Pirate: I was just slacking off, do you really think I'm bad?

Brubru—Brubru—.

Bessem Reginod walked over, holding a Den Den Mushi that was larger than the others.

Lord Raleigh, this sounds like a call from the Marshal's office.

Looking at the giant Den Den Mushi in Bessem's Reginald's hand, Raleigh's bad feeling became even clearer.

"Alas, what is meant to be will be, and what is meant to be will be."

Reluctantly, Raleigh answered the phone, saying, "Moshi Moshi, this is Christine Raleigh from the North Sea Navy."

A hearty laugh came from the Den Den Mushi, which transformed into a rugged-looking creature, mimicking Sora's expression and laughing heartily.

"Little Raleigh, this is Fleet Admiral Kong."

Based on the Navy's internal assessment, your combat record is outstanding, and you have met the requirements for rank promotion during your service in the North Sea. Therefore, after internal discussion, you are officially appointed as a lieutenant general.

"Please make arrangements for the Beihai matter, and then come to headquarters for the medal awarding ceremony."

Raleigh had anticipated this situation, so when it actually happened, he didn't outwardly show any discouragement.

Although his expression wasn't very happy, he still answered solemnly:

"Yes, Marshal Kong, I will return to headquarters as quickly as possible."

Well, you should prepare yourself well. When you arrive at headquarters, I will personally welcome you back.

After saying that, Kong ended the call first.

After hearing the click, Raleigh regained his composure and casually tossed the Den Den Mushi aside.

Bessem Reginod quickly reached out and caught the Den Den Mushi firmly, his face showing concern, and couldn't help but complain:

Lord Raleigh, this was issued by headquarters, specifically for naval admirals. What will you do if you break it so easily?

Raleigh glanced at Bessiere Giord, not understanding what the kid was talking about.

"I'm the admiral. I'm not afraid that if I break something, the headquarters will remove me from my post. What are you worried about?"

Bessiere Giord shouted at Raleigh with a pained expression;

"Lord Raleigh, once you're gone, the position of admiral will be mine, won't it? Then all these things will be mine."

Raleigh's lips twitched involuntarily.

No wonder this kid is so enthusiastic; he probably saw Tian Luoli's performance here, which made his confidence a bit inflated.

Out of a senior's concern for a junior, Raleigh decided to tell him the truth.

I guess you won't be able to keep your position for the next few years. After I leave, there will be no lieutenant general in Beihai, so headquarters will send a lieutenant general to serve as admiral.

Secondly, even if that lieutenant general leaves, the next one could be the Rat or Cleveland. It will take at least eight or nine years before it's your turn.

Raleigh's words made Bessie Reginode's face turn somewhat ashen, but the ashen expression quickly returned.

"You can't say that, Lord Raleigh. Look at you and Lieutenant General Sakazuki, how long have you been admirals before being transferred back to headquarters so quickly? If everyone were promoted as fast as you, I could probably become the North Sea Admiral in three years."

"Ha, your training will be doubled today. You're not allowed to eat dinner until you finish."

"receive!"

Bessem Reginode looked as if he had just been injected with adrenaline, his face radiating confidence.

Watching his departing figure, Raleigh stroked his chin and muttered to himself!

This guy probably has a high resistance to the Ghost-Ghost Fruit.

Confident people are not hard to find, but extremely confident people like Bethel McGregor are very rare.

Raleigh beckoned to the messenger standing nearby.

"Go tell the people on deck that today's workload has been doubled and must be completed before lunch this afternoon."

"Then go to the kitchen and tell the head chef that I'm having a banquet tonight to celebrate everything."

"yes!!!"

The messenger was just behind the lines that Raleigh and Bessma Reginod had given instructions to, so he naturally overheard the conversation on the Den Den Mushi.

He walked and thought:

No wonder he's Lieutenant General Borsalino's brother.

At a young age, he had already accumulated countless military achievements, enough to be promoted to lieutenant general.

For someone like him who still needs to build up his seniority, what he lacks is exactly what Raleigh doesn't lack.

He directly used the Naval Six Styles technique - Shave - and instantly moved from the balcony to the deck.

