Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

The old order is crumbling.

The new order has not yet been fully established.

Various forces are vying, colliding, and fighting fiercely on this turbulent ocean full of unknowns and dangers, trying to seize their own interests in this unprecedented reshuffle, or... simply to survive.

As the most powerful violent machine in the hands of world governments to maintain the existing order, the navy has undoubtedly faced unprecedented pressure and severe challenges in this massive global transformation!

Their prestige has been shaken like never before!

Their forces were stretched thin and exhausted as they had to deal with threats from the Four Emperors, the Revolutionary Army, the Cross Guild, and various other pirate forces at the same time!

Their internal affairs were also turbulent due to conflicts of ideas, factional struggles, and uncertainty about the future, resulting in a lack of unity among the people.

Faced with this dire situation of internal and external troubles and looming crises, the Navy... urgently needs stronger forces, a more resolute will, and more decisive leadership to maintain its crumbling "justice" and "order" and to deal with this utterly out-of-control and insane era!

And at this very moment, a crucial opportunity that might change the future of the navy quietly emerged.

The Marine Headquarters, for some unknown reason (for example, perhaps an elderly admiral, or one seriously wounded in a previous battle, chose to retire or resign? Or perhaps Fleet Admiral Akainu deliberately created an admiral vacancy to further strengthen his control over the Navy and promote his cronies? Or perhaps, to cope with the increasingly severe external threats, he decided to create new admiral positions?), has actually... created a vacancy for a Marine Admiral!!!

Navy Admiral!

That is the highest fighting force of the Navy Headquarters! It is a true monster, second only to the Fleet Admiral, possessing terrifying power capable of destroying the world! It is the pinnacle of dreams that countless naval soldiers and officers can only dream of reaching in their entire lives!

The appointment of each naval admiral is enough to shake the entire world! It will have a profound impact on the future power structure!

And now, this position, which represents the highest honor and power in the navy, is... vacant?!

Although the news was kept strictly confidential by the Navy Headquarters, it still spread rapidly among the Navy's top brass through various secret channels, causing a huge uproar!

Countless capable, ambitious, and well-connected naval vice admirals are eager to try their hand at this!

A fierce, bloody internal competition for the position of admiral is about to begin!

Kai, on the other hand, has made outstanding contributions over the years (such as his outstanding performance in the Marineford War, his iron-fisted governance of the G-5 branch, his intelligence contributions in the Whole Cake Island incident, and his "heroic" performance in the pursuit of the former Shichibukai, etc.)!

With his terrifying strength, which has reached the top level of the Navy and even surpassed the current admiral in some aspects (especially his top-level Observation Haki that can see through everything and even predict the future to a certain extent, and his Armament Haki that seems to have broken through and improved after the "sensory collision" with Hawkeye Mihawk, which can cover the whole body and is indestructible)!

And his ruthless and unscrupulous style of doing things is relatively in line with Fleet Admiral Akainu's ideal of "complete justice"!

He... has become... one of the strongest candidates for the position of Admiral in the Navy!

This realization caused Kai's cold yet powerful heart to beat violently involuntarily!

Admiral!!!

This position, which he had dreamed of countless days and nights, represented the highest power and glory in the navy!

This is the crucial step that will give him enough power and status to realize his unknown ambition to dominate the world!

It's...so...within reach?!

In Kai's eyes, there shone an unprecedented, almost tangible, burning light, full of desire and ambition!

He knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he absolutely could not miss!

He must...seize this opportunity at all costs!!!

No matter how powerful the competitors or how dirty the political conspiracies, they may be blocking his way!

He must...crush them all!

The Admiral's throne... He, Kai... is determined to have it!

The position of Admiral is like the only light source in the darkness, attracting countless moths that crave power and glory.

This title, representing the highest level of naval combat power, is not only a symbol of strength but also a stepping stone to higher levels of power.

Kai knew this all too well.

Deep within his eyes, which were always as if covered by millennia of ice, an unprecedented, blazing flame was now burning.

Promotion to general was a crucial step in his plan, a necessary step toward realizing his ambition to dominate the world, hidden beneath his cold exterior.

However, the road to this position is destined to be anything but smooth.

Within the navy, factions abound, and relationships are complex and intertwined.

Every lieutenant general who is qualified to compete for the rank of general has, to varying degrees, a certain power behind him, representing certain interest groups.

Although Kai has a distinguished record of military achievements, is powerful, and his style of doing things is quite in line with Fleet Admiral Akainu's "thorough justice," this does not mean that he can rest easy.

The competition he faced was exceptionally fierce.

There are veteran lieutenants who have served in the navy for many years, have extensive experience, and have a wide network of connections.

While they may have passed their peak in terms of individual strength, their influence and appeal within the Navy should not be underestimated.

