No one was surprised when the resolution was announced.
After all.
Steel Bone Kong was already over ninety years old. He had served as Fleet Admiral for many years and was highly respected.
Even without this incident, following the normal process, he would have become Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in another four or five years at most.
However.
After Kong became Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, another promotion announcement that should have immediately followed was unexpectedly delayed, with no news whatsoever.
A small dinner gathering was being held at Noah's home.
"The Fleet Admiral's successor still hasn't been decided?"
Momousagi cut the steak on her plate and shared it with Noah beside her, looking at Tsuru across from them in surprise. "It's been almost a week, hasn't it? Does something like this really require so much hesitation? What is the World Government doing?"
This was not merely her question. It was also the shared doubt of the entire Navy, as well as public opinion outside it.
Who would take over the vacant position of Fleet Admiral?
Did that even need thinking about?
Looking across the entire Navy system, only the older generation's "Three Admirals"—Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr—were qualified.
As for the other two so-called Admirals, Zephyr had stepped back from the front lines many years ago and merely retained an Admiral's privileges, while Garp went without saying. He had refused promotion to Admiral for decades, so becoming Fleet Admiral was even more impossible.
Therefore.
In everyone's eyes, there was only one possible answer.
That was Admiral Sengoku, who worked tirelessly every day, handled endless affairs, and did the work of three people alone.
He possessed both strength and seniority, and he was also a rare strategic talent. He was naturally the unquestionable choice for the next Fleet Admiral.