"It seems I can retire early."
Having witnessed Rosen, even before becoming a Marine Admiral, break the Marine Headquarters from the World Government's control and achieve independence unprecedented in centuries, he also witnessed the Marine's justice become incredibly pure, no longer subject to the World Government's influence.
At this moment, Sengoku sighed from the bottom of his heart.
He is over sixty years old this year and takes a very indifferent view of the highest authority in the Marine.
The reason he hasn't stepped down yet is twofold: first, he still has a few years of his prime left and wants to contribute to the Marine in his final days; second, he worries that if he steps down, Sakazuki and Kuzan will lose his mediator and restraint, inevitably leading to a power struggle between them.
Therefore, Sengoku had never considered retiring, but things are different now.
Seeing the Marine become independent and witnessing the glorious future of the Marine as described by Rosen, he had for the first time thought that he was getting old and wanted to relinquish his responsibilities.
"It's not impossible."
"Rosen, since you're going to be promoted to admiral anyway, why not make it a double celebration?"
"On the day he was promoted to Admiral, he also took over the position of Sengoku."
Garp suggested, picking his nose.
These words were spoken.
All the high-ranking Marine officers turned to look at Rosen without prior agreement.
None of the Marine personnel present objected to Garp's proposal; on the contrary, they all seemed to agree with it.
"Mr. Garp, at least let me be an Admiral for a few days and relax a bit, okay?"
"Look at Borsalino, he works nine to five every day, reads the newspaper, trims his nails, makes tea and eats snacks at work. How relaxed and carefree he is."
"Unlike the teachers of the Sengoku, who were busy with countless matters in their offices all day long, worrying about all sorts of things."
Rosen shook his head at Garp's suggestion.
"You still have some things to do, don't you?"
Sengoku saw through Rosen's plan at a glance.
In the past, becoming a Marine Admiral inevitably led to entanglements with the Celestial Dragons.
Because if a Celestial Dragon is attacked, a Marine Admiral will be dispatched, Garp has always refused to be promoted to Marine Admiral.
But things are different now. Under Rosen's management, the Marine has achieved independence. Even if the Celestial Dragons are attacked, and the Five Elders call the Marine Headquarters to see whether or not to provide support, it all depends on the mood of the Marine Admirals.
In other words, after the Marine becomes independent, the Admiral will be more relaxed and unrestrained than before.
It will not be closely connected with world governments.
The Marine Fleet Admiral, however, is different. Whether before or after independence, he needs to be stationed at headquarters to coordinate affairs in all directions and handle matters from all sides. He cannot easily go into battle.
Just like the Five Elders, they couldn't just leave Mary Geoise so easily.
"As an admiral, one can have relatively more freedom, but as a Fleet Admiral, one must stay at headquarters and can no longer travel light like an admiral."
Rosen nodded slightly, then glanced at Gild Tesoro in the video feed:
"I promised Tesoro that I would help him retrieve Stella's body from the Celestial Dragons. This matter has dragged on long enough; it's time to settle things."
"There's also the matter of taming the Shichibukai; some of them haven't even put on their collars yet."
"A person should be consistent in their beginnings and ends. Since you have made a promise, you should finish it and do it well."
Rosen's words shocked the Golden Emperor, and in front of everyone, his eyes even reddened.
"Governor Rosen!"
Gild Tesoro clenched his fists tightly, deeply moved, and when he looked at Rosen, his face, eyes, and heart were filled with deep gratitude.
He never expected that the other party would never forget the promise they made to him in the past, but instead keep it in mind at all times.
He already held immense power, controlled the Marine Headquarters, and could have easily risen to become the most powerful admiral in Marine history, but he chose to postpone his promotion to admiral.
One reason was that as an Admiral, he could act more easily, travel light, and then go to Mary Geoise to retrieve the remains of his beloved.
In response to this.
Gild Tesoro could not remain unmoved.
