After the reporters from the gossip tabloids left, Diarmuid's area finally quieted down.
He didn't chat much more with Tokikake. While they shared a feeling of burying the hatchet with a laugh, it wasn't possible for them to suddenly become completely intimate.
Returning to Gion and Kuzan, he hadn't been seated long before he saw Sakazuki struggling free from a crowd of reporters and walking over.
Sakazuki clearly lacked Borsalino's smoothness.
As soon as he sat down, he angrily declared, "Those scoundrels! Every single question they asked was malicious!"
"What? Are you going to burn them all to death?" Diarmuid asked with a chuckle.
Sakazuki gritted his teeth, "If I had the chance, I truly would burn those lowlifes!"
At the same time, Borsalino, hands in his pockets, strolls over after leisurely fooling the reporters.
Gion and Kuzan slightly shifted their positions, allowing the three Admirals to sit together.
"Ah, right. Didn't you say you wanted to find a Devil Fruit for Ace earlier?" Diarmuid raised an eyebrow and asked Sakazuki.
Sakazuki nodded, "That's right. Why? Do you have a recommendation?"
"The Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit," Diarmuid said calmly.
Sakazuki's eyes lit up, "That works!"
That was perfect! That kid Ace already hoped to eat a Logia-type fruit, and he himself wanted to find a fire-based ability for Ace.
Truthfully, the relationship between Ace and Sakazuki was progressing very quickly. Ace was already significantly influenced by Sakazuki, adopting some hardline, 'Hawk' ideology.
Sakazuki was still in his prime and had plenty of time to cultivate a successor for his faction.
And Ace was indeed the goal he had in mind.
As for Onigumo and others, while Sakazuki valued them, they were too close in age to Sakazuki to be cultivated as a direct successor.
After all, by the time Sakazuki retired, Onigumo and the others would be around the same age!
Therefore, any successor had to be groomed from a young age.
Ace was the successor Sakazuki had designated.
After a slight pause, Sakazuki asked, "Did you find it? Is it in your hands? The Mera Mera no Mi?"
"Not yet, but I found its location. It's with Doflamingo. I've already made arrangements with him. Once the Fleet Admiral's affairs are settled, I'll help you get it back," Diarmuid said with a smile.
He had originally intended to wait until the war in the New World was over, but it looked like the grand final battle between the pirates would still require some time to prepare. In that case, he should first complete the line-up of the Warlords of the Sea.
Jinbe was already in place, making Doflamingo the last remaining Warlord of the Sea.
"Doflamingo? Donquixote Doflamingo?" Sakazuki asked, frowning slightly.
"That's right," Diarmuid nodded.
"That fellow is no good. Are you close to him?" Sakazuki asked in a low voice.
If it were anyone else, they might think Sakazuki was scolding or lecturing them.
But Diarmuid and Sakazuki were old friends, and Diarmuid knew that the man was often blunt. His seemingly unfriendly tone was actually a sign of concern.
Yes, it was that ridiculous.
Thus, Diarmuid wasn't offended. He chuckled and said, "Not close. He's certainly no good, but he's very capable at getting things done. Sometimes, I need a person like that to help me handle certain inconvenient matters..."
Seeing that Diarmuid had things under control, Sakazuki didn't continue his 'concern.' He just nodded and stated stiffly, "As long as you know what you're doing."
"Understood," Diarmuid smiled.
As Diarmuid sat there chatting with the surrounding Marines and important figures from other factions, the time for the ceremony soon arrived.
Subsequently, the previously noisy plaza quickly fell silent. Even the gossip reporters became well-behaved, finding suitable spots and beginning to frantically take photos and record videos.
The broadcast Den Den Mushi that had been set up were all activated, broadcasting the situation in Marineford to the entire world.
Diarmuid, Sakazuki, and Borsalino sat directly opposite the ceremonial podium, in the center of the front row of seats.
Sakazuki was on his right, Borsalino on his left, and Diarmuid was in the middle.
Sometime without him noticing, Diarmuid suddenly saw that both Sakazuki and Borsalino had adopted an aggressive sitting posture, their legs propped up high, as if to highlight their long legs.
Looking closer, good grief, wasn't this the legendary 'Admiral's Crouch'?
The one bound by the 'Law of Causality.' Legend has it that Kuzan's leg was broken because he didn't keep up with the Admiral trend?
After thinking about it, Diarmuid decided not to take the risk. He'd humor the two show-offs beside him.
Therefore, Diarmuid leaned back against the chair, adopting the same aggressive posture as Sakazuki and Borsalino, propping his legs up, looking every bit the big boss.
It was at this exact moment that a reporter snapped a picture of the three of them. This photograph would go on to become one of the long-circulated classic images.
Sitting in this posture, Diarmuid felt quite uncomfortable. How could a normal person sit like this?
"Don't your legs hurt?" Diarmuid quietly asked Sakazuki and Borsalino beside him.
Sakazuki and Borsalino: "???"
"What?" Borsalino asked, sounding a bit odd.
"Ahem, nothing... Look, Admiral Sengoku... No, he should be called Fleet Admiral now. The Fleet Admiral is here," Diarmuid said, raising an eyebrow towards the podium.
