One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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Quiet!

The entire world plunged into an eerie silence.

On the live screen, everything that had just unfolded at Marineford was fully displayed.

Including the sight of the Marine Vice Admiral, now lying in a pool of blood.

Gulp.

The sound of someone swallowing broke the unbearable tension, snapping everyone back to reality.

"My God, the Fleet Admiral actually executed his Vice Admiral subordinate in public! Did you see that?"

"How could this happen? Was I hallucinating?"

"No, it's real. That Vice Admiral violated justice by killing the innocent mayor's family, so he was shot."

"Hiss... but isn't this a bit extreme? All this for just a small-town mayor?"

"This is Marine? It's so different from pirates."

"I don't know why, but I feel excited now. The Fleet Admiral looked so righteous."

"I've met bad Marines before, they don't represent true justice."

The crowd erupted into excitement.

No one expected that the Marines would go this far to seek justice for ordinary citizens like them.

For this, the Fleet Admiral didn't hesitate to execute a Vice Admiral right on the spot to preserve the purity of justice.

At that moment, everyone's eyes on Akira, displayed on the screen, became filled with admiration and awe.

In their hearts, Akira was now entirely synonymous with "selflessness" and "absolute justice."

The Marine soldiers watching the live broadcast reacted even more intensely.

"Well done, Fleet Admiral! A Vice Admiral who brings shame to justice should be dealt with decisively."

"I support the Fleet Admiral. If we let scum like him live, it undermines the justice we risk our lives for every day."

"Though shooting him on the spot seems harsh, I'm sure the people are pleased to hear it."

"Besides, that guy deserved to die. It's one thing to dishonor a woman—pay her or marry her—but to murder her entire innocent family? That's unforgivable."

"Exactly. It's clear he didn't care about the people at all."

"Justice will prevail! With Fleet Admiral Akira in charge, I firmly believe that the Marines will always uphold true justice."

After shaking off their initial shock, the Marine soldiers were just as excited as the civilians. Akira's decisive action sent a clear message: as a Marine, no one— not even a Vice Admiral— will be spared if they betray justice.

This reignited the passion in many soldiers who had joined the Marines with the intent of fighting for justice. At this moment, they felt it was all worth it.

Being part of the Marines and fighting for justice was truly worth it!

The Marines, a powerful organization, would not betray the expectations of the people.

However, not everyone was pleased.

Among the higher-ranking officers, some wore grim expressions.

"Damn it! Is this really happening? Did he just kill a Vice Admiral for the sake of a civilian family?"

"This is terrifying. If the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau digs into my past, I'm finished!"

"Ugh... this is going too far."

"There are pirates with blood on their hands locked up in Impel Down, and we Marines are being executed for our crimes? Akira's actions are unfair!"

"Damn it, if I knew this would happen, I'd have supported Sengoku becoming Fleet Admiral. He wouldn't have done anything like this."

In private offices, those officers with skeletons in their closets were panicking. The confident and domineering attitudes they once displayed had vanished, replaced by fear.

All of them now had to acknowledge the reality of the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau's power.

They silently vowed to change their behavior when dealing with civilians, realizing the stakes had never been higher.

As they looked at Akira on the screen, their eyes were filled with fear.

Before today, Akira had always seemed like a calm and calculating leader, focused on finances and rewarding his subordinates generously.

As for his authority as Fleet Admiral? His iron will? What was that?

But now, none of them would ever doubt his strength or resolve again.

Nobody cared about the Vice Admiral who had been killed. Under the influence of the Truth-Truth Fruit, he had confessed all his crimes, and in the eyes of many, he deserved to die.

Moreover, as a representative of justice, the Marines are admired and treated well by the people, but to turn against the very civilians they are sworn to protect? That could never be tolerated.

In the end, the deed was done. The Vice Admiral was dead, and no amount of protesting could bring him back.

Across the Four Seas and the Grand Line, countless criminals and pirates were also watching the live broadcast. After all, this was a live interrogation regarding the whereabouts of Roger's One Piece, and no pirate would want to miss that.

From small-time pirates with bounties of a few million berries to the likes of Kaido, Big Mom, and even Whitebeard, the greatest of pirates, everyone was watching from kingdoms around the world.

Though they were pirates, they couldn't help but be shocked by the sight of a Marine executing a Vice Admiral so decisively.

Kaido of the Beasts: "Even though those Marine scum are a bunch of liars, I gotta admit, his methods are tough."

Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin: "Mamamama, such a strong man! I wouldn't mind having a child with him."

"Damn it! If the Marines had been this righteous when Kong was in charge, I wouldn't have gone to sea!"