"Brothers, Lord Raleigh is going to headquarters to receive his ranks. He said the workload for today is doubled, and if we finish on time, he'll throw a lavish banquet for everyone in the ship's lounge."

"good!!!"

"As expected of Lord Raleigh, he gained the favor of Headquarters with ease!!!"

"So I have to hold on tight to Raleigh and not let him get away."

Hearing the commotion on deck, Raleigh stood up and looked at the densely packed people on the deck.

In the year 1497 of the Sea Calendar, less than half of the year had passed when two minor but significant events occurred within the navy.

First thing: Naval hero Garp once again refused a promotion to Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.

The second matter: North Sea Naval Admiral Christian Rowley, having accumulated enough merits for promotion, was promoted from Major General to Lieutenant General after deliberation by the headquarters.

This promotion signifies that Rowley has officially stepped from a small stage like the East China Sea-North China Sea to a real performance stage.

He also began to enter the inner circle of the navy, where he would experience what power truly meant.

On the pirate side, Shiki the Golden Lion became increasingly arrogant, and several times he clashed head-on with the Navy.

Relying on his top-tier strength and reputation, Shiki the Golden Lion has absorbed a large number of ambitious and capable pirates in the New World over the past six months. Meanwhile, Edward Whitebeard has chosen to set his sights on finding lone pirates and adopting them as his sons.

Although he wasn't particularly interested in fighting for supremacy or seizing territory during his voyage, his good reputation led many of the island's native inhabitants to willingly fly the Whitebeard Pirates' flag.

The most enigmatic character here is Big Mom Charlotte Linlin. According to the Navy's intelligence, Charlotte Linlin found an island that looked like a dessert and occupied it.

For a long time after that, Charlotte Linlin stopped going out to fight for territory.

After receiving treatment from a doctor, Roger, the "Pirate King," no longer needed to roam around with weakened health.

"Sigh, I wonder if this move was the right one."

Raleigh sat alone in his office, watching a chess piece being casually moved across a densely packed chessboard.

This is the tragedy of being a pawn.

From the very beginning, Raleigh was a piece on the chessboard.

Although he knew all the developments in the One Piece world, and although he knew the inside story of the One Piece world.

However, if one lacks sufficient status and strength, one can only be at the mercy of others.

Just like the phone call Kong made to him, many times things don't go as planned.

Raleigh's thoughts were not important to the higher-ups at headquarters; what mattered to them were the orders of the Celestial Dragons, especially the orders of the Five Elders, who held power in the World Government.

Still too weak, I need to work even harder to slack off from now on.

Raleigh glanced at the chessboard on the table and silently made up his mind.

Although he cannot be the standard-bearer for the time being, he can get involved himself and do his best to challenge the Celestial Dragons who have ruled the world for eight hundred years.

"Just wait—you filthy creatures dressed in fancy clothes, your end is coming."

"Are you insane, Vegapunk?!"

"You're actually going to hand over something this important to the Navy? Are you out of your mind?"

Vinsmoke Judge launched into a tirade of rudeness, because he simply couldn't understand why Vegapunk would give his research results to the Navy.

"Open your eyes and look at this. What is this? This is a bloodline factor! It's known as the forbidden realm of the life blueprint. Even if we don't give it to the Navy, we can use it elsewhere."

Vinsmoke Judge was naturally very dissatisfied that he was the first person to study lineage factors. It was precisely because he wanted to realize his dream through lineage factors that he joined MADS and invested a lot of money in research.

Now my partner is quitting without warning and even asking me not to use their services anymore.

That's just insane.

Looking at the enraged Vinsmoke Judge, Vegapunk was utterly bewildered:

"What are you doing, Judge? Our research has been successful; we can move on to the next phase."

"No, Vegapunk. I feel that our ideologies have diverged, and I need some time to calm down."

Vinsmoke Judge suppressed his emotions and spoke slowly.

"Okay, go and get some rest."

Vegapunk didn't take it seriously, after all, Vinsmoke Judge was only somewhat skilled.

