As news of the incident settled, another storm swept across the seas.
The unprecedented appointment of a Fourth Admiral spread like wildfire through every available channel.
G-5 Marine Base
At the G-5 Marine Base, Vice Admiral Vergo received the official notice from Marine Headquarters almost immediately.
After reading its contents, he hurried into a hidden room and activated a carefully concealed Den Den Mushi.
"Vergo, has something important happened?"
Doflamingo’s voice came from the other end, sounding slightly surprised.
"What would make you use this line at a time like this?"
Vergo had been one of Doflamingo’s deepest undercover agents within the Marines, climbing the ranks step by step until reaching the position of Vice Admiral.
Before Doflamingo became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Vergo had provided him with a great deal of classified intelligence from Marine Headquarters.
"Young Master," Vergo reported, "I’ve just received word that Marine Headquarters has nominated a new Fourth Admiral."
"He’s a young Marine personally trained by Garp."
"His title is Glutton Lucas."
"A Fourth Admiral?" Doflamingo’s expression stiffened as his grip on the Den Den Mushi tightened.
"And what exactly does ’Glutton’ mean?"
Historically, the Marines considered themselves fortunate if they could field even two Admirals at the same time.
The current Three Admirals were already regarded as the strongest generation in Marine history.
Now there was a Fourth Admiral?
That meant the military strength of Marine Headquarters was about to increase to an unprecedented level.
"I’m not entirely sure either, Young Master," Vergo replied.
"I’ve heard it’s the name of an ancient mythical beast."
"But according to the reports, Admiral Glutton Lucas is obsessed with money and unusually strict about clocking in and out of work."
"He has also mastered all three forms of Haki."
"And during his evaluation, he sent both Chief Instructor Zephyr and Admiral Sakazuki flying before earning the position of Fourth Admiral."
Vergo relayed everything he had learned in one breath.
"Obsessed with money... and punctuality?"
Doflamingo paused before a smile slowly spread across his face.
"Looks like every Marine Admiral has their own peculiarities."
"I’d originally planned to help you obtain a powerful Devil Fruit so you could one day become an Admiral yourself."
"Looks like someone beat us to it."
"If Kaido’s Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit hadn’t mysteriously disappeared..."
"...the Donquixote Family might have controlled both the underworld and the World Government alike."
"I’m sorry to have disappointed you, Young Master," Vergo said solemnly.
As a Vice Admiral, Vergo ranked among the strongest officers of his generation.
Otherwise, he would never have been entrusted with command of G-5 on the front lines of the New World.
"You don’t need to blame yourself."
Doflamingo chuckled.
"An Admiral’s seat isn’t so easy to keep."
"To stay in that position, he’ll have to rack up military achievements."
"And there’ll be countless people eager to claim his head."
"If he’s just another rookie propped up by Marine Headquarters..."
"...I doubt he’ll live very long."
"It seems the seas are about to become much more interesting."
The New World
A colossal pirate ship, as enormous as a whale, cut through the waves.
Whitebeard looked at the photograph in his hand with a hint of surprise.
"The Marines’ Fourth Admiral... Glutton Lucas?"
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"He looks incredibly young."
"About Ace’s age."
"To become an Admiral at that age—and even break the tradition of only having three Admirals—he must have some real ability."
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard burst into laughter.
"Any brat Sengoku values must have some substance."
"And don’t forget..."
"Garp was the one who trained him."
"After all, Ace also came from that old Marine’s tutelage."
"It seems Marine Headquarters has been quite fortunate."
"They’ve managed to gather four Admirals."
"Planning to challenge the Four Emperors head-on, are they?"
"If that’s really their intention..."
"...they’re underestimating relics of the old era like us."
The division commanders quickly passed the photograph around, each wearing a similarly surprised expression.
"Pops," Diamond Jozu said, "do you really think he’s worthy of the title of Admiral?"
"Ace made his name on the seas even earlier than he did."
"If the opportunity comes..."
"We should let Ace meet him."
"Maybe Ace can defeat him and further increase the Whitebeard Pirates’ prestige."
"You’re right, Jozu."
Whitebeard nodded.
"Ace has been away for quite some time now."
"I wonder how he’s doing."
Onigashima, Wano Country
Four mountain-like figures sat together.
At the head of the group was Kaido himself, reeking of alcohol as always.
Looking at Lucas’s photograph, he laughed dismissively.
"Worororo!"
"Has Marine Headquarters become that desperate?"
"They’re throwing some snot-nosed brat into the position of Admiral?"
"The Marines are getting weaker and weaker."
"If that kid ever runs into me while looking for a place to die..."
"...he’ll learn what despair truly feels like."
"Boss Kaido’s right!"
Jack nodded heavily.
"That little runt barely reaches my thigh."
"I doubt he could even survive one punch from me."
"I hope we run into him someday."
"I’ll teach him just how cruel the pirate world really is."
As always, Jack eagerly echoed whatever Kaido said.
Unlike the straightforward Jack, however...
King and Queen remained silent.
They were thinking far more carefully.
A Marine who had been promoted directly to Admiral had to possess some real ability.
Of course...
Only some.
After all, the man in the photograph looked far too young.
Calm Belt
On an uninhabited island within the Calm Belt, one of the newly crowned Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks, also received the news immediately.
Ben Beckman took a drag from his cigar before speaking first.
"So..."
"The Marines have been hiding quite a trump card."
"Glutton Lucas."
"A young man personally trained by Garp."
"He looks about the same age as Ace."
"For someone that young to become an Admiral..."
"...he must have considerable talent."
"Shanks."
"Our gamble wasn’t misplaced, was it?"
Shanks silently stared at the photograph before finally replying,
"Don’t worry."
"Luffy has already begun tearing apart the Seven Warlords system."
"Our plan isn’t far from reaching its next stage."
"But have we located Whitebeard yet?"
"I don’t want anything happening to him."
"Luffy still needs more time to grow."
"And don’t forget..."
"...what that Devil Fruit truly represents."
"Captain, we’ve already learned Whitebeard’s location," Lucky Roux said between bites of roasted meat.
"But..."
"Are we really sending a rookie to deliver the message?"
"You know Whitebeard has never been the type to show anyone respect."
As fellow Four Emperors, the Red Hair Pirates had crossed paths with the Whitebeard Pirates many times during their rise.
They knew Whitebeard’s personality all too well.
Ignoring everyone’s questioning looks, Shanks rested a hand on the hilt of Gryphon and stood.
"Then..."
"We’ll go ourselves."