This voyage had been neither particularly long nor particularly short. Ronglin took a tour around Whole Cake Island, befriended the Giants of Elbaf, then spent several days causing a stir on the island. In the blink of an eye, it was time to return. Many crew members, thinking of the prosperity and splendor of the Ashil Kingdom, were already eager to head home.
After Ronglin informed the Ashil Kingdom that they had captured a Celestial Dragon, the place immediately erupted. All high-ranking Star Alliance commanders sprang into action and entered a State of Readiness. Even Drake, stationed at the Lodun Islands, imposed a wartime blockade, forbidding any vessel not belonging to the Star Alliance from entering the designated waters.
Hawkins worked at full speed to reinforce the base defenses on Whole Cake Island. Fujitora wore a dark expression all day, clearly in a poor mood, but no one dared ask what he was thinking.
Jazz had originally wanted to personally lead a fleet out to welcome Ronglin back. However, with both the Alliance Leader and Vice Alliance Leader absent, Jazz had effectively held power for over a month. Though he had not enacted any major political reforms, the entire Alliance now essentially regarded him as the Star Alliance's third-ranking leader.
Naturally, everyone wanted someone to oversee the situation in the Ashil Kingdom. How could such a massive alliance function without someone in charge? Some had long been unhappy with Moria using his title as First Fleet Commander to manage Star Alliance affairs. With Jazz presiding over things, many hidden conflicts had eased considerably.
Since everyone refused to let him go, Jazz could only accept it helplessly. He knew the people within the Alliance were worried about his safety. Compared to the entire Star Alliance, many believed that Jazz might be