Two more days passed, and the other two trials were completed as well.
The results turned out exactly as Roya had predicted.
After Akainu was defeated by him, the two remaining promotions went to Aokiji and Kizaru.
Together with Roya, the three of them—with Roya at the center—made their way to Sengoku's office.
Along the way, every Marine soldier who saw them bowed respectfully.
Kizaru turned to Roya beside him and asked, "Roya, have you thought of your codename yet?"
All Admiral candidates had their own codenames.
Like Kizaru, Momousagi, and others.
Only Roya, who was about to become an Admiral, hadn't settled on his yet.
"Admiral Kizaru, I've already decided."
True to his reputation for smoothness, Kizaru immediately responded, "Admiral Roya, we're both Admirals now. You can just call me by my name or codename."
Aokiji chimed in as well, "That's right, Admiral Roya. You're the strongest among us! Both of us were there watching your abilities, and we were truly humbled."
"Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru, please don't flatter me too much. I've decided on my codename—it'll be 'White Dove.'"
The white dove symbolizes freedom and peace, gentle yet powerful—just like Roya. It suited him perfectly.
"Well then, Admiral White Dove, we look forward to working with you."
"If you ever need any help, just let us know."
Both Aokiji and Aokiji spoke to Roya in this manner.
Aokiji had befriended Roya due to his connection with Sengoku, while Kizaru simply found Roya worth associating with.
As the representative of the neutral faction—no, the "lazy justice" faction—Kizaru's ability to navigate relationships was truly masterful.
Watching the two of them play off each other, Roya thought to himself: I never imagined I'd one day join the Marines and become an Admiral. But this seems like an interesting experience.
He now essentially had two identities at sea.
One was the mysterious figure who constantly opposed the Marines, and the other was the much-anticipated Admiral White Dove!
Whichever identity he needed to use in the future, both would prove extremely convenient.
Just as Roya was thinking this, an electronic voice sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for checking in at Sengoku's office. Reward obtained: Peak Swordsman Realm!]
As the system's voice faded, Roya felt a warmth spread through his body, and vast insights into swordsmanship flooded his mind.
Just as Roya had previously speculated, Sengoku's office counted as a rather famous location.After all, it had appeared quite frequently in the original work.
After quickly digesting these realizations, Roya slowly pushed open the door to Sengoku's office.
Sengoku had been waiting there for quite some time.
Seated in his Fleet Admiral's chair, Sengoku gazed solemnly at the three individuals before him.
"Gentlemen, the three of you are the strongest candidates selected through the rigorous promotion trials, possessing the true strength of Admirals. Especially you, Roya—you've truly broadened my horizons. With your presence, I believe we can eradicate the pirates from the seas even sooner."
"Roya, have you decided on your epithet?"
"White Dove."
"White Dove—excellent!"
Sengoku nodded approvingly, then proceeded to formalize the Admiral appointments for White Dove, Kizaru, and Aokiji.
As always, it was the newspaper magnate Morgans who first got wind of the news.
Across the seas, anyone who purchased a newspaper from the News Coo saw the results of the Navy's major reshuffle.
Amidst this overhaul, many turned their attention to the sudden emergence of the new Admiral, White Dove Roya!
Some believed Roya's strength was unparalleled, far surpassing the other two Admirals.
After all, the fact that he had effortlessly defeated Akainu spoke volumes.
Others argued that Akainu had simply been too careless, and that allowing an "outsider" to join the Navy and rise to the rank of Admiral was a sign of the Navy's decline.
Regardless of the opinions, everyone committed the name and appearance of White Dove Roya to memory.
Just as Sengoku finished speaking and the three were about to leave, Roya caught sight of a report on the desk.
The report detailed Nezumi's governance issues in Cocoyasi Village.
[Ding! Sign-in mission issued: Cocoyasi Village. Reward: Noah's Ark. Time limit: 7 days!]
Noah's Ark!
Roya knew this was the Ship of Promise. Given the current timeline, it should be lying dormant near Fish-Man Island.
The mere thought of Noah's Ark's colossal hull made Roya eager to complete the sign-in at Cocoyasi Village.
"Roya, is there something else on your mind?"
Noticing Roya's hesitation, Sengoku addressed him directly.
Roya turned to face Sengoku and nodded slightly. "Fleet Admiral, I do have a concern."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"Since I joined suddenly and was previously an unknown figure, I worry this might have a negative impact on the Navy."
"Whatever the impact, you are now a Navy Admiral!"
Roya adopted a thoughtful expression before continuing, "Fleet Admiral, I'd like to request a month's leave to establish my reputation firmly."
"You plan to go pirate hunting?!"
"Yes. Many pirates plunder and kill indiscriminately. To prevent tragedies like the one in my hometown from recurring, I intend to spend this month delivering the harshest blows to them."
Roya's words struck a chord with Sengoku, who immediately stood up and slammed the desk. "Excellent! Roya, I'm truly delighted by your resolve. It proves I didn't misjudge you. Do you need any assistance? How many troops will you require?""No need for soldiers, just give me a battleship."
"I see you and Kalifa get along quite well. How about making Kalifa your deputy? As for the battleship, I'll assign you an Admiral-class Battleship."
"Thank you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"Not at all, it's nothing!"
After leaving Sengoku's office, a satisfied smile appeared on Roya's lips.
Having been cooped up in Marineford for so many days, it was indeed time to go out for a change.
After all, only by continuously checking in could he grow stronger!
To live freely on these vast seas, only power could determine his own destiny!
As he stepped out of the building, a shadow flickered past...