Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The red sun rose for the first time since the battle, and a salty sea breeze carrying hazy sunlight swept over the world's premier fortress.
After days of recuperation, Marineford had finally returned to its former appearance.
The annihilation of the Whitebeard Pirates only added a layer of majesty and gravitas to this steel fortress.
Today, on the vast main parade ground.
A dark mass of people stood in incredibly neat formations. White Justice coats flapped loudly in the sea breeze, but their upright figures remained unwavering, their expressions solemn and serious.
Today was the Marines' collective promotion ceremony.
The investiture ceremony was scheduled to start promptly at 8:00 AM. It was currently 7:30 AM, leaving only half an hour until the ceremony began.
A few minutes later.
Atlas, dressed immaculately in a pure white suit with a Justice coat of the same color draped over his shoulders, walked slowly to the front row reserved for high-ranking officers. His white sleeves swayed with his movements.
Rows of seats were neatly arranged there.
Finding his designated spot, he sat down heavily.
On his left and right were Akainu and an empty chair. Looking at the nameplate on the empty chair, it seemed to be for Kizaru?
Kizaru had returned to Marineford a few days ago; after all, one couldn't easily be absent from such an important event as an investiture ceremony.
As for the current situation in the New World—
It could only be said that pirates were ultimately just pirates. Basically, all the big-name pirates were scrambling for the Whitebeard Pirates' territory. Among them, the Big Mom Pirates were the most aggressive.
Especially regarding Fish-Man Island, which she had coveted for a long time. She dispatched Baron Tamago to personally deliver an ultimatum.
—Either raise the Big Mom Pirates' flag and become her personal dessert processing factory...
Or she would send people to conquer the entire Fish-Man Island herself.
The result was obvious. Jinbe, who had already communicated with Atlas, beat Baron Tamago and his men black and blue before throwing them out of Fish-Man Island.
Such an act undoubtedly enraged Big Mom.
But currently, the entire Charlotte Family was busy annexing and digesting a vast amount of territory, leaving them no time to attend to a small Fish-Man Island.
However, given Big Mom's temperament, this matter would definitely not end so easily.
Retracting his thoughts, Atlas turned his head to look at the team standing behind him.
[White Hunter] Smoker, [Heavy Blade] Kyros, Enel...
"Hmph!"
Seemingly sensing Atlas's gaze, Enel snorted coldly, his eyes wandering.
"Tsk, tsk."
Enel was the type who would shine if given a little sunshine.
In the Summit War, relying on the comprehensive abilities of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the solid taijutsu honed by Zephyr, he actually managed to take down an officer of the Red Hair Pirates.
Consequently, this guy got arrogant.
After recovering from his injuries, he couldn't wait to run to Atlas and issue a challenge.
The final result, of course, was a severe beating from Atlas.
Although Atlas healed him afterward with the Horse Talisman, the pain was unavoidable.
"Yo! Atlas, long time no see!"
Separated by an empty seat, Gion's mature, melodious voice rang out.
"Eh? Didn't we just meet at the Headquarters meeting not long ago?"
Atlas raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a smile.
"Little Atlas, you are as unromantic as ever."
Gion's expression stiffened, and she sighed, resting her forehead on her hand.
This guy hasn't changed a bit...
"Speaking of which, seeing an old acquaintance, aren't you going to say hello?"
Gion patted Hina's rounded rear behind her and spoke teasingly.
"It's Hina. It really has been a long time."
Atlas scratched his head in embarrassment.
Since graduating from the Elite Training Camp, apart from contacts with Smoker and Rosinante, he had rarely met the others.
Most of his time was spent either catching pirates or constantly training.
Even when he managed to steal some time to come to Headquarters, Hina and the others weren't there.
After all, they were only field-grade officers at the time; their freedom couldn't compare to Atlas's.
"Hina indeed hasn't seen you for a long time. I didn't expect you to become a Marine Admiral so quickly."
