Sengoku lowered his voice, "Remember, Doflamingo holds too many secrets. If mishandled, the entire Grand Line will plunge into chaos."
Akainu snorted, magma dripping from between his fingers: "Cowardice! Just because he is a Celestial Dragon…"
"Sakazuki!" Sengoku sharply rebuked, "Watch your words!"
Kizaru had already walked to the window, his body beginning to transform into photons: "Then I shall go meet that 'Heavenly Yaksha'." His figure gradually dissipated into the sunlight, his last words lingering in the office: "I hope he doesn't want to experience being kicked by light."
After Kizaru left, Akainu snorted and departed, while Sengoku wearily sank back into his chair.
He picked up his phone, looking at the constantly flashing storm of public opinion: Dressrosa's toy workers, images of the Tontatta tribe's enslavement, angry public gatherings… Every video was like a knife piercing the Marine's credibility.
"Times have changed…" he murmured to himself, his finger unconsciously swiping across the screen.
Outside the window, warships were urgently assembling. Kizaru stood on the deck, posing, with a Marine public relations team filming a video beside him.
Clearly, they needed to do something to quell the public's anger.
…
The azure sea shimmered with sparkling light, sunlight scattering across the rippling surface as if countless diamonds were glittering.
Admiral Ron's ship glided silently across the mirror-like water, leaving a long wake.
He leaned against the ship's rail, his fingertips swiping across his phone screen. The image of Rebecca tearfully accusing was particularly glaring in the sunlight.
"This girl… she's quite brave," Admiral Ron chuckled, a hint of admiration in his tone.
He turned off the video, his eyes deep in thought. He knew better than anyone that without the protection of Shenyu Culture Media, this innocent princess would never dare to act like this.
Recalling Rebecca's trembling hand as she signed the contract that day, Admiral Ron's lips curved into a slight smile.
He knew that behind Rebecca's courage was her trust in him and Shenyu Culture Media.
This trust brought him a touch of warmth and further solidified his goal.
The sea breeze swept across the deck, blowing away the stray hairs from his forehead.
In the distance, several News Birds skimmed across the sea. Their backpacks were no longer filled with newspapers, but with brand new phones.
These phones would become important tools for him to spread his influence.
Admiral Ron withdrew his gaze and tucked his phone into his trench coat pocket.
The journey that Morgans had interrupted could finally continue, his eyes showing a hint of anticipation, seeing the infinite possibilities of the future.
"Brother…" He looked towards the horizon, a playful glint in his eyes, "In this era, it would be too much of a pity not to debut."
The sails swelled in the wind, and Admiral Ron's light laughter dissipated into the sound of the waves.
…
Three days later, at dusk,
The setting sun dyed the sea golden, and the shimmering water seemed to be covered with a golden veil.
Admiral Ron's ship slowly sailed into a hidden island's natural harbor. From the island came the sound of disciplined training, accompanied by the rhythmic crashing of waves against the reefs, making it exceptionally rhythmic.
"Attention!" With a loud command, the Marines training on the beach uniformly stopped their movements.
When they clearly saw the newcomer's face, the eyes of these young soldiers instantly lit up.
"Admiral Ron, sir!" Nearly a hundred Marines straightened their backs, their salutes perfectly synchronized, their voices shaking the seabirds in the treetops, causing them to scatter.
Admiral Ron stepped down the gangway, his white trench coat flapping in the sea breeze.
He gave a wry smile and waved his hand: "How many times have I told you, don't call me Admiral." There was a hint of helplessness in his voice, but his eyes held a touch of warmth.
He lightly tapped the leading officer with his finger, "Especially you, Karl, it's time to change your address now."
The young officer who was singled out had red eyes, but stubbornly pursed his lips: "In our hearts, you will always be Admiral Ron!"
The soldiers behind him nodded in agreement, a few even secretly wiping their eyes.
Just then, a tall figure strode out from the coconut grove.
His short purple hair was particularly neat. His arms were still intact, and he had not yet retired from the Marine, though he was not happy every day.
Zephyr's booming voice echoed in the air: "You brats, three more hours of extra training!" His stern words made the Marines shiver, "Who told you to stop without permission?"
But the next second, this strict Chief Instructor opened his arms and gave Admiral Ron a firm hug.
His hands slapped Admiral Ron's back with dull thuds: "You old fox, finally decided to come see me?"
"Lighter, my old bones can't take your roughhousing." Admiral Ron coughed twice from the pats, smiling as he broke free.
Zephyr burst into laughter, slinging his arm around Admiral Ron's shoulder and walking towards the forest cabin: "Unless I get you drunk today, don't even think about leaving this island!" He glared back at the peeking Marines, "What are you looking at? Five more sets of physical training!"
The soldiers groaned and scattered, but couldn't help but look back.
They knew that tonight, in the Instructor's cabin, the two would drink and chat until dawn again.
Admiral Ron followed Zephyr through the dense tropical plants, a relaxed smile on his lips.
In the clearing in front of the cabin, two wicker chairs and a small wooden table were already set up, with several bottles of aged rum on it, exactly the kind he loved to drink decades ago when he was in the recruit camp.
"Looks like you were prepared?" Admiral Ron raised an eyebrow, a hint of teasing in his eyes.
Zephyr smugly wiggled his arm: "I saw your ship on the radar two days ago." He twisted open a bottle cap, and the amber liquid swirled in the glass, "So, did you just come to see an old man like me this time?"
The sea breeze rustled through the palm leaves.
Admiral Ron raised his glass and gently clinked it with Zephyr's: "Catching up is one thing…" A glint of mischief flashed in his eyes, "The second is to persuade a certain stubborn old man to come out of retirement."
"You're still so unserious, what retirement am I coming out of?" Zephyr's hand paused in mid-air, the liquid in his glass swirling into a graceful arc.
In the distance, the training sounds of the Marines intertwined with the sound of the waves.
"Not coming out of retirement? Debuting works too!" Admiral Ron threw his head back and laughed, the sea breeze carrying his laughter far away.
He had long calculated that this legendary Admiral, once famous for his "non-killing" policy, was wasted in the Marine. It would be better for him to become a TikTok blogger, which would also allow him to see through everything earlier and avoid having his arm cut off by Whitebeard II.
Admiral Ron enthusiastically pulled out his phone and swiped open the screen: "Come, first follow my TiK…"
His words suddenly got stuck halfway.
He saw Zephyr staring blankly at the device in his hand, his thick eyebrows furrowed into a knot.
"Is this… some new type of Den Den Mushi?"
Zephyr curiously and carefully poked the screen. Even with great force, the phone remained unharmed.
Admiral Ron's eyes widened: "You… don't know what a phone is?" He looked around incredulously. Although this island was hidden, it wasn't so isolated from the world.
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