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Back in his office, Akira sifted through a few documents in preparation for the meeting.
He sat back in his chair, reclined, smoking a cigar, and gazed at the white clouds drifting outside the window.
Time seemed to crawl by.
He didn't snap back to reality until the cigar burned down to the very end.
Without a moment's delay, he grabbed the files and headed out.
In the conference room.
By the time Akira walked in, the room was already packed.
Practically all the Admirals, Vice Admirals, Rear Admirals, and civil servants from headquarters were present.
No one was missing.
"Fleet Admiral Akira!"
With a sharp "shua," everyone stood up simultaneously, led by Sengoku, saluting and greeting him.
"Is that the Fleet Admiral of the Marines? He looks so young!"
In a discreet corner, Issho stared wide-eyed at Akira as he entered and muttered to himself.
"Mr. Issho, you've broken the rule again," Tatsumi beside him reminded with a slight smile.
Issho didn't mind, his gaze steady: "To witness the one who established the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau and the one who symbolizes justice with my own eyes, I am content today."
"I don't understand you, but let's stop talking; the Fleet Admiral is about to speak."
"Uh-huh!"
The two ceased their conversation and looked down quietly.
Akira smiled lightly, nodded towards everyone, walked to the podium, stretched his hands forward, and motioned for them to sit down.
The officers promptly took their seats.
Everyone sat upright, awaiting the Fleet Admiral's words.
Seeing this, Akira was filled with emotion.
He vividly remembered when he was acting as the Fleet Admiral and called a meeting, but no one attended.
Only Gion and one or two officers were willing to support him.
But it was futile; he was completely isolated in the office, unable to leave.
But now, the "refusal to cooperate" faction, the indifferent "wait and see" faction, and the "people-oriented" faction had all vanished without a trace.
The big players were all part of the "Fleet Admiral Akira" faction now.
The orders he gave could now be executed smoothly and perfectly.
"I called everyone here today because I have a few important announcements to make."
Akira flipped through the documents and said, "First, Mr. Sengoku will step down from his position as Admiral in one month and officially take over as the Director of the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau."
A murmur spread through the room.
"Is it really happening so soon? Fleet Admiral Akira has been in office for less than a year."
"Today's first news is quite a bombshell."
"With Admiral Sengoku stepping down, that leaves only Mr. Zephyr as the Admiral in our headquarters…"
"Actually, he could also hold dual positions like Teacher Zephyr; there's no need to resign."
As soon as the news broke, everyone was stunned, except for the three powerhouses—Garp, Tsuru, and Sakazuki—who already knew about it.
However, when Sengoku started taking a more active role in setting up the search bureau some time ago, some had speculated that he might be the one chosen as the director.
So, the shock wasn't necessarily about the news itself.
After all, with a position as crucial as this, no one at Marine Headquarters besides Sengoku was truly qualified for the role.
What really surprised everyone was the extent of the changes, including Sengoku stepping down from his Admiral position entirely.
Most had expected that, like Zephyr, Sengoku would juggle both roles.
Many wondered why it had to be this way, as there was a precedent for holding dual roles.
But seeing that Akira had no intention of offering an explanation, they kept their questions to themselves.
"Is Instructor Zephyr not here?" Akira asked, glancing toward the front.
"He usually doesn't attend general meetings unless specifically notified. After all, he's the chief instructor of the academy," Tsuru replied.
"Understood. It should be fine to remove his Admiral position as well, right?"
Akira asked. He had intended to ask Zephyr in person if he were present, but since he wasn't, Akira decided to make the call himself and inform him later.
There was no point in keeping everyone waiting.
Besides, Zephyr's Admiral title had become more of an honorary role, just to maintain the headquarters' prestige in the world.
"Hahahahaha, he'll be thrilled to hear it," Garp chuckled, responding to Akira's inquiry.
As one of the "Marine Iron Four," Garp was well aware of Zephyr's thoughts.
If it weren't for Kong's insistence, Zephyr would have stepped down as Admiral long ago to fully focus on his role as chief instructor.
Although everyone had already agreed that Zephyr didn't need to perform Admiral duties anymore, the title was still a burden.
Now that Akira decided to officially remove Zephyr from the Admiral position, Zephyr would likely feel nothing but relief and joy.
Sengoku and Tsuru also nodded in agreement.
"Alright, then Zephyr will step down along with Admiral Sengoku."
Akira nodded, then looked up again, deliberately glancing at the three "monsters"—Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan.
Here it comes!
The three of them seemed to sense what was coming, their expressions turning serious as they focused intently on the podium.
"Second, with two Admirals resigning, we now face the issue of filling the three vacant Admiral positions!"
The Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals all instinctively turned their gaze to the three imposing figures at the front.
With Sengoku retiring and Zephyr also stepping down, the new Marine Admiral candidates were clear.
"Is it going to be Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan?"
Everyone exchanged glances, whispering quietly among themselves.
The tension in the room was palpable as they awaited confirmation.
Akira knocked on the table, silencing the murmurs in the room, and pulled out three bounty posters.
Since everyone had already reached a consensus on the candidates for the three Admiral positions, he saw no need to waste time.
"The Admiral positions can't remain vacant for too long, so we need to fill them as soon as possible."
"This is the task I'm assigning to you three. Afterward, I'll take you to meet the Five Elders."
Akira addressed Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan with a light smile.
Like the Fleet Admiral position, becoming a Marine Admiral also requires an audience with the Five Elders. However, the process is straightforward—essentially just a meeting to get acquainted.
Once the three Admiral positions are filled, one of them will have to rotate monthly to the Holy Land to ensure the safety of the Celestial Dragons.
