On the warship, Admiral Akainu carried a charred humanoid figure and turned to Zephyr, asking,
"Instructor Zephyr, are you saying this old woman used to be a member of the Rocks Pirates?"
Zephyr nodded, replying,
"That's right. Didn't she just say she's Miss Buckingham Stussy? I remember seeing her back in the Valley of Gods, sitting on Whitebeard's shoulder."
Sighing, Zephyr couldn't help but lament,
"Time spares no one. I can't believe how much she has changed."
Akainu, uninterested in beauty or ugliness, shook his hand. Miss Buckingham's charred body disintegrated into black fragments and scattered with the wind.
The surrounding cadets involuntarily swallowed hard at the scene.
Zephyr shook his head with a wry smile, then walked to the ship's edge and shouted toward Kizaru in the distance,
"Borsalino! How long are you planning to stand there? It's time to head back!"
Weevil's grotesquely mangled corpse floated on the sea. His massive head had been obliterated, and his neck was charred black.
During the battle, Weevil had displayed his incredible durability and resilience. However, his head had been blown apart by Akainu, after first being sliced off by Kizaru's blade. The two attacks landed almost simultaneously.
At this moment, Kizaru stood on Weevil's torso, scratching his chin and murmuring,
"Kowai ne~ What a monster. I don't recall someone like him roaming the seas."
Zephyr's voice carried over from behind, and Kizaru shrugged helplessly before turning into scattered particles of light, flying back toward the warship.
When Kizaru reformed on the deck, he spread his hands and said,
"Instructor Zephyr, that guy wasn't simple. Do you know who he was?"
Weevil had indeed put up a fight, holding out for several rounds against the combined might of Akainu and Kizaru.
Zephyr frowned and replied,
"I've never heard of him, but Miss Buckingham said he's her son, Edward Weevil."
Raising an eyebrow, Zephyr speculated,
"Could it be... Weevil is Whitebeard's son?"
Everyone froze at the thought. If true, it would be a major news bombshell.
After all, the Whitebeard Pirates were at their peak, and Whitebeard himself was hailed as the Strongest Pirate in the World.
Hearing this, Kizaru suddenly became intrigued and said,
"Then his body shouldn't go to waste. Dr. Vegapunk would be very interested."
Zephyr chuckled,
"Borsalino, it seems you and that genius scientist get along quite well."
"Well, considering Kuma and I often went on 'tours' while under his care, I don't think he ever reported us... Uh, Instructor Zephyr, don't give me that look."
Zephyr shook his head in exasperation and waved dismissively,
"Forget it. I can't deal with you now. Have someone fish Weevil's body out of the water."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Binz stepped forward and shouted,
"Reporting! Please allow me to handle this mission!"
Zephyr nodded, and Binz immediately took out a handful of seeds, scattering them around. Under the curious gazes of Akainu and Kizaru, he began an awkward dance.
As Binz moved, the seeds on the ground sprouted into green vines, slithering like serpents and wrapping around Weevil's corpse before hauling it onto the ship.
Kizaru couldn't help but remark,
"This ability pairs really well with Aramaki."
Akainu silently nodded in agreement.
...
Year 1516 of the Sea Calendar
Kong was finally transferred from the Navy by the World Government to become the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
This decision had been delayed for quite some time. Kong should have been transferred long ago, but the World Government hesitated because Kong's departure would leave the Fleet Admiral position vacant.
After the Roger incident, it was clear that the position of Fleet Admiral was meant for Carl. However, Carl remained in his mysterious slumber.
The World Government had initially planned to delay further, but the emergence of a new Emperor of the Sea forced their hand.
The new Emperor, Shanks, was the youngest of the Yonko and had risen swiftly.
Kong, at his advanced age, struggled to manage the evolving situation, especially with the "Four Emperors" now firmly established.
Ultimately, after much insistence from Kong, the World Government appointed Sengoku the Buddha as the Acting Fleet Admiral.
The title "Acting Fleet Admiral" was the World Government's last act of defiance.
Their official reasoning was that the current sea's chaotic state required extra caution in selecting a permanent Fleet Admiral.
However, it was evident to anyone paying attention that the World Government was reluctant to let Sengoku officially assume the role.
Even within the Navy, there were dissenting voices. For example, Admiral Aokiji openly stated multiple times that the position of Fleet Admiral should belong to the Black Dragon, Carl.
Akainu and Kizaru were more pragmatic. The two silently traveled to Mary Geoise to meet Garling, hoping he would intervene.
Garling's response was straightforward:
"As long as Carl awakens, not only will Sengoku step aside, but any interim title will be nullified. Carl will reclaim what's his."
Returning to Marineford, Akainu and Kizaru shared this with Aokiji, calming his objections. From then on, the three Admirals adopted a neutral stance regarding Sengoku's appointment.
Meanwhile, Aramaki, who should have been promoted to Admiral alongside Aokiji, had his appointment blocked by one of the Gorosei.
When Aokiji protested on Aramaki's behalf, Aramaki merely said,
"Let's wait for Carl to awaken before making any moves."
Having spent time in CP0, Aramaki was far more attuned to the intricacies of politics than Aokiji.
-----------
+210 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg