At the same time, the news reached Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji.
"Whoa, whoa…"
"Is this real?"
"Headquarters Rear Admiral?"
"Even I spent three full years before barely becoming a Rear Admiral of Headquarters."
Kizaru's wretched-looking face was filled with a strange expression.
Even someone as outstanding as him…
who had joined the Marine training camp with the Glint-Glint Fruit…
had only been appointed as a Marine Headquarters Captain after graduation.
And now, what had he heard?
Five-year-old Kai had become a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral immediately after graduating?
"Did that monster Kai use connections?"
Kizaru could not help thinking strangely.
A five-year-old Headquarters Rear Admiral…
this had created an entirely new record in Marine history.
Kizaru could already imagine it.
From this day onward, no one would ever be able to break this terrifying record of becoming a Rear Admiral at five years old.
After all…
a five-year-old Headquarters Rear Admiral was simply too shocking.
He could not imagine what kind of peerless genius would be needed to break such a record.
Impossible.
"For the next hundreds or even thousands of years, I doubt anyone will be able to break it."
"That brat Kai has created a record that will stand forever."
Kizaru sighed.
"Connections?"
Aokiji also thought of that possibility.
With Kai's identity as the grandson of the Marine Hero Garp…
But after a moment, Aokiji remembered Kai's shocking feat of capturing Whitebeard Jr. alone not long ago.
He immediately understood.
"I almost forgot. Although Kai is young, he has already captured countless great pirates and earned tremendous credit for the Marines."
"With his combat strength, plus the achievements he has built up by capturing so many pirates, the rank of Headquarters Rear Admiral is understandable."
Aokiji nodded to himself.
Even so, a five-year-old Headquarters Rear Admiral still made him click his tongue in wonder.
"Unprecedented."
"Across the hundreds of years of Marine history, and even hundreds of years into the future…"
"there will never be another case like this."
"And no one will ever surpass the record that monster Kai created."
Aokiji muttered softly.
When Akainu received the news, he fell silent.
"Headquarters Rear Admiral?"
He opened his mouth, his eyes briefly losing focus.
What rank was he now?
He had worked hard for so many years.
Even now, he was only a Headquarters Vice Admiral.
Yet five-year-old Kai had just graduated from the training camp and directly reached the rank of Headquarters Rear Admiral.
This was something Akainu had not expected at all.
"What an extraordinary existence."
Akainu did not suspect Kai of using connections.
Ever since that day at Training Ground No. 1, when he personally witnessed Kai's intense battle with Zephyr, he had deeply understood how powerful five-year-old Kai truly was.
With the terrifying strength Kai had displayed, Akainu had no objection to him holding the rank of Headquarters Rear Admiral.
Akainu was a Marine who respected strength.
A Rear Admiral position belonged to those with the ability to hold it.
If anyone was dissatisfied?
Then they could challenge Kai and see whether they could defeat him and take that rank for themselves.
In Akainu's view, as long as Kai was strong enough, even if he became a Headquarters Rear Admiral, there was no reason to object.
Clearly, Kai's strength had won Akainu's high recognition.
As for Kai's young age?
Akainu did not care about that at all.
He only cared about whether Kai was strong enough.
"A five-year-old Headquarters Rear Admiral?"
"That brat has a bright future."
"The future of the Marines' new era…"
"may well be carried by him."
That was Akainu's evaluation.
…
The vast Marineford was still shaking because of Kai's appointment as Headquarters Rear Admiral.
Many Headquarters Rear Admirals received the news one after another.
Among them was Onigumo, who had been a Headquarters Rear Admiral for many years.
The moment he heard the news, his mood became extremely complicated.
"Damn…"
"A five-year-old Headquarters Rear Admiral? Is this kid trying to defy the heavens?"
"That brat Kai really is a monster."
"Even the Fleet Admiral personally appointed him as Rear Admiral."
Onigumo did not dare object.
But…
his emotions were complicated.
"How many years did I spend before reaching my current position and rank?"
"If I remember correctly, it was six years."
"Six full years before I climbed to the rank of Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral."
"But for that five-year-old brat Kai, he became a Headquarters Rear Admiral the moment he graduated from training camp."
"His starting point is equal to the goal I spent six years fighting toward."
"This is unfair!"
Onigumo wanted to cry.
He realized something.
Some geniuses truly did not follow reason.
He had worked diligently for six full years before reaching the position of Headquarters Rear Admiral.
But for five-year-old Kai, Headquarters Rear Admiral was only the beginning.
The enormous contrast nearly made Onigumo doubt his entire life.
"Dear heavens…"
"please show mercy and take that monster Kai away."