If his loyalty to Rosen was 99 before, it's now MAX.
Is this his personal charm?
"To keep his word to his subordinates, he actually went to this lengths."
"That's going straight into the world government!"
Kuzan, Borsalino, Victor Seiji, and the others glanced at the grateful Gild Tesoro, then at Rosen who had refused to become Fleet Admiral, and were both shocked and impressed.
If a man like that becomes a Marine admiral, who wouldn't be convinced?
at least.
Whether it was the three Admirals, or the Buddha and the hero, they were all completely convinced by Rosen.
"Really."
"The Five Elders can't hide the fact that the Marine is independent, no matter how hard they want to."
"Once the Shichibukai know that the relationship between the Marine and the government has been severed, they are very likely to harbor rebellious intentions. Only you can keep these Shichibukai obedient."
Upon hearing this, Sengoku understood Rosen's reasons for refusing to be promoted to Admiral and Fleet Admiral at the same time.
Marine independence.
The global landscape will inevitably be thrown into turmoil.
At that time, the Shichibukai will inevitably harbor ulterior motives.
Rosen needs to make a trip to tighten the collars on these Shichibukai and shorten the tethers around their necks so that these pirates won't do anything foolish because of a moment of madness.
"Rosen, you're right."
"The Shichibukai system was, after all, created by the Five Elders."
"Once the news of the Marine's independence spreads, in order to balance the Marine and to win over combat power, the Five Elders will likely send someone to contact the Shichibukai in private."
"Whether it's to break free from the collar you put around their necks, or to become a powerful Shichibukai, these pirates will become restless."
Tsuru's eyes flickered, then he reminded Rosen.
"Or, let's cripple them."
"First, it can reduce some of the excess Marine debris along the Grand Line."
"Secondly, we don't want the Shichibukai to become bargaining chips in the hands of the Five Elders to check and balance our Marine."
Upon hearing this, Sakazuki paused for a moment before speaking in a chilling tone.
The Marine is no longer the Marine it used to be.
The North Blue 1st Branch under Rosen's command is practically like a second Marine Headquarters.
Technology has Vinsmoke Judge.
The finance department is under Gild Tesoro.
The intelligence agency has Doll.
Even among the Emperor-level combatants, there is Douglas Bullet.
The grassroots combat forces under his command include a group of elite soldiers and Admirals dressed in combat uniforms.
It can be said that the role of the Shichibukai is becoming increasingly insignificant.
Even after wearing collars, the Shichibukai, who are like guard dogs of the Marine, are not as effective as before.
at least.
Compared to the independent Marine Headquarters, the World Government, having lost its Marine Headquarters, needs the existence of the Shichibukai even more.
When Sakazuki threatened to abolish the Shichibukai without warning, even Kuzan, who had always disagreed with him, did not object this time.
First,
The proposal of the Shichibukai system was met with opposition and resistance from the entire high command of the Marine. However, the Five Elders held immense power, and Sengoku, seeing that opposition was futile, had no choice but to accept it.
Now that the Shichibukai are becoming less and less useful, Sakazuki's proposal to abolish them naturally won't be met with any opposition.
"The Shichibukai will definitely be abolished, but not now."
"As for the Shichibukai being recruited by the Five Elders and becoming a bargaining chip to counterbalance the Marine, there is no need to worry about that."
"Since the Shichibukai system was established by the Five Elders by trampling on the Marine's justice, then I will make the Five Elders see with their own eyes how the Shichibukai die for the Marine's justice."
Facing the gazes of the crowd, Rosen tapped the table and sealed the fate of the Shichibukai with a single word.
He opened his mouth.
Whether it's the powerful and ruthless Sakazuki, the current Fleet Admiral Sengoku, or Admirals like Kuzan and Borsalino, they all remain silent and unanimously choose Rosen's orders as the highest command.
...
Advance chapters (30+ stockpiled) are waiting on P@treon/Ren_Saga
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