towards the naval docks, but towards the Navy Headquarters building.
"You deliberately stopped Admiral Sengoku, Teacher Zephyr, and Vice Admiral Kizaru from seeing you off, didn't you?"
"Rosen."
Gion frowned, as if realizing something.
"What's wrong?"
"Even Mr. Zephyr doesn't know about this?"
Hearing that, Tokikake quickened his pace, catching up to Rosen and walking side by side with him.
"You can't really call it concealing."
"After all, this is just the beginning."
"There's no need to tell Teacher Zephyr about something that hasn't even taken shape yet. Otherwise, he'd definitely stop it."
Rosen's words were as good as Admitting Gion's suspicions.
He had business to take care of—business he didn't want Sengoku, Zephyr, or Borsalino to witness.
"Where exactly are you going?"Both Gion and Tokikake were confused and curious.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Rosen's eyes narrowed slightly as the towering building ahead drew closer.
"Naval Criminal Investigative Service."
His gaze locked onto the plaque above the massive entrance.
"What are you going there for?"
Tokikake's curiosity only grew with each step.
Rosen didn't answer. Instead, he approached the entrance of the Marine Criminal Affairs. Just as he was about to speak to the six officers stationed at the door, the guards spoke first.
"Mr. Rosen!"
"I didn't expect to see you here."
"What brings you today?"
The officers rushed to greet him.
Ever since Zephyr had broadcast Rosen's battle with Redfield live at the Academy
Word of an Admiral-level monster graduating from the Naval Academy had spread through Headquarters like wildfire.
Especially afterwards when Sengoku used the recording of Rosen's fight against Douglas Bullet.
That one wasn't broadcast to the Academy but instead shown directly at Marineford, before hundreds of thousands of naval personnel.
Since then, names like God of War and Heavenly Punishment of Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō have spread everywhere.
Rosen's battle forms and terrifying power had been burned into the minds of marines across the world.
The Marine Criminal Affairs guards before him had all seen that broadcast with their own eyes.
"There's something I need to trouble the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with."
"Gentlemen."
"Would you please send word to your director that I'd like to meet with him?"
Rosen didn't force his way in. He stood patiently at the entrance and asked the stationed marines to relay his request.
"Of course."
"But you know…we're only gatekeepers. All we can do is pass on the message."
"Whether the Director will see you or not is beyond us."
The leading officer spoke carefully.
"Naturally."
Rosen nodded in understanding.
Victor Seiji.
Director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Though his status and power weren't on the same level as the Admirals, the very fact that he bore the code name Dark Horse already spoke volumes.
He was a man who normally only communicated with the Fleet Admiral himself.
His authority and strength placed him just below the Admirals, and such a person would never be swayed by the words of ordinary gate guards.
"We're glad you understand."
"Please wait a moment."
"I'll report to Director Victor Seiji immediately."
The officer turned, jogging quickly into the building until he reached the director's office. He knocked sharply on the door.
Knock knock.
From inside came a deep voice.
"Explain!"
Victor Seiji sat at his desk, flipping through dossiers of wanted criminals.
But his focus wasn't on pirates—it was on the Revolutionary Army.
"Director."
"Rosen is here."
"He's at the entrance of the Bureau right now. He said he wishes to see you."
The officer reported promptly.
"Rosen?"
Victor Seiji's eyes lifted, showing a flicker of surprise.
"Didn't he graduate already?"
"He should be heading to the North Sea to assume the post of Admiral. Why has he come here instead?"
As Director of the Marine Criminal Affairs, Victor Seiji might not have been the strongest at Headquarters, but he was certainly the most informed.
Whether it was the Navy, pirates, or the Revolutionary Army, his intelligence network always secured the first report.
"Bring him in."
"No—wait."
"I'll greet him myself."
Though his mind raced with possibilities, Victor Seiji couldn't discern Rosen's true purpose. Still, he rose from his desk and went to meet him in person.
"You're going yourself?"
The officer outside was shocked to see the Director step forward—but after a moment's thought, it felt only natural.
He recalled his chief's words after watching Rosen's battles against Redfield and Bullet:
There is no better man than a natural-born Admiral.
A monster like this—no matter if he was still technically a student—even the Director of the Marine Criminal Affairs had to personally greet, with all the respect he could give.
...
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