Hina's expression was somewhat complex.
Originally, she thought everyone was on the same starting line. She even foolishly challenged him once, thinking he was only slightly stronger than them.
Later, after being defeated by Atlas single-handedly, she finally recognized the gap between them.
But she never expected...
That this guy would be promoted to Admiral so quickly, and even forcibly added after the three Admiral seats were full!!
A sense of powerlessness rose in Hina's heart.
The gap between people was sometimes truly vast.
"That? Just luck, just luck."
"Defeating Whitebeard and taking the throne of the World's Strongest isn't something that can be explained by a little luck. Moreover..."
Hina looked serious, pausing before continuing:
"People outside have already started giving you the title of [World's Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air]."
"..."
Atlas was slightly stunned. Why does that sound weird?
Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he instinctively looked into the crowd.
He saw Prince Grus winking at him and whispering something. Reading his lips, it seemed to be the word "Boss."
"This kid..."
Atlas shook his head and laughed, waving in Grus's direction.
On such an occasion, even if this guy's father was a Headquarters Rear Admiral about to be promoted to Vice Admiral, he couldn't move around freely.
"Hehe! Boss, finally seeing you."
Grus jogged over, his face full of smiles.
"Staying under my old man is torture. Boss, when are you going to transfer me to your command? Smoker's rank went up so fast."
"To my command? You have to be prepared for hardship. And the dangers of the New World aren't comparable to the Grand Line."
Atlas looked Grus up and down.
His spirit and energy were good, and his life aura was robust. It seemed his father hadn't coddled him excessively just because he was an only son.
Flowers raised in a greenhouse couldn't withstand wind and rain.
"Absolutely no problem! If I die on the battlefield one day, it's a worthy death!"
Grus vowed solemnly, thumping his chest loudly.
He failed to notice a middle-aged man behind him watching with flickering eyes.
"Hey! I say, young man, want to come to my ship? I happen to be short of a capable adjutant."
Aokiji tipped his chair back, peering around the stiffly seated Akainu, and asked Grus with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Me?!"
Grus looked left and right to confirm Aokiji's gaze was on him, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the favour.
Aokiji had already made a name for himself at Marine Headquarters when Grus was still a recruit. He was practically the designated next Admiral. Having such a big shot suddenly speak to him made him flustered.
However, he didn't think his excellence was whata little luck can explain attracted the others' attention.
At Marine Headquarters, there were hundreds, if not a thousand, people with similar talent and backgrounds to his.
Given his father's position, he was insignificant compared to Aokiji.
Although the difference between a Vice Admiral and an Admiral was just one rank, the gap in power and authority was immense.
There were only three Marine Admirals—oh, no, now there were four.
But there were dozens of ordinary Vice Admirals.
"Of course."
Aokiji said indifferently.
Seeing that this big shot seemed serious, Grus immediately cast a pleading look at Atlas in the seats.
"Alright, Senior Kuzan, stop teasing him. Just let him come directly to my command. My fleet establishment isn't full yet anyway."
"Arara... is that so? That's a pity."
Seeing this, Aokiji could only pull down his sleeping mask and return to his chair to close his eyes and rest (slack off).
"Your establishment isn't full? Then I'll give you half of my quota from this year's recruit camp."
Akainu turned around and spoke in a deep voice.
Every year, each Admiral had priority selection rights for the elites graduating from the Recruit Training Camp, with a large number of recruits also distributed to various Marine bases for tempering.
After being tempered to a certain extent, some would be assigned to the Four Blues as base commanders, considered a form of "gilding" their resumes.
Atlas's path was different from the norm. After finishing his training at the fortress, he was thrown directly into the New World.
Regarding the Four Blues, he had only been to East Blue and North Blue.
However, being assigned to the Four Blues could also be a form of exile, like Smoker in the original timeline.
Otherwise, a Logia user wouldn't be assigned to the Four Blues, especially East Blue, known as the weakest sea, no matter what.