"If this continues, my mentality will really collapse because of him."
Onigumo wailed in his heart.
The other Headquarters Rear Admirals were the same.
Strawberry, Doberman, Momonga, and many others who had held the rank of Rear Admiral for years all fell silent after hearing the news.
They thought of the many years they had spent working hard for the Marines, risking their lives again and again, before finally earning the rank of Headquarters Rear Admiral.
Then they thought of Kai, who had walked out of training camp and immediately become a Rear Admiral at five years old.
The contrast nearly shattered their minds.
"Did the Fleet Admiral make a mistake?"
"A five-year-old Rear Admiral?"
"If this spreads, the entire sea will be overturned!"
"That monster Kai's starting point is equal to our finish line?"
"This is against all reason."
"Our years of hard work only barely allowed us to stand on the same starting line as that brat."
"Can geniuses really do whatever they want?"
"Well… geniuses do have privileges, but Kai's privilege is a little too much."
One Headquarters Rear Admiral after another was left speechless.
Elsewhere, Smoker, Tina, and the other freshly graduated trainees had just received the appointment letters personally issued by Fleet Admiral Kong.
They were overjoyed and full of excitement.
"Sigh, I was only appointed as a Headquarters Lieutenant Junior Grade. I've embarrassed myself before everyone and failed to live up to Teacher Zephyr's teachings."
"Enough. I was only appointed as a Headquarters Ensign. Your rank is still one level higher than mine! Just be happy!"
"Ahem. As a Headquarters Lieutenant, I'll quietly pass by."
"Get lost!"
The trainees were excited, comparing and discussing their new ranks.
So far, the highest appointment that had appeared was Marine Headquarters Lieutenant.
That was already considered a decent officer rank.
Being appointed Headquarters Lieutenant right after graduation was already an impressive achievement.
Then one trainee looked at Smoker and could not help asking curiously, "Smoker, what about your appointment?"
Swish, swish, swish!
All the trainees turned to look at Smoker, their eyes filled with anticipation.
"Nothing worth mentioning."
"Only Headquarters Major."
Smoker waved his hand, pretending to be calm and profound.
"Fine! We shouldn't have asked."
"I really shouldn't have asked!"
"Smoker really did get a higher rank than us. Who knows how many years we'll need before reaching Headquarters Major?"
"This guy Smoker is too annoying. He just graduated and already became a Headquarters Major."
"Even Tina seems to be only a Headquarters Lieutenant."
Everyone discussed animatedly.
Above Marine Lieutenant was Marine Major.
Clearly, even Tina's rank was one level lower than Smoker's.
Among all the trainees present, Smoker had received the highest appointment.
Then a weak voice suddenly sounded.
"By the way, what do you think that monster Kai's appointment is?"
The noisy atmosphere immediately stopped.
The entire scene fell silent.
Every trainee showed intense curiosity.
Kai was publicly recognized as the strongest among them.
On top of that…
just a few days ago, Kai had fought Teacher Zephyr to a near standstill.
That intense battle was still vividly imprinted in every trainee's mind.
They could not forget it.
At the mention of Kai, the pride on Smoker's face also faded slightly. He said tentatively, "Probably Headquarters Commander? Kai's appointment definitely won't be lower than mine."
The other trainees nodded in agreement.
"True."
"That's what I think too."
"Most likely Headquarters Commander."
"How enviable. Kai just graduated, and he's already reached a rank we might need several years to touch."
"A five-year-old Headquarters Commander. That's already rare enough."
Everyone kept discussing.
But right then…
Tina arrived.
The moment she opened her mouth, she stunned everyone present.
"Kai's appointment has been issued."
"He has become a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters."
Tina took a deep breath, unable to hide the shock in her voice.
In an instant…
the entire place fell into dead silence.
Not a single sound.
The trainees' eyes widened uncontrollably, filled with shock and disbelief.
Even Smoker was stunned.
After a while, Smoker stared at Tina with wide eyes. His throat went dry, and his lips trembled as he blurted out in horror, "W-what did you say?!"
"That monster Kai became a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters?"
"A five-year-old Headquarters Rear Admiral?!"
"How is that possible?!"
The entire group erupted.
Every trainee was shaken to the core.
"It's true. The news has already spread throughout Marineford."
Tina answered honestly.
"This…"
Smoker was completely dumbfounded.
He had just been secretly pleased about his appointment as Marine Major.
Yet Kai had already been appointed as a Headquarters Rear Admiral.
In that instant…
Smoker's mentality collapsed.
Major and Rear Admiral were separated by four or five ranks.
One was in the sky.
The other was on the ground.
The difference was like heaven and earth.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios