Less than five minutes later, with Sakazuki's battleship leading the way, merchant ships flying the flags of the great news agencies eased toward the shore.
Reporters in dark business suits spilled from their cabins, jaws dropping at the ravaged Oval Military Port.
"W-what happened here?"
"Wasn't today the Shichibukai induction?"
"Did someone attack Marine Headquarters?"
"Half the port looks destroyed…"
They traded horrified looks, whispers dovetailing into the clatter of shutters as cameras began to snap without pause.
Sakazuki, cap brim shadowing a grim face, strode straight to Darren. His gaze skimmed Crocodile and the rest before pinning Bullet. "What happened?" he asked, voice like ice. "Who's responsible?"
Darren lifted a shoulder, resignation threaded through his tone. "What else? The Shichibukai couldn't see eye to eye. They started brawling the moment they met."
"So you just let them run wild?" Sakazuki's eyes narrowed to slits, his voice colder still.
"I'd just arrived," Darren said, pointing at Sengoku with a helpless grin. "I was in the middle of mediating."
"But it was Admiral Sengoku who nearly sank the entire port."
Sakazuki went still. Darren could see his expression darken.
"Welcome to Marine Headquarters," Sengoku said, stepping forward to face the assembled press with a genial smile. "On behalf of all Marines, I extend our warmest greetings."
"The induction ceremony will begin shortly. Please proceed to the Highest Military Conference Room in the Fleet Admiral's Office."
---
The Military Conference Room.
A Marine guard showed Darren to his seat.
Sengoku's glance felt a shade resentful—perhaps Darren was imagining it, perhaps not.
The seating had been reworked into a tiered lecture hall. A temporary rostrum with a microphone stood at the front, facing a long rectangular conference table.
Six Shichibukai sat in a row at the massive table, bodies and auras starkly different, each wearing a unique expression.
The observation seats were filled with senior officers, Sengoku at their head. Dozens of famed journalists had their cameras already leveled, faces flushed with the nearness of history.
"Who's going to officiate?" one reporter whispered.
"Ordinarily it'd be the Fleet Admiral, 'Steel Bone' Kong."
"No—Kong's in the Holy Land reporting to the Government. Sengoku has most of his duties here now."
"So Sengoku's in charge after all?"
"Looks like it."
…
Sengoku cleared his throat and took the stage.
He drew a long breath and arranged a stiff smile. "Normally, I would preside over this Shichibukai investiture."
"However, I believe the younger generation may have more in common with our new allies. Therefore, Vice Admiral Rogers Darren of Marine Headquarters will oversee the ceremony."
Drowsy eyes sharpened along the Shichibukai bench—some brightening, some sneering, some grinding their teeth, some merely intrigued.
Darren froze, glancing at Tsuru.
She wore a resigned look, lifted a hand for silence, and murmured, "Fleet Admiral Kong called. He was furious when he heard Sengoku nearly destroyed the port and ordered the change."
Ah. So that's why Sengoku had been shooting him that particular look.
"Darren, you look awesome! Get up there already!" Kuzan whooped, pumping a fist.
Shaking his head, Darren straightened his tie, rose, and walked onto the platform.
He took the microphone from Sengoku as the Admiral muttered through clenched teeth, "Young Darren, I've gone to great lengths for you."
"After all I've sacrificed, you owe me, don't you?"
Darren's mouth twitched. He forced a pleasant smile. "I'm deeply grateful for Admiral Sengoku's support. I can never repay your kindness, but I'll see to the port's reconstruction personally—at my own expense."
Sengoku's face gentled into a satisfied grin. He clapped Darren's shoulder and turned to the room, beaming. "A thunderous round of applause for Marine Headquarters' rising star—my most trusted right hand—Vice Admiral Darren!"
Darren began clapping. The room followed.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The ovation swelled into a storm.
Under the strobe of flashbulbs, Darren held a composed smile. "My thanks to Admiral Sengoku for this trust. It's an honor."
The room hushed; only keyboards rattled and shutters clicked.
"The Shichibukai system is a historic strategy of the World Government, enacted by Marine Headquarters. It recruits powerful combatants to reinforce our ranks and counter the growing pirate threat."
"Per its charter, a candidate's bounty is revoked upon appointment."
He let a wry note edge his smile as he glanced at the six seated below.
"Let us congratulate them. From this moment, they stand as loyal allies of the Marines and the World Government."
Applause rolled again.
Crocodile and the others stiffened slightly, unpleasant memories tugging at their faces.
"All right," Darren said, "let's announce codenames for the new Shichibukai."
Every Marine in the gallery came to attention.
"Donquixote Doflamingo—former bounty, 250 million berries. Shichibukai codename: Flamingo."
"Crocodile—former bounty, 281 million berries. Shichibukai codename: Sand Crocodile."
"Moria—bounty, 218 million berries. Shichibukai codename: Moonlight Bat."
"Dracule Mihawk—bounty, 369 million berries. Shichibukai codename: Hawk-Eyes."
"Fisher Tiger—bounty, 263 million berries. Shichibukai codename: Blood Dragon."
"Douglas Bullet—former bounty, 2.174 billion berries. Shichibukai codename: Demon Heir."
Darren leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing in a predator's smile. "Congratulations. Welcome to the ranks."
He turned to the press and opened a hand. "We'll now take questions. Please, go ahead."
Silence held for a beat.
Then hands shot up like blades of grass. Darren pointed at one.
"I'm with the New World Scandal Sheet," the reporter said, eyes burning behind a tidy moustache. "It's quite a coincidence that four of the six appointed Shichibukai have only one arm. Rumor says you, Vice Admiral Darren, were responsible for those losses. Is it true?"
Crocodile and the others scowled in unison. Gasps rippled; flashbulbs strobed. Every curious, gossiping eye locked on the tall, handsome Vice Admiral at the podium.
The flashes quickened.
Darren sighed inwardly. "It was a misunderstanding in the course of negotiations," he said evenly. "We've already reconciled."
He paused, then said, firm and clear, "But to answer your question… yes. I did it."
The conference room went deathly silent for a heartbeat.
Then erupted into chaos.
To be continued...