Inside the Hall of Authority, the atmosphere was thick with concern. Roya had just left, and the Five Elders, the most powerful figures in the world, sat with deep frowns etched on their faces.
Even with their immense power, controlling an Admiral like Roya wasn't easy. The question of whether he should become royalty was a major topic. In the past 800 years, it wasn't unheard of for an Admiral to betray them.
Roya's file lay open on the table. Four years since he joined the Marines, his record was spotless, filled with a fierce hatred for pirates. He was described as a radical, an extremist who often went too far and rarely listened to orders.
Strong people were naturally stubborn. Most importantly, Roya craved power, which the Five Elders actually saw as a positive trait. Those without ambition were the most dangerous.
"Do you think he's serious?" one of the Elders asked, his voice low.
"Judging by his record, it seems like something that kid would say," another replied.
"With his potential, if nothing goes wrong, Roya could be in charge of the Marines in twenty years," a third Elder added, his brow furrowed.
The main issue was his statement about wanting to become a Celestial Dragon. Saint Rosward's displeasure was insignificant. It wasn't unheard of for commoners to become Celestial Dragons.
If someone could greatly benefit the World Government, the Celestial Dragons would make an exception. Roya certainly qualified. An Admiral wasn't that rare in the Holy Land, but Roya's true asset was his youth.
He was only 21! The Marines were facing a generational gap, and Roya was the only young officer strong enough to become an Admiral. The Five Elders could foresee him leading the Marines when Akainu and his generation retired.
Therefore, making Roya royalty was essential. He wasn't like Sengoku, Garp, or even the Three Admirals, who were deeply attached to the Marines after decades of service. Four years couldn't bind Roya.
Making him a Celestial Dragon, making him one of them, was a very effective strategy. Kaido and Big Mom couldn't offer such a tempting offer. What could be better than becoming a Celestial Dragon?
Political marriage was the simplest solution. Roya could become a son-in-law! The Five Elders exchanged silent glances and subtly nodded.
"I heard that kid saved Saint Rosward's daughter," one Elder said.
"That's right."
"Shalria is still unmarried."
"We can let them get acquainted..."
----
Meanwhile, at the Marine G-1 Branch in Red Port, Roya boarded a warship, unaware of the Elders' plans to find him a Celestial Dragon wife. Becoming a Celestial Dragon was a message he intentionally sent. Knowing his desire, the Five Elders would see him as someone they could win over, not suppress.
Becoming a Celestial Dragon isn't bad either, I could marry many wives.
----
Half a day later, at the G-5 Branch, the newly built fortress stood clean and orderly, a stark contrast to the previous one.
"Roya Boss!" The G-5 Marines gathered on the coast, cheering and excited to welcome him.
"Where's Smoker?" Roya asked.
"Vice Admiral Smoker is in the office!"
"Huh?" Roya chuckled to himself. He didn't even bother to greet me? Thinks he's a bigger deal than I am.
A moment later, he entered the Base Chief's office.
"Long time no see, Vice Admiral Smoker."
"Hmph."
Smoker sat in Roya's seat, two cigars in his mouth, arms crossed, acting like a boss. He snorted coldly, his face full of displeasure. "Roya Boss, you're currently still suspended. What are you doing back here?"
"Can't I come back to take a look?"
Roya sat on the sofa, annoyed. He looked at the embarrassed Tashigi next to him and said with a smile, "Tashigi-chan, please make me a coffee."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Roya." Tashigi quickly made coffee and thoughtfully prepared a plate of cookies.
"Thank you." Roya drank his coffee and asked, "Any trouble while I was gone?"
"Everything went smoothly."
Seeing Smoker's sour face, Tashigi quickly helped answer. The girl's cautious demeanor was quite amusing. "Vice Admiral Roya, after you left..."
When Roya left, the G-5 Marines were stationed at the G-14 Branch, and everything fell on Smoker. Roya had beaten up the Vice Admiral of the G-14 Branch, creating a tense relationship. They constantly argued over food, clothing, and living arrangements.
Smoker and a few others struggled to control the Marines of the G-14. They were all small issues, but they accumulated. As the acting Base Chief, Smoker had to deal with the conflicts, but his rank was only Rear Admiral. He was often ridiculed by the Vice Admirals of the G-14 Branch.
Life only became easier when they returned to the G-5 Branch. So, Smoker was understandably angry when he heard Roya was back. Roya had left him with a real mess.
"I see." Roya understood. It was his fault. He didn't have to worry after he left, but it was a challenge for Smoker, who hated dealing with such trivial matters.
Roya stood up and saluted. "Thank you for your hard work, Vice Admiral Smoker!"
"Hmph." Smoker's expression softened, and he returned the salute. "Are you leaving again?"
"Yeah, I have something to deal with." Roya nodded. He had promised Uta he would take her to meet Red Hair, and he had to settle things at Totto Land's Tea Party.
The warship was ready. He was relieved to leave the G-5 Branch to Smoker. This guy was also a bully. A bully being the boss of a bunch of thugs was a perfect match, just like he was back then.
"I'm leaving then." After finishing his coffee, Roya got up and left.
At the port, a medium-sized warship raised its sails. Besides Yamato and Uta, his Adjutant and many Marines were on board. To sail in the New World, a toy boat like the Frost Wolf wouldn't work. The harsh climate would destroy it.
"Departure!" The warship left the port, heading into the New World.
On the deck, Roya put on his sunglasses and lay down on the beach chair.
"Senior, juice and newspaper!"
"Thanks." Roya drank his juice and flipped through the newspaper.
The Sabaody incident was on the front page, and the culprits had received bounties.
"Pirate Noble Son" Cavendish, bounty of 330 million Belly.
"Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro, bounty of 120 million Belly.
Cavendish's bounty soared, and Zoro's first bounty exceeded 100 million Belly, which was rare, mainly because of the severity of their crimes, not their strength.
"Let me know immediately if there's any news about those two."
"Understood!"
*
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 875 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
This and the next Chapter are bonus Chapters for today's release
Want to support my work and get early access to Chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇
➡️ /Boundless_Beacon
]