The Promotion Ceremony About to Begin

Pressed by Capone Bell's plea, Yaen felt a bit awkward instead, as if he were doing something wrong, so he had to soothe him.

"Don't worry, I told you I'm a good person. I won't do anything to your family."

"Then how... how do you know my son's name?" Capone Bell asked.

How did he know? He just knew!

Yaen thought helplessly.

After all, compared to Capone Bell the father, in the normal course of events, his son—the Castle-Castle Fruit user Capone Bege—had far greater achievements and fame.

The Castle-Castle Fruit user Capone Bege, after unifying the underworld of the West Blue, founded the Fire Tank Pirates and set out for the Grand Line. Not only did he become a Supernova alongside the Straw Hat Kid Monkey D. Luffy, but he also became the son-in-law of the Yonko Big Mom, and even secretly stabbed the Yonko Big Mom in the back.

But since he couldn't explain that to Capone Bell, Yaen could only say lightly, "That's a secret."

After a moment of deep thought, Capone Bell wore a look of sudden realization and muttered, "Could it be... Bege thinks I'm in his way? So he's decided to get rid of me?"

Yaen.

For a moment, even though Yaen understood that the minds of people on this sea were more or less skewed toward the abnormal, he still had to admire Capone Bell's train of thought—whether on the handcuff issue or the son issue.

Just as Yaen was wondering whether to comfort this old father, Capone Bell suddenly burst into laughter and said.

"Hahaha, well done, Bege. Ruthlessness is the right way. Looks like you're finally growing up..."

The next moment...

"Slap!"

Yaen smacked the back of Capone Bell's head and said.

"Stop dawdling here. Hurry up and secure all the evidence, or I'll go find that Capone Bege right now and kill him."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Capone Bell quickly responded, stuffing all the treasures from the safe into a suitcase at lightning speed.

Finally, Yaen tossed the Castle-Castle Fruit into the suitcase as well for safekeeping.

Actually, even if Capone Bell hadn't said anything, Yaen wouldn't have destroyed the Castle-Castle Fruit.

More precisely, ever since he'd read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia in the past, Yaen had been keeping an eye on the Castle-Castle Fruit's existence.

In Yaen's view, the Castle-Castle Fruit's purpose wasn't to be squandered on pure combat like a waste of resources, but to hold immense strategic significance.

Turning the human body into a fortress, capable of deploying anything within it at will—the Castle-Castle Fruit's power was undeniable, but that was for a major force.

Imagine this: on the surface, Yaen was just an unremarkable, refined young man, but hidden inside him were super combat powers like a Yonko, a Shichibukai, a Marine Admiral, all ready to strike at any moment. How terrifying a strategic advantage was that?

Even instantly destroying the World Government's center, the holy land Mary Geoise, wasn't impossible.

So, this wasn't a Devil Fruit for individuals—it was truly one for war!

And setting aside other uses, for the Revolutionary Army, which demanded extreme secrecy, the Castle-Castle Fruit's existence would also be of great value.

Then, Yaen picked up two bulging suitcases, grabbed Capone Bell by the shoulder, and leaped down from the window that the other Zoan Devil Fruit users had smashed open earlier.

"Ah!!"

Amid Capone Bell's startled cry, Yaen's feet stomped on empty air!

"Boom, boom, boom!"

"Six Powers: Geppo"

With this special technique that allowed him to walk on air, Yaen's descent rapidly slowed, and he landed lightly on the ground.

Kuzan, leaning against the wall, glanced at Yaen and said, "Looks like quite a haul."

"Not bad."

Yaen replied casually, then tossed Capone Bell to Kuzan and said, "This should be the head of the Capone Mafia, Capone Bell. He's your problem now."

"Mm."

Kuzan took Capone Bell without a fuss, but his gaze fell on the two suitcases in Yaen's hands, and he reminded him.

"Is that the Capone Mafia's treasure? By the rules, spoils of war need to be turned in."

Hearing this, Yaen smiled and said, "Kuzan, I haven't officially joined the Marines yet or taken a post. I'm just a civilian. You wouldn't rob a weak, helpless civilian of all his belongings, would you?"

With that, Yaen, in high spirits after obtaining the Castle-Castle Fruit, headed toward the port.

"This kid..."

Kuzan watched Yaen's retreating figure with a hint of speechlessness, but didn't press further.

In a sense, Yaen was right. He hadn't officially joined the Marines yet, so he had no obligation to hand over spoils.

And since Yaen had successfully captured Capone Bell and breached the Capone Mafia's headquarters, Kuzan had enough to report to Admiral Sengoku, so he naturally didn't dwell on such a trivial matter.

Then, under the stunned gazes of the other underground organization members in Freedom Town, Kuzan carried the Capone Mafia boss by one hand and headed toward the port.

Soon, that Marine Warship, a beast of war, set sail again, heading straight for Marine Headquarters at Marineford.

But after Kuzan's sense of justice had undergone such a drastic shift, the warship's speed was surprisingly leisurely, as if it were strolling and sightseeing across the Great Sea.

Finally, after repeated urgings from Marine Headquarters at Marineford, Kuzan and his group returned to Marineford just in time for the eve of Admiral Sengoku's promotion ceremony to Fleet Admiral.

Admiral Sengoku, hailed as "Buddha Sengoku" and "The Strategist Sengoku," ascending to the position of Fleet Admiral of the Marines—even for this sea that had entered the "Great Pirate Era"—was an earth-shaking event.

Sengoku's promotion to Fleet Admiral was set for tomorrow. Countless Marines would witness this momentous occasion, and the footage would even be broadcast simultaneously to every Marine branch, division, and base across the world, to inspire them to uphold justice.

That night, Sengoku dragged his somewhat weary body back to his home, which resembled a courtyard-style residence.

Facing the sea that had entered the "Great Pirate Era" and was growing increasingly turbulent, the appointment of a new Fleet Admiral was excellent news. But to prevent pirates from causing trouble, Sengoku had been swamped with work during this period.

Preparing the promotion ceremony, mobilizing Marine combat power, monitoring and handling intelligence on major pirate movements, dealing with various demands from the World Government...

Just as Fleet Admiral Sengoku was pondering the next day's affairs while pushing open the door and stepping inside, a warm light greeted him from the living room, and a table was laden with a feast.

"Old Man, congratulations..."

Standing by the table, Yaen's gaze drifted toward the window as he spoke, as if casually.