The atmosphere inside the office turned heavy.
Faced with Sakazuki’s objection, even Zephyr found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
"Sakazuki, calm down."
Sengoku picked up the recommendation file Garp had submitted.
"Based on Zephyr’s account, this recruit, Lucas, possesses at least 4,000 Douriki , has mastered the Six Powers, and has even reached the level of using its ultimate techniques."
"In terms of talent, he may even surpass Rob Lucci, the prodigy once hailed as the greatest killing weapon to emerge from CP9 in eight hundred years."
"I don’t think anyone here doubts Rob Lucci’s abilities."
Nearly every Marine officer present changed expression.
Under the World Government, the three major military powers were Marine Headquarters, Enies Lobby, and Impel Down.
If the most renowned representative of Marine Headquarters’ current generation was Admiral Sakazuki...
Then the most infamous figure associated with Enies Lobby was undoubtedly Rob Lucci.
At only fifteen years old, Lucci had carried out missions alone that left hundreds of royal guards dead.
He had personally annihilated several pirate crews.
Even within Marine Headquarters, his reputation inspired fear.
Many Vice Admirals admitted they would be no match for him.
Yet now, the Fleet Admiral wasn’t merely comparing a new recruit to Rob Lucci.
He was saying Lucas might be even better.
That alone implied Sengoku already believed Lucas possessed the qualifications to become a Vice Admiral.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku..."
Sakazuki’s expression remained stern.
"Are you saying he deserves to become an Admiral?"
The anger in his voice had faded considerably.
It was obvious that Sengoku’s comparison had persuaded him to some extent.
Even so, promoting a rookie directly into the Admirals’ ranks was something he still couldn’t accept.
The other officers remained silent, waiting for Sengoku’s explanation.
"Sakazuki, don’t worry."
Sengoku spoke calmly.
"I was once an Admiral myself. I understand your concerns."
"What Zephyr proposed was only granting Lucas the qualification to be nominated for Admiral."
"He isn’t an Admiral yet."
"Before that can happen, not only must the World Government approve..."
"I’ll also prepare a series of examinations."
"Only after he passes those tests and earns everyone’s recognition will he truly deserve the title of Admiral."
"However..."
"It’s rare for Marine Headquarters to produce a talent like this."
"We shouldn’t discourage outstanding newcomers."
"So, exercising the authority of the Fleet Admiral..."
"I hereby propose promoting Lucas directly to the rank of Vice Admiral, while retaining his status as an Admiral candidate."
"I trust no one has any objections?"
Vice Admiral...
Quite a few officers frowned.
Lucas hadn’t become an Admiral outright.
But for a rookie to leap directly to Vice Admiral—
If word spread, the entire world would be shaken.
Especially because he would still retain his status as an Admiral candidate.
Combined with Sengoku’s proposed examination...
It meant that if Lucas succeeded, Marine Headquarters would welcome its fourth Admiral.
It would be a truly historic event.
For a moment, everyone’s eyes turned toward Sakazuki.
"Sakazuki."
Sengoku continued,
"As one of the Admirals, you have every right to voice your opinion."
"Speak freely."
"Heh..."
Kizaru lazily chuckled without even lifting his head.
"I’ve got no interest in troublesome matters like this."
"No objections from me."
Aokiji lifted his sleep mask slightly and replied in his usual sluggish tone.
"I don’t have any objections either."
"Sakazuki can handle it."
"You Admirals are all equally unreliable."
Sengoku glared at them.
"Sakazuki."
"What do you say?"
"I have no objection to him becoming a Vice Admiral."
Sakazuki answered after a moment.
"Time proves everything."
"If he isn’t worthy of that rank, he’ll only embarrass himself."
"But the position of Admiral is different."
"If he proves unqualified..."
"The shame won’t belong to him alone."
"It will belong to Marine Headquarters."
"So..."
"I want to personally oversee his examination."
Zephyr’s expression changed.
He knew Sakazuki’s personality all too well.
"Zephyr."
Sengoku pondered briefly before nodding.
"Don’t worry too much."
"Every Admiral must possess strength that convinces everyone."
"If Lucas can pass Sakazuki’s examination..."
"Not only will Marine Headquarters accept him..."
"Even the World Government will have nothing to say."
"Garp."
"You heard everything."
"If you have no objections, bring Lucas here."
