"Navy Admiral, huh? That brat Kai… not bad at all! Ahahahaha!" Garp burst out laughing, the shock finally giving way to pride. After all, Kai had joined the Navy thanks to his recommendation. For a man who'd devoted his whole life to the Marines, seeing his protégé rise so high was pure joy.
"I second that," Tsuru nodded, her voice steady. She'd known Sengoku's plan from the beginning, and there was never any doubt she'd support it.
Akainu just snorted, his face so dark it looked ready to rain. He could see the writing on the wall—even if he hated it, Kai's promotion to the fourth Navy Admiral was inevitable. So he kept silent.
"Alright, I'll head to Mariejois immediately and discuss this with the Five Elders." Sengoku stood, satisfied that everyone but Akainu agreed. He didn't waste another second.
"Meeting adjourned…"
Sengoku was the first out the door, his mind racing with thoughts of the fourth Admiral. For now, nothing else mattered.
The rest of the room was left staring at each other. Just days ago, they'd braced for war with the Whitebeard Pirates—who could have predicted things would turn out like this?
Kai had no intention of hiding his victory over Whitebeard. With the Navy's deliberate publicity machine in full swing, the news exploded across the globe in just a few days.
Even the most remote corners of the Four Seas received the papers, thanks to tireless News Coos.
The world went wild.
"You've gotta be kidding me! Vice Admiral Kai Mitarashi actually beat Whitebeard!? Impossible! Whitebeard's one of the Four Emperors—the strongest man on the seas!"
"Whitebeard lost!? No way… I must be dreaming…"
"Tch… Kai Mitarashi? Isn't he just the Vice Admiral stationed at Sabaody? He must be desperate for fame. Defeat Whitebeard? Even if all three Navy Admirals teamed up, they'd never stand a chance. How could one little Vice Admiral do it?"
Ordinary pirates scoffed at the headlines, convinced the Navy was just flexing for intimidation.
But the true titans of the New World took the news seriously. Even if the Navy was exaggerating, they couldn't just write it off.
New World, on a distant island—Red Hair Pirates.
Ben Beckman's brow was furrowed as he handed the newspaper to Shanks. "Shanks, that Navy kid… actually beat Whitebeard."
"Oh?" Shanks raised an eyebrow, surprise flickering in his eyes. He'd sensed something was brewing, but hearing it confirmed still floored him.
He read the article in silence, then finally set the paper aside. "To think the Navy produced someone this formidable… Beckman, looks like our days are about to get a lot tougher. Ahahahaha…"
Beckman gave his captain a helpless look. "Is there really anything to laugh about?"
"Huh?" Shanks blinked, scratching his head, suddenly sheepish. "Guess you're right. But… the era isn't ours any longer. With a monster like that in the Navy, let little Luffy worry about it. For now, let's throw a banquet!"
Big Mom Pirates.
"Mother, Whitebeard's been defeated by the Navy!" Baron Tamago, looking nervous, reported to Charlotte Linlin.
The enormous Linlin sprawled across the deck, her bulk filling half the ship. She perked up instantly at the news, surprise flashing in her eyes. "Whitebeard lost to the Navy? Did Headquarters mobilize everything they had?"
She couldn't imagine how else they'd pull it off.
"No… that's not it, Mother. Supposedly, it was just a single Vice Admiral…" Tamago hesitated, worried she'd think he was lying—he barely believed it himself.
"A Vice Admiral? Garp?" Linlin frowned. She'd fought Garp plenty and knew his strength, but she doubted even he could take down Whitebeard.
"No, it's a newly promoted Vice Admiral from the Sabaody branch—Kai Mitarashi!" Tamago blurted.
"Kai Mitarashi…" Linlin fell silent, searching her memory. The name meant nothing to her. After a long pause, she commanded, "Find out everything about this battle. And keep tabs on that Marine—avoid him if possible."
Even someone as arrogant as Big Mom felt a chill at the thought of crossing Kai.
"Yes, Mother…"
Beasts Pirates.
"You're telling me that old Whitebeard got taken out by some rookie Vice Admiral?" Kaido shot Jack a skeptical look.
"Yes, Kaido-sama." Jack rumbled, his massive frame and mammoth Zoan powers marking him as one of Kaido's top officers—a billion-berry bounty pirate.
Kaido didn't question Jack's words. He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"That old man's gotten pathetic! Beaten up by a Vice Admiral… In that case, I'll be the one to put him down for good!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
🔥 Want to read the next 60 chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on Patreon - patreon.com/DarkGolds]