With Diarmuid's authority, promoting someone to Vice Admiral was no trouble at all. A long time ago, he had already upgraded Smoker's file in Marineford to the rank of Vice Admiral; and it wasn't just Smoker, Jinbe and Hancock were the same.
However, the rank of Admiral Candidate was a different story. Only the Fleet Admiral could officially make that appointment.
Diarmuid couldn't simply hand Smoker an Admiral Candidate position right out of the gate. Nevertheless, he wasn't one to break his promises. He had already sent up the relevant applications; all that was left was for the Fleet Admiral to sign off on them.
Diarmuid had already touched base with Sengoku, who wasn't about to make things difficult over such a matter.
Smoker finally had some serious backing. He was a disciple of Zephyr and was supported by Diarmuid as part of his direct lineage. Securing an Admiral Candidate spot for him was easy.
And looking at Smoker's current situation, there were no issues at all.
Back when Smoker had teamed up with the Navy to trap the other Yonko, rumors spread across the seas that Smoker was actually a Marine and the whole thing had been a set-up. While these remained rumors, the Navy had neither confirmed nor denied them.
Many Marine officers had their own suspicions, feeling that the rumors might be true. Meanwhile, high-ranking officers who were privy to the Seven Warlords of the Sea plan knew full well that Smoker was one of their own.
Now that Smoker had staged a "Return of the King," his prestige within the Navy was unquestionable.
He had the achievements and the hard-earned experience. Fifteen years undercover as a pirate had instantly transformed into a rock-solid, unshakeable seniority within Marine Headquarters.
Promoting him now left no room for complaints.
Beyond his seniority, Smoker's strength was up to par. While he might not yet match the likes of Sakazuki, he still had room to grow and wasn't trailing too far behind. He might not be ready for Admiral, but he was more than qualified for Admiral Candidate.
Thus, the day after Smoker, Hancock, and Jinbe arrived, Diarmuid made a public announcement at G-1 before many officers: Smoker would temporarily take command of G-1's defenses and hold full authority over the Navy's defensive line in the New World.
Sakazuki, the heavyweight of the Hawk faction, also chose to directly support Smoker's ascent.
Five Vice Admirals—Jinbe, Hancock, Vergo, Onigumo, and Dalmatian—were assigned to assist Smoker in overseeing the New World Naval defense.
There was a reason for this arrangement.
In terms of commanding large-scale campaigns, Jinbe, Hancock, Vergo, Onigumo, and Dalmatian lacked extensive experience. It wasn't that they hadn't fought in wars, but they had never independently commanded a conflict of this magnitude.
This was normal. According to standard Navy protocol, a situation of this scale would typically require an Admiral Candidate to oversee the entire theater, while other Vice Admirals handled localized engagements. It was through such gradual experience that one earned the chance to lead a war of this scale.
Previously, they never had the opportunity. Usually, in such circumstances, heavyweights like Diarmuid, Sakazuki, Borsalino, Gion, Kuzan, and Tokikake, or even Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru, would step in.
It wasn't for lack of ability; it was simply because the Navy had too many talented individuals.
This was a double-edged sword; it did, to an extent, suppress the opportunities for high-ranking Vice Admirals to gain experience in large-scale command.
But Smoker was different. He had survived the New World among the Yonko, and in several previous large-scale battles, he had been the one in command, such as when they teamed up with Whitebeard to take on Charlotte Linlin and Kaido.
Back then, Diarmuid and the others were just lounging on the ship before heading out for a fight. The deployment of forces and the mobilization of troops had all been handled by Smoker alone.
Fifteen years of experience was no joke.
However, one couldn't say he was perfectly seasoned yet. After all, he used to lead pirates, and now he was leading Marines. That was why several Vice Admirals were left behind to assist him. With the two sides combined, there shouldn't be any issues.
Smoker knew this was a gesture of goodwill from Admirals Diarmuid and Sakazuki to push him into a position of power. Even though his fifteen years as an undercover agent was a massive contribution, he still lacked a defining moment within the Navy to truly solidify his status.
As it turned out, the moment he returned, the opportunity arrived. With the full support of Diarmuid and Sakazuki, everything was going perfectly.
Ever since Sakazuki arrived to take charge of the New World a few months ago, the Navy's defensive line had entered a state of combat readiness. Consequently, the security clearance for intelligence had been raised to the highest level.
Sakazuki was a ruthless man; his Hawk-ish iron-fisted nature wasn't just directed outward, but to some extent, inward as well. As a result, the information lockdown was handled exceptionally well.
Diarmuid had been here for many days, yet the outside world had no idea. They still thought he was at a meeting in Mariejois. With Smoker and his team taking over G-1, such critical intelligence regarding the change in command was unlikely to leak out.
To the outside world, the New World Navy remained stationary, seemingly waiting for those in Mariejois to sort everything out before reacting. Little did they know that significant changes had already occurred within the New World Navy.
This was understandable. Most people, including strategic experts from various nations and insightful figures among the populace, thought the Navy's current approach was correct.
It was a stable move. Once the matters in Mariejois were settled, the Navy could use that momentum to honorably crush the entire New World. That was the "King's Way"—steady, with a very high probability of success.
Thus, the Navy's lack of movement in the New World didn't seem strange; it seemed inevitable.
After arranging for Smoker to take over the defenses and spending a few days guiding him so he could quickly get up to speed, time quietly slipped into the beginning of Sea Calendar 1517.
Another year had finally dragged by.
In the skies above a certain sea in the New World, aboard a small Marine assault ship, Diarmuid and Sakazuki sat on the deck. There weren't even any chairs; they sat cross-legged on the floor.
The assault ship wasn't large, carrying only about twenty Marines for normal operations with no extra combat forces.
