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Perhaps Akira's movements were a bit too heavy, waking up the three nervous and restless girls.
As soon as they opened their eyes, they immediately covered themselves like frightened rabbits, curling up in a corner.
They stared at the only man on the bed with eyes full of fear and trepidation.
"So, it's your first time," Akira remarked, looking away.
He had assumed that the ones sent to accompany him were trained slaves, but to his surprise, they all came from good families.
He snapped his fingers.
Akira pulled out a cigar made from a twisted leaf, lit it, and with a tilt of his chin toward the three women, said, "Introduce yourselves."
The three women were stunned at first, but after noticing that Akira didn't seem like a bad person, their expressions softened slightly.
The girl with long, blonde curly hair spoke first, pointing to herself and then to the white-haired girl beside her as she introduced them.
"My name is Cameron, and this is my twin sister, Jaimena."
"We were originally..."
Soon, through their introductions, Akira learned about their backgrounds.
Cameron and Jaimena, who had just reached adulthood, were princesses of a kingdom in the New World that wasn't affiliated with the World Government.
Recently, their kingdom had been overrun by pirates, leading to widespread looting and rebellion as people struggled to survive.
The war dragged on, and when the king realized he couldn't hold out, he fled with his family by boat.
But they were caught in a rare tsunami, and the ship was destroyed, with everyone getting swept away.
Cameron and Jaimena stayed together and managed to survive.
When they woke up, they found themselves captured by slavers and brought to the Sabaody Archipelago to be sold.
Because of their beauty, well-developed figures, and royal status, no one could afford them, so they were left waiting for a wealthy buyer.
Until last night, when a CP0 captain selected them to warm Akira's bed.
"Well..." Akira exhaled a cloud of smoke, nodding without much change in his expression.
Such kingdom-destroying events were common in this world.
And Akira, who came from a modern society, didn't have a high opinion of the noble kingdoms of the Pirate World, even if they were led by supposedly benevolent kings.
He passed over Cameron and Jaimena and focused on the third woman.
Stella!
She was another unfortunate soul captured and sold by slavers.
But what caught Akira's attention wasn't her stunning figure or beauty.
"Do you know someone named... Tesoro?" Akira asked.
If he remembered correctly, the future Golden Emperor, who would control 20% of the world's wealth and have the power to manipulate the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, had a lover named Stella.
But there were many people with the same name in the One Piece World, so Akira wanted to confirm.
Stella was surprised by the question, but she obediently replied, "Yes, I know him."
Akira stood up without another word.
He tossed the quilt aside.
"Ah~~~"
The three women gasped in shock, unsure whether to cover their eyes or their bodies.
But Akira paid no mind.
They had been intimate last night, so there was no need to worry about these minor details.
Pere~Pere~Pere~Pere~.
Akira got off the bed, picked up the clothes scattered on the floor, and pulled out the Den Den Mushi from his pocket.
"Moshi moshi, this is Marine Headquarters, Staff Headquarters," came Rosinante's voice.
"Send someone to the Sabaody Archipelago and find a guy named Tesoro," Akira ordered.
Tesoro, a rare and influential figure among the common people, would have been easy to overlook. But now that Akira had discovered him, he couldn't ignore the opportunity and had to see if he could recruit Tesoro to work for him.
"Understood!" Rosinante recognized Akira's voice and responded promptly, without asking any further questions.
Akira hung up the phone and let out a long sigh of relief.
He sat down on the edge of the large, soft bed, his eyes flickering as he got lost in thought.
The three women remained silent, not daring to speak.
Time passed slowly.
When the cigarette in his mouth burned out, Akira snapped back to reality.
"From today on, you all follow me," Akira said.
"Yes, Master!" The three women exchanged glances and nodded without hesitation.
In truth, they had no other choice.
In this chaotic era, beauty without strength was a curse. If they had no one to rely on, they would likely be captured by slavers again or imprisoned by criminals, living a fate worse than death.
Now, a powerful man who had taken their first time was willing to take responsibility for them. This was the best outcome they could hope for.
After being displayed like objects in a slave cage, where people could choose and haggle over them, the three women had come to understand the harshness and cruelty of this world. Their innocence and naivety were long gone.
