After Taro finished putting on his masterful display, he realized that Golden Lion Shiki had already been knocked unconscious under the combined assault of the three of them.
Damn it, not once have I successfully pulled off a cool move!
Looking at the unconscious Shiki, Taro felt quite frustrated, forgetting that there were actually two spectators beside him.
Akainu looked at Taro for a long while before finally saying in a deep voice, "Taro, you are much stronger than I imagined."
Sengoku was also full of praise, tugging at his braided beard. "Seeing the younger generation of the Navy grow up brings this old man great comfort!"
Taro chuckled modestly, "Not at all, not at all. It was mainly thanks to the two of you being here. I just took the opportunity to land a finishing blow!"
Upon hearing this, Sengoku and Akainu looked at Shiki, who was covered in wounds, with strange expressions in their eyes, as if to say, 'You call that a finishing blow?'
Taro also noticed the oddity in their gazes. After a moment's thought, he understood what they were thinking.
Damn it, you two old fellows, are you trying to say I have no martial virtue?
It was three against one! What martial virtue is there to talk about!
Taro was immediately displeased and was about to speak when the ground beneath his feet shook violently, and the entire floating island began to tremble and quake.
"Evacuate immediately! This place is about to crash!"
Sengoku urgently shouted, "Taro, you take Shiki, let's go!"
Hearing this, Taro put aside his earlier dissatisfaction, hoisted Shiki onto his shoulder, and flew out of the floating island.
"Boom!"
First, small pieces of rubble continuously fell into the sea, and finally, the entire floating island crashed down. The massive impact force stirred up towering waves. If not for the excellent performance of the Navy warships, it would have been a disaster.
Fortunately, there was danger but no harm. The five warships remained unscathed, and Shiki was also fitted with Sea Stone handcuffs and locked in a cage on Sengoku's flagship.
"Report, Fleet Admiral! Golden Lion has woken up and demands to see you!" the Marine Soldier on guard duty reported.
Actually, Shiki had specifically asked to see only Taro, but the Marine Soldier didn't dare report it that way.
The three of them entered the cell and discovered that, to prevent Shiki from escaping again, Sengoku had even ordered him to be chained to the ground with Sea Stone chains.
Huh?
This scene... it seems the future 'Newspaper King of Impel Down'—Donquixote Doflamingo—received the same treatment!
"Just who are you?"
Shiki, lying on the ground, sounded weak, but his tone was unexpectedly calm, with little anger.
Taro hadn't expected Shiki to be so composed, so he was slightly taken aback.
Sengoku answered for Taro, "His name is Taro, a Rear Admiral of Marineford, and also..."
"He is also from the East Blue!"
Adding insult to injury, old Sengoku!
The corner of Taro's mouth twitched as he heard Shiki let out a soft sigh.
"Have I been defeated by someone from the East Blue again?"
After saying that, he fell silent and spoke no more.
Sengoku, however, understood Shiki's feelings quite well. He nodded to Taro and the other two, then turned and left. Taro and Akainu quickly followed.
Back on the deck, Sengoku immediately announced the order:
"Pass the order: return to Marineford at full speed!"
At that moment, the sun slowly rose from the horizon—another new day.
There were 8 days left until Ace's public execution, and tomorrow was the moment this news would be announced to the world.
The 'Great Event' that would have an even more profound impact on the world's pattern was drawing closer!
...Marineford.
Even though the bottoms of the Navy warships were embedded with large amounts of Sea Stone, allowing them to traverse the Calm Belt without worry, it was already night by the time Taro's group returned to Marineford.
The conference hall was brightly lit. After a brief discussion among the top brass of Marineford, a meeting for officers of Vice Admiral rank and above was convened again, and Taro was once again permitted to attend.
"I believe everyone is already somewhat aware of the beast attack incident that occurred at Marineford yesterday!"
Unlike the last meeting, Sengoku got straight to the point, saying in a grave tone:
"Golden Lion Shiki's plot to use a substance extracted from plants to create a beast army, destroy the East Blue, and force the World Government and Marineford into submission has been thwarted."
"And Shiki himself has been arrested once again! For this battle, Marineford Rear Admiral Taro's contribution was paramount!"
As he spoke, Sengoku looked at Taro, nodded to him, and then continued:
"After deliberation and decision by Marineford, Rear Admiral Taro is hereby promoted to Headquarters Vice Admiral!"
Before Sengoku's words had even finished, everyone in the conference hall turned their eyes in unison towards Taro.
Taro's reaction was very calm; he had actually sensed this might happen.
Although the Navy suffered a crushing defeat at Enies Lobby last time, it had little to do with Taro; he had even contributed somewhat.
This time, in defeating Shiki, Taro had genuinely put in the effort, so the promotion was only natural.
Seeing Taro's composed expression, the gathered Navy officers couldn't help but be deeply impressed.
Not revealing joy or anger on his face, sitting as steady as a mountain—he truly possesses the demeanor of an Admiral!
Vice Admiral Tsuru, who was quite familiar with Taro's temperament, was also very approving of his reaction this time.
Steady when he needs to be steady, lively when he needs to be lively—what an outstanding young man!
Little did Taro know they were thinking so much. He knew Sengoku surely had more to say; his promotion was, at most, just an appetizer!
Sure enough, after announcing Taro's promotion, Sengoku cleared his throat and spoke again:
"Tomorrow morning, Marineford will dispatch Vice Admirals to recruit the Warlord of the Sea. Let's decide on the candidates now."
Taro had little interest in such matters. Besides having some acquaintance with Hawkeye Mihawk and a grudge against Blackbeard, he had no connections with the others.
Moreover, for such a task, someone with greater seniority and capability would definitely be required.
In the end, after a not-too-intense discussion, it was decided that the five Vice Admirals from the Enies Lobby Buster Call would be the ones to go.
As for why only five Vice Admirals were sent, the reason was simple: 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma was already on his way to Mary Geoise with the defeated Gekko Moriah.
"Taro, if you also wish to go, you may choose to accompany one of the Vice Admirals."
Vice Admiral Tsuru suddenly looked at Taro and said with a smile.
Taro was absolutely unwilling. He shook his head rapidly, "No, no, no. I want to slack off... I mean, I want to rest for a while!"
He almost let it slip in his haste and quickly corrected himself.
Seeing Taro refuse, Vice Admiral Tsuru didn't insist further and nodded lightly.
At this moment, Kizaru seemed to have just realized something. He chuckled lightly and looked at Taro, saying, "How terrifying~ A young man nowadays defeating Golden Lion so easily~"
Everyone in the conference hall was covered in metaphorical sweat drops. How long has it been, old man, for you to react to this only now?
The corner of Taro's mouth twitched again. Careless! He had forgotten that Marineford still had such a top-tier slacking master. This guy was clearly doing it on purpose!
However, Taro soon revealed a friendly smile and winked at Kizaru.
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