"Sean, you brat! Didn't I tell you not to use that move?"
"Uh, I didn't use it! That was just a basic flying slash!"
"What? You didn't?"
"Right. The power of that attack is only about thirty percent of 'that' move. Vice Admiral Momonga possesses two types of Haki; he shouldn't have ended up like this!"
As soon as Sean said this, Sengoku understood.
Indeed, from the moment the battle began until it ended, Momonga had never once used Haki.
It was likely a matter of pride...
After all, Sean was only sixteen and hadn't learned Haki yet. Momonga probably felt it would be too much of a bullying tactic to use it against him.
If it had been Sengoku himself, he likely would have felt the same embarrassment.
But the result...
"What is Momonga's condition?" Sengoku turned and asked the two medical officers.
"Aside from external injuries, there is some internal organ damage. While there won't be any permanent sequelae, he'll have to remain in the Marine hospital for at least a month."
Nodding, Sengoku felt relieved. As long as there were no lasting effects, a month of bed rest was fine. The Marines were in a high-risk profession; spending a few months in the hospital was a common occurrence.
'''
The following day.
With the release of the latest edition of the World Economic Journal, a piece of news swept across the entire world!
A new generation of Marine genius, only sixteen years old, had graduated early from the Headquarters training camp and had even defeated a Vice Admiral during his graduation exam.
Due to his extraordinary talent and strength, Fleet Admiral Sengoku promoted him to the rank of Commodore on the spot.
Thus, the youngest Commodore the Marines had seen in eight years... had arrived!
The news shocked the world. Although the report didn't specify which Vice Admiral at Headquarters Sean had defeated, defeating any Vice Admiral was an exaggeration of talent.
Keep in mind, Sean was only sixteen!
However, all this buzz had nothing to do with Sean. At this moment, he was inside Sengoku's office.
"Old man Sengoku, you're saying you want Lucci to serve as my adjutant?"
"That's right. Is there a problem?"
"No problem, but is he willing?"
"He was the one who suggested it!"
"Alright then..."
Though he didn't know why Lucci had made this decision, Sean wasn't about to refuse. What was there to complain about when a man with the potential of an Admiral was serving as his adjutant?
As for the issue of loyalty, that was never something Sean needed to worry about. As long as he remained stronger than Lucci—and significantly stronger—that would suffice.
Only the weak worry about whether their subordinates are loyal; the strong simply use their power to suppress any potential rebellion.
"Since you're fine with it, it's decided. Now, I have a mission for you!"
"What mission?"
"Escort Vice Admiral Loffy, Vice Admiral Singer, and Vice Admiral Sanders to Enies Lobby. Hand them over to the commander of CP9, Spandam."
"Oh? Spandine is finally willing to take them?"
Sean's expression turned strange. Originally, those three should have been taken away months ago. However, the agreement Spandine had reached with Sengoku was to let them stay at Headquarters for a few more months until his arrangements were finalized.
While Sengoku had agreed, he had kept people monitoring the three of them. For the past few months, the three men had essentially been spending their time transferring their previous networks of influence and interests.
"Yes, they've finished handling their affairs. Additionally, since Lucci was poached by us, Spandine intends to place these three in CP9 as subordinates to his son, Spandam."
"Fine, I'll take the mission!"
With those words, Sean turned to leave. But just as he was about to step out the door...
"Sean, whatever it is you plan to do, don't leave any evidence. Otherwise, even I won't be able to help you!"
What could Sean say to that? He could only think... 'as expected of Sengoku.'
Without looking back, Sean simply raised his right hand in a wave and stepped out of the office.
"Commodore, the warship has been arranged!"
At the harbor, Lucci gave a standard military salute and called out to Sean. Truthfully, the scene was quite awkward. However, Sean admired Lucci; no matter where this man was, he could perform his duties perfectly. He was practically born for missions.
Because of this admiration, Sean also felt a flicker of pity for him.
"Lucci, you don't need to come this time!"
"But..."