Moreover, they knew that their chances of leaving freely were slim.
As bought slaves, if Akira abandoned them after having his fun, the CP0 agents who had spent a lot of money on them would either imprison them in a Celestial Dragon-exclusive prison or sell them again.
The latter seemed most likely.
Therefore, staying with Akira was their best option.
"Let's go, it's time to take a shower," Akira said as he headed toward the bathroom.
Stella, noticing the strong smell on her body, pursed her lips and got up. Cameron and Jaimena blushed, but they followed, not daring to disobey.
An hour later, Akira emerged from the building with the three women after freshening up.
"Finally woke up, huh?" Kong, sipping coffee while seated on a chair outside on the lawn, remarked irritably. "Young people need to learn some self-control. It's already afternoon."
He glanced over at Stella, Cameron, and Jaimena, then looked away, nodding with approval. "The CP0 agents did a good job—these three slaves are as impressive as Rouge. No wonder you were up so late."
Stella, Cameron, and Jaimena blushed when they realized what he meant.
"Good afternoon, Fleet Admiral Kong!" Akira greeted, unfazed by the teasing. It didn't bother him in the slightest.
"Call me Commander Kong from now on!"
"Huh? Is your position confirmed?" Akira asked.
"Yes! In fact, your appointment and mine were finalized by the Five Elders yesterday." Kong pulled a document from his pocket, smiling as he handed it over.
Akira took a look at the document.
It was filled with detailed descriptions of all of Akira's actions and achievements since joining the Marines. It also included the credit for his efforts over the past two months, culminating in his appointment as the new Fleet Admiral, as recommended by Kong and approved by the Five Elders.
At the bottom was the World Government's seal.
Akira felt a surge of pride as he gripped the document. His hard work over the past two months had led to this moment.
From today onward, he was no longer acting as a stand-in—he was the Marine Fleet Admiral.
"Let's go, we need to head to headquarters for the final meeting today," Kong said. "After your appointment is announced to everyone, I have to return to the Holy Land for an interview with reporters. Your interview is scheduled after mine, so be ready."
Kong patted Akira on the shoulder and led the way out.
Akira took a deep breath and tucked the appointment letter into his chest.
"Sister, h-he's the Marine Fleet Admiral!" Jaimena, who was clearly shy and socially anxious, covered her small mouth in surprise as she watched the man walk away.
Last night, she had only known that she was to serve an important figure.
But the CP0 didn't reveal the specific identity of the so-called important person. It was surprising enough that the man they were to serve was handsome and charming, but to find out he was the new Marine Fleet Admiral was completely unexpected.
Fleet Admiral of the Marines...
This was the person in charge of the entire Marine force across the world—a position so high that even their father would have to be careful and deferential in his presence.
And now, this man had become theirs.
Cameron was equally shocked.
"Don't just stand there. Do you want to stay here as slaves?" Stella was the first to snap out of it.
Seeing Akira's figure disappear around the corner, she quickly pulled up her skirt, ignoring the pain and soreness in her thighs, and hurried to catch up with him.
Cameron, reminded by Stella, quickly pulled her sister along, closely following behind.
All the way, the warship moved out from beneath the Red Line and slowly headed toward Marineford.
Ten minutes later, it finally docked at the port.
"Take them to my mansion," Akira ordered, pointing at Stella and the other two women before disembarking.
"Understood!" The soldier stood at attention and saluted.
Akira and Kong walked off the deck, heading toward the office building.
The previously bustling square gradually quieted down.
Some soldiers, who had been busy or engaged in training, paused their activities to watch the two men.
Most of their attention was focused on Akira.
"Akira-sama is finally back!"
"I noticed those three beautiful women with him. It looks like Akira-sama really enjoyed his time in the Holy Land last night."
"This probably means the position of Fleet Admiral is confirmed."
"Shinma Akira, will he be our new Fleet Admiral?"
"I don't know why, but I feel incredibly confident in the future of the Marines."
The soldiers looked at Akira with excitement and trust in their eyes. His actions over the past two months had not only won their hearts but also proven his intelligence and leadership. They believed that under Akira's command, the Marines could finally bring an end to the Great Pirate Era.
