Chapter 103 :Warlord System.

After Gion, the others stepped forward to congratulate him. Even Akainu gave Chiga a rare nod, to which Chiga simply returned a calm smile.

There were very few people in the Marines that Chiga actually disliked. If he had to name one, it would be Coby.

Coby wasn't a bad person—on the contrary, he was incredibly kind. But that kindness was excessive, almost naive. His performance during the Marineford War had left a bitter impression on Chiga.

That was a battlefield. Freezing up at the start was understandable, but yelling like that in front of Akainu at the end? Did the Marines who gave their lives in that war mean nothing? That shout had felt like a slap to their sacrifice.

It wasn't that Coby didn't belong in the Marines—but in a war-torn sea like this, he was out of place. Maybe, in a peaceful time, he could grow into a decent local commander.

Sengoku observed the interaction between Chiga and the others with deep satisfaction. He saw a bright future in this new generation. If the Marines could truly unite, they'd have no reason to fear even the most fearsome pirate crews.

After all, the Marines were the strongest organized force on the sea.

With the World Government's approval, Chiga's appointment as an Admiral Candidate was now set in stone.

But Sengoku couldn't help but frown as his thoughts turned to the World Government. He still didn't fully understand why the Five Elders were so optimistic about Chiga. Their attitude had changed dramatically after Chiga's time in Sabaody. What had he done there?

Now, they'd even requested that Chiga be summoned to Mary Geoise for a personal meeting once this matter was over.

Was that a good sign... or a dangerous one?

Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing beside Sengoku, noticed his expression and asked quietly,

"What's the matter, Sengoku? Is the World Government being difficult again?"

Sengoku shook his head. "No, on the contrary—they're extremely supportive of this. That's what worries me. Maybe I'm just overthinking it."

Since he dismissed it, Tsuru didn't press further. Her gaze shifted to Chiga, her eyes filled with admiration. This young man had brought her one miracle after another.

She recalled the incident with the Op-Op Fruit, where Onigumo had been utterly humiliated.

Her eyes briefly flicked to Onigumo, who stiffened under the weight of her gaze. He had no idea what he'd done to deserve it—but he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Sengoku cleared his mind and, once everyone had returned to their seats, continued:

"Now that Chiga has been officially confirmed as an Admiral Candidate, there's one more matter. Donquixote Doflamingo has somehow seized control of Dressrosa and reached an agreement with the World Government to become a Warlord of the Sea. All seven Warlords have now been confirmed, and they'll be summoned to Marine Headquarters for a formal meeting in the coming days."

A wave of disdain passed through the room. Akainu didn't bother to hide his disgust, letting out a cold snort as black smoke curled from his shoulders.

Few in the Marines liked the Warlord system. Pirates were pirates—granting them legitimacy and inviting them to Headquarters was a farce.

Chiga, meanwhile, was lost in thought. So Doflamingo had managed to cling to power this way? Was he that shaken by their last encounter? Already afraid of what would happen next time they met?

Sengoku shared the general dislike for the Warlords, but as Fleet Admiral, his hands were tied. The system was pushed through by the World Government. And truthfully, the Warlords did relieve some of the pressure on the Marines.

Still, these weren't people to be taken lightly—especially Dracule Mihawk, who acted independently and was notoriously difficult to control. With all seven Warlords gathering at Headquarters, tight security would be essential.

Sengoku's eyes rested on Chiga again. The young man noticed and understood. He was being asked to step up once more.

Fine. Let the Warlords get a taste of what the future Admiral of the Marines was like.

Before Sengoku could even speak, Chiga stood up and said,

"These pirates aren't exactly known for good manners. There's no telling what trouble they'll stir up when they arrive. I'll greet them. Make sure they behave."

As he spoke, a faint purple lightning flickered in his eyes, sending a chill down everyone's spine.

Akainu gave a rare nod of approval. This was the attitude a Marine should have! This was how justice should be upheld.

Sengoku's face lit up with satisfaction. Yes. This is the one I chose. No regrets.

With all major topics covered, Sengoku wrapped up the meeting. As Garp yawned loudly from the back of the room, Sengoku officially declared it adjourned.

As the officers filed out, something unusual happened—Akainu paused as he passed Chiga, leaned in, and muttered,

"You're very good."

Chiga met his gaze and replied in the way he knew would resonate best with Akainu:

"For justice."

Akainu's body tensed at those words. He gave Chiga one last look—deep, thoughtful—then turned and left.

After the room cleared, Gion appeared at Chiga's side and linked arms with him. Ignoring his helpless glance toward Sengoku, she dragged him off for a hearty meal.

---

Foosha Village — At the bar

Makino held up the latest newspaper, reading aloud to Ace and Luffy, who sat at the counter. Ace listened carefully while Luffy chomped happily on a grilled skewer, seemingly unaware of what was being said.

When she finished, Makino clutched her chest in excitement.

"As expected of Mr. Chiga! He said he was going to 'catch an old guy' that day—I never imagined it was Golden Lion Shiki! He's a legendary pirate! Even Mr. Garp mentioned him before!"

Ace's eyes widened, admiration welling up. He couldn't help but feel inspired. When would he reach the point where he could casually take down enemies like that?

He had to train harder. He needed to set sail soon, like Chiga advised, and find Luffy's father. That man must hold the key to becoming stronger.

Luffy, still chewing on meat, mumbled through a full mouth,

"Mmm… so good… Chiga? That name sounds familiar… oh! The swirly-eyed big bro?"

---

At an underground trading port…

Donquixote Doflamingo sat in silence, a newspaper clenched in his gloved hand. His face was expressionless.

After finishing the article, he crumpled the paper and tossed it aside, face still twisted with suppressed fury.

Monet approached quietly, noticing his mood.

"What's wrong, Young Master? Does this Marine named Chiga have some history with you?"

Doflamingo was silent for a long moment before he spoke in a low, cold voice.

"He's the one who killed one of the family's top executives… and even Vergo died at his hands."

Monet's expression shifted. She remembered that incident clearly. After returning from Sea Gull Island, Doflamingo had been obsessed with consolidating power. He even struck some shadowy deal with the government to gain the Warlord title.

And it all stemmed from this one man—Uchiha Chiga, the very Marine in today's headlines.

He wasn't just powerful. He was terrifying.

Even the infamous Golden Lion had fallen to him, and not in some drawn-out battle—he was utterly crushed.

Monet felt a cold unease in her chest.

But Doflamingo's gaze shifted, falling on the small girl beside Monet—his trump card. Thanks to her ability, he had full control over Dressrosa.

If he could somehow use her power on Chiga…

A low, twisted chuckle began to build in Doflamingo's throat.

"Fufufufufufu…"

---

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