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Raku had naturally heard the rumors circulating around Headquarters these days about the young Marine standing before him.
Some called him Garp's final and most treasured disciple.
That alone was enough to make veteran Marines like him pay attention to this young man. Not to mention that the rumors said that this youth's strength had already surpassed that of the "Young Three Monsters of the Marines."
One could say that the boy's future was boundless. Becoming an Admiral was practically guaranteed for him.
On any other day, the veteran Marine would have taken the chance to build a good relationship with him.
But right now...
He simply wasn't in the mood. A Tenryubito's head had been blown apart, and he could already foresee the consequences of this incident.
The entire world would tremble.
In all these years, nothing like this had ever happened!
"Then, Vice Admiral Raku, I will visit you another day." Kōjin offered a polite salute and turned to leave.
"Go," Raku said weakly.
On the way back, Saul and the others were clearly shocked by the incident, and, strangely, they also felt a bit excited.
"Who could it be?"
"Someone who dares to strike a Tenryubito silently and successfully must be ridiculously strong!"
"A clean headshot... that's brutal!"
The heated discussion behind him flowed into Kojin's ears, but he remained calm.
'Tenryubito?'
Strip away their so-called noble identity, break the bubble over their heads, and they are just as fragile as ants.
At that moment, countless emotions rose in Kojin's heart.
Once he gained strength, the Tenryubito he couldn't even get within ten meters of… now had a head no stronger than paper.
By the time they returned to the battleship, Garp was snoring loudly while wearing his ridiculous dog-head hat.
Bogard glanced at him and nodded slightly in greeting.
Soon after, the battleship pulled away from the port.
Kojin leaned against the railing and quietly watched the Sabaody Archipelago fade into the distance. Something inexplicable stirred in his chest.
He suddenly had the feeling of being reborn. From this point forward, Sabaody and everything that had happened there were in his past and a new chapter of his life was beginning.
Just then, Kuzan and Sakazuki walked over.
"Haha, Kōjin, did you hear the news? This time, when we return to Headquarters, the higher-ups might reward outstanding young Marines with Devil Fruits!" Kuzan said with a cheerful grin.
"Is that so? Congratulations, then," Kōjin replied with a smile.
"Hey, congratulate yourself too! With your strength, you'll definitely get a powerful Devil fruit." Kuzan threw an arm around Kōjin's neck and laughed loudly as he spoke.
"I'm not particularly interested in Devil Fruits." Kōjin shook his head.
He hadn't even maxed out his Rokushiki techniques yet, and Busoshoku or Kenbunshoku Haki were nowhere in sight. He knew well that Devil Fruits could enhance and supplement strength, but true power came from Haki.
"Don't say that! Devil Fruits boost your combat power like crazy!" Kuzan teased.
Sakazuki's expression was full of expectation as well. If he obtained a powerful fruit, perhaps the man in front of him would no longer be his rival.
Kōjin could read their thoughts just from their expressions.
In the original story, Zephyr, Garp, and the other veterans constantly warned the future Admirals not to rely too heavily on their Devil Fruits.
And in his own heart, he understood something very clearly:
Whether it was Haki or Devil Fruits, they were merely tools he wielded. He was the foundation, and the Devil Fruit was only an aid.
Human time and energy are limited. Developing both Haki and a Devil Fruit required making difficult choices.
By evening, the battleship arrived at Marineford.
When Kojin saw the world's greatest Marine fortress with his own eyes, his heart trembled deeply.
He saw the colossal Gate of Justice, the shimmering inner bay, the ring of pitch-black fortress batteries surrounding it, and the layers of gates leading up to the headquarters building.
One could say that the combat strength and defensive power of this fortress were undoubtedly among the strongest in the world.
The terrain was easy to defend but hard to attack. Any enemy who entered here would almost certainly meet their end. As Kojin followed the headquarters square into the living area, he saw the vast scale of the fortress.
Entertainment facilities, small towns, and shopping districts... everything was here.
"Your rank-granting ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Tonight, just rest well!" Garp walked ahead, showing Kojin around the fortress and smiling as he spoke.
"Mm." Kojin nodded.
Marineford's terrain was mostly gentle hills. From the residential area, one could clearly overlook the inner bay and the Gate of Justice.
As a top-tier genius among the young Marines, a Monster-level candidate, and someone capable of fighting Rayleigh, Kojin had excellent living conditions; he was assigned a private villa.
Kuzan, Sakazuki, and the others lived not far away in the officers' district, which was also quite good.
This area was practically a town built for officers, complete with training fields and all necessary facilities.
As Kojin strolled down the streets, he saw many white-haired retired veterans in wheelchairs, pushed by their young family members, making it a harmonious scene.
The night passed quietly, and soon it was morning.
Field-officer-level ranks could be decided internally by senior Vice-Admirals and upper management, but Admiral-track ranks had to be conferred personally by the Fleet Admiral.
Aside from Kōjin, five others were being promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. They were all older, at least in their thirties, and included three men and two women.
Under the gaze of Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, and others, Kōjin stood straight.
A tall, imposing man with a mountain-shaped white hairstyle and a signature mustache approached him from the front. As he drew near, a powerful, iron-blooded aura washed over them.
It was the current Fleet Admiral of the Marines, Steel Bone Kong.
"You are all officers who have performed exceptionally well recently."
"Thus, after deliberation among myself and the senior Admirals, you are hereby granted the rank of Rear Admiral. I hope that you uphold your principles and fight for justice in your future duties."
Kong was a serious man, and no one in the world would mistake him for a man with jokes.
During the ceremony, he was meticulous, personally attaching the Rear Admiral insignia to Kojin's uniform and smoothing its wrinkles.
"Young man, your uniform is like your life, do not allow even the slightest disorder upon it."
Kojin was startled, then saluted solemnly.
The ceremony soon ended. Kong then assigned posts to the other five officers. When he reached Kojin...
"I know your time in the Marines has been short. Although you performed well in the battle against the Roger Pirates and your strength is impressive, your foundational Marine training is still lacking. Thus, you will undergo further training at the Marine Academy."
"Naturally, the restrictions for talented individuals like you will not be as strict as those for regular cadets. During your studies, you may move freely, but you must master every required course."
Kong smiled slightly as he spoke.
Kōjin nodded.
He'd heard Kuzan and Sakazuki mention these courses before. They weren't difficult and were useful. Even now, the Three Monsters still attended them from time to time.
"Additionally, for exceptional young elites like yourselves... the Headquarters will grant appropriate rewards to help further enhance your strength."
Kong continued with a smile.
By this time, the other five Rear Admirals had left, leaving only Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and the others.
Kōjin showed a curious expression. Kong clapped his hands, and three Marines immediately carried in three boxes.
"These are three Logia Fruits! You may choose one! But you must know... once you eat a Devil Fruit, you will forever lose the ability to swim and be hated by the sea."
Each box was opened in turn. Kōjin stared at the three fruits, each glowing with a different light.
There was no doubt in his heart, these were the future Three Admirals' Logia fruits.
And right now… he had the privilege of choosing one first!
(End of chapter)