Snow began to fall from the sky, indicating that they had entered a sea region with a Winter Island climate.
The entire ship was enveloped by Diarmuid's gravity powers, allowing it to fly steadily at high altitudes, though being so high up made it feel even colder.
Sakazuki didn't care; he was a Magma Man, so it was impossible for him to fear the cold. Diarmuid, strong and robust, had long ago become immune to the shifts in temperature.
However, neither of them felt like challenging nature for the sake of it. Diarmuid and Sakazuki sat on the deck surrounded by patches of snow, both now dressed in winter gear.
They wore heavy fur cloaks and mink caps. In a bizarre contrast, Diarmuid wore a short-sleeved shirt under his cloak, and his trousers were thin and light. It was as if he dressed this way just to signify it was winter, even though the clothes served little practical purpose.
Yet, Diarmuid had the build and the looks for it. He didn't have a soft, "pretty boy" handsomeness; he was dashing in a heroic way, reminiscent of figures from games of a past life.
Valiant!
Consequently, this mismatched winter attire actually gave Diarmuid a unique, chic flair, making him look like a hero of the northern lands, bold and magnanimous.
Sakazuki was much the same. He wasn't an ugly man; he had a stalwart build and rugged features. Clad in his own half-hearted winter gear, he too looked quite dignified.
The two sat cross-legged, less than a meter apart. Some food and drink were laid out on the deck before them, with faint white steam rising in the biting cold.
Taking a sip from his bowl, Diarmuid clicked his tongue. "The sake's gone cold."
Sakazuki, who was chewing on a skewer of grilled meat, casually reached out and grabbed the bottle next to him. A puff of white smoke rose from his hand as he spoke. "There. I suspect you invited me here to watch the snow just because you wanted my ability to warm your wine."
"Hahaha! That's why they say you take Kuzan for a summer trip and you take Sakazuki for a winter one," Diarmuid laughed loudly. "One for cold drinks, the other for hot wine."
Sakazuki didn't seem to mind Diarmuid's shameless habit of using him as a "space heater."
After swallowing the meat, he raised his cup and watched a snowflake fall into the wine and vanish instantly. A look of slight reflection crossed his face as he gestured toward Diarmuid with his bowl.
Diarmuid didn't stand on ceremony either. The two were good friends and steadfast comrades-in-arms. He raised his bowl and clinked it against Sakazuki's.
"Happy New Year," Sakazuki said suddenly.
Indeed, today was January 1, Sea Calendar 1517.
In this world of oceans and islands, culture was diverse and thriving. He had heard that over in the Land of Wano, they even had a Spring Festival. Every island and nation had different standards for "New Year," but generally speaking, January 1st was widely recognized.
Diarmuid had no intention of changing that; when in Rome, do as the Romans do. He nodded with a smile. "Happy New Year."
A new year, a new day… spending it drinking wine and watching the snow with Sakazuki high in the air during a campaign was quite unexpected. At least, Diarmuid hadn't envisioned this before.
The warm wine hit his stomach, bringing a cozy sensation. Exhaling a breath of cold air, Diarmuid said blissfully, "I hope this new year brings a new atmosphere."
"It's inevitable. This battle must be won. The global landscape will be reshuffled this year and become more stable. A new era has arrived," Sakazuki stated with absolute confidence.
After chatting about other matters, Sakazuki finally asked, "After this war is over, do you really plan to retreat to the second line?"
"Why would I lie about something like that?" Diarmuid replied matter-of-factly.
Sakazuki nodded, though a hint of loneliness touched his expression.
"What? Can't bear to see me go?" Diarmuid asked with a grin.
Perhaps Diarmuid didn't realize just how high a status he held in Sakazuki's heart. Without Diarmuid's subtle influence over the years, Sakazuki's interpersonal relationships within the Navy would have been abysmal.
Things were much better now. He was quite close to heavyweights like Garp; especially because of the Ace situation, the two were on excellent terms. Sakazuki wasn't exactly a pariah in the Navy anymore; on the contrary, he had quite a few friends.
But Sakazuki had always felt that Diarmuid was his best friend in the Navy. Even though their stances occasionally clashed and they had once been rivals for the position of Fleet Admiral, that was business. Their private friendship was separate.
Knowing his good friend was stepping down made Sakazuki feel a bit unsettled. Moreover, Sakazuki was a proud man; he felt that among the current pillars of the Navy, only Diarmuid was his true equal, and a rival who often held the upper hand.
If Diarmuid stopped playing the game, Sakazuki would feel the "loneliness of the peak."
Borsalino was a professional slacker. As for Kuzan, he had basically turned into a "salted fish" (dead weight); he had reached his limit at Admiral Candidate. Once Diarmuid stepped down, even if they selected new Admirals, Kuzan likely wouldn't take the initiative; Gion was a more likely candidate.
"I just think it'll be a bit lonely," Sakazuki said, shaking his head. Without dwelling on it, he quickly asked, "And then? What do you plan to do?"
"Singing, dancing, rapping, basketball..." Diarmuid quipped casually.
Sakazuki: "???"
"Hahaha, just kidding. I plan to cultivate my character and become a multi-talented man. Since I don't have to worry about running out of time anymore, I figure I'll go for some all-around development..." Diarmuid said with a chuckle.
He really did have this idea. Currently, all his skill points were dumped into "Combat Power" and "Commanding." Now that he was immortal, shouldn't he pursue something else?
Before he could finish, however, his aura suddenly flickered. A puff of white mist escaped his nostrils, and his hand wavered, spilling a bit of wine from the cup.
A flash of concern appeared in Sakazuki's eyes. He said in a low voice, "It's happening again."
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