Preliminary to the Investiture Ceremony (7/8)

Compared to the chaotic and noisy New World, the Marine Headquarters, on the contrary, has become a sea of cheers.

The usually severe and solemn Marine Headquarters have rarely had such a cheerful and lively time as now.

Because everyone knows, the investiture ceremony, in three days will begin.

Marine Headquarters is also about to step into a new generation as well.

It is a large celebration that may only happen once in a decade or even a dozen years. In addition to newspaper reporters, all friendly forces have also sent observers to the ceremony.

For example, the Head Jailer of the Impel Down, Shiryu of the Rain. The three Judges of the Enies Lobby. The Chief of Operations of CP0, Cister. And King Kobra, King Riku, and others of the major allied nations.

Chief Warden Magellan also wanted to come to the investiture ceremony of his good friend Longinus. Unfortunately, it met his idea with protests from the entire Impel Down.

They do not want to carry a portable toilet to appear in such a large celebration; it is too embarrassing!

As for the three judges of the Enies Lobby? Nominally they have the same rank as the Fleet Admiral, the CP0 Chief, and the Impel Down Chief Warden; they do not care.

Even the World Government does not care about justice itself, only the process and results, making the three of them exist only as puppets.

Therefore, the three of them have the simple purpose of meeting the big guys and supporting them.

And Cister, of course, he is not here to make trouble.

Just as doves and hawks within the Marine division, the CP0 also has a partisan division within the CP0.

Like Spandam kind of waste can enter the CP0, naturally do not expect the CP power structure's internal harmony.

Just like the first meeting of Longinus and Cister, obviously with the strength of the CP0 but only as CP9 lurking, which is naturally the result of internal suppression.

And this faction struggle is also the tacit approval of the Gorosei; in times of peace, they do not want to see an overpowering leadership emerge.

Cister, on the other hand, is the other faction in CP0.

As for the kings, their purpose is as simple as the three judges of the Enies Lobby; yes, they are also over to support them.

Although the affiliate's protection is the Marine's obligation, this protection still has a considerable range of activities.

Simultaneously, the Marine Headquarters and the major branches of the vital forces are also returning one after another.

Now, the officers gathered in the Marine Headquarters have reached more than a hundred officers. And all kinds of strong aura, so much that they are about to break through the sky.

Suppose we describe it with a statement in the memory of Longinus. That is, the vice-admiral around all over, less than a dog. And under the admiral, all are ants.

The Marine is unprecedentedly strong at this stage, and when these forces come together, they are undoubtedly so strong that even the world has to palpitate.

Longinus saw the shock and scorn in the eyes of those "friendly forces".

"Marine Headquarters, it really is a little too powerful!" The face of Shiryu was calm, but in his heart, he thought secretly.

"Why do I feel that the Marine Headquarters can send out a random Rear Admiral to crush the Enies Lobby?" The three judges looked at each other and then exuded a flattering smile, "With the protection of the Marine Headquarters, we no longer have to worry about the safety of the Enies Lobby!"

"No wonder those idiots of Benedict always think of overpowering the Marine, this kind of power, is indeed scary!" Cister is also thinking secretly.

Everyone knows that the Marine is powerful; this generation of the Marine is unprecedentedly strong and even more shocking than the gold generation of Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr.

But the formation that showed up in front of them is still a little too powerful!

"Fortunately, I have prepared the Pirates Festival before the investiture ceremony in advance, all parties hidden under the tip of the iceberg are pulled out." Longinus is secretly thankful.

"With the Yonko, the Aloof Red, the Demon Heir, the Underworld, and even the stupid Hunter's Guild as a pavement, showing the strength of the Marine should not be too difficult to accept!

He painstakingly made a farce like that, not to add to his problems.

...

There were still two days before the investiture ceremony's commencement, and the observers from all sides had almost arrived.

"Godfather!" A little girl with short sea-blue hair, standing behind Cobra, poked out a small head and greeted in a soft and sticky voice.

"In a glance, our Princess Vivi has grown so tall!" Longinus kissed the little girl's shaggy hair, then picked her up and lifted her high and said.

"Wow!" Vivi let out an excited shout, quickly forgetting the strangeness she felt before.

Longinus was more than half a body taller than Cobra, and Vivi could even look down at her dad when she was picked up, which was a new and exciting experience for the somewhat mischievous little princess.

Seeing Vivi adapt quickly, Cobra was also happy, "Vice Admiral Longinus is really as affable as before!"

"Speaking of which, it's only right that I've failed as a godfather!" Longinus, however, shook his head and sighed, "It's only once every few years that I go back to see Vivi."

"You must not say that, Vice Admiral, compared to the guardian of justice, this matter of Vivi is nothing at all."

Cobra said a little excited up, "I have heard, Vice Admiral you have been committed to fighting pirates over the years, even, and Shiki kind of sea pirates were defeated by you!"

Cobra speaking with a flushed face, does not particularly understand the New World situation or finds someone to inquire and understand what these two names mean.

Vivi sweeps back and forth between her dad and her godfather with a surprised look, the first time she's ever seen her dad excited like this.

That excited adoring gaze seems to be the same as the first time she saw Pell transform into a giant bird and fly into the sky.

"This kind of thing is the duty of the marine to fight pirates, nothing to be praised." Longinus smiled.

"It's you Vice Admiral ..."

"It is Vice Admiral you are too modest!"

Cobra, who had been cut off, looked behind him with dissatisfaction, and the speaker was a stout king.

This man he also knew was King Riku of Dressrosa.

Following King Riku was a combination of his two daughters, son-in-law, and granddaughter.

"King Riku, you also know Vice Admiral Longinus?"

"That's for sure! Vice Admiral Longinus has saved Dressrosa twice!"

Longinus, however, shook his head slightly, "When you say that, it's all going to make me embarrassed. I saved Dressrosa only once, and brought you a consequential disaster."

"Vice Admiral Longinus, although I am a king with mediocre abilities, I can still distinguish between right and wrong. You, Vice Admiral, brought disaster to Dressrosa, and it is you who brought peace to Dressrosa."

It moved King Riku to say, "Moreover, I also heard that it was you, Vice Admiral, who fought for us to get a large amount of funds for post-disaster reconstruction, and even, even you, you donated all of your property."

Longinus said without changing his face, "It's nothing, I'm not interested in money in the first place."

Published in Qidian, August 13, 2019