As he listened to Xiu, Sengoku's gleaming golden face grew serious.
But then he saw Xiu slowly return Ryūjin Jakka to its sheath!
A glimmer of realization flashed through Sengoku's eyes.
"Is that... Iaijutsu?"
Xiu slid his right foot forward.
He leaned forward,
with Ryūjin Jakka positioned at his left hip.
At a certain instant, his slightly narrowed eyes snapped open!
His scarlet eyes traced a red streak through the air.
All the spiritual pressure in his body flowed into Ryūjin Jakka in an instant!
[Torch]!!
Whoosh!
The instant Xiu drew his blade,
a tornado-shaped flame abruptly appeared in front of Sengoku!
Before he could marvel at the power of this move,
Sengoku suddenly felt a wave of searing heat wash over him!
This is bad! he thought.
He unleashed his Armament Haki at full strength!
Haki wreathed both his fists!
He drove them into the fiery tornado ahead!
Boom!
The collision between fist and flame
unleashed tremendous power!
Smoke immediately billowed across the scene.
"Cough, cough!!"
"Xiu, let's leave it at that!"
After unleashing [Torch], Xiu immediately felt completely drained...
Sengoku had also released his Buddha Form by then.
His clothes, however, were in tatters.
They had all been scorched by Ryūjin Jakka's flames.
Xiu silently released his Shikai as well,
and sheathed his blade.
"Uncle, can I join the Marines now?"
Although Sengoku desperately wanted to nod and raise both hands in approval,
so many of his subordinates were present.
He still had to maintain his image...
He gave a light cough.
"Xiu, you passed! You're a Marine from now on!"
A faint smile finally appeared on Xiu's lips.
"Thanks, Uncle!"
"Ahem, you should call me Fleet Admiral Sengoku from now on!"
"Okay, Uncle. Got it, Uncle."
Sengoku: "..."
"All right, go aboard the warship and get changed first. Then come with me to Mary Geoise."
Xiu obediently nodded in acknowledgment, then boarded the warship under a subordinate's guidance.
Meanwhile, Sengoku began agonizing again.
To put it plainly, Xiu was already strong enough to hold a flag officer's rank.
But... Xiu had no achievements to his name at present.
Promoting him straight to Vice Admiral was impossible and against regulations.
Still, there were always more solutions than difficulties!
Sengoku looked toward the distant horizon.
"Hmm... I'll ask the Five Elders for a favor!"
If Garp and Tsuru had heard Sengoku's words at that moment,
they would certainly have thought he had gone mad.
After all, they had never seen Sengoku ask the Five Elders for someone else's sake!
Not even for Rosinante, who was like a son to him!
Aboard the warship, Xiu also found himself under the gaze of almost every Marine.
"So this is the boy who fought Sengoku to a fifty-fifty draw..."
"He's so strong..."
"I think he'll definitely become an Admiral someday!"
"Hiss... Why not say he'll become Fleet Admiral?!?"
As Xiu listened to their increasingly outlandish conversation,
the corner of his mouth twitched.
But one exchange still caught his attention...
Fifty-what??? Ahem...
"You're Xiu, right? You'll be staying here for the time being."
The Marine soldier pointed at the door to a room as he spoke.
Behind him, Xiu gave a slight nod.
"Thank you."
The soldier smiled and waved a hand.
"You're welcome. Judging by how Fleet Admiral Sengoku acted today..."
"You might even become my superior someday!"
"Oh, and it's almost dinnertime. You still remember where the mess hall is, right?"
Xiu nodded firmly.
As a foodie, how could he forget such an important location?
"Then I'll leave you to it. Someone has already put your new clothes in your bedroom."
"All right. Goodbye."
Once the Marine soldier left,
Xiu opened the room's iron door.
It was a simple room with an attached bathroom,
some everyday necessities,
and a Marine uniform on the table.
Xiu stretched comfortably.
"Well, I'll take a bath first..."
He had barely had a proper bath in three years.
Naturally, this was his top priority!
He quickly cleaned himself up and changed into the Marine uniform.
Standing before the mirror, he admired his new look.
He had short, choppy black hair, and his scarlet eyes shone with a light called composure.
He stood nearly 1.9 meters tall.
Although that still was not particularly tall in the pirate world, it was a standard build.
His lean, muscular body was hidden beneath a standard blue Marine jacket.
He wore dark blue trousers and a pair of ankle boots.
"Just what I'd expect of myself. So handsome!"
Xiu nodded rather narcissistically.
He slipped Ryūjin Jakka into the sword holder at his waist,
then headed toward the mess hall.
However, he had only taken a few steps outside
when a Marine soldier stopped him.
"Xiu, Fleet Admiral Sengoku would like to see you!"
Since Xiu had no rank yet, the soldier could only address him by name.
But anyone who had watched that battle understood
that the boy before them had boundless prospects!
"Understood. Thank you."
With a faint, gentle smile, Xiu replied politely.
Then, under the soldier's guidance, he arrived outside Sengoku's office.
Knock, knock!
"Come in!"
"Uncle, what did you need me for?"
At that distinctive form of address,
Sengoku, who had also changed his clothes, paused with his pen.
He stopped his right hand from reviewing the documents.
"Oh, Xiu. Here's the thing..."
"Well... as you know, you're among the stronger people in the Marines."
No, I don't know.
"You could receive a higher position."
"But that happens to be where the problem lies..."
"You have no military merits!"
Xiu nodded slightly as he listened to Sengoku.
He understood the Marines' promotion system himself.
Generally speaking, ordinary Marine soldiers had to start as an "Errand Boy"
or a "Third-Class Seaman."
After passing through second-class and third-class seaman, they advanced to Corporal, Sergeant, and Chief Petty Officer.
Only then came Warrant Officer, Ensign, Lieutenant, and Captain.
With further military achievements, they could advance to Lieutenant Commander, Commander, and Captain.
Only at the end came the flag officer ranks!
And those started with Commodore!
After that came Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, and finally Admiral!
That was getting off topic.
Still, all those ranks were enough to show how difficult promotion was!
PS: Guys!! The new book has set sail!!
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