Sengoku took a thick stack of papers from Vice Admiral Tsuru's hand and stood on the high platform, surveying the marines standing at attention in front of him.
"Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Charles D'Adela, who killed more than a thousand ferocious pirates in the war, killed Cracker, one of the four Sweet Commanders, who was seriously injured, and saved his dying comrades many times. Finally, in the huge tsunami caused by the falling islands, he sacrificed himself to save 877 of his subordinates from an entire warship but could not survive the tsunami himself. He died at the age of 40."
"We now posthumously grant Charles D'Adela the rank of Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral for life and a first-class military honor. His achievements will be permanently recorded in the history of the Navy and are worthy of our eternal memory."
In the crowd, the sobbing of many soldiers immediately rang out.
They were the soldiers from the warship that had been saved by D'Adela in that monstrous tsunami.
They had thought that they would die under that world-ending tidal wave, but they had not expected that D'Adela, the highest-ranking officer on the warship, would throw himself into the sea and unleash the last slash of his life toward the overwhelming tsunami.
"Uncle D'Adela..."
Hibari's eyes were filled with deep sadness. Tears gushed out like a broken dam, and the face of the man who had always smiled and handed her cotton candy appeared in her mind again.
Her father was an overly rigid man who was busy with his work. It was rare for him to smile, even when he was with his own daughter.
So, ever since Hibari could remember things, the officers under Akainu were her childhood playmates.
D'Adela, Doss, and Deno had all taken great care of her.
Especially D'Adela, since he had no children, he treated Hibari as if she were his own daughter.
Now, the uncle who had always smiled and made her happy was gone forever.
One less family member that she cherished was gone.
Rorschach sighed and patted her head, not saying anything.
On the stage, Sengoku's voice paused for a moment before it rang out again.
"Marine Headquarters Commodore Doss, who bravely fought the enemy in this war and killed more than three hundred pirates. After having one of his arms cut off by Wang Zhi, he treated more than 2,400 wounded soldiers, saving the precious lives of our marine soldiers!"
"We now grant Doss the rank of Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral, Marine Headquarters Special-Grade Military Doctor, and the title of Hero of the Battlefield for Saving the Wounded."
"Doss! Come up to the stage for your commendation!"
"Yes, sir!"
A determined voice came from the crowd.
Then, under the respectful and grateful gazes of countless marines and residents, Doss, who had lost an arm, walked through the dense crowd, step by step, toward the high platform.
Everywhere he passed, countless people raised their hands to salute.
Doss went up to the high platform. Sengoku saluted him, then personally handed him the Rear Admiral uniform and put the military cap on his head.
"I thank you on behalf of all the marine soldiers and their families, Rear Admiral Doss."
Sengoku said with a gratified expression.
Behind him, Zephyr, Garp, and the others also nodded to Doss.
Doss raised his hand in a salute. "For justice!"
Thunderous applause immediately erupted below the stage.
Sengoku continued to read.
"Colonel Benjamin, who killed more than a hundred enemies in the G1 sea battle. After suffering dozens of wounds, he used his body to block attacks from pirates for his comrades and unfortunately died at the age of 32. We now posthumously grant Benjamin the rank of Marine Headquarters Commodore for life and a second-class military honor."
...
"Major Hibari, who performed outstandingly on the G1 battlefield, creating a large-scale thundercloud weather, helping Major General Rorschach kill more than forty thousand pirates in one battle, and at the time when the Big Mom Pirates were trying to escape, misdirected Charlotte Linlin to eat her own son, Charlotte Daifuku."
"We now grant you the rank of Marine Headquarters Commodore. We hope that you will continue to work hard to improve your strength and become an excellent marine officer."
Countless marines around them looked toward Hibari, following Sengoku's gaze.
It was the first time Hibari had been looked at by so many people. She immediately felt incredibly nervous.
"Go on. Don't keep Fleet Admiral Sengoku waiting." Rorschach said softly from behind her.
"Yes, sir!" Hibari wiped the tears from her cheeks, pursed her lips, and walked up to the high platform.
"I never thought our little Hibari would become so excellent." Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled and walked over. She placed a Commodore's cloak of justice on Hibari's body, making her even more nervous.
Looking at the large crowd of people below the stage who were all staring at her, Hibari was so nervous that her body started to tremble.
This was until she saw that conspicuous figure in the crowd, who was giving her a gentle, encouraging smile.
