"…"
Wright's jaw dropped. "Unanimously approved? How many of you watched the broadcast?"
"Seven of us."
Sengoku adjusted his round glasses. "This time, you weren't the last to know."
"…That's a relief."
"I suppose only G-5 Branch is still unaware."
"…"
Sengoku, you've changed. You never used to crack dry jokes like this!
"Are you satisfied with your title? By tradition, you can have a custom epaulet and Justice coat."
"'Orange Horse'... Orange is fine, but I thought repelling Kaido would earn me a cooler title, maybe something with 'Dragon' in it!"
Wright suddenly froze. A dragon...
"What? Would you rather I change it to 'Orange Cat'?"
"…Please don't."
Heh, a horse isn't bad. At least it's better than something ridiculous like 'Brown Pig'!
Still... a valiant warhorse clad in golden armor doesn't quite fit the aesthetic of this world.
How disappointing!
Sengoku nodded. "As per standard practice, two others have been promoted alongside you as 'Admiral Candidates'—'Pink Rabbit' Gion and 'Brown Pig' Tokikake."
"Although all three of you are confirmed to possess Admiral-level strength, there are still key differences between you."
"Oh? Gion and Tokikake are finally getting their promotions too? Don't tell me they were just waiting for me!"
Wright perked up. Gion and Tokikake were both incredibly strong, but due to the nature of their work, they weren't particularly well-known within the Marines, often operating like shadows behind the scenes.
Gion was slightly more prominent, at least well-connected under Tsuru's mentorship, but Tokikake...
Lacking interest in training subordinates, having little political influence, and sporting a rather sleazy appearance, he still had an overwhelming infatuation with the beautiful Gion, making him something of a "public enemy" among the ranks.
Oh, and let's not forget his fondness for mischief.
Like introducing Fujitora to gambling dens, for instance...
A guy like him could never intimidate pirates enough!
As for Gion... Though she was a master swordswoman, her breathtaking beauty and refined geisha-like skills probably made her less of a deterrent to pirates than she should have been.
But most importantly, neither of them had a defining battle achievement that could serve as irrefutable proof of their power to both the Marines and the world at large.
"For them, it doesn't matter whether their promotions come sooner or later."
Sengoku's words confirmed Wright's thoughts.
"Due to their low public profiles, even within Marine Headquarters, their reputations remain average. Despite their strength, they struggle to advance further."
"But you are different... From the moment you joined the Marines, you have maintained an overwhelming presence against pirates. As your power has grown, so has your deterrence."
"Especially now, after your battles at G-5 Branch against both the Whitebeard Pirates and Kaido, your reputation has reached its peak."
"In the eyes of pirates, even Garp's deterrence is now second to yours—you're too young!"
"As for your public standing, need I say more? Whether within the Marines or among civilians, if we weren't suppressing it, I fear..."
Sengoku coughed and took a sip of tea. "In short, you are more than capable of advancing further!"
"There are only three Admiral positions, right?"
Wright took a sip from his own cup. Ever since Sengoku switched to high-quality tea from Gran Tesoro, Wright found himself reaching for his cup more often than his senbei snacks.
"If we were to add a fourth Admiral seat, the higher-ups would never approve."
"After all, the last thing they want is for the Marines to become too powerful."
"..."
Sengoku glanced at Wright. This kid saw things clearly.
"I'm glad you understand. So from now on, we no longer need to suppress your reputation...
"We need your overwhelming prestige to help the Marines gain another Admiral in the near future!
"The Marines don't need some ridiculous 'balance'—what we need is the absolute suppression of pirate forces!
"In this era of chaos, three Admirals are not enough!"
"..."
Wright stared at Sengoku in shock. Was this the same man who once dominated the seas with an iron will?
"If that's the case... defeating Kaido alone won't be enough."
Wright mused. "I'm confident I can solidify my strength within a few months, ensuring that my performance in this battle is no fluke."
