Chapter 367: Chapter 10: The Achievements of the SSG
Unanimous approval.
The decision came swiftly—perhaps too swiftly—and left even Sengoku, Tsuru, and several senior officers momentarily stunned.
Ordinarily, hearings for Headquarters Vice Admiral promotions drew at least a few dissenting votes. Not because the candidates lacked merit, but to maintain the illusion of impartiality and procedure.
But this time, no one dared provoke the madman seated before them.
Not after the way Sakazuki had practically dared them to oppose him.
Especially not after that glare—the kind that promised not just vengeance, but annihilation.
"Next," Tsuru said, her voice resuming its steady, professional rhythm, "we move on to the review of Rear Admiral Borsalino’s promotion."
"If anyone has questions, please raise them now."
She lifted the next folder from her stack.
"Rear Admiral Borsalino, also from the North Blue, has served both in Marine Headquarters and in the regional divisions. He was the top graduate of the very first class of the Elite Officer Training Camp, and upon completion, he became aide to Admiral Sengoku."
"In addition to his combat record, he serves as the head of the Marine Special Science Group. Under his leadership, the group has developed various technologies and weapons that have since been deployed across Marine branches."
"Since joining the Marines, Rear Admiral Borsalino has completed 513 missions and arrested over sixteen thousand pirates."
A wave of murmurs swept through the room.
The Marine officers looked toward the man seated at the table: young, lean, stubbled, sunglasses perched lazily on his nose, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and a faint, infuriating grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
The World Government officials, in contrast, collectively furrowed their brows.
This guy?
He looks like he just rolled out of a bar fight...
How is this street thug the top of his class?
Is that smirk permanent, or does he just enjoy mocking us?
For once, even Sakazuki seemed less irritating by comparison.
Then came the inevitable question.
"Rear Admiral Borsalino," one of the Inspectorate officials asked with a sneer, "your records show that in most missions, you didn’t eliminate the pirates. In fact, many were allowed to escape. Why is that?"
Darren, watching from his seat, couldn’t suppress a smirk.
Borsalino scratched his head and sighed with exaggerated sorrow. "Ahh, I tried my best, you know... But these pirates today? Terrifying. Like monsters! No matter how hard I fought, they just kept slipping away."
The entire front row of Admirals visibly cringed.
Sengoku covered his face. Tsuru inhaled sharply through her nose. Zephyr closed his eyes, muttering a silent prayer. Even Garp, munching on his senbei, paused.
Unbelievable.
The World Government officials, having been humiliated by Sakazuki’s display, now seized their chance to pounce.
"Rear Admiral Borsalino," a rotund official said, rising to his feet with theatrical gravity, "we have concerns regarding the Special Science Group under your command."
At his signal, a subordinate activated a Visual Den Den Mushi. The screen flickered to life, displaying an image of a strange, clunky object.
"This," the official declared, "is a flashlight. Can you explain its function?"
Borsalino leaned forward and studied it seriously. "Ah... Yes. That’s one of our more sophisticated devices. It harnesses ambient light as energy, which it stores and uses to illuminate its surroundings."
"In bright areas," he added, "it shines brilliantly."
"And in darkness?" the official asked coldly.
Borsalino nodded, gravely solemn. "It absolutely does not light up."
Silence.
A single cough echoed in the back of the room.
Sengoku groaned aloud. Garp burst out laughing. Zephyr looked like he wanted to jump out the window.
The official’s face turned beet red.
"Rear Admiral Borsalino!" he shouted, slamming his fist onto the table. "Are you mocking this assembly?! That flashlight cost 150 million berries!"
A collective gasp swept the room.
Two marine ships. A thousand soldiers’ worth of arms. All spent on a flashlight that doesn’t work in the dark.
"Do you have any justification for this waste?"
But Borsalino only smiled, serene as a monk.
"It’s a truly magnificent invention," he said earnestly.
"Are you serious?!"
"Of course."
With that, he slowly raised his right hand.
Golden light gathered at his fingertip—brilliant, focused, and crackling with lethal energy. It locked onto the trembling official, who froze as if staring death in the face.
"W-what are you doing?" he stammered.
Borsalino chuckled and lowered his hand. "Relax. I’m just explaining."
"The mechanism behind that flashlight is based on a new energy conversion system."
"In essence... we’ve developed a method for automatic energy recovery in laser-based weapons."
The room went still.
Eyes widened.
Mouths hung open.
Everyone present understood what that meant: the biggest bottleneck in laser weapon deployment—the energy issue—might finally be solvable.
If true, then that flashlight wasn’t a joke.
It was a prototype.
"Let’s proceed to the vote," Sengoku said quickly, capitalizing on the stunned silence.
The Inspectorate, still reeling, gave a collective nod.
Unanimous approval.
As the votes were tallied, Darren leaned toward Borsalino, voice low. "That technology... it’s real?"
Borsalino blew a smoke ring. "Maybe. Give it twenty years."
Darren blinked.
He gave a slow, exaggerated thumbs-up.
Legendary.
"Finally," Tsuru announced, closing the second file and opening the third, "we come to Commodore Darren."
A ripple of movement passed through the room as every officer straightened in their seat.
From the back row, Kuzan stood up, cupped his hands to his mouth, and shouted, "Let’s go, Darren!!"
To be continued...