"We’ll have him undergo Sakazuki’s examination tomorrow."
Everyone immediately looked toward Garp.
The Hero of the Marines was casually picking his nose.
Zephyr suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Garp..."
"Don’t tell me..."
"After all this..."
"That brat went home because today’s overtime was over."
"Hahaha!"
Garp burst into laughter.
"Zephyr, you’re getting smarter."
"Today’s a day off."
"I already paid the overtime you promised him."
"Remember to pay me back later."
"I told you from the beginning."
"That brat has the potential to become an Admiral."
"The potential to become an Admiral?"
Sengoku’s face darkened.
"That brat’s just as unreliable as the rest of you!"
"We’ve been discussing him this whole time..."
"And the person himself never even showed up!"
"I’ve been talking to thin air!"
Meanwhile...
After the earlier commotion, the recruit orientation ended in a hurry.
Back at his temporary quarters, Lucas poured himself some homemade liquor, set out a plate of peanuts, and leisurely enjoyed his drink.
After finishing two or three cups, he finally took out the 700,000 Berries Garp had given him as overtime pay.
According to the system’s latest notification, his workplace check-in location had advanced from the Four Blues to Marine Headquarters.
At the same time, he had been only 20,000 Berries away from unlocking the One Million Salary Achievement.
Now, thanks to the overtime money he’d so effortlessly obtained, he finally had enough to discover what reward that achievement granted.
"System."
"Convert these 700,000 Berries into system currency."
Ding! Please wait...
Conversion successful.
Current System Currency: 1,600,000
CongratUlti ons! One Million Salary Achievement unlocked.
Would the host like to spend 1,000,000 System Currency immediately to redeem the One Million Salary Achievement Reward?
This reward may only be claimed once.
Redemption expires in 24 hours.
The notifications rang out one after another.
Lucas raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the nearby Silver Treasure Chest.
Originally, he had planned to save up one million Berries and exchange them for a Silver Chest first, hoping to get lucky.
He hadn’t expected the achievement reward itself to require spending the million Berries he had painstakingly accumulated.
Still...
Looking at the countdown timer that had already begun ticking away—
Lucas immediately abandoned the idea of exchanging for the Silver Treasure Chest.
There was only one chance to redeem this Honor Reward.
And it had to be claimed within the next twenty-four hours.
If he somehow missed it, he’d truly be an idiot.
"System, redeem my Honor Reward."
Ding! Please wait, Host!
Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have successfully redeemed the One Million Salary Achievement reward and obtained the extremely rare Conqueror’s Haki, possessed by only one in a million!
A series of ethereal notifications echoed through Lucas’s mind.
His eyebrows shot up in astonishment.
He had assumed the Honor Reward would be like before—just a few miscellaneous items.
He never expected it to be a jackpot.
It had actually rewarded him with Conqueror’s Haki, the rarest of the three forms of Haki.
Forget one million System Currency—even ten million would have been worth it!
"System, absorb it immediately!"
Lucas quickly calmed himself.
During this time, he had never stopped studying Haki.
According to Garp, however, awakening Haki required time, experience, and the tempering of one’s will. Only after strengthening the aura cultivated through training in the Six Powers could it evolve into the two standard forms of Haki.
In other words, the Six Powers were combat techniques developed by many physical combat experts of the Marines, simplified from the principles of Armament and Observation Haki.
By Garp’s estimate, Lucas would naturally awaken Haki in as little as three months—or six months at the latest.
Yet now, on his very first day reporting to Marine Headquarters, he had obtained Conqueror’s Haki.
He truly had the system to thank for that.
A warm current surged through his body, flowing into every cell.
Lucas could clearly feel an instinct that seemed to have been engraved into his very soul from birth.
With a single thought, the Conqueror’s Haki etched into his spirit could erupt like a volcanic explosion.
It felt as natural as breathing.
As though he had suddenly attained enlightenment, every method of using Conqueror’s Haki became permanently imprinted in his mind.
"System, display my status panel."
Host: Lucas
Strength: 5,200
Speed: 5,000
Stamina: 6,200
Douriki : 5,400
Skills: Six Powers, Flowing Water, Crushing Rock Fist, Basic Swordsmanship, Conqueror’s Haki (Proficient)
After glancing at the simple status panel, Lucas couldn’t help sighing.
