[Thanks to "Ohma Zi-O S" and "u" for the monthly tickets~~]
Hearing Sengoku's words,
Xiu nearly passed out from anger.
Of course, even if Sengoku wanted to promote him,
it would have to wait until next time.
After all, the report requesting his promotion to rear admiral had only just been submitted,
and that promotion had yet to be settled.
So Sengoku was merely saying it...
It could also be considered an acknowledgment of Xiu's strength!
Seeing that the Marines aboard the warship had already begun
bustling about,
Xiu did not linger on deck either.
He turned and headed toward the Training Ground.
Getting stronger was what really mattered!
Even if it was only...,
that, too, came from training day after day!
Xiu's diligent training once again drew
countless people's admiration.
"Commodore Xiu really works so hard!"
"He's handsome and hardworking. I wish I could marry him~~"
"Pfft, if anyone's marrying him, it's me. Do you think you're good enough for him??"
"Oh-ho! I haven't even spoken yet, and you lot dare run your mouths??!"
The situation gradually developed in a somewhat uncontrollable direction...
But all of it came to an abrupt halt at a certain moment.
Because Gion had appeared beside Xiu at some point,
and summoned the courage to take his right hand!
Xiu froze briefly as he looked at the scarlet-faced Gion.
Then a smile appeared on his face,
and he turned his hand over to clasp Gion's little hand tightly.
Behind them, Sengoku and Garp stared at Gion in shock.
"Whoa... This girl's that bold??"
Although Garp had encouraged Gion
to be more proactive,
he hadn't told her to charge straight in, had he??
Sengoku had gone completely numb...
At the thought of Vice Admiral Tsuru discovering
the two of them as they were now,
that expression... Tsk, tsk, tsk...
He wondered what Vice Admiral Tsuru
would think.
But those were not things the two of them
needed to consider right now...
News of Golden Lion's attack on Marineford
soon reached the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
The matter sent the Five Elders into a fury!
They cursed the Marines as useless!
But when they heard that Xiu
had stepped in and dealt with Golden Lion,
their expressions instantly turned cheerful.
Then they turned into "Xiu fanboys,"
each declaring:
"I could tell at first glance that the young master was extraordinary!"
The first Elder stroked his beard as he spoke.
"Of course! He was bound to be a dragon among men!"
The second Elder's face was also brimming with smiles.
"And hasn't he shown it now!"
"Then what about the young master's promotion to rear admiral?"
"Approved!"
"Seconded!"
What did it mean to be a professional bootlicker?
There, that was professionalism!
One day later, the report concerning Xiu's promotion to vice admiral
arrived back at Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku's face immediately lit up with a smile,
and he said to Vice Admiral Tsuru beside him:
"I told you those old fellows would agree."
Vice Admiral Tsuru said, "Oh."
Sengoku: "..."
Seriously... How did you use a body temperature of degrees
to say such an icy 'oh'?
You're making this really awkward for me...
"Ahem, Tsuru, since things between Xiu and Gion
have already reached that point..."
"I don't think there's any need for you to be angry anymore, right?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru paused.
"That point? What point?"
Then she waved a hand and said:
"Sengoku, you've misunderstood. I wasn't thinking about Gion."
Hearing this, Sengoku asked curiously:
"Then has something happened?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru handed the report in her hand to Sengoku.
"Take a look yourself."
Sengoku read through the report carefully,
his expression growing darker and darker.
Bam! He slammed the report heavily onto the desk.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
"What is Big Mom planning to do??!"
Sengoku had never imagined a day like this would come,
when Big Mom would actually invite a Marine
to attend her so-called Tea Party!
And this Marine was someone they thought highly of,
the future of the Marines!
"Tsuru, is this intelligence accurate?"
Sengoku asked with a dark expression.
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded slightly.
"P's undercover agent went to considerable trouble
to learn this from one of Katakuri's subordinates."
"It's highly credible!"
Sengoku fell silent for a moment.
"Tsuru, what do you think?"
"Wait and see!"
Sengoku paused.
"Why?"
"Because... yesterday, we
reevaluated Xiu's strength."
"What were the results?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru recalled
the results from yesterday,
a trace of disbelief still lingering on her face.
"Xiu's strength stands at the very top!"
Sengoku shuddered. "You're not joking, are you?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru shook her head very seriously.
"This is no joke! And...
this was assessed based on
the strength Xiu displayed yesterday."
"We can't rule out the possibility that Xiu is still hiding some of his strength!"
"Because yesterday's battle was simply too easy for him!"
Hearing this, Sengoku sank into thought.
He was very excited now.
If he had previously considered Xiu the future of the Marines,
then that assessment now needed to change!
He was the pillar the Marines could rely on right now!
"In the short term, Xiu's rank can't be raised any further."
"Unless..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru finished for him. "Unless we send Xiu to the East Blue!"
A sharp gleam flashed through Sengoku's eyes.
"Exactly! Have him take part in a major event!"
"In one month, Roger will be publicly executed there."
"Quite a few great pirates will surely come to join the excitement!"
"We'll send Xiu ahead and have him clean out the entire East Blue over this month!"
PS: I'm warning you in front of the screen! Give me all your flowers and whatever else you've got!
Or I might just start crying!
Boo-hoo-hoo~