Issho paused after hearing Ezra's words.
"Lord Ezra, did you not say you would give me some time to think about it?"
Ezra shrugged casually.
"It has already been a whole day."
Issho fell silent.
After thinking for a moment, he stopped hesitating and nodded firmly.
"Since Lord Ezra values me so highly, then I accept."
"I will join the Navy, and as a Marine I hope to learn from you. When the time comes, please do not forget your promise."
A faint smile appeared on Ezra's lips.
"Of course I will not forget. You are someone I personally selected."
Issho blinked in confusion.
"Personally selected?"
Ezra waved his hand.
"You will understand later."
Soon after, the group returned to the warship.
Ezra turned to Rossinandi.
"Set course for home. And tell Sergeant Bruce that Edward Weevil is dead."
"I understand, Admiral Ember!"
Rossinandi immediately went to handle the arrangements.
Ezra remained on deck with Issho. The two chatted leisurely, occasionally laughing together.
Their conversation was interrupted by the familiar sound of a Den Den Mushi ringing.
Purururu… Purururu…
Ezra pulled the transponder snail from his pocket and raised an eyebrow. He already knew who it was.
"Hello, Uncle Sengoku."
On the other end, the voice of Sengoku sounded serious.
"Ezra, what is the situation on your side? I received a message this morning from Sergeant Bruce of the Thirty-Sixth Branch. He said you left early today."
Ezra nodded.
"That is correct. And the mission is already finished."
Sengoku paused.
"So Edward Weevil is dead?"
"He is dead. There is not even any ash left."
Sengoku calmly accepted the answer.
Ezra scattering someone's ashes was nothing new. After all, even the ashes of Edward Newgate had once been blasted apart by him.
"In that case, return as soon as possible," Sengoku said.
Ezra glanced at Issho standing beside him.
"Oh, right. Uncle Sengoku, I found a pretty impressive recruit for you."
Sengoku paused.
"You went on a mission and came back with another person?"
Ezra's mouth twitched.
"What do you mean another?"
Sengoku realized he had spoken too quickly.
He cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Is this person strong?"
Ezra nodded.
"Very strong. Admiral-level strength."
There was silence on the other end.
Then Sengoku inhaled sharply.
"You must be joking."
You leave for a mission and come back with someone who could be an admiral?
Ezra seemed to anticipate Sengoku's reaction.
"I am not joking. He really is that strong. I will bring him to meet you once we arrive."
Sengoku was still stunned.
He nodded absentmindedly before Ezra hung up the call.
Ezra sighed.
"That old man really needs better composure."
If Sengoku heard that comment, he would probably explode in anger.
Issho chuckled beside him.
"Lord Ezra, sometimes the way you speak is quite shocking."
Ezra shrugged.
"It has been years. He should be used to it by now."
Issho laughed.
"You and Fleet Admiral Sengoku seem very close."
Ezra did not deny it.
Honestly, if anything ever happened to Sengoku, Ezra might very well burn the entire sea itself.
Pirates? Revolutionaries?
If there were no oceans left, what pirates would even have a place to sail?
Ezra shook his head, pushing away the strange thoughts.
"Get some rest, Issho. We should reach headquarters in a day or two."
Issho nodded.
"Understood, Lord Ezra."
While Ezra's ship sailed back toward headquarters, Sengoku received another call.
This time it came from the Five Elders.
"Elders, what is the matter?"
"Your report regarding the Fleet Admiral candidate has been reviewed."
"Ezra D. Vale is approved to take the position."
Sengoku's face lit up with relief.
But before he could thank them, the voice continued.
"However, since Admiral Ember has just taken the position, you must remain at his side for a while and help him adapt to the responsibilities."
Sengoku did not mind.
After all, he himself had once been guided by Kong.
But the next sentence left him completely confused.
"So we are appointing you as the Navy's Chief Inspector."
Sengoku froze.
"Chief Inspector?"
"What exactly does that mean?"
The Five Elders paused before answering.
"It is mainly administrative work. Handling documents and internal affairs. Considering your age, the workload will not be too heavy."
Sengoku's face twitched.
Not too heavy?
Is this really mentoring the next Fleet Admiral?
Is this not just me doing paperwork again?
Then what is Ezra supposed to do? Sit there and drink tea while I work?
Sengoku nearly burst with complaints.
But before he could protest, the Five Elders simply said:
"Assist him well."
Then they immediately hung up.
Sengoku stared at the silent Den Den Mushi.
"..."
Meanwhile, Ezra knew nothing about his future arrangement.
Several days passed quickly.
The warship slowly entered the harbor of G1 Headquarters.
Rossinandi walked over and nudged Ezra, who was sleeping comfortably.
"Admiral Ember… Admiral Ember… wake up. We are here."
"Mm. Got it."
Ezra stretched lazily.
Then he glanced to the side.
Issho was sleeping nearby with drool running down his chin.
Ezra's mouth twitched.
During the past two days, Issho had constantly challenged him to gambling games.
The result was always the same.
Issho lost every single time.
Completely.
At one point he almost gambled away his own cane sword.
After losing repeatedly, Issho fell into a deep crisis of confidence and spent the entire night drinking with Ezra.
Now Ezra still had a headache from it.
Ezra walked over and kicked Issho lightly.
"Hey. Wake up. We are at headquarters."
Issho jolted upright.
"What? Wait. Did I lose everything?"
Ezra stared at him speechlessly.
What kind of strange person did I just recruit into the Navy?