One Piece : From Slave to Fleet Admiral

The May sunlight wasn't as scorching as midsummer, but it was still bright and glaring.

Inside Jake's dorm, the windows were shut tight, the room was cool and comfortable.

The next moment, violent knocking erupted at the door, accompanied by Monet's excited voice.

"Jake! Wake up! Look, the new newspaper is out! Our story from yesterday made the front page! Your photo even got the biggest section! And me! I got a small spot on the left too!"

The door was pushed open as Monet barged in.

Seeing Jake still half-asleep, she sighed helplessly, grabbed his shoulders and started shaking him vigorously while urging him.

"Hurry up and get up! This is the first time we've ever been in the newspaper. Don't look so lifeless!"

As Monet shook him, Jake gradually woke up and the words on the newspaper came into focus.

The bold headlines read.

"The Dawn of the Great Marine Era! The New Generation of Marine's Leaders! The Future Beacon of the Marines!"

"The Mysterious Mythical Zoan User! The Seraph Who Will End the Dark Age of Pirates?!"

"The First Direct Clash Between a Yonko Crew and the Marine?! The Era of Justice is Coming!"

Looking at the striking headlines, Jake's lips curled into an unsurprised smile.

Clickbait was everywhere, but he hadn't expected their headline styles to be so similar.

When Jake's gaze landed on the most eye-catching photo in the newspaper, the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably.

It was a photo of Jake and Katakuri locked in combat.

In the image, Jake's entire body was bathed in a faint golden light, like angelic feathers drifting down from behind him in a myth.

A holy cross hovered above his head and with the crouched camera angle Jake had deliberately chosen, at first glance, he looked like an angel descended to cleanse the world of sin.

Katakuri's entire body was shrouded in black Armament Haki and both men were drenched in blood.

Around them, snowflakes clashed against butter, while in the corners of the photograph lay piles of pirates and marines—unconscious or perhaps dead.

At first glance, the scene resembled a hellish meat grinder of carnage.

Standing atop this slaughterhouse, Jake radiated an aura of sanctity and compassion, his body bathed in holy light.

To any observer, he appeared as nothing less than the savior of the world!

Gazing at the photograph, Jake couldn't help but chuckle.

"Monet, your photography skills are truly exceptional. To capture such a scene—I almost can't believe the person in this picture is actually me."

"Oh, it's just some simple techniques~"

As the two discussed the newspaper, Kizaru's playfully exaggerated voice suddenly chimed in.

"Yoo-hoo~ Hope I'm not interrupting anything~"

Hearing that unmistakably sleazy tone, both of them immediately straightened up and turned toward the doorway, exclaiming in unison.

"Borsalino-sensei!"

"No need for such formality~ This old man isn't as stern as Sakazuki. I came to ask about the newspaper—no need to tense up. Sit, sit~"

As he spoke, Kizaru slightly hunched his three-meter frame, though the gesture barely made him seem less towering.

Rather than sitting beside Jake's bed, Kizaru chose the empty bed opposite.

Dust puffed into the air as his massive frame settled onto the aged mattress, making him wave a hand dismissively through the dust with a sigh.

"Quite the rundown place you've got here. Well, not like you'll be staying long anyway. Jake, because of your little stunt, Sakazuki and I got chewed out by Fleet Admiral Sengoku until we were practically bleeding from the ears. So scary~ Even Zephyr's lectures never stung this much"

Scratching his cheek, Kizaru heaved another theatrical sigh before continuing.

"Jake, I'd already called Sengoku before the paper went to print. Thought if we outpaced the news cycle, it wouldn't count as withholding information. But ah—Fleet Admiral's standards are terrifyingly strict. The moment he realized we hadn't briefed him first, he ignored all my prepared explanations and just... erupted."

"Asked if we took him for a fool. 'Think I can't spot your little games?' Then he said—get this—'If you can rush to Gourmet Town this fast, I expect that speed on every mission from now on. Slower than this? You'll know what happen!.'"

"Now I'm in real trouble. I practically broke speed records getting here. If every mission requires this kind of speed, this old man might just work himself to death."

Throughout this lament, Kizaru shot Jake a look that blended whining accusation with his usual lecherous eyes.

Jake could only offer an awkward chuckle, at a loss for words.

Shaking his head Kizaru finally allowed a slow, knowing smile to spread across his face.

"However, I didn't get scolded for long. Once I realized Fleet Admiral Sengoku was going to keep lecturing, I just dumped everything on Sakazuki's head. Right now, Sakazuki is probably getting an earful from the Fleet Admiral.

Though I feel a bit bad, I really didn't want to endure that kind of scolding from Sengoku. Sakazuki is two years younger than me, after all—his mental resilience is better than mine. Let him handle it."

Upon hearing Kizaru's words, Monet and Jake both shivered involuntarily.

This was bad.

They were definitely going to get a call from a furious Akainu soon—both of them knew his temper well enough to expect a blistering reprimand.

Kizaru seemed to read their thoughts, his lips quirking up slightly before he drawled in his usual sly tone.

"Don't worry about Sakazuki coming to yell at you—at least not today. Fleet Admiral Sengoku can be quite the chatterbox. He might just keep lecturing Sakazuki from morning till the next day."

Hearing this, Jake and Monet grew even more anxious.

Kizaru, meanwhile, grinned wider and continued.

"But aside from that, there's another reason I came to see you. The ship originally scheduled to pick you up for headquarters in mid-June has been moved up—it'll arrive in three days.

Be ready.

This early transfer is on the direct orders of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Commander-in-Chief Kong. Make sure you perform well—don't embarrass me or Sakazuki, alright?"