Chapter 101: Promotion
The seawater outside the sphere had turned a deep, ominous red.
Even from a distance, the Navy could see the bodies of pirates trapped inside—twisted, broken, their deaths anything but peaceful.
Carl gazed at his creation for a moment, then turned to Sengoku, who still seemed dazed by the sheer scale of destruction.
"Admiral Sengoku," Carl said, his voice calm, "I don't think there are any survivors. Do we need to go up and check?"
Sengoku snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Carl with a complicated expression.
"...No need," he finally said. Then, after a brief pause, he asked, "Will that thing always stay there?"
Carl shook his head.
He raised his hand and **clenched his fist.**
The massive sphere in the sky trembled.
Then, suddenly, it **collapsed inward.**
Everything—the ships, the bodies, the seawater—was drawn into the black core at the center. The orb continued to shrink, smaller and smaller, until at last—
It simply **disappeared.**
To the stunned Navy officers, it was as if the Flying Pirates had been erased from existence.
###
The truth was simple.
This sphere was nothing more than a **small black hole** that Carl had created.
The only reason it hadn't instantly devoured everything was because he had **controlled it carefully.**
After all, his **victory still needed witnesses.**
Now that Sengoku and the others had seen it with their own eyes, he no longer needed to maintain the illusion.
The battlefield was wiped clean.
Yet, even though the black hole was gone, the shock in the hearts of the Navy officers remained.
They couldn't believe it.
The **Flying Pirates**, one of the most notorious forces on the sea, had been **wiped out completely**—and it had all been done **by one man.**
Carl had struck at the perfect time.
Shiki and his men had already been **weakened** by the natural disaster.
And in their most vulnerable moment, Carl had **ended them.**
For the Navy officers on this mission, there had been no fight, no struggle.
They had simply been **bystanders.**
Their only role was to **watch Carl win.**
###
Meanwhile, in **Marineford**, Fleet Admiral **Kong** was waiting for news.
Arms crossed, he frowned, deep in thought.
*"I don't know how things are going with Sengoku… Roger and Shiki are both difficult to deal with…"*
Just then—
**Knock knock.**
Before Kong could respond, Sengoku **pushed open the door** and stepped inside.
Kong looked up, surprised.
The mission had barely taken **a single round trip.**
*"Could it be that the battle was already over before they even arrived?"*
He didn't have time to ask.
Sengoku quickly approached, took a deep breath, and reported **everything.**
By the time he finished, Kong's expression had completely changed.
When he heard **Shiki was dead** and **the Flying Pirates were annihilated**, he **stood up immediately.**
Sengoku had expected this reaction.
He remained silent, letting Kong process the news.
For a long moment, the Fleet Admiral simply **stared.**
Even with his years of experience, he was at a loss for words.
Finally, he **sat back down** and muttered, "Where is the body of Golden Lion Shiki?"
Sengoku answered, "Only the head remains. It has been sealed."
"And Carl?"
"He returned to the G-1 branch."
Silence.
Then, **out of nowhere**, Kong asked,
"Sengoku, what do you think of Carl's strength?"
Sengoku hesitated.
"I… don't know. The last time I saw him fight was during the graduation exam **a year ago**. Now, I have no idea how strong he is."
Kong nodded.
"So… if I promote him to Admiral now… is it too soon?"
Sengoku's body tensed.
But Kong wasn't looking for an answer.
He continued speaking, almost to himself.
"Garp has always refused promotion. That leaves only two Admirals—**you and Zephyr.**"
"But compared to the growing pirate threat… two Admirals simply **isn't enough.**"
Kong leaned forward, tapping his fingers against the desk.
"And that's not even the biggest problem," he admitted. "Carl's military achievement this time is… absurd. What can we possibly offer him as a **reward**?"
Sengoku understood exactly what he meant.
On the way back, he had been **thinking the same thing.**
Carl was already a **Vice Admiral** and an **Admiral Candidate.**
But the leap from **Vice Admiral to Admiral** was **immense.**
Most Marines spent **decades** proving themselves for the title.
And yet—
Carl had **single-handedly** destroyed **Shiki** and his entire crew.
That was an accomplishment that **matched or even surpassed** the legendary battle at the **Valley of the Gods.**
For comparison—
Even though the Navy credited **Garp** with the defeat of **Rocks**, the truth was that battle had involved **Roger, the Marines, and the Knights of God.**
The **World Government** had **erased Roger's role** and **downplayed the Knights of God**, leaving Garp to take the credit.
But Carl?
Carl had done it **alone.**
And the proof—**Shiki's head**—was still in Marineford.
If this were anyone else, **promotion to Admiral would be immediate.**
But Carl…
He was **only nineteen years old.**
Could the Navy really make a **teenager** an **Admiral**?
Sengoku's scalp tingled at the thought.
The room fell into deep silence.
Then—
**The door swung open.**
Vice Admiral **Tsuru** walked in, arms crossed, glancing at the two men.
"You're both thinking about Carl, aren't you?" she said flatly.
Kong and Sengoku turned to her.
Tsuru smirked slightly.
"Garp already told me the story," she continued. "It's insane."
She glanced at Sengoku.
"And it looks like what I told you a year ago is about to come true."
Sengoku frowned.
"You mean—?"
"I told you Carl would be the **first to become an Admiral** out of the new generation."
Sengoku hesitated.
"Tsuru, do you think he's ready for the rank?"
Tsuru tilted her head.
"Let me ask you this—"
"Given Carl's **achievement**, do you think he **shouldn't** be an Admiral?"
Sengoku faltered. "But his **age—**"
"Age means nothing," Tsuru interrupted. "Shiki's **head is real.** If anyone has a problem with Carl's promotion, tell them to **bring back Roger's, Whitebeard's, or Kaido's.** Any one of them will do."
Silence.
Then—
Kong exhaled sharply, making his decision.
"Good. Then we **announce** the death of Golden Lion **immediately**—"
"And take advantage of the moment—"
"To **promote Carl to Admiral!**"