Chapter 70 Order of Medal

Half a month had passed in the blink of an eye.

Today was a significant day for the Navy.

Even though it was late at night, Marineford remained brightly lit.

The Navy, their families, civilians, and merchants all joined in lively celebrations filled with singing, dancing, and laughter.

Earlier that day, the Navy held the nomination ceremony for three Admiral candidates!

Although the promotion list had been announced long ago and everyone knew the news, the ceremony still brought a festive atmosphere, immersing all of Marineford in joy.

It had been several years since entering the age of pirates.

With the surge in pirate numbers, the Navy's dominance over the seas began to wane.

The once calm and glistening seas had turned turbulent and perilous.

Cannon fire echoed across the oceans, pirate ships roamed freely, and pirate flags fluttered in the wind, declaring their so-called freedom and dreams.

Meanwhile, the Navy faced unprecedented challenges.

They struggled with severe shortages of ships, manpower, and combat strength.

But through relentless training, recruitment, and upgrading their equipment, the Navy fought back. They studied pirate tactics and secured victory after victory, holding their ground against the relentless onslaught.

Still, they knew this was only the beginning.

Pirates wouldn't give up easily. Greed and brutality consumed their minds, driving them to plunge into the seas again and again, searching for opportunities to break through the Navy's defenses.

The appearance of the three Admiral candidates was like a shot of adrenaline for the entire Navy.

Becoming an Admiral candidate required meeting exceptionally high standards.

At the very least, one had to be capable of surviving a fight with a current Admiral.

More importantly, all three candidates possessed devastating Logia-type Devil Fruit abilities.

Sakazuki, with the Magma-Magma Fruit, commanded the most powerful offensive force. His magma attacks unleashed catastrophic destruction, akin to volcanic eruptions, with overwhelming force and destruction.

Borsalino, with the Glint-Glint Fruit, wielded the fastest speed. He could manipulate light for attacks and move at the speed of light, leaving enemies no chance to evade. Against him, escape wasn't even an option.

Kuzan, with the Ice-Ice Fruit, excelled in control. He could freeze opponents instantly and shape the battlefield to his advantage. Especially at sea, he could lock down entire oceans, rendering pirate ships immobile.

The three formed a perfect balance: offense, speed, and control.

Against the likes of Whitebeard, Kaido, or Big Mom, their threat might not surpass legends like Garp or Sengoku, who specialized in physical combat.

But for lesser pirates, their presence was utterly terrifying.

If Garp faced a pirate crew of a thousand, their captain might sneer, mocking that even Garp couldn't catch them all by himself.

But against these three...

If they were lucky, they'd all be captured.

If unlucky, they'd be obliterated.

If terribly unlucky, they'd be cremated on the spot.

The World Government was thoroughly satisfied with these three choices.

The current era was vastly different from when Sengoku and his peers became Admirals.

Back then, with Rocks missing, Roger executed, Shiki defeated, and Red Bat imprisoned, the seas had been relatively calm.

Even the strongest of the time, Whitebeard, was focused on finding family.

Kaido and Big Mom, while ambitious, were merely consolidating their forces.

The remnants of the Rocks Pirates had been eliminated, with only Wang Zhi barely surviving in obscurity.

Though pirates like Shanks and Mihawk posed challenges, they weren't the type to stir up chaos.

As for smaller groups like the Fish-Man Pirates or Kuja Pirates, they were hardly a concern.

On the other hand, countless small-time pirates emerged, causing the Navy endless trouble as they had to repeatedly hunt them down.

Thus, the Navy shifted its focus to these nuisances.

Clearing them out would also cut off the roots of the major pirate groups in a way.

The three Admiral candidates were perfectly suited to handle this situation.

While the streets of Marineford celebrated, the Fleet Admiral's office was cloaked in darkness.

A shadowy figure held a Den Den Mushi, deep in conversation.

Outside the window, fireworks lit up the night, briefly illuminating the face of the current Fleet Admiral, Kong.

