The atmosphere in the conference room erupted into a thunderous uproar after a moment of silence.
"Carl!!!"
The voices of the gathered Admirals of the Navy were anything but ordinary. Each shout was louder than the last, as if they were about to blow the ceiling off the room. The sound even penetrated the walls, reaching the ears of soldiers stationed around the Headquarters building.
Many of these soldiers had enlisted during the years of Carl's absence. Hearing the name "Carl" for the first time, they looked puzzled until veteran soldiers, with visible excitement, explained that this was the true name of the Black Dragon Admiral. At that moment, realization dawned upon them.
A single thought emerged in every soldier's mind:
"Could it be? The legendary Black Dragon Admiral has returned?!"
Inside the conference room, even Sengoku the Buddha and the others rose to their feet, all eyes fixed on Carl.
Standing at the forefront, Carl exuded an aura of command so powerful that, had it not been for the Admiral's uniform he wore, one might have mistaken him for the Fleet Admiral himself. His sudden appearance was so striking that it was easy to overlook his youthful face and the long silver hair tied back, just as it had been in his prime.
For some, Carl had always seemed perfect. If he were to suddenly appear as a grizzled, unkempt middle-aged man, they would likely find it harder to accept.
His overwhelming presence caused the white Marine cloak on his back to flutter as if caught in a storm, despite the still air. Carl's gaze swept across the room, from Zephyr to Kuma at the far end, as he spoke in a calm voice:
"Everyone seems to have changed quite a bit."
Akainu, out of habit, adjusted the brim of his hat, his deep voice grumbling, "You've been gone too long."
"Indeed, twenty-two years…"
Borsalino, hands in his pockets, his amber-tinted glasses catching the light, leaned forward slightly with a playful smirk.
"Carl, things have been so boring without you. I've been tempted to retire early!"
Hearing this, Sengoku's lips twitched slightly.
Carl chuckled softly.
"Borsalino, even instructor Zephyr hasn't mentioned retiring. How can you bring it up?"
Zephyr smacked Borsalino lightly on the back and scolded him with a laugh.
"You've got no sense of decorum!"
Watching the interaction, a rare nostalgic smile crossed Sengoku's face. Ever since he had taken on the role of Fleet Admiral, he had not seen such camaraderie among his peers. A pang of envy stirred within him—his tenure as Fleet Admiral suddenly felt like a failure.
Before he could fully process his thoughts, Aokiji and Aramaki, the two troublemakers of the group, shouted in unison:
"Carl!"
Then, as if on cue, they rushed up to Carl, their expressions almost comically distraught. However, given their appearances—visibly older than Carl—they created a sharp sense of irony.
For years, Aramaki had endured the frustration of being perpetually denied the promotion to Admiral. While he outwardly feigned indifference, deep down, he felt adrift—like a leaf without roots. Seeing Carl now, all his bottled-up grievances nearly spilled out. But reason held him back; he knew this wasn't the time or place for such outbursts.
As a result, Aramaki stood before Carl, his face flushed red with emotion, unable to utter a word.
Fortunately, he had Aokiji to fill in.
With a face full of mock disappointment, Aokiji quipped, "Aramaki, weren't you all calm and collected a moment ago? What happened now that you've seen Carl?"
He turned to Carl, ready to launch into a tirade, only to be stopped by a single raised hand. At this, Aokiji's face turned as red as Aramaki's.
Carl smiled faintly, walking up to Sengoku.
"Sengoku... Fleet Admiral," he began in a quiet but firm tone. "Aramaki has been a candidate for Admiral for years now. Don't you think it's about time to drop the 'candidate' part?"
Sengoku steadied himself, replying hesitantly, "Carl, you've only just returned. You may not be aware, but the World Government..."
Before he could finish, Carl interrupted him. His voice remained calm, yet it carried an oppressive weight.
"The World Government? When you proposed reinstating Garp to the Navy, weren't there objections from the higher-ups? Yet you stood firm, and now Garp is back and fully reinstated. If the World Government could agree to that, why can't they approve Aramaki's promotion? Or is it that your resolve isn't as firm in this case?"
Aramaki trembled with emotion, his eyes glistening. Meanwhile, Aokiji seemed even more animated, his cold aura intensifying and causing the temperature in the room to plummet.
Even so, Sengoku was drenched in sweat, unable to respond. Carl's rapid questioning had cornered him. The truth was, Sengoku had treated Aramaki's promotion half-heartedly, bringing it up to the World Government only as a formality. When met with resistance, he had simply let the matter drop.
Tsuru and Garp wanted to step in to help Sengoku, but they struggled to find a convincing argument. Garp, in particular, felt deeply guilty, knowing this situation was indirectly his fault. Finally, he could bear it no longer.
"Carl," Garp said solemnly, "this is all my fault. I'm the one causing trouble. I'll submit my resignation to the World Government and return to prison!"
Sengoku's eyes widened. "Garp! You..."
Carl cast a brief glance at Garp and replied flatly, "There's no need. Now that you've returned, stay. As long as you remember you're a Marine, that's enough. My questions are directed at the matter at hand, nothing more."
At this moment, Sengoku's so-called "Justice" seemed laughable in comparison to Carl's commanding presence. It was abundantly clear who truly held authority in the room.
Akainu and Borsalino exchanged a glance, faint smirks appearing on their faces.
In the Navy, there was only one person who could inspire their absolute admiration: Carl.
Carl never let his comrades down.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Carl slowly retrieved three documents from his coat and slammed them onto the table.
Sengoku's pupils contracted as he read the titles:
Admiral Appointment: Codename Ryokugyu
Admiral Appointment: Codename Chaguma
Admiral Appointment: Codename Hakutsuru
(T/N: "Brown Bear" (Chaguma), 'White Crane" (Hakutsuru). These names maintain the essence of the original codenames while aligning with the structure used for Admirals like Akainu (Red Dog), Aokiji (Blue Pheasant), and Kizaru (Yellow Monkey).)
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+210 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg