"So this is the new Marine Admiral."
"He really is just like the rumors say—he never does things the conventional way."
Gion raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"If I hadn’t seen him myself..."
"I wouldn’t have believed the exceptionally appointed Fourth Admiral would be so young."
The veteran Marines behind her froze.
None of them had expected Gion, who by all rights should have been the one to object, to actually praise him.
Chaton also laughed.
"Gion, you’re right."
"The Fourth Admiral is indeed much younger than the other three."
"As for his strength..."
"That’s another matter."
"You and I have both sat in the Admiral Candidate position for three to five years."
"Yet neither of us was promoted when Headquarters decided to create a Fourth Admiral."
"Instead, a newcomer overtook us overnight."
"To be honest..."
"I’m not exactly happy about that."
"Still..."
"I believe Fleet Admiral Sengoku had his reasons."
"I’ll put the bigger picture first."
Everyone present looked surprised.
They had assumed Chaton had returned to the Red Line because, as an Admiral Candidate, he was dissatisfied with Lucas’s sudden promotion.
Instead...
He seemed to let it go with a smile.
"Vice Admiral Chaton, thank you for your understanding."
"I’m sure it won’t be long before Admiral Lucas’s reputation echoes throughout the seas."
"He definitely won’t disgrace Marine Headquarters."
Ain took a deep breath before stepping forward.
Although Lucas’s unconventional behavior had constantly given the rule-abiding Ain headaches...
She knew she could never repay the favor he’d shown her through strength.
The only thing she could do...
Was speak up for him.
Tina and Smoker also stepped forward, intending to smooth things over.
However...
The instant they moved—
The smile on Chaton’s face vanished.
The muscles in his legs suddenly tensed.
Boom!
He shot forward like a cannonball.
Only his cold voice remained behind.
"I’ll respect Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s decision."
"But where Gion is concerned..."
"I have to settle this."
"If he wants to sit securely in the Admiral’s seat..."
"He needs strength worthy of everyone’s respect."
The air rippled violently.
The several dozen meters separating them disappeared in the blink of an eye.
By the time everyone reacted...
Chaton had already appeared within three or four meters of Lucas.
"Chaton!"
"Don’t do anything reckless!"
Gion’s expression changed.
She had never expected him to attack under such a pretext.
"Don’t worry."
"I know my limits."
"If he can’t even handle this much..."
"What right does he have to be an Admiral?"
Without looking back, jet-black Armament Haki instantly covered both of Chaton’s fists.
His fingers clenched tightly.
Then...
He threw a heavy punch straight toward Lucas’s back.
"Admiral Lucas, watch out!"
Tina, Ain, and the others all cried out in alarm.
Watch out?
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
His consciousness withdrew from the system space as he casually glanced behind him.
The first thing he saw...
Was Chaton charging straight at him.
The three or four meters between them disappeared in less than a breath.
The Haki-clad fist smashed downward with a deafening roar.
Everyone held their breath.
Looking at Lucas...
Who remained standing there as though completely stunned...
Even Gion couldn’t help shouting,
"Lucas!"
"Dodge!"
Yet...
Even after her warning...
Lucas remained exactly where he was.
He didn’t move an inch.
Even Chaton was surprised.
Unfortunately...
His punch had already been thrown.
He couldn’t withdraw it now.
Could it be...
The kid really hadn’t reacted?
Bang!
The punch landed with a thunderous crash that echoed across the square.
The resulting shockwave exploded outward, whipping up fierce winds.
Yet...
Everyone’s pupils suddenly shrank.
Expressions of utter disbelief filled their faces.
The punch that had seemed unstoppable...
Had come to an abrupt halt just a few inches in front of Lucas.
No—
More accurately...
It had been blocked by a translucent golden barrier.
Lucas casually took another bite of his roujiamo before speaking through a mouthful of food.
"Let me think..."
"You’re Chaton, right?"
"The guy who’s been rejected a hundred times."
"I’d advise you to get out of the way."
"Otherwise..."
"If Kannon decides to chop you..."
"Even I won’t be able to stop it."
The inexplicable remark left Chaton momentarily stunned.
Then he snorted coldly.
"So it’s a Devil Fruit ability?"
"If you think some little trick like this can stop me without lifting a finger..."
"You’re looking down on me too much."
"I only used forty percent of my strength just now."
"I’d like to see how long your turtle shell can hold."
The air vibrated once more.
Chaton’s fists tightened again.
Armament Haki surged outward, causing even the surrounding atmosphere to tremble.
Just as he prepared to attack again—
Brilliant golden light suddenly erupted.
It resembled...
Golden radiance illuminating the heavens.
Chaton’s vision blurred for a split second.
When he instinctively shook his head to clear it...
He froze completely.
Towering behind Lucas...
Was a gigantic Thousand-Armed Kannon, nearly eight meters tall.
Bathed in golden light...
Its countless palms descended like a torrential storm.
Was...
Kannon really about to chop someone?
At that instant...
An overwhelming sense of danger flooded Chaton’s entire body.
"Full Body Armament Haki!"
He roared.
Jet-black Haki instantly spread across his entire body.
Only after completing his defense—
Did the endless golden palm strikes descend.
Boom!
The impacts sounded like heavenly war drums.
After ten strikes...
The fully Haki-clad Chaton was forced back seven or eight meters.
After fifty strikes...
He had already been driven back over twenty meters.
Then...
A hundred palm strikes rained down in succession.
The countless golden palms resembled an overwhelming tidal wave crashing from the sky.
A golden tsunami.
BOOM!!
A figure shot backward like a cannonball.
The resulting explosion sent hurricane-force shockwaves sweeping across the entire square.
The ground where Chaton had originally stood...
Collapsed over an area spanning dozens of meters.
Gion immediately rushed forward, hoping to catch him.
Unfortunately...
By the time she reacted...
Chaton had already flown past her like a shell.
Bang!
He smashed directly into her warship.
The tremendous impact violently rocked the entire vessel.
The thick deck exploded apart on the spot.
Towering waves surged into the sky.
Wood splinters scattered everywhere.
Cold seawater rained down over more than half the plaza beneath the lingering shockwave.
The sudden scene...
Left everyone completely dumbfounded.
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