A few days after Chiga was appointed as an Admiral candidate, Kalifa and Ain led their fleet back to Marine Headquarters.
As soon as they arrived, the two women went straight to Chiga's office, having already learned that he had returned earlier than them.
However, upon reaching the office, they discovered it was completely empty—everything inside had been cleared out. It looked as though the room had been vacated entirely.
The two exchanged confused glances and double-checked the location, wondering if they'd come to the wrong place. Just then, they ran into a soldier who had come to clean.
From him, they learned that Chiga had relocated to a new office after being appointed as an Admiral candidate. His new office was situated not far from Sengoku's.
Upon hearing this, the two women felt a mix of emotions. They were happy for Chiga's achievement, but also speechless. Clearly, he had kept it from them on purpose, probably hoping to surprise—or annoy—them upon their return.
Pouting, Ain grumbled,
"Chiga is getting more and more cunning!"
Kalifa adjusted her glasses, not saying anything. She was already used to her boss's antics.
Led by the soldier, they soon arrived at Chiga's new office. As soon as they opened the door, they were greeted by Chiga's familiar smirk.
Ignoring him for the moment, the two women stepped in and curiously examined the room.
It was definitely more spacious than the previous one, with far more refined furnishings. The centerpiece was a large calligraphy scroll hanging behind Chiga's desk that read:
"Justice to Defend Peace"
It had been custom-made at Chiga's request. After all, what kind of Admiral candidate would he be without a clear sense of justice?
Although, in his case, that "peace" might sometimes resemble "nuclear peace."
After a brief tour, Kalifa walked over to Chiga's desk and smiled,
"Congratulations, Boss."
Ain echoed the sentiment. Chiga returned the smile and said,
"It's just an Admiral candidate for now. Let's wait until I actually become an Admiral before we celebrate."
Kalifa and Ain exchanged silent glances. Just a candidate? If not for his ridiculously young age, he might have been promoted outright.
More importantly, Chiga was currently the only Admiral candidate. That alone spoke volumes about his status.
Despite the bravado, the two women couldn't help but feel emotional looking at his youthful face. He truly was a prodigy.
Stretching with a lazy yawn, Chiga added,
"The Seven Warlords will be arriving at Headquarters in the next few days for their first meeting. You two can tag along. Some of them look pretty weird—you might as well treat it like a trip to the zoo."
Ain, uninterested in appearances, perked up at the mention of strength.
"I heard they're all extremely strong—especially Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman."
Kalifa shook her head and glanced at Chiga.
"No matter how strong they are, they're not on par with the boss. Mihawk likes testing himself against strong opponents. Even if you don't use a sword, he might come looking for you. Hopefully, that doesn't cause too much trouble."
Ain turned to Chiga, curious.
"So? Will you fight Mihawk?"
Chiga shrugged nonchalantly.
"If he wants to fight, I don't mind."
Though he wasn't fond of swords, his Susanoo wielded a blade over a hundred meters long. As the saying went—height matters.
At that moment, a knock came at the door. Vice Admiral Onigumo stepped in.
Kalifa and Ain nodded respectfully and moved to stand on either side of Chiga, silent.
Onigumo returned the gesture. He knew these two women were closely associated with Chiga, so it was wise to show proper respect.
Chiga's status now surpassed that of even seasoned Vice Admirals.
Besides, Having previously worked alongside him, Onigumo held one of the highest opinions of Chiga among the Vice Admirals.
Facing Chiga, Onigumo said,
"Vice Admiral Kirin, all seven Warlords have arrived and are at the port. They're causing a bit of a scene. We'd appreciate it if you could take a look."
Since Chiga now had a codename, the other Marine officers addressed him as such—highlighting his elevated status as the an Admiral candidate.
"Oh? Already? Alright. Thank you, Vice Admiral Onigumo. Let's go."
Chiga gestured for Kalifa and Ain to follow as they headed to the port, with Onigumo trailing behind.
Donquixote Doflamingo had a Marine Lieutenant Commander by the collar, holding him up and sneering,
"What, this is the level of welcome we get? Where are the Admirals? Where's Sengoku?"
Beside him stood the rest of the Warlords of the Sea.
Boa Hancock gave Doflamingo a scornful glance.
Mihawk stood silently, arms folded. He had no interest in this little drama. The only person in the Marines who intrigued him was that formidable young man.
The one who had defeated Shiki.
Shiki, a legendary swordsman, had reportedly been beaten by Chiga—in a sword fight, no less. That alone made Mihawk eager to test him.
(Remember the Susano'o?)
Jinbe shared a similar sentiment. Hachi had told him what happened with Arlong.
Though heartbroken over Arlong's death, Jinbe knew the outcome was deserved given Arlong's actions. In fact, the fact that Hachi had been spared earned Chiga a measure of respect.
Jinbe hadn't come to seek revenge—he just wanted to see what kind of Marine this man was, and what his stance on Fish-men might be.
The remaining Warlords—Moria, Kuma, and Crocodile—were more detached, treating this visit like a sightseeing tour.
The Marine Lieutenant Commander held by Doflamingo wasn't backing down. Even with his face turning purple, he glared up at the Warlord and said bitterly,
"You're just a pirate! This is Marine Headquarters—not a place for someone like you to throw their weight around!"
The other Warlords cast glances at the defiant officer. Mihawk and Jinbe both gave him an approving look—not offended by the broad insult. It was just a matter of perspective.
Doflamingo's grin faltered slightly. Then, with a strange laugh, he said,
"Fufufufufu… Still got some spine, huh? I like that."
His other hand rose, and thin, sharp threads became visible between his fingers—clearly preparing to strike.
Mihawk and Jinbe frowned. Jinbe, the "Knight of the Sea," summoned a drop of water into his palm, preparing to step in.
This was Marine Headquarters. Logically and emotionally, he couldn't just stand by and let this officer die.
Then a cold voice rang out behind Doflamingo—
"Do I have to tell you to stop moving this time too?"
Bro's about to farm Aura, lol.
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