"Since you're my adjutant now, use this time to pick out some high-quality subordinates for me. If necessary, you can go to the Elite Training Camp to recruit. Old man Zephyr will do me that favor!"
"I understand!"
Nodding, Lucci said nothing more.
The distance from Headquarters to Enies Lobby was actually quite short, taking only about an hour to arrive. Considering how quickly the fleet arrived in the original story after Spandam triggered the Buster Call, it was clear how close they were.
The journey was quiet and stable. Even the transfer of the three Vice Admirals went without a hitch.
The warship then departed Enies Lobby.
"I'm going to the cabin to rest. Wake me up when we reach Headquarters!"
"Yes, Commodore!"
One minute later, Sean had already vanished from the warship. Relying on Reiryoku, he stepped through the air, rapidly speeding back toward Enies Lobby.
His Reiryoku had now reached over 15,000; supporting himself as he walked through the air from Enies Lobby all the way back to Marine Headquarters would be no problem.
As for how he managed to leave the ship without anyone noticing?
'Bakudō No. 26: Kyokkō.'
While Kyokkō had no offensive or defensive power, it could refract light to make the target invisible. Therefore, as long as there was no one with Observation Haki present, he didn't fear being seen.
As for whether there was anyone on Enies Lobby who had awakened Observation Haki... the answer was naturally no.
And that was exactly why Sean hadn't let Lucci come along. After these few months, Lucci seemed to be showing signs of awakening Observation Haki. If he had brought him, it might have interfered with his plans.
A few minutes later, Sean's figure landed on the rooftop of the courthouse. Ahead was a suspension bridge, and beyond that bridge lay the Justice Tower.
From his vantage point, Sean could see three Vice Admirals in a room inside the Justice Tower, speaking to Spandam with flattering expressions.
"O Sovereign! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, soaring high, that which wears the name of man! Scorching heat and strife, surging south across the sea, step forth!"
"Hadō No. 31: Shakkahō!"
To ensure total success, Sean chanted the full incantation and poured half of his Reiryoku into the attack. He needed to make sure this Red Fire Cannon possessed devastating power.
He had also meticulously calculated the angle of the strike.
While this might not have been enough to take down the true Vice Admirals at Headquarters, it was more than sufficient for these three, who could barely be considered Rear Admiral level.
A massive fireball, carrying a world-ending momentum, hurtled directly toward a specific room in the Judicial Tower.
A moment later...
BOOM!!!
The explosion was colossal. It didn't just annihilate the room; it blew away several of the upper floors of Enies Lobby.
With the deed done, Sean turned and vanished.
In less than ten minutes, he had caught up with the warship and returned to his own cabin, looking for all the world as if nothing had happened.
He had chosen the Red Fire Cannon specifically because everyone in the Marine believed he possessed a Lightning-type ability. Since he had no known connection to fire, no one would suspect him.
After all, given his current position, it wasn't yet time to reveal his true hand.
'''
While Sean was sailing back toward Headquarters, a swarm of Marines stormed the Judicial Tower to begin rescue operations.
Because Sean had controlled the output with precision, the blast—while powerful—had caused minimal damage to areas outside the target zone. Those who were caught in the periphery suffered only injuries; there were no casualties among the rank and file.
This was because the staff stationed on the upper levels were primarily CP9 agents and Spandam himself, while the bulk of the Marine forces were concentrated on the lower floors.
When the Marines finally cleared a path leading to Spandam's office, they found that the three former Vice Admirals were beyond saving—dead as could be.
However... where was Director Spandam?
Could he have been vaporized?
Suddenly, a keen-eyed Marine noticed something strange.
"Over there! Look over there!"
A pile of rubble in the corner was trembling slightly. The men rushed forward and began hauling away the debris.
Sure enough, Spandam was pinned underneath. By sheer luck, the collapsing ruins had formed a small hollow pocket, just large enough to shield a single person.
Sean likely never imagined that this man would actually survive.
"Quick! Medics, get over here now!"