Chapter 87: The Victor's Spoils
"Were you trying to kill him?"
The CP0 Captain's voice was a low, venomous hiss. A sinister aura radiated from him, his body tensed as if he might lunge at Satoru at any second.
"Satoru, a lesson is enough. A death would be… very troublesome," Garp said, his tone serious but not angry. As long as no one died, this could be spun as a duel. A fatality would escalate things beyond control, potentially costing Satoru his hard-won title and landing him with severe punishment.
Why do I suddenly feel like the villain here? Satoru thought, hovering in the air. He looked down at the united front of Garp, the Admirals, and even Zephyr standing protectively near the crater. He had intended to kill. The White Fox's attacks had been lethal in intent. Without Infinity, he would have been shredded or vaporized. But he knew Garp was right—if that had happened, the old man would have been the first to throw a punch to stop him anyway.
"We're all on the same side, in a manner of speaking," Satoru said, descending gracefully. His voice was light, almost mocking. "I was just… joking with him. Giving him a good scare. A reminder that not everyone is a pushover."
"Hmph." The CP0 Captain's scoff was cold, but it was an acceptance of the offered pretext. He couldn't press the issue. The boy had given him a face-saving out, however flimsy.
The White Fox had reverted to human form, lying in the rubble. When his eyes met Satoru's, they were wide with raw, primal terror. He'd genuinely faced oblivion. If not for the last-second intervention, he'd be atoms in the wind.
Suddenly, Satoru vanished from where he stood.
In the next eyeblink, he was crouched right beside the fallen agent, his face inches from the man's.
The CP0 Captain and Garp both twitched, but neither could react in time. In pure, instantaneous movement, even Kizaru seemed slow compared to Satoru's spatial steps.
Everyone braced for another attack.
Instead, Satoru placed his foot lightly on the White Fox's cheek, not crushing, but applying undeniable pressure. It was a gesture of utter dominance.
"Remember this," Satoru said, his voice cold and clear. "Don't look down on any Marine. And never, ever look down on an Admiral. Each one of us has the power to end you."
He ground his shoe slightly against the man's face before standing up and stepping back, the ultimate disrespect delivered with chilling calm.
"YOU—!" The CP0 Captain finally surged forward, rage overriding caution.
Before he could take a second step, Zephyr's massive, Haki-coated arm barred his path. "Enough. Your man provoked this. He learned his lesson."
Beside Zephyr, Garp and the three Admirals all leveled their gazes at the Captain. The message was unanimous and unmistakable: Take your win and leave. One more move, and you join your subordinate in the dirt.
Satoru's final statement had resonated, especially with Akainu. The words 'each one of us has the power to end you' felt like a validation of the Admirals' might. His earlier disgust for Satoru was rapidly being overwritten by a grim respect for sheer, uncompromising power.
The CP0 Captain trembled with suppressed fury. He was a man of immense authority, his status arguably on par with an Admiral within the Government's structure. But the forces arrayed before him were the Navy's foundation stones and its sharpest blades. He was utterly outmatched.
"…We concede this round," he forced out through clenched teeth. "But I will report this to the Five Elders. The conduct and… quality… of your Navy's new leadership is concerning. A review may be necessary."
"Boy," Garp's voice dropped to a dangerous, quiet rumble. "Are you tired of living?"
The Captain's mouth snapped shut. He knew the legends. He knew what Garp and Zephyr, the 'Black Fist' and the 'Hero,' were capable of when provoked. Their prestige was armor even the Five Elders hesitated to pierce.
"We're leaving." The Captain bent down, hauling the shell-shocked White Fox to his feet. The agent could barely stand, his spirit broken more thoroughly than his body.
As the two white-clad figures stumbled toward their ship, Garp's stern expression melted away. He turned, a massive grin splitting his face, and landed a thunderous, back-slapping blow on Satoru.
"YOU DID IT, KID! You really showed those arrogant bastards what the Navy's made of!"
The tension dissolved. The other Admirals relaxed. Kizaru adjusted his glasses. "My, my… that was quite a show~"
Aokiji offered a rare, small smile of approval. Akainu gave a single, stiff nod—the highest praise he was likely to offer.
Zephyr looked at his apprentice, pride warring with admonishment in his single eye. "Reckless. But… effective."
They all understood the significance. The White Fox was no weakling. A Mythical Zoan user with that level of Haki was a top-tier agent, likely among CP0's best. Mythical Zoans were legendary for a reason—Marco the Phoenix, Kaido the Dragon, Sengoku the Golden Buddha. Each was a world-shaking power.
And Satoru had made him look like a child. Not through brute force alone, but with an ability that rendered the agent's entire arsenal useless unless he possessed the one, rare key to bypass it. It was a victory that exposed a critical flaw in the World Government's overconfident strategy.
The battle for the Fourth Admiral's seat was over. The Navy had its new pillar, forged in a clash that humiliated CP0 and reaffirmed the Marines' independence. The message was sent to Mary Geoise: you can send your champions, but the sea… and its strongest defenders… play by different rules.
Satoru, the boy who would be Admiral, watched the Government ship sail away, a faint, satisfied smirk on his lips. The path ahead was his.
(End of Chapter)
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