Area 66 of Sabaody Archipelago, inside the Marine base
Whoosh! Chiga and Kalifa appeared in the office. As soon as they arrived, Chiga grumbled,
"Is that Nerona sick? Are all Celestial Dragons like this?"
Kalifa stood silently behind Chiga, her gaze on him a little strange. She had actually noticed something but wasn't sure, so she could only remain silent.
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi on the table rang with a gulu gulu sound.
Chiga picked it up casually, and Sengoku's voice came through,
"Is that Chiga? What did you do tonight that even the Five Elders specifically contacted me about you? They said you've been diligent and conscientious during this period, and even said your military rank is too low?"
Chiga was momentarily stunned. Me, diligent and conscientious during this period? Did they mean the Super Shinra Tensei and Chibaku Tensei that destroyed almost an entire area of Sabaody, or giving Nerona a big slap in the face tonight?
"I just met a Celestial Dragon named Nerona. Nothing else."
"What? Are you talking about Nerona from the Roswald family?"
"Yes."
Sengoku was silent for a moment on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. He knew about the Roswald family—they were a typical group of Celestial Dragons, possessing all the vices they were known for.
Nerona, as the daughter of Saint Roswald, the head of the Roswald family, had always looked down on other races.
But the Five Elders informed him that Chiga was to be commended after meeting such a person once. He didn't believe there was no connection between the two.
Still, the outcome was good. The faster Chiga was promoted, the more openly he could grant him authority. The future of the Marines was destined to be the era of young people like Chiga.
"All right, then return to Marine Headquarters tomorrow. I'm preparing to award you the rank of Rear Admiral. Just attend the promotion ceremony."
"Yes, I understand."
Hanging up the phone, Chiga looked up and saw his secretary, Kalifa, looking at him with a strange gaze.
He looked down at himself, confirming there was nothing unusual, and asked,
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Kalifa shook her head helplessly, indicating it was nothing.
Yes, my boss, you gave a Celestial Dragon a big slap tonight and then came back to be praised. This is simply unreal.
Chiga rubbed his temples, his gaze sweeping across the box on the table containing the Asura Fruit. He then remembered he had such a fruit.
To leave a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit here for a day and a night—he truly was carefree.
He reached out and opened the box, revealing the fruit inside. It was a golden mushroom-shaped fruit, but this mushroom had three heads, looking rather peculiar.
Kalifa walked over to Chiga, curiously examining the fruit, and asked,
"Boss, are you going to eat this fruit?"
Chiga nodded. After all, it was a Mythical Zoan, perfectly meeting his requirements.
This time, he didn't avoid Kalifa. Chiga reached out and placed his hand on the middle mushroom head of the fruit, activating the Preta Path to absorb it directly.
In a moment, the ability was absorbed, and a normal mushroom appeared on the table.
Kalifa covered her mouth, watching the miraculous scene before her, thinking, As expected of the boss—things that happen to him are always so peculiar.
Chiga closed his eyes, sensing the newly acquired ability. When he opened them again, his right eye had an additional fourth tomoe.
Kalifa also noticed the change in Chiga's right eye and asked curiously,
"Boss, are the symbols in your eyes caused by absorbing Devil Fruits?"
"As expected of my good secretary. Smart as ever."
"Boss, you… never mind. So, do these four patterns mean you've already absorbed four Devil Fruits? Did you also absorb that Gravity Fruit?"
"Yes, that's why I need Devil Fruits. But don't worry—I'll find a suitable fruit for you in the future too."
Nodding, Kalifa leaned against Chiga and said nothing more. To be honest, whether she had a Devil Fruit or not was no longer important to her. She just wanted to be a good secretary to Chiga now.
---
The next day, aboard Tsuru's warship
Just like when they went to Sabaody Archipelago, Chiga was casually basking in the sun with his head resting on Gion's lap.
Gion gently stroked Chiga's hair, a soft smile on her face, quietly watching him rest.
Suddenly, Chiga opened his eyes. A pair of Rinnegan eyes shimmered with divine light under the sunlight, making Gion involuntarily entranced.
With a slight smile, Chiga reached out and tapped the spider tattoo on Gion's thigh, saying,
"What's wrong? Haven't had enough of looking?"
"No, I really want this moment to last forever."
Chiga chuckled, then got up and stretched. He turned and said,
"When I become an Admiral, I'll transfer you to my ship, so you can look at me every day. Let's see if you ever get tired of it."
Gion stood up, walked in front of Chiga, helped him straighten his slightly wrinkled Marine uniform, and smiled,
"All right. I'll wait for the day you become an Admiral. Just don't keep me waiting too long, okay?"
"Don't worry. That day isn't far off."
---
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office
Knock knock knock!
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and Chiga walked in with one hand in his pocket. Seeing Sengoku buried in documents, he said with a smile,
"Long time no see, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
As Chiga spent more time in the Marines, his relationship with Sengoku and others had become more relaxed—no need for excessive formality.
"Ah, Chiga. Come, come—these are your Rear Admiral epaulets and uniform."
Sengoku pushed a small box and a coat with the word "Justice" on the back toward Chiga.
Chiga barely glanced at the box containing the epaulets—his eyes were drawn to the coat.
Anyone who's watched One Piece probably admires the Marine officers' coats with "Justice" printed on them. Wearing one feels like donning a Hokage's cloak—one word: cool.
Chiga had always admired the one Zephyr wore. Now he could finally wear one himself.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the shoulders of the coat and gave it a firm pull—
Whoosh!
Chiga donned the Marine coat. With his height over two meters and long black hair, the coat gave him a sacred and imposing presence.
Sengoku was momentarily stunned. When he came to his senses, he thought somewhat shamelessly,
He's quite handsome—but still a bit short compared to my younger days. Maybe just ten times more handsome than Garp.
Chiga shook his body vigorously and found the coat held firm. No wonder Marines wore these during major battles and still looked cool.
After savoring the moment, Chiga remembered to visit his teacher, Zephyr. Zephyr had been genuinely kind to him, and Chiga never doubted that.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, is Teacher Zephyr still at the training camp? I'd like to go see him."
Hearing this, Sengoku looked at Chiga with satisfaction. This was one of the reasons he admired Chiga—he knew how to show gratitude. People who respected their mentors always stood out.
However, Chiga's good intentions might be in vain this time. Sengoku waved his hand and said,
"No need. This batch of cadets has been training diligently, and Zephyr is preparing to take them out to sea for drills ahead of schedule. They've already departed."
"What?!"
---
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