"How can a Marine like this be even more terrifying?"

"I'm starting to believe that everything happening with the Marines today is real."

In a certain town, Whitebeard and his sons were also glued to the live broadcast, and the expression on Whitebeard's face grew complicated.

Marco and the others were stunned by the Vice Admiral's execution. They stood frozen, mouths agape in shock.

"It seems Akira is dead set on ending the era of One Piece today," Whitebeard muttered, taking a deep breath.

His gaze drifted to a corner of the room, where a few other pirates and lawbreakers had gathered to watch the broadcast as well. Their reactions mirrored Marco's—silent, baffled, and shaken.

Whitebeard's thoughts traveled back to the past. Even when the Marines had captured nobles and pirates, forcing them to confess their crimes under the influence of the Truth-Truth Fruit, the stubborn pirates refused to believe. They were convinced the confessions were staged or that the Marines were threatening the captives with their lives to deceive the world.

Akira's motive was easy to deduce. As a Marine, he was trying to broadcast about One Piece in front of the entire world. There was no way he'd admit that the treasure of the Pirate King really existed. His goal was likely to shatter Roger's final declaration.

For pirates like Whitebeard and his crew, that idea was unacceptable.

Despite the fact that most people, including Whitebeard himself, believed the Marines had indeed found a Devil Fruit capable of forcing honesty, many clung to their theories, however flimsy they seemed. Even veterans like Jozu and Vista had doubts.

But now... as the body of a Marine Vice Admiral fell before their eyes, their convictions wavered.

At this moment, even Whitebeard couldn't deceive himself any longer.

The Marines really had found the a fruit which will force people to be honest.

---

In the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.

In the Room of Authority, the Five Elders were also watching the broadcast intently. Given the scope and significance of the event, it was impossible for them to ignore it.

"Executing a Headquarters Vice Admiral... that's going too far," muttered the Warrior God of Environment, shaking his head disapprovingly. It was clear he didn't agree with Akira's decision to carry out the execution so publicly.

However, what's done is done.

The event helped bolster the credibility of the Truth-Truth Fruit in the eyes of the world, so the elder didn't overreact.

But while he kept his disapproval subtle, the Warrior God of Science and Defense was less restrained in his reaction.

"As Fleet Admiral of the Marines, does Akira even realize this will tarnish the credibility and dignity of Marine Headquarters?" The Warrior God of Science and Defense's eyes were filled with anger as he spoke in a low, menacing tone. "If this damages the image of the World Government, can he bear the consequences?"

"Indeed, I think it's inappropriate as well," another elder chimed in. "There were better ways to handle this, like eliminating the problem in secret."

"Perhaps his goal is to completely put an end to One Piece. I don't see any reason to make a fuss over it."

"Forget it. It's just the execution of a Vice Admiral. As Fleet Admiral, he should have the freedom to act as he sees fit."

The other three voiced their thoughts, though they all had their criticisms of Akira's methods, none thought it was a serious issue. After all, the Vice Admiral was guilty and deserved punishment. There was no need to get worked up over someone like him.

What truly mattered to them was the preservation of their own status and the World Government's image. Akira's actions, while aggressive, had led the Marines to almost completely end the era of great piracy within just a year, and that had earned them immense praise.

So, apart from the temperamental Warrior God of Science and Defense, the other four Elders shrugged off the execution as a minor offense.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted their conversation.

"What is Marine up to?"

A figure stepped forward from the shadows—a tall, slender figure wearing a crown. The presence was unmistakable.

The Five Elders froze in place, immediately recognizing the figure. They quickly regained their composure, stood from their seats, and without hesitation, knelt down on one knee.

"Master Im!" they greeted in unison.

---

At Marineford.

Crunch.

"Come out, Silvers Rayleigh," Akira's voice echoed as the exit to the secret passage was opened.

Rayleigh, after adjusting to the glaring sunlight, exhaled deeply as he stepped out. His face was serious, tinged with a mix of concern and frustration.

Seeing that the Marines had executed a Vice Admiral in order to prove the power of the Truth-Truth Fruit, Rayleigh's heart sank. It was clear now—Marine's plans were far more ambitious than he had expected.

He could already guess the real purpose behind today's events.

"Come out, the right hand of the Pirate King, Silvers Rayleigh," Akira declared, his voice booming across the square.

"Today's most important figure... the one who will capture the attention of the entire world."

"Will he be the one to use his words to bring an end to the era of great pirates?"

A murmur swept through the crowd. The Marines, officers, and soldiers in the square all turned their eyes to Rayleigh, their gazes filled with intensity and anticipation.