Orion's sudden appearance left Ace momentarily stunned.
It took him several seconds to snap out of the exhaustion and shock following the burst of Conqueror's Haki.
The next moment, as if waking from a dream, he rushed toward Luffy nearby.
"Luffy! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Luffy, shaken dizzy by him, grimaced and rubbed his neck, which had been bruised purple by Borg's grip, but still flashed a wide grin.
"I'm fine, I'm fine! Just a little itch on my neck! Hehe~"
Zoro, Sanji, and Sabo dragged their exhausted bodies over as well.
Gazing at the figure approaching steadily, they felt an invisible pressure wash over them, making even breathing feel heavy.
Instinctively, they lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
Orion's eyes didn't even linger on the disheveled young men.
His gaze fell upon the only enemy still standing—the infamous pirate with a bounty over a hundred million, Iron Fist Borg.
Orion's calm, unwavering stare froze the terror on Borg's face, as if his blood had turned to ice in that moment.
His pride in his hundred-million-berry bounty, his fearsome reputation across the North Sea—all of it felt as fragile as a sheet of paper under that gaze.
He wanted to beg for mercy, but his throat felt as if an invisible hand were choking him, rendering him unable to utter a sound.
He wanted to turn and flee, but his legs felt as if they were filled with lead, too heavy to move even an inch.
Thud.
His last shred of mental fortitude shattered completely.
Borg's knees gave way, and he collapsed heavily onto the blood-stained cobblestones, his forehead pressed firmly against the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Morgan stepped out from behind Orion, his expression unreadable.
He strode forward briskly and raised his standard-issue pistol.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three crisp gunshots echoed—two through the chest, one through the head.
The action was clean and efficient, without a single wasted motion.
Iron Fist Borg, who had seemed invincible just moments before, now lay silently in a pool of blood, his eyes still filled with boundless fear.
In the presence of the youngest and most powerful Fleet Admiral in Marine history, a pirate with a bounty over a hundred million was no different from an ant that could be crushed with a flick of a finger.
The street fell into a brief, deathly silence.
Then, the civilians who had been trembling in hiding finally gathered the courage to emerge, reassured that the pirates had been completely eliminated.
When they caught sight of the figure standing at the center of the street, godlike and imposing, their suppressed fear instantly transformed into overwhelming joy at having survived and heartfelt gratitude.
"It's Fleet Admiral Orion! The Fleet Admiral himself has come!"
"We're saved! We're saved!"
The crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, tears streaming down their faces as they erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Fleet Admiral Orion!"
"Your Excellency, the Fleet Admiral!"
An elderly woman with graying hair pushed her way through the crowd and stumbled over to Luffy.
She pressed a polished apple into his arms, stammering her thanks.
"Thank you, young hero! Thank you for saving my granddaughter!"
Luffy looked down at the apple in his arms, then up at the old woman's wrinkled, smiling face.
He scratched his head and grinned.
Nearby, a young mother holding her wailing child bowed deeply to Nami and Brook, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Thank you… thank you for saving my child."
Even the Vinsmoke brothers, who usually looked down on civilians, found themselves surrounded by a group of merchants.
Though their faces still wore their usual haughty expressions, deep in their eyes flickered a hint of satisfaction they themselves hadn't even noticed.
Watching Orion being fervently celebrated by the people, and seeing the civilians around them expressing genuine gratitude, all the interns who had taken part in the battle broke into the purest smiles of victory.
At that moment, a uniform sound of footsteps approached from the distance.
A fully armed squad of Marines, marching in perfect unison, quickly ran up to Orion and came to a halt, standing tall and straight as they raised their hands in salute.
"All troops, salute the Fleet Admiral!"
"Loyalty!"
The officer leading them was none other than Dunn, the captain of the North Blue's 135th Branch.
However, he now held a new position.
"Reporting to the Fleet Admiral!" Dunn lowered his saluting hand. "I have arrived in the Kingdom of Giltear as ordered and will officially take over the administrative affairs today, serving as the highest-ranking executive official!"
Orion reached out and patted Dunn on the shoulder.
Among the officials assigned by the World Government, most were selected from various Marine branches and headquarters.
Dunn, having been personally promoted by Orion from the 135th Branch, was naturally the most suitable candidate to serve as the highest executive official of the Kingdom of Giltear.
At Dunn's invitation, Orion led the interns toward the palace.
Along the way, citizens who had heard the news spontaneously lined the streets, welcoming them with cheers.
"It's the guy with the straw hat! He saved me!"
"And that green-haired guy! He took down three pirates with one slash!"
"That 'Surgeon of Death' is even more incredible! With a wave of his hand, hundreds of pirates fell!"
The enthusiastic crowd handed flowers, fruits, and even small pieces of jewelry to the interns, expressing their heartfelt gratitude.
...
The next day.
Orion reserved the city's most upscale restaurant to host a meal for all the interns.
At the table, Nami hesitated for a long time before finally mustering the courage to carry her juice and sit to Orion's right.
"Fleet Admiral, I want to become someone like you in the future."
Orion set down his knife and fork, smiling as he looked at her.
"What kind of person am I?"
Nami thought seriously, her eyes bright and clear.
"Someone like you, Fleet Admiral—respected wherever you go."
As soon as she finished speaking, Luffy, who had been stuffing his face with food, suddenly looked up, his mouth full of meat, and mumbled indistinctly.
"Nami, didn't you always want to be the woman of the Marine King?"
Nami instantly transformed into a ferocious tigress, punching Luffy on the head.
"Shut up!"
"Awwww," Luffy replied meekly, shrinking his neck and returning to his battle with the food in front of him.
Nami took a deep breath and turned back to Orion, her tone resolute.
"I will become the first female Fleet Admiral in Marine history!"
The smile faded from Orion's face as he looked at her, his expression serious.
"I believe in you."
Surprised by such direct affirmation, Nami was taken aback for a moment before feeling overwhelmed with honor.
"The Fleet Admiral supports me becoming a female Fleet Admiral?"
"It's just the title of Fleet Admiral," Orion said with a light laugh. "If you truly want it, you can achieve it."
Nami's eyes instantly sparkled with dazzling light, and she smiled, filled with hope and admiration.
At that moment, Sabo, who had been silent all along, cautiously spoke up.
"Fleet Admiral, the people of the Kingdom of Giltear respect you so much. Have you... been to this country before?"
Orion shook his head. "This is my first time here."
Luffy looked up again, curious.
"Then why do they all respect you so much?"
Orion smiled and replied, "If you hold the people in your heart, the people will naturally lift you up."
Sabo's body trembled slightly upon hearing this, his eyes that always carried a trace of confusion gradually became clear and bright at this moment.
Zoro, who never liked joining crowds, also set down his wine glass and looked toward Orion.
"Fleet Admiral, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
Orion replied, "Speak freely. Today, I will answer any of your question."
Zoro hesitated for a moment, seemingly organizing his words, before finally asking the question that had troubled him for years.
"Why... can't women become the World's Strongest Swordsman?"
Orion turned his head and looked at Zoro in surprise.
Clearly, Zoro must have remembered Kuina, who died by the "Supreme Stairs," after hearing Nami's aspiration to become the Marine's first female Fleet Admiral in history.
Seeing Orion's surprised gaze, Zoro's eyes dimmed.
"Even someone of your stature believes women can't become the strongest swordsman?"
"No," Orion waved his hand, "When it comes to achieving anything, there's only one answer from me—"
"The road may be long, but walking it will bring you there."
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