BOOM!!
A tremendous shockwave swept across the entire plaza like a raging hurricane.
Nearly one-third of the Marine Headquarters building collapsed with a deafening crash.
But at that moment, no one had time to dwell on the destruction.
Every pair of eyes instinctively followed the direction in which Sakazuki had been sent flying.
The enormous Ryuo shockwave carried him with overwhelming force before crashing into a docked warship that had been undergoing repairs at the harbor entrance.
BOOM!
With an earth-shattering explosion, the warship—over fifty meters long—couldn’t withstand the impact.
It shattered like glass.
Countless fragments flew through the air as seawater poured down like a torrential rain.
The resulting tidal wave slammed into the shoreline.
Even the Marines who had gathered around the harbor to watch the excitement stood there in stunned silence.
He had been blown away.
Admiral Sakazuki—one of the Marines’ greatest military powers—
Had been sent flying in a single exchange.
Were they seeing things?
Otherwise, who could possibly believe something like this had happened to Sakazuki?
"Ahem..."
Lucas coughed awkwardly before dispersing the Armament Haki coating his body.
"Sorry about that."
"I couldn’t pull my punch in time."
"This damage... won’t be deducted from my paycheck, will it?"
"My salary isn’t nearly enough to cover repairs."
Even Lucas hadn’t expected the Beginner Insight Talisman to let him leap from beginner-level Armament Haki all the way to advanced Armament Haki—Ryuo.
Of course, that breakthrough had only been possible because his mastery of the Six Powers and the Flowing Water, Crushing Rock Fist perfectly complemented one another.
Together, they had amplified the power of his final punch far beyond his original estimates.
Still...
Looking at the collapsed section of Marine Headquarters, Lucas couldn’t help worrying.
He hadn’t even officially become an Admiral yet.
It would be a disaster if his salary disappeared before he ever received it.
The stunned spectators finally came back to their senses.
The corners of their mouths twitched.
At a time like this...
He was still thinking about his salary?
So the rumors were true.
Lucas really was obsessed with money.
"You brat..."
"You’re asking for it!"
BOOM!!
Blazing magma erupted from the shattered wreckage floating near the harbor.
Like a volcanic eruption, it instantly brought the surrounding sea to a boil.
Standing atop the broken remains of the warship, Sakazuki slowly stepped out of the smoke.
His face was darker than ever.
A faint trace of blood lingered at the corner of his mouth.
Having underestimated Lucas earlier, he had taken that punch head-on.
Even he couldn’t completely ignore an attack empowered by advanced Armament Haki.
Being knocked flying in front of the entire Marine Headquarters...
Was more than enough to wound his pride.
"That’s enough, Sakazuki."
Zephyr stepped between them.
"You were the one who established the rules."
"You’ve already seen that Lucas has mastered both forms of Haki."
"He has passed your assessment."
"There’s no need to continue."
"Besides..."
"You’ve already broken the rules you set yourself."
"If this fight continues, Marine Headquarters will suffer even greater damage."
"As an Admiral, you understand that better than anyone."
Garp and Sengoku also stepped forward.
Looking at the partially destroyed headquarters building...
Continuing this unnecessary battle would simply be burning through the Marines’ budget.
Everyone’s gaze fell upon Sakazuki.
They certainly wanted to watch a battle between the old and new Admirals.
But they also understood the importance of the bigger picture.
Sakazuki’s expression remained grim.
The magma surrounding him gradually subsided, allowing the suffocating heat hanging over the plaza to fade.
"Brat."
"I made the rules."
"Whether you were hiding your strength or truly learned Haki today..."
"You won."
"I have no objection to Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Instructor Zephyr recommending you as the Marines’ Fourth Admiral."
"However..."
"The sea is vast."
"There are countless powerful people beyond these waters."
"You’ve mastered the two standard forms of Haki."
"But above them exists another power..."
"A power possessed by only one in a million."
"Conqueror’s Haki."
"If you truly want me to acknowledge you completely..."
"Then awaken that power as well."
"Only then will you truly deserve that position."
His tone remained as cold as ever.
Whether Lucas had only just awakened Haki or had been hiding his abilities...
It no longer mattered.
Seeing Sakazuki stand down, Zephyr finally relaxed.
"Sakazuki, don’t make things difficult for him."
"Conqueror’s Haki is extraordinarily rare."
"Only a tiny handful of people in the entire world are fortunate enough to awaken it."
"Lucas has already mastered the Ultimate Mastery of the Six Powers, awakened both forms of Haki, and even elevated his Armament Haki to the level of Ryuo."
"That’s already beyond what most people could ever hope to achieve."
"Most importantly..."
"He’s only in his early twenties."
"He still has plenty of time to become even stronger."
"Zephyr is right."
Sengoku nodded.
"All you need now is time to refine your abilities."
"Your future achievements will be no less than Garp’s or mine."
"Of course..."
"If you’re willing..."
"I can submit a request to the World Government for a rare Devil Fruit to further increase your strength."
A Devil Fruit?
The entire plaza erupted.
There were very few people worthy of having the Fleet Admiral personally request a Devil Fruit from the World Government.
Moreover...
Everyone had just witnessed Lucas send Sakazuki flying using nothing but physical combat enhanced by advanced Haki.
If he obtained a rare Devil Fruit as well—just like the current Three Admirals—
His strength would undoubtedly soar to another level.
Zephyr opened his mouth to speak.
Then stopped.
He had always believed in taking physical combat to its absolute limit.
He had never approved of Admirals like Kizaru and Sakazuki focusing so heavily on developing their Devil Fruit abilities instead of their martial skills.
Lucas’s appearance...
His astonishing mastery of martial arts at such a young age...
Had given Zephyr’s lifelong convictions new hope.
That was precisely why he had insisted on recommending Lucas for the position of Admiral.
Deep down, Zephyr didn’t want to see Lucas follow the same path as Sakazuki and Kizaru.
But in the end...
He chose to respect Lucas’s own decision.
For a moment, everyone eagerly waited for his answer.
Even Sakazuki couldn’t hide his curiosity.
Then...
A completely unexpected question shattered the silence.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku..."
Lucas looked at him earnestly.
"If I eat a Devil Fruit..."
"Will they deduct it from my salary?"
The quiet question echoed across the plaza like a spell.
Looking at Lucas’s utterly serious expression...
Everyone’s faces twitched once again.