He had expected to awaken the common two types of Haki first, just like most fighters in the New World.
Instead, on his very first check-in after arriving at Marine Headquarters, he had hit the jackpot.
When luck arrived, nothing could stop it.
Maybe from now on, he should slack off a little less while on the job.
"Lu... Lucas! Are you in there? I can’t stop her anymore!"
Koby’s anxious voice suddenly rang out.
The courtyard gate, which had been tightly shut, was pushed open.
Ain, her face icy and determined, strode inside.
"Lucas, you’re really here. I already told Colonel Ain I’d notify you first, but I couldn’t stop her."
Koby hurriedly explained.
Lucas withdrew from his mental space, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and smiled.
"Don’t worry, Koby. This has nothing to do with you."
"So, Colonel Ain, what can I do for you?"
"What can you do for me?"
A flash of determination crossed Ain’s face. She gripped the short sword at her waist and declared,
"I’m here to challenge you again!"
"Challenge me again?"
Lucas looked at the stubborn woman with calm, indifferent eyes.
In that instant, the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze.
An invisible pressure descended like a giant hand tightening around everyone’s hearts.
Standing at the entrance, Ain suddenly felt as though she could no longer bear the weight.
The moment she met Lucas’s tranquil gaze, it felt as if her heart had been seized.
The sensation instantly reminded her of the overwhelming helplessness she’d felt when facing the murderer who had slaughtered the Marine recruits.
No...
This pressure was even more suffocating than that.
It made her feel as insignificant as an ant standing before a towering mountain.
What was happening?
Was she... challenging a monster?
Could this newcomer actually be even more terrifying than the man who had massacred those recruits?
Her breathing became ragged.
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest.
Her entire body began trembling uncontrollably.
Recalling everything that had happened on the training grounds earlier...
A strange realization suddenly struck her.
The young man before her seemed like an entirely different person.
An innate, overwhelming presence radiated from the depths of his very being.
Who was he?
Why did he possess such terrifying aura?
Countless attack strategies flashed through Ain’s mind.
Yet every instinct screamed the same answer.
Even if she used her greatest trump card—her Devil Fruit ability—
She would still lose.
Without realizing it, after uttering her challenge, she had frozen completely.
Every muscle in her body had stiffened.
Cold sweat streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the ground.
Watching Ain stand there like a statue, Koby and Helmeppo exchanged bewildered looks.
This was nothing like the fierce battle they had expected.
"Forget it."
Lucas withdrew his gaze, took another swig of his strong liquor, and lazily sat back down.
"Today’s my day off."
"And I don’t see anyone offering overtime pay."
"So let’s forget about the challenge."
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll see you out."
"I don’t like being disturbed on my day off."
"Besides..."
"You Marines don’t get days off anyway, do you?"
"Y-You..."
Ain gasped heavily.
As the soul-crushing pressure finally vanished, she immediately regained control of herself.
But feeling her clothes soaked through with sweat—and remembering that primal fear she’d just experienced—her face flushed with embarrassment.
She pulled out a brand-new notice and slammed it onto the table.
"Lucas!"
"I’ll challenge you again someday!"
"I came this time because Instructor Zephyr asked me to deliver a message."
"Based on Instructor Zephyr’s recommendation, you’ve been exceptionally promoted from a new recruit directly to the rank of Vice Admiral."
"You’ve also been granted eligibility for Admiral nomination."
"Instructor Zephyr wants you to report to the office at Marine Headquarters at nine o’clock tomorrow morning."
"If you pass the assessment, you’ll have the opportunity to be promoted to Admiral."
"And remember..."
"This is all thanks to Instructor Zephyr’s support."
"I hope you won’t forget his kindness."
Koby and Helmeppo were completely dumbfounded.
They stared at the notice on the table in utter disbelief.
They had expected Lucas’s outstanding performance to earn him a respectable position at Marine Headquarters.
Perhaps a Rear Admiral.
At worst, maybe a Commodore.
Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined Ain would announce that he had been directly promoted to Vice Admiral.
More importantly—
An Admiral assessment was already waiting for him.
Neither Koby nor Helmeppo knew exactly what the assessment entailed.
But they did know one thing.
If Lucas actually passed tomorrow’s examination...
Then Marine Headquarters would welcome an unprecedented fourth Admiral.
And Lucas would almost certainly become the youngest Admiral in Marine history.