His final confirmation was that apart from the usual number of guards and staff, the Five Elders hadn't summoned any additional personnel.
This put his mind at ease.
Although he and the Five Elders had long since torn off all pretenses, neither side wanted the matter to be made completely public at this stage.
The Five Elders feared that Michael, with his ever-growing prestige, would dilute and gradually erase the World Government's influence over the Marines.
Meanwhile, Michael was wary that these five old men might throw a tantrum and summon Elder Im on the spot—what then?
He wasn't yet prepared to face this human-shaped nuclear weapon head-on...
And the world certainly wasn't ready for an era even more chaotic than the Great Pirate Era.
So, just as he had once declared...
He would sit at the same table with his enemies, sharing drinks and laughter, if necessary.
Michael used this inspection time to collect his thoughts before returning to the assembly.
When he arrived at the seats reserved for vice admirals, he found Tsuru giving them an impromptu ideological lecture.
Garp, serving as the negative example, was being thoroughly chastised by her.
Everyone sat stiffly upright, listening to Tsuru's admonishments.
Meanwhile, Tokikake and Gion had even taken out small notebooks, jotting down key points and summarizing the main ideas.
Michael couldn't help but give them a thumbs-up.
No wonder you two are the admiral candidates!
Not only is your strength unquestionable, but your ideological awareness is top-notch too!
"Ahem, Grandma Tsuru, let's give old man Garp a break today."
"After all, this is a grand occasion for the entire Marine forces. Normally, it's fine if Garp embarrasses himself—everyone's used to it... but today, we should at least maintain the lofty image of the 'Hero of the Marines,' right?"
After some persuasion from Michael, Tsuru reluctantly ended the lecture, and she and Garp took their seats among the empty chairs...
But both instinctively left the central seat for Michael.
"Uh, I'm sitting here?"
"Obviously. Or did you want to sit on my lap instead?" Garp rolled his eyes dramatically at Michael.
"Given your achievements and strength over these years, if you don't sit there, I'll be the first to object!"
As soon as Garp finished speaking, the surrounding vice admirals wore expressions of "He's absolutely right," nodding in agreement.
Michael didn't refuse.
Since no one objected, he certainly had no reason to either.
So he folded his wings and took his seat.
"Speaking of which, where are the Five Elders?" Michael glanced around after sitting down.
"Don't tell me they made an appearance and just left?"
Tsuru and Garp exchanged a look before simultaneously pointing to a raised platform nearby.
Only then did Michael notice that two giant vice admirals were carrying a high platform, upon which the Five Elders sat...
"Tch, sometimes I just don't get it—why do they think acting like pretentious fools makes them look noble?"
"Who knows how many centuries those five old men have lived... Probably rusted their brains."
Among those present, only Garp dared to openly mock the Five Elders alongside Michael .
Even Tsuru and the other vice admirals merely nodded at most, without engaging in conversation.
Soon, as Michael took his seat, the promotion ceremony officially began.
The military band started playing, accompanied by the voices of the spectators.
"Look! Look over there! Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the new Three Admirals have entered!"
Michael could see it all clearly—the burly honor guards leading the way, followed by Sengoku in his brand-new fleet admiral uniform and the freshly polished Three Admirals, all marching steadily forward along the newly laid red carpet.
With resolute expressions, they acknowledged the cheers and admiration from the Marine soldiers and officers lining the path. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn NoveIＦire.net
This was precisely the purpose of promoting the fleet admiral and the Three Admirals.
Though their strength wouldn't suddenly increase after the promotion, the boost to the entire Marine's morale was unprecedented.
"Hey, hey, Michael!" At this critical moment, Garp suddenly leaned over mysteriously, offering something to Michael.
"Want to eat some Senbei?"
"Eat? Eat your damn grandson!" Michael felt like stabbing this old bastard right then and there.
"As the legendary Marine hero, as the face of the entire Marine force… can't you act a little more dignified?"
"Am I not dignified enough? It's not my promotion today!"
Though Garp's irreverent personality could be infuriating at times.
But it hadn't always been this extreme.
It seemed… ever since Roger's execution, this side of him had taken over completely.
The Garp of the past, in Michael's eyes, had been a relatively serious Marine hero most of the time.
Could it be that after the death of his lifelong rival, Garp's former ambitions had faded, leaving only a powerful but Senbei-obsessed, grandson-fixated old fool?
"Wahahahaha! Look at how flashy Sengoku looks! I bet he not only pinned all his medals on his uniform but even 'borrowed' a bunch from me!"
Garp pointed at Sengoku, tears of laughter streaming down his face.
"And Borsalino! His expression is absolutely priceless! How badly does this guy want to clock out? Wahahaha!"
The podium held no weaklings.
Everyone could hear Garp's firecracker-like laughter.
Kong, now promoted to Commander-in-Chief, stood on the platform with arms crossed.
The new fleet admiral and Three Admirals had arrived before him.
It had to be said—Kong's combat prowess remained one of the great mysteries.
So much so that it spawned the wildest rumor of all…
That the "Red Count" had narrowly defeated Kong, only for the injured count to be captured by Garp and thrown into Impel Down's Level 6…
In truth, the Red Count had abandoned his dream of becoming Pirate King after witnessing the terrifying power of Roger and Whitebeard in their prime.
Then voluntarily entered Impel Down's Level 6 to live out his days.
Yet in this world where power manifests physically, Kong's bulging muscles appeared even more massive than Garp's!
Though his hair and beard were white and wrinkles lined his face, he didn't look like a high-ranking official at all.
Rather, he resembled a frontline Marine who'd never stopped fighting.
"Steel Bone" Kong gazed at the newly appointed Fleet Admiral and the Three Admirals before him, then turned his eyes to the center of the viewing platform where a strikingly handsome man with platinum blonde hair stood.
The new era of the Marines...
Was finally about to begin.