Naval Headquarters.
As the demon-slaying warship slowly docked at the pier, three figures stepped down from the deck.
Amid the bustling activity, their towering height immediately stood out from the crowd.
Seeing three people with the stature of Admirals suddenly arrive, they drew instant attention from everyone nearby. Whether lieutenant, colonel, or even vice Admiral, the passing Marines instinctively straightened and greeted them with clear respect — and, in some cases, outright awe.
"Vice Admiral Kizaru."
"Instructor Zephyr."
"Mr. Rosen."
…
Borsalino and Zephyr showed no reaction to the greetings. They were used to such respect. Rosen, however, was faintly surprised.
At the Naval Academy, he was indeed a well-known figure, but here at Headquarters, he was still officially just a student without even a formal rank.
If it had been only a few captains acknowledging him, he might have ignored it — but even a giant lieutenant Admiral, towering and stern, had bent slightly at the waist to greet him, using honorifics as though Rosen outranked him.
As if the man were greeting a superior officer.
Especially on the walk toward the Naval Academy, Rosen noticed that every officer they passed — whether he knew them or not — without exception greeted him with the same respect.
They addressed him as "Sir."
Their tone carried the weight one would use toward a candidate for Admiral like Borsalino.
Rosen saw it all and couldn't help but think deeply.
Before setting out to the uninhabited island near Headquarters to battle Redfield, there were certainly Marines who recognized him — but never with this kind of deference.
"Junior,"
Borsalino's casual voice broke his thoughts,
"thinking of something interesting?"
"Nothing," Rosen replied, shaking his head slightly. "It's just… strange. Ever since we got back, whether it's lieutenants, colonels, or Admirals, they've all treated me completely differently from how they treat a mere military academy student. It's as if—"
Before he could finish, Borsalino cut in,
"As if they're facing a navy Admiral!"
"That's right," Rosen admitted.
From the dock to here, he had encountered thousands of Marines. Only an Admiral could command that kind of reaction across the board.
"Speaking of which," Borsalino continued with a smirk, "you should thank our teacher Zephyr.
He recorded your battle with Aloof Red using a Den Den Mushi, then had it broadcast live at the Naval Academy. And while the broadcast was held at the academy, the rules didn't forbid other Marines from watching. So now, junior, you're basically a celebrity at Headquarters.
Your reputation and prestige are already higher than even mine, and I'm an Admiral candidate."
He tilted his head, his smile sly.
"After all, you're an Admiral-level student — the first in Marine Headquarters history."
Borsalino spoke in a teasing tone, but inwardly he was astonished.
Back when he and Sakazuki were in the academy, they were considered monstrous talents. After a year of training under Zephyr, he had graduated with strength just above that of an elite vice Admiral — about equivalent to a Shichibukai.
And Rosen?
In less than four months, before even graduating, he had already reached Admiral-level combat power.
If the freshly graduated Borsalino of the past had faced Rosen, he would have been instantly crushed — even the speed of the Glint-Glint Fruit wouldn't have saved him.
"What?" Rosen blinked.
He truly hadn't expected Zephyr to have done such a thing.
"It'd be a waste not to," Zephyr said matter-of-factly. "With footage like that, your classmates will understand the gap they need to close. Rosen, just think of it as setting an example — giving them someone to chase."
"Teacher Zephyr, that's too strict," Borsalino chuckled, shaking his head. "You're basically telling the rest of the students to catch up to a goal they can't possibly reach. That's not training, that's cruelty."
"If it's a goal, it should be set high," Zephyr replied without a hint of doubt.
Listening to the exchange, Rosen finally understood.
Zephyr had made his name and feats into part of the Naval Academy's teaching material, so the students could see how vast the world truly was.
He didn't mind.
After all, what young man didn't enjoy showing off — even in a subtle, indirect way?
His curiosity satisfied, he put the matter aside.
"Rosen."
The voice stopped him in his tracks.
Other than Zephyr or Borsalino, there were few who called him so directly — fewer still outside the academy.
He turned to find Gion approaching, with several familiar faces behind her.
They were his classmates from Zephyr's class months ago— Smoker, Hina, and others he had once trained alongside.
"Is Gion the only one you see?"
"Brother Rosen, don't tell me you've already forgotten about me?"
Tokikake's lanky figure appeared from behind Gion.
Standing next to her, he was nearly as tall as an Admiral, but Gion, like Hancock, always wore heels — at least twenty centimeters high. The moment Tokikake moved behind her, he was almost completely hidden from view.
"How could I forget?" Rosen smiled. "Tokikake. Not bad — your aura's much stronger. Looks like you haven't been slacking off."
A faint red light flickered in his eyes as he spoke.
The words made Tokikake grin from ear to ear.
"Of course. If I didn't work hard, I'd be embarrassed to tell people I was in the same class as you."
Tokikake stepped forward and bumped Rosen's shoulder, just like old times.
In the past, he might have taken such praise for granted.
Now, after witnessing Rosen's battle against Redfield, he understood clearly — being praised by Rosen was like receiving acknowledgement from a top Admiral.
"Being classmates — isn't that already something we all carry in our hearts? There's no need to measure it in strength," Rosen said.
At that, Tokikake's grin widened further.
Even Gion's lips curved in the faintest, warmest smile.
...
If you enjoyed this book, don't forget to vote with a Power Stone and take a few seconds to leave a review
Join my P@treon for advance chapters and special content!
[email protected]/Ren_Saga