Indeed, following Diarmuid's gaze, a tall, calm figure could be seen at the end of the red carpet that led directly from the podium to the Fortress of Justice.
It was none other than Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who was officially becoming the new commander-in-chief of the Marines today.
Ordinarily, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's attire wasn't overly formal, but it wasn't entirely casual either—it carried the air of an old-school, serious professional.
Today, his clothing was remarkably eye-catching.
From a distance, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was wearing a Marine cap, but conspicuously, the Marine seagull ornament was standing upright on top of it, making it look as if he had a bird perched on his head.
Black-rimmed round glasses rested on his nose, and his expression was extremely solemn and earnest, conveying a sense of stability and unhurried confidence.
The white double-breasted suit he wore made him look somewhat scholarly, yet his muscular physique gave him the powerful look of a 'suit brute.'
Yet, these two conflicting temperaments merged perfectly in Fleet Admiral Sengoku, appearing utterly natural.
His left chest was adorned with numerous military medals, big and small, representing his lifetime of military service.
But undoubtedly, he must have many more medals he wasn't wearing, simply because there wasn't enough space. These were likely just a selection of the most prized ones from his countless awards.
Diarmuid also had many such medals. As a Marine Admiral, he had achieved numerous great feats, especially after the capture of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, when he received the highest Marine commendation medal, the Heart of Justice.
That's right, the most prominent red-rimmed medal on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's chest.
However, no one normally wore all these medals daily.
He hadn't paid much attention before, but now, looking closely, he noticed that the braided beard on Sengoku's chin could actually reach down to his navel...
Thinking about these random things, Diarmuid watched Fleet Admiral Sengoku walk from the red carpet toward the constructed podium.
The 'Justice' greatcoat on his shoulders billowed behind him, swaying gracefully with his steps and the gentle sea breeze.
The 'Justice' greatcoat that Fleet Admiral Sengoku wore was the only one in the entire Marine organization that only the Fleet Admiral was authorized to use.
The greatcoats of Admirals like Diarmuid, even though they looked similar to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's with gold epaulets and gold tassels, actually had significant differences in the details.
Overall, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's appearance was flawless.
He perfectly displayed the composure, reliability, and latent aggression of a Marine Fleet Admiral.
The glasses and braided beard, meanwhile, perfectly highlighted his scholarly air as a 'Strategist.'
"Pretty cool," Diarmuid commented with a laugh.
Borsalino also laughed and nodded, saying, "I heard he spent over two hours this morning just deciding on this outfit, even asking the Chief of Staff for help."
"Really? Hahahaha, you'd think he was getting married," Diarmuid laughed.
Even Sakazuki's stiff face broke into a slight smile.
Soon, Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood on the podium. He tested the broadcast Den Den Mushi, it worked, and then, without needing anyone to announce the procedures, he took over the program himself.
"It is my great pleasure to meet friends and partners from all walks of life here in Marineford..." Fleet Admiral Sengoku smiled, beginning his opening speech in a very gentle tone.
It must be said that Fleet Admiral Sengoku's command of the stage and speaking skills were top-notch.
Diarmuid and the others were also very supportive, immediately leading the applause whenever he paused slightly, ensuring their new superior wouldn't be embarrassed.
After about ten minutes of remarks, mostly recounting the Marines' journey and his own vision for the future to the various parties, Fleet Admiral Sengoku transitioned to the formal segment when Diarmuid felt his legs starting to go numb.
"From this day forward, I shall formally assume the position of Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters! The Marines shall enter a new era, and we shall devote all our efforts to eradicating evil and criminal organizations on the seas, including but not limited to pirates and mobsters! Any who dare to commit wickedness on the seas shall be the target of the Marines' strike!"
"I shall lead the Marines in holding the line of Justice, executing force with a heart of Justice, and maintaining the peace and stability of the world," Fleet Admiral Sengoku stated solemnly into the broadcast Den Den Mushi.
His tone was forceful and resounding, making it seem as though merely hearing his voice conveyed his unwavering conviction.
After a slight pause, Fleet Admiral Sengoku roared, "Absolute Justice Must Prevail! The Marines Must Prevail!"
Then, as if perfectly rehearsed, the Marines in the Marineford plaza instantly shouted in unison, "Absolute Justice Must Prevail! The Marines Must Prevail!"
The sound was thunderous, the morale soaring. Many great nobles and high-ranking officials from various regions, who had never witnessed such a sight, trembled, intimidated by the palpable battle spirit and intensity.
Following this, the three Admirals—Diarmuid, Sakazuki, and Borsalino—began applauding first, driving the atmosphere and bringing the surprised and intimidated officials and nobles to their senses, who then quickly joined in the applause.
The clapping soon drowned out the noise in the Marineford plaza.
After this, Fleet Admiral Sengoku continued to expound on his and the Marines' philosophy of Justice to the global audience.
Not long after, under Fleet Admiral Sengoku's arrangement, a donation ceremony was held, during which nobles, high-ranking officials, and influential figures from all sectors generously contributed, supporting the Marines' cause of Justice with real money.