Inside the building, the generals, who had been somewhat indifferent to their work, had already heard the news.
They all came out, waiting outside the meeting room in anticipation.
"Come on, let me host one last meeting for you," Kong said, his loud voice echoing in everyone's ears.
After his words, he led Akira past the assembled crowd.
Soon, the meeting room was filled to capacity.
No officers or generals were absent.
Kong stood at the podium, speaking passionately, while Akira quietly sat in the central seat, listening.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Zephyr, and Vice Admiral Tsuru sat on either side of him.
Behind them were Vice Admirals, Rear Admirals, and officers, with the three Marine Admirals at the forefront.
"By the way, Akira, I have news about what you ordered this morning," Tsuru leaned over and whispered during a lull in the meeting.
"Did you find him?" Akira's eyes lit up.
"The soldiers heard about him, but they didn't manage to catch him," Tsuru shook her head, continuing, "That Tesoro packed up and left Sabaody this morning. His whereabouts are unknown."
"I see..." Akira's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
He had learned the specific details of what had happened last night from Stella in the bathroom earlier. Given Tesoro's personality, he was likely off trying to make money now.
To be honest, Akira found the CP0's actions baffling.
Akira chuckled to himself, thinking, *It's okay, why go to the funny house*. He understood that this was just another effect of the butterfly effect. If he hadn't been appointed as the new Fleet Admiral, that guy wouldn't have gone to Sabaody late at night to find women for him.
"Do you want to issue a bounty?" Tsuru asked, noticing Akira's concern.
"No, just keep an eye on his movements in the future," Akira replied.
A genius like Tesoro would always find a way to shine. Issuing a bounty now would only spook him, making him more cautious and possibly turning him against the Marines. Akira didn't want to destroy this talented, yet unfortunate, individual—he wanted to recruit him.
"Let's focus on Commander Kong's speech; it's almost over," Akira said, sitting upright and turning his attention back to the stage.
Sure enough, Kong was wrapping up his prepared speech and shifted the focus.
"With my departure, Marine Headquarters needs new leadership," Kong announced. "The next candidate doesn't need much of an introduction."
He paused, then continued, "Come up and say a few words, Fleet Admiral Akira!"
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Akira, who was seated in the front row. The first to clap was Sengoku, followed by Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru. Then, the three Admirals, led by Sakazuki, joined in, followed by all the generals and officers.
The applause was thunderous and seemed to go on forever.
Under everyone's gaze, Akira slowly stood up. With a swift motion, he pushed his bangs back, and his demeanor transformed.
The sound of his leather shoes clicking against the floor gradually overtook the applause as he walked to the podium, where Kong had just stood, and faced the crowd of subordinates before him.
"I am Akira," he began.
"From today onwards, I will officially take over as Fleet Admiral of the Marines. Together, we will bring an end to this era of great pirates."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"We will ensure that tens of millions of innocent people can live stable and peaceful lives. We will spread the light of justice to every corner of the world."
Akira took a deep breath, then raised his right fist high and roared with passion, "Justice shall prevail!"
"Justice shall prevail!" The generals and officers roared back in unison, standing up and joining in the chant.
The atmosphere in the room was electric, with excitement and determination visible on everyone's faces. The rallying cry of justice echoed through the office building like thunder, spreading out to the square and resonating throughout Marineford.
Outside, soldiers looked up at the office building, their expressions gradually turning to excitement as they listened to the chant.
At that moment...
Hum!
The headquarters' broadcast system crackled to life, and a female soldier's calm voice came through the speakers.
"Important notice, important notice!"
"Fleet Admiral Kong has been promoted to the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government Army, and the new Fleet Admiral of the Marines will be Shinma Akira."
"Repeat! The new Fleet Admiral of the Marines will be Shinma Akira."
The broadcast repeated the announcement several times.
As the soldiers listened, they made sure they heard it correctly. Then, unable to contain their emotions, they erupted in a cathartic roar.
Marine caps and justice cloaks were tossed into the air in celebration.
Finally, one phrase echoed throughout Marineford, carrying the hope and resolve of the entire Marine force:
"Justice shall prevail!"