Some of them may harbor resentment and wariness towards Kai, a rising star who is known for his rapid rise and overly ruthless and unapproachable behavior.

There were also young lieutenant generals who were promoted at the same time as Kai, or a little later, and were equally talented and powerful.

They also yearn to rise to the top and become the navy's highest fighting force.

They see Kai as their biggest rival, and they compete with him both openly and secretly.

For example, Vice Admiral Onigumo, who always has a cigar in his mouth, a cynical smile on his face, and possesses extremely powerful Six Powers taijutsu and Armament Haki, is hailed as the successor to "Naval Hero" Garp.

Although he appears carefree on the surface, he is extremely shrewd and has a group of loyal supporters within the Navy.

There is also Vice Admiral Kashoyama, the prized student of Vice Admiral Tsuru, who is known for his calmness and wisdom, his ability to devise various ingenious tactics, and his possession of a special kind of Observation Haki (which is said to allow him to sense changes in other people's emotions).

Although he was not known for his personal martial prowess, he was exceptional in strategic command and intelligence analysis, and was highly regarded by some high-ranking generals.

There are even some "dark horses" that Kai doesn't know much about, hidden deep within the Navy, whose strength should not be underestimated.

This competition for the general's seat was not only a contest of strength and military achievements, but also a war without gunpowder, filled with political maneuvering and factional struggles.

Kai knew that he was not afraid of any opponent in terms of strength.

However, they are relatively weak in political skills and personal connections.

He has always been a loner, disdaining to form cliques and not good at flattery.

This personality trait, while making him appear unconventional, also makes him vulnerable to isolation and suppression at crucial moments.

He needs to use all his wisdom and strength to carefully maneuver in this complex game.

On the one hand, he must continue to maintain his ruthless, efficient, and unscrupulous style of doing things, and constantly make new achievements in order to prove his value and ability to Fleet Admiral Akainu and the Navy's high command.

He knew that although Fleet Admiral Akainu was suspicious and distrustful, he also appreciated those capable and daring "hawkish" generals.

As long as he can continue to bring victories to the Navy and consolidate its prestige, Fleet Admiral Akainu will inevitably look at him differently and even provide him with support at crucial moments.

On the other hand, he also needed to change his overly aloof and cold image and try to establish some form of "cooperative relationship" with certain factions or generals within the navy who held real power and whose ideas were relatively compatible with his.

He doesn't need real friends; he only needs... "allies" who can provide support and assistance to him during his crucial moments in his quest for the rank of general.

Of course, he must also be constantly vigilant against sabotage and obstruction from competitors.

He knew that those who also coveted the position of general would never stand by and watch him rise to power so easily.

They will definitely try every means to create trouble for themselves, tarnish their reputation, and even... set traps for themselves on the battlefield.

A cold, sharp light flashed in Kai's eyes.

He was like an experienced hunter, cautiously navigating a treacherous jungle.

He must be wary of venomous snakes and ferocious beasts lurking in the shadows, as well as sneak attacks from his companions.

He knew that this competition would be exceptionally brutal and bloody.

But he had no other choice.

Also...fearless.

Because he is Kai.

He is the man destined to stand at the top of the world.

Anyone who dares to stand in his way... will be... mercilessly crushed by him!

In the days that followed, Kai continued to carry out various missions assigned by the Navy Headquarters to eliminate pirates and maintain order, while also quietly and meticulously planning and preparing for his promotion to Admiral.

He used his authority to access a large number of top-secret files concerning personnel changes and factional distribution within the Navy.

He meticulously analyzed the background, strength, personality, and network of each potential competitor.

He also studied the preferences, stances, and political leanings of the powerful figures in the Navy's top ranks who held decision-making authority.

He was like a master chess player, mentally simulating all possible scenarios and possible solutions.

He even began to selectively send signals of cooperation to certain generals who had some influence within the navy and whose interests did not directly conflict with his own.

For example, after a high-level naval meeting, he took the initiative to approach Admiral Fujitora Issho, who was known for his "benevolence and righteousness" but was being suppressed because his beliefs differed from Akainu's.

"General Fujitora".

Kai's voice remained as cold and emotionless as ever, but his empty eyes held a hint of... barely perceptible respect? "Regarding the response to the situation in the new world after the abolition of the Seven Warlords system, I have some... immature ideas that I would like to discuss with you."

Fujitora did not agree with Kai's ruthless and cold-blooded style of doing things.

However, he also had to admit that Kai's strength and intelligence were indeed outstanding among the younger generation of the Navy.

Moreover, Kai's views on certain issues, while completely different from his own, are not entirely without merit.

The two had a brief, not-so-pleasant, but not exactly hostile exchange.

Kai did not expect to gain Fujitora's support through a simple exchange.