"Senior Sakazuki? No need, I already have candidates in mind."
Atlas was stunned.
Why do I feel like Akainu is being so gentle with me? Even the lines on his face seem softer.
"Alright then. In short, as Marines, fighting crime is our top priority. Treat evil without mercy, by any means necessary!!"
Akainu nodded, gave a casual pointer, and said no more.
After all, Atlas was once one of his men, and now the other party's foundation was still shallow.
As an old superior, he wouldn't be stingy with necessary care.
—Soon, time passed minute by minute.
It was now 7:45 AM. Sengoku, Kong, Garp, Zephyr, and others arrived late.
Kong was now the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government. He was more than qualified to preside over the investiture of the Fleet Admiral, both in terms of position and seniority.
As for Zephyr, although he had retreated behind the scenes and had now completely stepped down after the Admiral seats were filled, he wouldn't appear at this investiture ceremony, theoretically.
But as the teacher of many high-ranking Marines, it would be unreasonable for him not to show up.
"Hahahaha! Brat, you finally have some of my style from back then, becoming an Admiral at this age!"
Garp walked toward Atlas, laughing loudly, digging his pinky finger into his nostril.
"Hey! Garp, stop flattering yourself. When you were Atlas's age, who knows which small-time pirate you were fighting wits and courage with," Sengoku mocked with a disdainful look.
"Hahahaha! It's about the same. We're both outstanding talents from East Blue. But my grandson won't be any worse than this brat in the future!!"
Garp didn't care at all. He pressed his thumb lightly on his pinky finger and exerted a little force—
A dark, unidentified object shot toward Sengoku!
Since Atlas brought Ace and Luffy to Marine Headquarters, Garp had been grinning from ear to ear almost every day.
No matter what was discussed, he would mention Luffy and Ace in passing.
It seemed he was afraid others wouldn't know he had two grandsons.
"Alright, alright, I know your grandsons are excellent. But can you discipline them a little? People have complained to me; they cause trouble in school all day!"
Sengoku got a headache hearing Garp mention Ace and the others.
Normally, he wouldn't concern himself with matters of the Marine family school.
But the three brothers, Ace, Sabo, and Luffy, were too rowdy. Every day they were either fighting or on their way to a fight.
They had challenged almost everyone in the school.
Moreover, they slept soundly during the Ideological and Moral Education class proposed by Atlas, and their schoolwork was a mess, except for the brat Sabo.
But because of their status as Garp's grandsons, the school's headmaster suffered in silence.
He could only secretly report to Sengoku.
"Hahaha! No need to care about that kind of thing. With Ace and those brats around, maybe they can bring some vitality to the lifeless Marine academy."
"Right? Brat Atlas!"
While speaking, Garp and the others had arrived near the seats. Garp laughed loudly and tried to slap Atlas on the shoulder.
"True. As long as they know their limits, appropriate setbacks might spur their growth."
Atlas calmly dodged Garp's "enthusiasm."
"As long as you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, give the order: anyone who defeats one of the three—Ace, Sabo, or Luffy—gets a one-month vacation. Any means allowed..."
"...That sounds pretty good. Saves those three brats from having excess energy."
Sengoku shook his head with a laugh.
Ace and the three brats had visible talent; they were the type who were practically force-fed by God.
But even so, wanting to make an enemy of the entire school was a bit unrealistic.
Sheer numbers alone could exhaust them to death.
"Hahaha!! Seems... quite interesting. You brat always have the most ideas!"
As they spoke, Kong had already walked slowly to the rostrum.
The time was 7:59 AM, less than a minute before the investiture ceremony began.
Buzz, buzz—!!!
Instantly, a large number of light particles appeared beside Atlas, rapidly constructing Kizaru's form. A slow, drawling voice rang out:
"Just right, 8 o'clock. I shouldn't be late, right~~"
How could one clock in early for work?