In the time that followed, Vegapunk had more to do and no time to care about what his partner thought.

In the secret port of the deserted island, Vinsmoke Judge looked indignantly at the steel building designed by Vegapunk in the distance.

"Vegapunk, you have such a noble heart, but all I know is survival of the fittest."

Vinsmoke Judge took out a nautical chart from his pocket and examined it carefully.

The Kingdom of Germa is officially established from this moment forward!

Vinsmoke Judge has been with MADS for many years, collaborating with Vegapunk for a long time, and now the technology he possesses is fifty years ahead of its time.

Once he took it back to the North Sea, he was like a shark released from its cage, ruthlessly devouring the flesh and blood of other kingdoms.

Goodbye, Vegapunk.

Vinsmoke Judge showed no intention of lingering. After boarding the small boat he had prepared, he left the base island as quickly as possible.

In the underground base, Vegapunk was watching Vinsmoke Judge's actions on the monitor with a blank expression.

In fact, Vegapunk had already sensed Vinsmoke Judge's retreat during their argument.

Although the specific reasons are unknown, Vegapunk believes that Vinsmoker's current technology is enough to unleash another bloodbath in the North Sea.

"Mr. Garp, how much longer until we arrive?"

Aokiji asked somewhat anxiously.

He is still in a very immature age.

We haven't seen what he'll be like in the future; instead, he's always full of energy and fighting spirit.

Garp created a training plan based on his own conditions, and Kuzan had to practice it diligently every day before resting.

"Where in Beihai are you located now?"

Karp beckoned to a navigator and asked him a question. The navigator pulled out his personal nautical chart, placed it on the ground, and took out a pre-calculated formula from his pocket. After glancing at it, he said:

"Reporting to Vice Admiral Karp, we are now advancing along the edge of the doldrums. Based on the positioning information on the chart and the direction of the recorded indicators, we are about 30 nautical miles from the midpoint between the two islands."

The two islands mentioned here refer to Vegapunk's base island and Chanialar Island.

Through various sources of information, the Navy concluded that the island where Vegapunk was hiding was connected to Chanialar Island.

Using nautical charts, they determined the optimal route.

Once you reach the center point of this route, it will be several nautical miles shorter than other directions.

Hurry up, I don't have time to deal with these strange scientists. Let's catch him first!

"I still need to go to the New World to catch that Roger guy."

Garp isn't interested in Vegapunk at all right now; he's much more interested in capturing Roger. "Yes, Mr. Garp, I haven't even met the famous Roger of the New World yet! Next time we fight the Roger Pirates, you absolutely must call me!"

Kuzan looked at Garp with great excitement.

Roger's exploits need no further explanation; Kuzan had already witnessed many of them during his time at military school.

After leaving the military academy, Roger's fame grew throughout the world.

I wonder what it would be like to fight someone as strong as that? I've never fought a top-tier fighter like that before.

Kuzan was lost in a fantasy of fighting Roger. Upon hearing this, Garp burst into laughter and slapped Kuzan on the shoulder.

"You brat"

Only a Chinese-style person can catch a chicken.

"However, if you want to challenge a strong opponent, the Roger Pirates do have a very talented newcomer named Douglas Bullet."

It's said he's just as strong as Rayleigh, so you should definitely try fighting him; after all, you guys are all monster-level rookies.

"Okay, Mr. Karp, I will definitely try my best."

Kuzan clenched his fists tightly.

He was well aware of Rayleigh's strength, but he didn't believe that a small-time pirate could match Rayleigh's power.

Even if he could truly fight Rayleigh, Kuzan didn't believe he could defeat him.

"Alright, Kuzan, don't underestimate your opponent."

Garp spoke to Kuzan very seriously.

"Yes."

Time passed quickly, and by evening, Garp and his group had finally arrived at the nearest location.

Standing at the edge of the doldrums, Garp said with a serious expression:

"It's up to you now, Kuzan."

Kuzan nodded and leaped off the deck.

"The Ice Age".

An extremely cold aura emanated from his hand, freezing the originally churning seawater into a meter-wide ice path that appeared in the ocean.