Unlike the "loyalty assessment" Akira underwent when he took office, the process for becoming an Admiral is much simpler. While Admirals are powerful and respected, in the eyes of the Five Elders, they are still part of the broader "officer" class, just the strongest among them.
As long as they can fight and prove themselves over time, their loyalty can be evaluated gradually. If any of them proves disloyal, there's always the Fleet Admiral above them to keep them in check.
Only the Fleet Admiral position, which has broader authority, requires a more thorough vetting process.
Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan immediately stood up.
Everyone who joins the Marines dreams of becoming an Admiral. Although there might be exceptions like Garp, such cases are rare.
After receiving the documents outlining their tasks from Akira, the three took a deep breath and carefully tucked them into their uniforms.
"By the way, bring them back alive—no killing," Akira added in a low voice.
The three exchanged puzzled glances but nodded in understanding.
"The third item on the agenda concerns the Vice Admiral positions."
After the three Admirals returned to their seats, Akira moved on to a topic that many in the room were particularly interested in.
Here it comes.
The Rear Admirals, sensing the significance, quickly straightened up, their attention fully focused.
With Sengoku being reassigned and the three "monsters" of the Marine—Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan—moving up, and the veteran Vice Admirals also stepping aside, it was finally the Rear Admirals' turn to advance.
The Vice Admiral rank, while still demanding, is not as rigorous as that of an Admiral. And with relatively few vacant positions compared to the number of eligible Rear Admirals, competition was bound to be fierce.
Akira couldn't help but smile as he noticed the anxious expressions of Momonga, Onigumo, and the others, as if they were preparing for a daunting challenge.
While Akira was familiar with the storyline and had his own predictions about who might rise through the ranks—such as Momonga, Onigumo, and Jonathan—he wasn't about to break protocol by making direct appointments.
Instead, they would have to prove themselves through strength and accomplishments.
"It just so happens that many of you have some free time. Starting tomorrow, take your fleets out and complete missions."
"The staff department will accurately record your military achievements, and once you meet the requirements, you'll be eligible for promotion."
Compared to the trials faced by Sakazuki and the others, the path from Rear Admiral to Vice Admiral was relatively straightforward. After all, being a Vice Admiral wasn't solely about raw strength.
The most critical factor was military merit—without it, Akira himself wouldn't have risen to his current position.
"Just follow the standard process," Akira thought as he glanced at Onigumo and the others, feeling a slight pang of nostalgia.
Becoming a Marine Vice Admiral is a significant achievement, but it's not about having the strongest or most powerful individuals in those positions. A few top-level Vice Admirals serve as the face of the organization, while the rest fill roles to maintain order and manage the pirates and the public.
The Vice Admiral rank is essential not only for combat but also for maintaining the Marine's image. They may fall in battle, but their numbers must remain stable. If the public starts to believe the Marines can't even staff suitable Vice Admirals, how can they trust the Marines to protect them from pirates?
The real combat power, however, lies with the Admirals and their Candidates. Vice Admirals just need to be obedient and strong enough to handle their duties. As long as they steer clear of the more dangerous areas of the Grand Line, they should be able to survive under normal circumstances.
"Now, for the fourth and final item on today's agenda!"
"As you all know, the World Government has granted the Marines considerable autonomy, allowing us to generate our own income and pay our own wages."
"But autonomy without rules can lead to chaos. What I want to discuss now are the rules governing military business and the new welfare system we're putting in place."
"I hope you'll all adhere to these guidelines alongside me."
Akira adjusted his glasses, squinted slightly, and waved his hand. Immediately, the orderly at the door stepped forward, distributing documents to each general.
At the same time a few soldiers brought in several large boxes from outside. They opened them at the center of the conference room, revealing stacks of Berries piled high for everyone to see.
"A few months ago, everyone worked hard to maintain our commercial lines at sea."
"This effort has generated significant wealth for Marine Headquarters, and what you see here is a dividend prepared for all of you."
"There are more benefits outlined in the document. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
Everyone stared at the boxes of Berries, then glanced at Akira, swallowing nervously. Instinctively, they picked up the documents and started reading.
"Mr. Tatsumi, please let me know what's in the document once you've read it. I won't break my vow for something like this," Issho said with a smile, his eyes still closed.
Unless he encountered something or someone exceptionally beautiful, Issho was committed to keeping his eyes shut, and he wasn't about to break that resolve for money and benefits.
Tatsumi, knowing Issho's principles, nodded. "Understood."
The room fell into silence as everyone focused on the documents, including Akira, who observed the various officers with a look of quiet satisfaction.
"Hiss..."
"What's the matter, Mr. Tatsumi? You look surprised," Issho asked with a smile.
"Fleet Admiral Akira is handing out money!" Tatsumi replied, his hand trembling as he held the document. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Every Berry of profit earned by the headquarters will be distributed as dividends based on rank."
"Do you know what that means?"
"It means that Admirals in our Marine could eventually be wealthier than kings."
Tatsumi, who was no fool, had clearly understood the implications, especially with the detailed notes thoughtfully included in the document.
Suddenly, a series of rapid gasps filled the room.
An officer abruptly slapped the table and stood up, his face flushed with anger. "Aren't those damn banks run by the CPs trying to steal our Marine's money?"
His words snapped everyone to attention, and they quickly realized the gravity of the situation, fueling their outrage.
Seeing this reaction, Akira couldn't help but smile.
This is exactly the response I wanted.
In the future, our Marine's swords won't just cut down pirates; they'll also deal with anyone who tries to reach into our coffers.