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Atlas casually took the list of names from Sengoku and scanned it with his eyes.
He didn't suffer from indecisiveness. He pointed to the first name, then handed the list back to Sengoku.
"Oh? 'Byakko' is it? An excellent choice. It seems Tsuru's naming skills are to your liking!" Sengoku laughed heartily, looking at the codename Atlas had selected.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru? Is she not at Headquarters right now? I passed by her office just now and didn't see her."
As the Grand Staff Officer of Headquarters, Vice Admiral Tsuru's office was not far from Sengoku's. Atlas had noticed she wasn't there when he entered the building.
"Tsuru went to the North Blue to pursue a pirate," Sengoku said without elaborating.
Rosinante's undercover mission in the Donquixote Family was top secret. The fewer people who knew, the safer Rosinante would be.
"I see. By the way, I've recruited a Marine who is a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. I'll have to trouble you to register him, Admiral Sengoku."
Seeing that Sengoku didn't intend to explain, Atlas didn't press the matter.
He guessed it had something to do with Doflamingo; he was the only pirate who would warrant Vice Admiral Tsuru personally going to the North Blue.
He then took the opportunity to report Enel's recruitment. If it were an ordinary soldier, it wouldn't be an issue, but a powerful Logia user like Enel had to be officially registered with the Marines.
This was a World Government regulation; they needed to have an accurate grasp of the Marines' high-end combat strength.
"Oh, just recruiting a Marine. You're already a mature..."
"Wait, what did you just say you recruited?" Sengoku thought he had misheard.
The legendary Rumble-Rumble Fruit hadn't been seen on the seas for nearly a hundred years.
A top-tier Logia fruit like that could turn anyone into a powerful fighter. How could Atlas have just happened to run into one?
"Ah, a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user," Atlas replied nonchalantly. It's just a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user.
So what if he has speed comparable to Kizaru's and destructive power like Akainu's? Is that a big deal? And he's a Marine Admiral... so unworldly.
"How strong is this recruit?"
"Not very. He only ate the fruit recently. His physique is ridiculously weak."
That was Atlas's simple evaluation. Due to the ostracism and bullying he had faced on Birka, just filling his stomach had likely been a daily struggle, so Enel's physique was not very robust, even weaker than that of an ordinary person.
Otherwise, his performance against Atlas wouldn't have been so pathetic.
Hearing this, Sengoku thought for a moment, then looked up at Atlas.
"Why don't we have the recruit train under Zephyr for a while? We can't let such a good seedling go to waste." After all, it was a top-tier Logia ability.
If cultivated properly, in a few decades, he would at the very least be at the level of an Admiral Candidate, capable of holding his own against the strongest fighters.
"Hey, hey, hey! Old man Sengoku, what do you mean by that? What do you mean, 'go to waste'?"
Atlas's tone was slightly displeased. His method was to learn and grow through combat.
A small fight every day, a big brawl every three days—even a pig could grow strong that way.
"Alright, alright. As you said, the recruit's foundation is probably very poor. He was just lucky enough to eat this powerful fruit. If we put him under Zephyr, we'll probably end up with another Marine like Kizaru."
"Indeed..." Atlas nodded in agreement.
The most important thing for Enel right now was to build a solid physical foundation, which would make developing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's powers much easier in the future.
The recruit training camp at Headquarters was undoubtedly the most suitable place for that.
"Also, your current position is no longer suitable for you to be stationed on the Sabaody Archipelago. In a while, Headquarters will arrange for you to go to the New World to guard a Marine base."
Generally, the Marine stationed at Sabaody held the rank of Rear Admiral.
The main reason Atlas had been sent there was that the situation in the New World was relatively stable, as well as for strategic considerations.
But now, both in terms of strength and rank, Atlas was no longer suitable for that post.
"Alright, I'll wait for the transfer order from Headquarters at Sabaody then," Atlas said. After speaking, he left Sengoku's office with the three kids.
As for their living arrangements, that would naturally be handled by Bogard.
Headquarters provided a house in the Marineford family residential area for all Vice Admirals.
Since Garp was rarely home anyway, there was more than enough space for the three boys.
After Atlas and the others left...
Tap... tap... tap...
A rhythmic tapping sound echoed in the office, making the already oppressive atmosphere even more sombre.
Neither Sengoku nor Garp spoke, just stared at each other.
"Well, what do you plan to do with that child?" Sengoku was the first to break the silence, his tone unreadable.
"You knew? But that child is innocent..." Garp looked troubled. He had promised Roger that he would raise Ace to adulthood.
He never expected Atlas to bring Ace to Marine Headquarters suddenly. Although he had always wanted Ace to become a Marine, it was still too early.
"During the CP's purge operation back then, you uncharacteristically volunteered for the mission. If I hadn't actively covered for you, do you think your actions would have gone unnoticed by the World Government?"
"But what the World Government did was wrong! Are we Marines supposed to continue down the wrong path?"
How cruel! Garp's usual carefree demeanour vanished, replaced by a pained expression.
Just on the suspicion that Roger's bloodline might have survived, they had slaughtered all the pregnant women in the vicinity.
It was utterly devoid of conscience!
"Do you think I don't know it was wrong? But the Marines cannot break away from the World Government right now."
"You have to understand, in my position, sometimes I can't just consider momentary satisfaction."
"So what do you plan to do about Ace?"
"For now, we'll hide his identity from the World Government. Bloodline is never a basis for guilt."
"As long as that child becomes a Marine, I believe that even if his identity is exposed in the future, it won't be a problem."
"The son of the Pirate King becoming a Marine—what could be a more powerful testament to justice?"
Three days later, Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In the meeting room, representatives from nearly all the Marine bases in the first half of the Grand Line were present. The once-spacious room now seemed crowded.
