Sengoku walked out of his office to welcome Rowan, only to find Tsuru and Gion (Momousagi) already ahead of him.
"Your information network is quite fast!" Sengoku joked, catching up to them.
Rowan's warship glided through the Gates of Justice and docked. Luffy was the first to leap onto the shore. Seeing that his grandfather Garp wasn't there to meet them, a look of disappointment washed over his face.
"Great-Grandpa is back, and Grandpa didn't even come out to say hello? How rude," Luffy pouted.
"Lord Rowan, Vice Admiral Garp has been dispatched to the Sabaody Archipelago for a mission," Sengoku explained as he approached.
Rowan nodded; he didn't care much for formalities. "Rear Admiral Kameji is back, I assume, Sengoku?"
"Yes, he returned a few days ago. He's currently at the training grounds," Sengoku replied.
Rowan stepped off the ship, with Enel trailing behind him like a shadow.
"Lord Rowan!" Gion ran over excitedly and gave him a brief hug. "You're finally back. Leave these minor tasks to others in the future! Wait... who is this?"
Gion's large eyes fixed on Enel, who looked back with an air of immense superiority.
Rowan gently pulled Gion off him and turned to Sengoku. "This is a recruit I brought back. He's got decent strength, though he hasn't learned how to talk to people yet. I'm taking him to the training grounds later to shave off some of that youthful arrogance. Sengoku, make the arrangements. Didn't a few Rear Admirals go missing in the Florian Triangle? This kid can fill one of those vacancies."
Filling a Rear Admiral vacancy...
Sengoku's expression became slightly awkward. Marine promotions required rigorous examinations and a proven track record. Could this stranger really possess that level of power right off the bat?
However, Sengoku never doubted Rowan's eye for talent. He was merely curious. Where does Lord Rowan keep finding these monsters? Is this another unofficial disciple?
He wasn't the only one wondering. Tsuru, standing nearby, observed Enel with her sharp gaze. "If Lord Rowan brought him, there won't be an issue," she said softly.
Naturally, no one objected. Zoro, meanwhile, leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed, squinting at Enel—who was also standing with his arms crossed. The two "disciples" shared a look of mutual, silent disdain.
The Training Grounds: Marine Headquarters.
"It's Lord Rowan!" "And Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" "Vice Admiral Tsuru and Vice Admiral Gion are here too!"
The training ground erupted in whispers as everyone stopped their drills to watch the legendary group enter.
"Don't forget your pole," Rowan whispered to Enel.
Enel gritted his teeth, cursing the "despicable" old man in his head.
"Officers of Captain rank and above, step forward!" Sengoku commanded. Several elite Captains and Commanders stepped out, their towering frames casting intimidating shadows. "Show us the fruits of your daily training!"
The officers exchanged glances, their eyes burning with the desire to prove themselves in front of the high command.
"This is a newcomer Vice Admiral Rowan brought back from the first half of the Grand Line," Sengoku said, stepping back. "Spar with him."
Rowan saw Enel standing there with no intention of moving, so he simply raised a foot and kicked Enel toward the center of the ring!
Enel stumbled forward clumsily, a sight that made Luffy burst into a fit of laughter.
The elite Captains, hearing that the newcomer was from the "Paradise" half of the Grand Line, immediately underestimated him. However, because he was Rowan's pick, they didn't dare be completely reckless.
"To think people of your level wish to spar with a God..." Enel's voice was dripping with contempt.
In an instant, the officers were livid. Who is this brat? A newcomer and this arrogant? Is this really the quality of recruit Lord Rowan brings back?
"Don't bother with the talk. Flatten him first, then he'll learn what 'our level' means," one Captain barked, rolling up his sleeves and lunging at Enel with a massive fist.
"Hmph, foolish." Enel didn't move an inch. He stood still as the fist reached his face...
Zzzzt! "AGGGHHH!"
A series of screams echoed, followed by the distinct, acrid smell of burnt ozone. When the shouting stopped, a smoking, twitching body lay at Enel's feet.
"This... he's an Ability User!"
The crowd was stunned. A few soldiers who had awakened Armament Haki immediately coated their arms in black...
"Shishishi! He really is interesting!" Luffy laughed from the sidelines, his eyes sparkling as he watched the lightning.
"All of you, come at once. This God doesn't have time to waste on a slow grind," Enel yawned.
The Rear Admirals in the crowd were now genuinely enraged. This kid thinks he can look down on us just because he has a Fruit?
"The Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit)... and a Logia type at that. Lord Rowan, you've truly found a treasure this time," Tsuru noted, recognizing the power instantly. If cultivated properly, this power could rival an Admiral.
Sengoku felt a wave of relief. Thank goodness the Old Man brought him here. If this brat had become a pirate, he'd be a nightmare for the world.
"You dare look down on the rank of Rear Admiral?!" "This kid needs a lesson!"
The officers were fuming.
"You are not his match." A calm voice cut through the noise. It was Kameji.
Kameji was the elite among Rear Admirals. If Rowan hadn't reclaimed his rank, Kameji would likely be a Vice Admiral by now. His words carried weight. He looked at Enel and felt a sense of déjà vu—it was the same overwhelming aura he felt when he challenged Rowan.
"Anyone else? Come together."
The words were so similar to Rowan's that Kameji felt the urge to challenge again, even though he now knew his own limits.
"Attack together!" Kameji commanded.
The Rear Admirals didn't hesitate. They transformed their indignation into momentum, swarming Enel from all sides. Above them, the sky suddenly turned pitch black.