After completing his mission with Siris, Satoru returned to the G8 base aboard his warship. His arrival was met with overwhelming enthusiasm. The entire base had gathered, their cheers echoing through the port.
"General White Dragon!"
The moment Satoru stepped off the warship, the soldiers erupted into thunderous applause and shouts. Their eyes sparkled with admiration for their young, charismatic leader.
With a slight smile, Satoru raised his hand to quiet the crowd. "To celebrate my promotion, there will be a grand banquet tonight! Everyone gets a day off. No one needs to be on duty."
The announcement sent the soldiers into a frenzy of excitement. Cheers filled the air as the navy personnel celebrated their rare day of relaxation.
"Thank you, General White Dragon!"
"General, you're the best!"
"General, I love you!"
Their joy was contagious, but Satoru observed quietly from the shadows as the evening's celebrations began. The base had become his pride. Over the past year, he had transformed this once-average naval outpost into a force to be reckoned with. Every soldier was an elite—skilled in the Navy's Six Styles, trained in Armament Haki, and honed in Observation Haki. They weren't just soldiers; they were a unit capable of taking on New World pirates.
As the banquet raged below, Satoru stood at the highest railing, letting the cool breeze carry away his thoughts. A hoarse voice broke the silence.
"This is an impressive group of fighters you've assembled," the voice said.
Satoru didn't turn. "And what brings the leader of the Revolutionary Army all the way here, Dragon?"
From the shadows emerged a tall, imposing figure: Dragon, his dark cloak billowing behind him. In his hand was a glass of wine, which he raised in a silent toast to Satoru before drinking.
"Just a friendly visit to congratulate you on becoming an admiral," Dragon replied.
Satoru smirked. "Is that all? Or are you here to recruit me into your revolution?"
Dragon chuckled softly. "Not yet. I hear you're doing just fine where you are."
Their banter carried an air of tension, but neither made a move.
Satoru glanced at him. "Tell me, Dragon, are there any other admirals in your little group? Or am I the only one you've managed to 'convert'?"
Dragon's expression shifted slightly. "Why do you ask?"
"Because if my identity as a revolutionary were exposed, I'd be up against the other three admirals. Even with my abilities, that's a fight I'd rather avoid," Satoru replied, his tone calm but pointed.
Dragon's silence spoke volumes. He hesitated for a moment before answering, "For now, you're the only one."
Satoru smirked again, this time in amusement. "Pity. I thought the Yellow Admiral might secretly be one of your men."
Dragon stiffened. "Why would you think that?"
Satoru leaned on the railing, his smirk deepening. "Call it a hunch. After all, the yellow one does seem unusually indifferent to the government's agenda, don't you think?"
Dragon's sharp gaze lingered on Satoru. After a pause, he said, "We've been working on him, but his stance is still unclear. How did you know about this?"
Satoru turned to face Dragon fully, lowering his sunglasses to reveal his six eyes. Their intense glow seemed to pierce through the Revolutionary Army leader.
"My eyes can see fragments of the future," Satoru said calmly. "And I've seen a future where I fight alongside the Yellow Admiral against the government. I've never told anyone about this ability—consider it my little secret. Keep it safe for me, will you?"
Dragon studied him for a long moment, his usual composed expression faltering ever so slightly. There was something undeniable about those eyes, something that made Dragon believe him.
"You have my word," Dragon finally said. "If what you say is true, then our efforts with the Yellow Admiral may bear fruit after all."
Satoru raised an eyebrow. "Just be careful. If I could figure it out, others might too. You wouldn't want your revolutionary movement compromised, would you?"
Dragon's lips curled into a rare smile. "Point taken. But you seem oddly invested in our success."
Satoru shrugged. "Let's just say I like to keep my options open."
The two stood in silence for a moment, overlooking the lively banquet below. The bond between them, though unspoken, grew stronger in that quiet exchange. For now, their alliance remained a secret, hidden beneath layers of loyalty and rebellion.
"Enjoy your banquet, Admiral White Dragon," Dragon said, stepping back into the shadows. "We'll be in touch."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving Satoru to ponder the path he had chosen and the challenges that lay ahead.