"Would you like to chat?"
"Rosen."
As Gion left, Sengoku looked up at Rosen, who was standing in the dormitory corridor.
"Certainly."
Rosen nodded, then walked down from the dormitory:
"Teacher Sengoku."
"You came to see me so late—does that mean there's something important?"
Rosen came in front of Sengoku.
Even when facing the most powerful figure in the Navy Headquarters, he remained calm and composed.
Although he still did not hold a military rank, it did not affect his ability to stand in front of the Fleet Admiral and speak as an equal.
The relationship between them was not established because Sengoku had once forced him to take a lesson in Conqueror's Haki, but because of Rosen's strength, which already stood at the top of the ocean.
"Let's talk about your future."
"After all, judging by your usual style of doing things, you won't graduate until you've dealt with Bullet. But in other words, once you've dealt with Bullet, that will be when you graduate early."
"That's right, isn't it?"
Sengoku didn't find anything wrong with Rosen's confident attitude toward him. In fact, he took it for granted.
If Rosen wasn't qualified to speak to him as an equal, then Sengoku—Fleet Admiral of the Navy—wouldn't have come to the academy to see him personally.
If it were otherwise, he could have simply given an order to summon Rosen to his office.
His personal arrival was itself a recognition of Rosen's strength, identity, and status.
"Mm."
"The three major institutions of the World Government are the Marine Headquarters, Impel Down, and Cipher Pol. I've already been to two of them."
"I'm not interested in Cipher Pol, so the only thing left is to walk the seas."
Facing Sengoku's question, Rosen did not hide his intentions:
"After all, I can't be a military student forever."
He looked at Sengoku.
"What about after graduation?
"What are your plans?"
"Don't worry. The person standing before you is not the Fleet Admiral, but your teacher," Sengoku added.
"What are your plans after graduation?"
"I should be an Admiral."
Rosen said it in a very casual tone, as if becoming a Marine Admiral was just a matter of lifting a hand.
"I told you not to worry, and you really don't worry at all!"
"But I have to admit—what you said is reasonable."
"Becoming an Admiral is a dream for other Marines, but for you, it's just the next step forward."
Sengoku couldn't help but laugh and curse upon hearing this.
Rosen simply smiled without replying, instead waiting quietly for Sengoku to explain his true purpose.
As a Fleet Admiral, Sengoku would not come personally just to discuss employment after graduation.
As expected—what Sengoku said next piqued Rosen's interest.
"To become a Marine Admiral, you must meet three necessary conditions."
"Strength that surpasses that of a million Marines, military achievements to match, and prestige enough to intimidate pirates."
"If special circumstances occur—such as a severe shortage of top-tier combat power in the Marine Headquarters—then the requirements for military achievements and prestige can be relaxed."
Sengoku glanced at Rosen.
"Given your strength and ability, it would be natural to appoint you as a Marine Admiral."
"However, the current situation is that Headquarters is not lacking in Admiral-level combat power, nor in candidates who can become Admirals."
"Besides, even if we did face a shortage, I would not want you to become an Admiral through exceptional promotion."
His words were striking.
"Why?"
Rosen was curious.
"Because an exceptional appointment is the pinnacle."
"In other words, for a Marine who is exceptionally appointed as an Admiral, the road ahead comes to an end—because Headquarters will never approve of an exceptionally appointed Admiral becoming Fleet Admiral."
"First, you would lack convincing military achievements and prestige. Second, you would not have risen from the bottom ranks."
Sengoku spoke each word with weight:
"I know what you're thinking—that after being exceptionally appointed as an Admiral, you could still accumulate military achievements and prestige, right?"
"But the problem is that after becoming an Admiral, you either guard Headquarters or the New World. Unless a major event occurs—such as war with a Yonko—where would you find the chance to earn such achievements?"
"Moreover, you haven't experienced every level of service. You haven't been to the Four Seas, you haven't been a captain, a vice Admiral, or a base commander. You haven't commanded a branch on your own. You lack understanding of the structure of the Marine Headquarters and don't know every part of it like the back of your hand."
"A person like this would have nothing but the ability that got them appointed through exception."
"Can you govern the Navy? Can you manage a million Marines? Can you lead such a vast organization to survive and thrive in this cruel ocean?"
Every word from Sengoku struck like a heavy hammer, making Rosen realize that while becoming an Admiral might be simple—just a matter of ability—becoming Fleet Admiral was another matter entirely.
"An Admiral only needs martial prowess, but a Fleet Admiral must possess both civil and military capability."
Rosen thought deeply.
He suddenly understood why Sengoku had recommended Kuzan instead of supporting Sakazuki, who had been the highest-damage powerhouse at the Battle of Marineford, nearly carrying the entire fight.
It wasn't about factions or personal dislike.
Sakazuki was a man of great martial skill, perfect for the duties of a Marine Admiral.
But Fleet Admiral was different.
Which Fleet Admiral would execute his own subordinates over a disagreement?
Which Fleet Admiral would publicly quarrel with his subordinates over a Den Den Mushi?
Which Fleet Admiral would fail to discipline his subordinates, allowing them to openly contradict him?
Sakazuki had done all of these—almost daily after becoming Fleet Admiral.
A typical case of unmatched martial skill, but lacking in governance.
"Exactly."
"That's it."
"An Admiral only needs martial strength, but a Fleet Admiral must have both civil and military skill. Neither can be lacking."
After hearing Rosen's summary, Sengoku's eyes lit up.
"Becoming an Admiral is simple—all you need is strength. For you, it's just a matter of lifting your hand."
"But the Fleet Admiral's role is different."
"Externally, you must deal with the Yonko, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, as well as pirates and forces from the Four Seas, Grand line, and the New World. Internally, you must manage and coordinate millions of Marines, including Headquarters and all branches. Then you must deal with the World Government, the Celestial Dragons, and more."
"You can't be like Sakazuki, killing one person because you dislike them, or killing everyone because you dislike one person."
"Let's be honest—do you have the power to take on the entire world alone? Even if you did, how many people would you have to kill from the Four Seas to Grand line, and then to the New World? How many years would it take?"
Sengoku spread his hands, his voice revealing helplessness toward Sakazuki.
"What do you mean, Teacher Sengoku?"
Rosen paused for a moment, signaling for him to get straight to the point.
He knew Sengoku had chosen this time and place, and had spoken so openly, for a reason.
"Rosen, if you simply want to be an Admiral and enforce justice as you see fit, then I can answer you right now."
"On the day you graduate, I will make an exception and appoint you as a Marine Admiral."
"On the other hand—if you want to become Fleet Admiral, to command a million Marines and rule the seas—then you must temporarily set aside unrealistic ambitions."
"After graduation, take time to calm yourself and learn how to be a Fleet Admiral."
"At the very least, you must convince every Marine in both the branches and Headquarters that you can command them and rule the seas."
Sengoku looked directly into Rosen's eyes and asked in an extremely serious tone:
"Now you can tell me."
"Do you want to be an Admiral, or a Fleet Admiral, Rosen?"
...
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