A few Marines were scattered around the large conference table, the lowest-ranking among them being Rear Admirals. At the head of the table sat Admiral Sengoku.
Atlas was seated in the second position to Sengoku's right, with Vice Admiral Garp in the first.
Atlas was by far the youngest person in the room, but his position was more senior than many others.
Atlas glanced around and saw many familiar faces, like Onigumo, Doberman, and Yamakaji, who would later become famous elite Vice Admirals of Headquarters but were currently only Rear Admirals.
However, Atlas hadn't had much interaction with them, so they just exchanged nods.
Of course, no one was foolish enough to jump out and challenge or look down on Atlas in some cliché scene.
Everyone present knew very well that the star of today's meeting was this young Marine Vice Admiral.
"Ahem, ahem. It seems almost everyone is here. I believe you are all aware of the purpose of this meeting so that I won't waste any more time. Brannew, you..."
"My apologies, I'm late."
Before Sengoku could finish, a lazy voice suddenly appeared next to Atlas, and a large number of light particles slowly coalesced into the form of Kizaru.
What a cool entrance... Atlas looked at Kizaru with some envy, who was leaning back in his chair, wearing his usual brown sunglasses.
As if noticing Atlas's gaze, Kizaru lowered his glasses slightly and looked at him in confusion. "Atlas, is there something on my face?"
"No, no..." Atlas waved his hands repeatedly.
"Alright, everyone should be here now. Brannew, you can begin the report for this meeting,"
Sengoku said, a vein throbbing on his forehead as he fought the urge to hit someone, giving the order to Brannew behind him.
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku!" As he spoke, a Marine Commodore stepped out from behind Sengoku and walked to the centre of the room.
A Den Den Mushi projected an image onto the white wall, while another was aimed at the attendees, displaying the scene in the meeting room to the main square of Marine Headquarters.
The square was filled with a massive number of Marine soldiers. The theme of today's meeting was clear: to widely publicise the death of the Golden Lion.
Although newspapers around the world had already reported the news, the official announcement from the Marines had not yet been made.
This was a perfect opportunity to strengthen the internal cohesion of the Marines and, at the same time, to confer honours upon Atlas.
Atlas carefully observed the legendary "King of Meetings." He had curly green hair, sunglasses that just covered his eyes, thick lips, and wore a white and blue striped shirt.
His attire was quite casual; the Marines weren't very strict about the dress code for officers, making it seem less like a disciplined army, but that was part of its charm.
Brannew's expression was serious as he spoke slowly to the camera, Den Den Mushi.
"Colleagues, ten years ago, the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was executed by the Marines in Loguetown, thus beginning the Great Pirate Era."
"The world was thrown into turmoil. Countless civilians lost their lives, and countless families were torn apart. The evil that pirates have brought upon this world is beyond words."
"However, where there is darkness, there must be light. It is thanks to the perseverance of all of you, my colleagues who uphold justice, that the world situation has not completely deteriorated."
"In the old era, there were three great and fearsome pirates—Whitebeard, Roger, and the Golden Lion."
"Ten years ago, the Golden Lion attacked Marine Headquarters and was subsequently captured, then sent to the great undersea prison, Impel Down. But two years later..."
"The Golden Lion broke out, becoming the first prisoner in the history of Impel Down to escape successfully. The myth of Impel Down's invincibility was shattered, and the dignity of the Marines was trampled upon!"
"However, pirates can never escape the judgment of justice. A young Marine from Headquarters!"
At this, everyone in the room instinctively turned their gaze to Atlas, who was seated to Kizaru's right. Even Kizaru looked at him with surprise.
Can you be any more dramatic, Vice Admiral Kizaru? Atlas rolled his eyes internally.
You're the only one who witnessed it firsthand, yet you have to put on such an exaggerated expression. Is it really necessary?
"Kanos Atlas! This young Marine star is no stranger to many of you. As a recruit, he stopped the former Warlord Crocodile's plot against Alabasta. Later, he achieved great merit in the battles of the New World!"
"And now, he has personally brought the legendary pirate, the Golden Lion, to justice! Letting the name of the Marines resound across the seas once more, telling the world that justice will never be absent!"
Silence!
Whether it was the Marine officers in the meeting room or the soldiers in the square, their faces were filled with pride. Who was the Golden Lion?
There were many old-time Marines present who had experienced the battle ten years ago.
The Golden Lion had attacked Marine Headquarters alone, and his disaster-like power had nearly sunk half of Marineford into the sea!
He was an extremely vicious criminal! Although they already knew the news, hearing it again in this atmosphere, everyone present couldn't help but feel a sense of security in the strength of the Marines.
"Next, we will have Admiral Sengoku confer the honours upon Vice Admiral Atlas!"
Hearing this, Atlas stood up from his seat. The Den Den Mushi's camera turned to him, and his tall figure was displayed before all the Marines.
I can't believe it. Atlas has become an Admiral Candidate so quickly, and I... In a corner of the meeting room, Smoker smiled bitterly and shook his head, but his heart was filled with nothing but respect and admiration for Atlas.
It's only a matter of time before a man like him becomes an Admiral! The Marines in the square were also thrilled, as if they were the ones in the spotlight.
Atlas's journey told them that with enough strength and merit, one could overcome any lack of seniority.
Even at the age of twenty-two, one could become an Admiral Candidate!
Sengoku nodded with satisfaction, then stood up and announced with a solemn expression, "By order of the World Government, the Marines hereby promote Kanos Atlas to the rank of Admiral Candidate, with the codename 'Byakko'!!"
(T/N: Please give me some power stone, I hope it can at least reach the top 100)
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