"But we still need the right moment to let my reputation fully take effect—one that leaves no room for doubt!"
"Hmm... That makes sense."
Sengoku nodded. "This era has no shortage of battles. My initial plan was to reveal your past, previously hidden achievements, which should have been enough."
"But if you want to make it even more secure, we'll do it your way."
The news of Wright's promotion to Admiral Candidate quickly spread across the world.
Those whom Wright had helped—directly or indirectly—rejoiced.
Vice Admiral Wright's rise meant that the power of justice had grown stronger!
Pirates, on the other hand, saw it as a nightmare. The stronger Wright became, the greater the pressure on them.
As for the Four Emperors, the undisputed rulers of the New World, their reactions varied.
New World, Wano Country, Onigashima.
Glug—glug—glug—!
"Just a mere candidate, and yet he stepped over my head to get there!"
Kaido traced the scar over his eye, downing another jug of sake. "King! Any promising new recruits lately?"
The All-Star "King the Wildfire" rested a hand on his sword, intrigued by the Marine swordsman who had wounded Kaido so severely.
"If we're talking about promising newcomers, that former subordinate of Vice Admiral Wright—X Drake—is quite a strong candidate."
"His Devil Fruit has immense potential—an Ancient Zoan of the Ryu Ryu no Mi series. And perhaps because of his past as a Marine, having undergone rigorous training, his comprehension and execution skills are both top-tier."
"Not only that, but his strategic abilities are particularly outstanding… and that happens to be one of our greatest weaknesses. If we had a truly exceptional commander, our forces wouldn't be so disorganized."
"Hmm… Sounds promising. This Drake, I do recall—an Allosaurus, right?"
Kaido shook his head, still reeling from his failed attempt at revenge. Knowing that none of his current subordinates could fill Jack's role, he had decided to cultivate new talent.
"Besides, Drake has quite the complicated history with Wright—Wright won't let him go, and Drake himself has severed all ties with Wright!"
A cruel glint flashed in King's eyes. "If Drake grows strong enough, then when he faces Wright again, it's bound to be quite the spectacle…"
"Good! Then we'll go all-in on grooming this Drake! I want him to stand against Wright till the bitter end!"
"Wright! The man you want to kill—I'll protect him! Let's see if you can take him down this time!"
...
New World – Whitebeard Pirates – Moby Dick.
"Gurararara…"
Whitebeard momentarily set aside his supreme-grade blade, Murakumogiri, and let out a hearty laugh.
"That brat Wright sure did well!"
"Becoming an admiral candidate, huh? This sea just keeps getting more and more interesting!"
...
New World – Totto Land – Whole Cake Island.
BIG MOM—Charlotte Linlin—paid no heed to Wright's promotion.
"Just an admiral candidate? Once I obtain that power, he won't even be worth mentioning!"
"Tea party~ Tea party~ Ah~ Such exquisite desserts!"
"Perospero! How's the negotiation with Prince Loki coming along?"
"Rest assured, Mama. Lick~"
Charlotte Perospero, eldest son of the Charlotte Family and Minister of Candy, bowed slightly.
"Prince Loki remains agreeable. I believe with a little more time, we'll reach a favorable outcome. Lick~"
"Mamama! Handle it with utmost care! No mistakes will be tolerated!"
"Yes, Mama! Lick~"
...
New World – A Certain Unknown Island.
The newly crowned Yonko, "Red-Haired" Shanks, was in the middle of a lively banquet with his crew.
"Ahahahaha! Admiral candidate, huh? That means Wright's strength is at the admiral level now!"
Drunkenly laughing, Shanks turned to his first mate. "Beckman! If you were to fight him now, who do you think would win?"
"Tch! Either way, he sure wouldn't lose to you as miserably as he used to!"
Beckman scoffed, then smirked. "But if it's a drinking contest…"
"I'd say he could probably outdrink all three admirals combined!"
"Ahahahahaha—!"
Roars of laughter echoed across the island as the entire crew burst into merriment.
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