"Elder Stars," Kong said, his voice calm yet firm. "Decades have passed. Is it not enough to simply maintain the current balance?"

"Even though only Sengoku is stationed to guard the Celestial Dragons, if something unexpected happens, Garp, Zephyr, and Hina wouldn't just stand by..."

A cold, stern voice echoed from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

"Silence! The decisions of the World Government are not up for the Navy to question. You are nothing more than tools of the World Government!"

The speaker's tone was sharp and commanding, as if scolding a servant.

Fleet Admiral Kong showed no trace of anger on his face, as if he accepted this treatment as natural.

"Yes, my lords. I misspoke," Kong replied with deference.

On the other side of the line were the Five Elders, the pinnacle of authority in the World Government.

"Your incompetence has allowed the seas to overflow with pirates," one of them chastised. "Many allied nations have begun to protest to the World Government!"

"Though it is only a handful of nations for now, this is a warning sign. If left unchecked, it could destabilize the authority of the World Government itself!"

Kong held the Den Den Mushi and answered calmly, "Understood."

At the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, within the Room of Authority, the Five Elders had just ended their call with Kong and were now deliberating among themselves.

"The Navy has reached a new turning point," one remarked.

"In the past, most high-ranking naval officers were selected from among the World Government's bureaucrats, ensuring they were compliant," another noted.

"But Kong's generation has proven disappointing. Many died in battle or were unsuitable for leadership, leaving only him to barely hold things together."

"The next generation, however, is filled with talent," one Elder continued.

"There's Sengoku the Buddha, Garp the Fist, Zephyr the Black Arm... even Hina, renowned for her strategy and intelligence. Any one of them could have been an Admiral in the previous generation!"

"Unfortunately, their diverse backgrounds and strong-willed personalities make them nearly impossible to control."

"And in terms of merit, strength, and reputation, they are on par with Kong—or even surpass him!"

"Worse, they are comrades from the same era, united as one. It's impossible to divide or manipulate them."

"Indeed," another Elder agreed. "Back then, even with just Sengoku and Zephyr as Admirals, Kong struggled to maintain control. It was only through our intervention—forcing Zephyr to resign his position—that Kong managed to solidify his authority over the Navy."

"We chose Sengoku as the more controllable option, but... is Sengoku really easier to control?"

"That damned Roger," one grumbled. "His so-called Great Pirate Era forced us to strengthen the Navy, even though it made them harder to manage."

"But allowing pirates to run rampant risks the rise of another Rocks, or a repeat of the disaster at God Valley. That is something we cannot permit—by the will of that individual."

"I propose this: once the Admiral candidates complete their training, Kong is promoted to Supreme Commander of all military forces under the World Government. Sengoku becomes Fleet Admiral, and the three candidates are appointed Admirals."

"If it's the will of that individual... I second the motion."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

"But this will leave the Navy's power unchecked!"

"The World Government's military forces—CP, Impel Down, and the Navy—are already imbalanced, with the Navy being far too dominant."

"The World Government must establish a new force to counterbalance the Navy, even if that force comes from pirates."

"Pirates are difficult to control," one Elder argued.

"They don't need to be controlled—just to serve as a distraction for the Navy. A few ants lost in the crossfire won't matter."

"Indeed..."

"Let us move on to the details of the Seven Warlords system and selecting suitable candidates."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

In the first half of the Grand Line, at Mock Town.

This was a chaotic pirate haven, completely beyond Navy control, where violence and debauchery reigned supreme.

In a luxurious room, Zean sipped red wine while reading the newspaper. Her almond-shaped eyes gleamed with delight, her mood visibly high.

"Sakazuki has become an Admiral candidate. 'Akainu' suits him perfectly!" she mused.

"And then there's Borsalino and Kuzan—how fitting for them, too."

Suddenly, a burly man entered the room.

"Captain Zean, everything is ready!"

Zean set the newspaper aside, stood up gracefully, and stretched her body.

"Well then, it's time for me to make my move!"

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