Suddenly, Hibari's nervousness completely vanished.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and raised her hand in a salute to Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Akainu, Zephyr, and the others.
Looking at the heroic Hibari, a gentle expression appeared on Akainu's stone-like face.
His daughter had truly grown up.
"Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander Trafalgar Law, who treated 576 wounded soldiers in the G1 sea battle. After the war ended, he served as the chief doctor of the Marine Headquarters Hospital and treated more than three thousand soldiers. His medical skills are superb, and he is highly respected. We now grant you the rank of Marine Headquarters Commodore, Marine Headquarters Special-Grade Military Doctor, and the title of Hero of the Battlefield for Saving the Wounded."
"Marine Headquarters Ensign Bepo, who performed exceptionally in the G1 sea battle, operating the warship's cannons to sink several pirate ships. We grant you the rank of Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander."
"Marine Headquarters Ensign Pamela, who performed exceptionally, controlling the warship to escape the range of the tsunami and avoiding a huge loss of personnel for the Navy. We grant you the rank of Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander."
"Third-class Marine Enel, who performed outstandingly in the G1 sea battle, providing sufficient logistical support to Major General Rorschach and making an indelible contribution to the final victory of the war. We now grant you the rank of Marine Headquarters Colonel."
As soon as Sengoku said this, a commotion broke out in the crowd.
It was the first time for the marines, officers, and residents of Marineford to see a third-class marine skip ten ranks and become a Marine Headquarters Colonel.
This promotion speed was even more exaggerated than Rorschach's.
This couldn't help but make everyone curious about what kind of powerful logistical support Enel had provided to receive such a promotion.
Seeing countless people looking at him with curious and confused eyes, a line of black sweat appeared on Enel's forehead.
Logistical support, my foot.
He hadn't done anything.
That bastard Rorschach had just drained him dry.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he squinted his eyes and, wearing the third-class marine's uniform, walked past the stage.
And it was true that even in a third-class marine uniform, Enel was extremely conspicuous in the crowd.
With his height of 2.6 meters and well-proportioned and tall body, he had a natural, transcendent aura from having been a ruler and a god on Skypiea for many years.
This aura, mixed with a hint of arrogance, made Enel not nervous at all when facing the Navy's top brass, such as Sengoku.
On his body, the two long earlobes that almost hung down to his shoulders were his most conspicuous feature.
In addition, Enel also had a special fondness for wearing gold ornaments.
For example, gold bracelets and gold earrings.
This made him look a little ostentatious, like a cynical noble young master who had come to the Navy to experience life.
Listening to the slightly doubtful whispers from below, Sengoku smiled and patted Enel on the shoulder. He said in a loud voice: "Let me introduce you. Enel is from Skypiea and is a user of the Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi."
"A Logia-type... Goro Goro no Mi user?!"
As soon as Sengoku said this, the crowd immediately erupted in an uproar.
In the eyes of ordinary people, Logia-type abilities were always considered the strongest of the three types of Devil Fruit abilities.
Without an elemental counter or the awakening of Haki, Logia-type users who could turn into their respective elements were an invincible existence.
This belief was especially strong in the current Navy.
Why else would the three current top-tier forces of the Marine Headquarters, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji, all be top-tier Logia-type users?
Not to mention the three Admirals, even Smoker's Moku Moku no Mi was considered a very rare and powerful ability in the Headquarters.
And now, a Logia-type, natural disaster-level ability that could rival the three Admirals had appeared.
Enel, the user of the Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi, who could control lightning!
This was definitely a person with the potential to become a Navy Admiral.
No wonder he was able to skip ten ranks from a third-class marine and become a Marine Headquarters Colonel.
Not to mention a Colonel, even if Sengoku had directly made Enel a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral or even a Vice Admiral, no one would have had any objections after they learned about Enel's ability.
There was no other way. After all, he had such a powerful Devil Fruit ability.
Just as countless people in the crowd were looking at Enel with passionate eyes, Sengoku raised his voice a little and said in a deep voice: "Major General Rorschach..."
As soon as the name "Rorschach" was uttered, the square, which had been buzzing with excitement over Enel's ability, instantly fell silent.
These two words were as if they had some kind of magic. They made every marine, officer, and resident on Marineford hold their breath and look forward, searching for that figure in the crowd.
Next to Rorschach, the marines looked at him with zealous, excited, and worshipful eyes.
Sengoku waved toward him.
"Come, Rorschach, come up to the stage."
End of Chapter)
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