"Colonel Ron single-handedly destroyed the pirate group and eliminated the danger posed to the countries that joined the World Government."
"This achievement, I believe, warrants a promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral."
Inside the Marshal's office at Naval Headquarters, Sakazuki looked at Marshal Kong and spoke in a deep voice.
"Sakazuki, I'm doing this for your own good. If you attribute all the merits to Ron, you will need to delay your own promotion to Rear Admiral."
The marshal clasped his hands and looked at Sakazuki calmly.
"Saving the countries that joined the World Government is a significant feat. If you miss this opportunity, you won't know when the next chance to be promoted to Rear Admiral will arise."
"As for Colonel Ron, we can award him the rank of Commodore while compensating him for his losses in other ways. I believe he will understand."
He was very optimistic about Sakazuki and had already prepared to support him in this unexpected event.
Unexpectedly, he was rejected by Sakazuki.
This puzzled him a little.
"Ridiculous! Do I, Sakazuki, really need to rob someone else's achievements to be promoted to Rear Admiral?"
Sakazuki slammed his hand on the table angrily.
"It is due to your incompetence and indulgence that the lawless people run amok at sea. Justice should not be compromised!"
"Sakazuki, pay attention to your identity!"
Kong, scolded face-to-face, looked somewhat ugly, but also a bit helpless.
Sakazuki had this kind of personality, and he was not absent from other Marine executives in everyday situations.
If he does not receive support from Sengoku and Zephyr, combined with the rarity of Logia Devil Fruit power, he might still be hunting pirates in some remote sea area.
Colonel of Naval Headquarters? Don't even think about it!
After a moment of silence, Kong sighed.
"I understand. This time, the credit department will truthfully report to the World Government. I hope you won't regret this decision."
Sakazuki received the answer he desired and left satisfied.
Not long after, the door to the marshal's office was pushed open.
Garp entered, looking at Kong's angry face with a gloating expression.
"Are you mad at that bastard Sakazuki again?"
"How much better are you than him?"
Already filled with anger, Kong became even more irritated at Garp's gloating demeanor.
"You're supposed to hunt down Roger. What have you been doing? No news for so long!"
"Roger's luck is so good that he managed to escape several times."
Garp shrugged, as if he had returned home. He found a sofa to sit on and started eating the snacks on the table, indifferent to Kong's frustration.
In terms of strength, he is definitely stronger than Roger
However, every time Roger was cornered, something unexpected would happen.
Either a storm would suddenly appear, or a tsunami would suddenly roll in.
These incidents allowed Roger's crew to escape.
Such things couldn't be blamed on him.
Although he had a good friendship with Roger, considering him both a comrade-in-arms and a friend, he was still a Marine, and Roger was a pirate. He would never show mercy in matters of right and wrong.
"Roger is a great threat to the World Government. He is a villain who must be eliminated. Sengoku can assist you when necessary."
Kong nodded, not doubting Garp's commitment.
Although Garp could be chaotic at times, he would never do anything to betray the Marines.
"This is the candidate list for the next batch of generals. Zephyr and Tsuru haven't returned yet, so take a look first."
"Let Sengoku see; I'm not interested in this kind of thing," Garp replied, waving his hand. With his strength and achievements, if he wanted to be promoted to a higher military rank, he would have already become an Admiral.
However, Marine Admirals are not as free as Marine Vice Admirals; they must report in advance wherever they go.
In comparison, he still preferred being a Marine Vice Admiral.
....
"Is Sakazuki not on the list?"
Sengoku glanced briefly at the document, frowning slightly.
He recognized most of the names on the list, all veteran Commodores with proven strength and achievements. He knew that their promotion to Rear Admiral was merely a formality.
However, the absence of Sakazuki's name confused him a bit.
He was already aware of the situation at Gris Island. Although the Plunder Pirates were of average strength, the impact of this incident was not small.
The Marine response had been timely, saving Gris Island from the pirates' attack, which the World Government greatly appreciated.
This kind of achievement was enough for Sakazuki to leap directly to the rank of Rear Admiral.
Regarding strength, his Logia Devil Fruit power was sufficient to silence any opposing voices.
"Colonel Ron, he shouldn't be strong enough to be promoted to Rear Admiral, right?"
Looking at the bold red name on the list, Sengoku couldn't understand what Marshal Kong was thinking.
He knew that although Ron was only a colonel in the headquarters, his reputation was not inferior to that of an ordinary Marine Rear Admiral.
However, Sengoku didn't think highly of this individual.
In other words, their outlooks were different.
Today, the pirates were becoming increasingly powerful.
Although the Rocks Pirates had been defeated, remnants like Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Roger, and Redfield were growing stronger.
While the strength of the Marines and the World Government could suppress these threats, it was only enough to maintain a tenuous upper hand.
In the event of a full-scale war, the Marines would inevitably suffer unimaginable losses, and worse, they might lose control of the four seas and the Grand Line.
Given this situation, balance was the only solution.
Ron's character was even more extreme than Sakazuki's.
If he were to become a senior member of Naval Headquarters, it would undoubtedly escalate the conflict between pirates and the Marines.
One Sakazuki was already enough to give him a headache; adding another Ron would make him uncertain about the future of the Grand Line.
Could it be that Marshal Kong plans to initiate a full-scale war with the pirates?
"Gris Island was attacked by the Raiding Pirates. Colonel Ron single-handedly wiped them out, and this was confirmed by Sakazuki himself."
"With that kind of strength, he can certainly handle the rank of Naval Headquarters Rear Admiral," Marshal Kong stated lightly.
Although Ron had never demonstrated any outstanding performance, the sea was a place full of surprises.
There were many stories of ordinary people becoming powerful overnight.
While Ron's situation was rare, it was not impossible.
If he were fortunate enough to obtain a powerful Devil Fruit, he could quickly become strong.
"This matter was ordered by the Five Elders themselves, and even I cannot refuse it."
In other words, Ron's name was now on the table of the Five Elders.
As long as he doesn't betray the Marines, his promotion to Rear Admiral is already assured.
Power stones wanted💪☺️