Refusing Promotion to Admiral, Accepting Big Mom

"An Admiral???"

Austin sat where he was, his vertical pupils lifting slightly as he looked at the bearded old man leaning on a cane.

He looked familiar.

Was he one of the Five Elders?

His crimson vertical pupils stared directly at Saint Saturn before shifting to the document in his hand.

Everyone assumed Austin was simply too weak to stand and salute him.

But in truth, Austin just could not be bothered.

After all, he did not truly want to be a Marine for life, nor did he genuinely want to be a dog for the Celestial Dragons. His sense of justice was not that strong, either.

So his reaction was exceptionally indifferent.

Still, he took the document. It had already been signed.

A letter of appointment as a Marine Admiral.

"The highest fighting force, a Marine Headquarters Admiral? Interesting..."

A long time ago, Austin had considered Marine Admirals to be among the figures standing at the pinnacle of these seas.

They were powerful enough to drive the protagonists into desperate straits, even stronger than the bosses of most arcs.

But the past was the past, and the present was the present.

Austin himself could already fight three future Admiral candidates alone. If he was ruthless enough, he could even kill one monstrous talent of the same generation who possessed the makings of an Admiral.

Naturally, this title had long lost its allure for him.

"I refuse."

Having decided he had no interest, Austin tossed the document aside.

Sengoku, Zephyr, and the others were left dumbfounded, black lines practically dropping down their faces.

He had actually refused, and so bluntly at that, right in front of one of the Five Elders.

One had to know that even a Fleet Admiral deserved to be berated bloody in front of the Five