Chapter 264: The Navy, Restart!

The people behind couldn't see the contents of the documents on the table, they could only notice the shock etched on Sengoku's face. It was as if ants were crawling all over their bodies.

However, Sengoku said nothing. He meticulously reviewed the documents until his eyes fell on the five signatures at the bottom of each.

As the Fleet Admiral, albeit temporarily, Sengoku wasn't clueless about who those signatures belonged to. They were none other than the Five Elders, the pinnacle of power.

The authenticity of these signatures was beyond doubt. Nobody in the world dared or could imitate the handwriting of the Five Elders. However, the signature on Aramaki's admiral appointment document, signed by Warcury, was slightly crooked—almost as if Warcury had developed senility during the signing.

Sengoku's astonishment was indescribable. He couldn't fathom how Carl had managed to get the Five Elders to sign all these documents. Not only did they approve Aramaki's appointment, but they also added two more admirals.

The "Chaguma" was none other than Bartholomew Kuma, while the "Hakutsuru" referred to Lucia.

Lucia had been absent from Marineford for 22 years. How on Earth had Carl convinced the Five Elders to allow her to return and directly take up an admiral position?

Carl, standing nearby, spoke calmly, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you've read everything, haven't you? If so, please announce them."

Sengoku nodded slowly. He picked up the three documents and began reading the admiral appointments to everyone in the meeting room.

When he finished, the room erupted in chaos. It felt as though their minds were buzzing.

Kuzan was the first to recover. Slapping Aramaki on the back of his head, he exclaimed with a grin,

"Aramaki! You've been promoted! Finally!"

Still in a daze, Aramaki almost fell flat on his face from Kuzan's sudden slap. Normally, he'd have retaliated, but now, he was too stunned to care. He just stared blankly at Carl.

Kuma raised his hand instinctively, his voice hesitant, "Carl, I…"

Carl smiled faintly. He knew what Kuma wanted to say—that he didn't feel worthy of the admiral position.

This was typical of Kuma's personality. In the original storyline, his combat prowess was undeniable. Now, after systematic training and battlefield experience in the Navy, coupled with his Buccaneer lineage, Kuma was more than qualified to be an admiral.

But most importantly, Carl wanted Kuma as an admiral.

If Carl wanted it, it would happen.

After all, Carl had slain Gol D. Roger, the user of the Nika Fruit. Even Imu had praised Carl profusely afterward. Just that alone was enough for the Five Elders to meet Carl's every demand.

As for why Warcury's signature appeared crooked on Aramaki's document, it wasn't because of reluctance. Warcury had simply felt nervous.

When Carl left with the three documents, Warcury had even smiled and waved him off.

The meeting room was in an uproar. Many couldn't help but feel they were dreaming.

Putting aside Carl's sudden and powerful return, the contents of these documents were mind-boggling.

If implemented, these appointments meant that, including Carl, the Navy would now boast seven admirals!

What was more terrifying wasn't just the numbers but that these seven admirals, led by Carl, were a unified front!

Since Sengoku became Fleet Admiral, the admirals, except for Akainu, had been somewhat lackadaisical, never fully unleashing their potential.

The Navy had been like a war machine never shifted into high gear.

But Carl's return was the equivalent of slamming the lever into overdrive, even adding Carl's "berserk mode" on top!

No one believed for a second that Carl, who had been dormant for 22 years, would fall behind the times.

Those present had witnessed the war two decades ago. Even back then, Carl's power was "ahead of its time."

Even Akainu, widely regarded as the strongest admiral before Carl's return, admitted he couldn't match Carl from 22 years ago.

After all, Akainu wouldn't dare claim he could slay Roger, the Nika Fruit user.

Carl's 22 years of absence hadn't diminished his strength or influence. It had merely simmered, waiting for the moment to erupt.

Even Tsuru, one of Sengoku's staunchest supporters, couldn't help but think, Sengoku's time as Fleet Admiral might be short-lived.

Tsuru even suspected that if Carl declared his intent to become Fleet Admiral now, Akainu and the others would rip Sengoku's uniform off and put it on Carl themselves.

This thought made Tsuru's heart race.

Was the World Government really going to let this slide? Could they trust Carl this much?

Her sharp mind quickly deduced that when Carl woke up at Mary Geoise and met the Five Elders, he must have demanded to be Fleet Admiral.

To appease Carl, the Five Elders likely compromised. Carl would temporarily forgo becoming Fleet Admiral in exchange for his choice of admirals.

But Tsuru was wrong. She lacked one crucial piece of information: Carl was a Celestial Dragon.

This meant that, in a way, Carl and the Five Elders were "family."

Moreover, when Carl met the Five Elders, he hadn't brought up becoming Fleet Admiral at all. It was the Five Elders who suggested it.

Sengoku glanced at the corner of a document peeking from Carl's arms. Realizing something, he took a deep breath and asked, "Carl, is there another document? Do you need me to read it?"

Carl looked down, tucked the document back, and chuckled, "It's just a piece of scrap paper. The time isn't right yet."

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