Chapter 29: Peach Rabbit! Peach Rabbit!
"Master Taotu, we will arrive at the Sabaody Archipelago soon please be prepared."
"I know don't rush me. I'm not just any base commander."
The Marine officer known as Vice Admiral Tsuru, codenamed Peach Rabbit (Momousagi), is a tall woman standing over two meters, with long, shapely legs and a dignified bearing.
After hearing someone call out to her, Taotu removed her sunglasses and rose gracefully from the ship's couch.
She then made her way to the bow of the Marine battleship, picked up her binoculars, and focused on the welcoming party assembled at the Marine harbor.
"What's with that crowd are they seriously welcoming me?"
Taotu raised an eyebrow at the formation on the dock, with Marine officers lined up in formal order and a young man named Carl standing at the very front.
"This is the first time I've ever been welcomed like this upon arriving at a base.
In other locations, base commanders would either avoid me or subtly pressure me to leave quickly, likely fearing that I might investigate or encroach upon their authority.
Frankly, I've never cared for power struggles in such minor posts but the attitude here is clearly different from what I'm used to!"
Peach Rabbit is recognized as one of the Navy's elite candidates for the rank of Admiral.
She is not only elegant and striking in appearance with her signature long legs but also incredibly powerful, her strength rivaling that of veteran Vice Admirals like Doberman and Momonga.
More impressively, she's still in her late twenties a rarity for someone of her capability!
Given her current strength and potential, it's no exaggeration to say she's a strong candidate for Admiral status in the near future.
Within the next five to ten years, she is expected to rise and carry the banner of the Marines into the New World era!
In short, Taotu is a bright star of the Navy's future and one of its most promising young officers.
However, even her brilliance seems dimmer compared to Carl's recent meteoric rise.
After all.she's still a few years older than Carl.
"Vice Admiral Taotu, you've been away from HQ recently, so you might not be aware of what's happened at this base.
The one standing at the front—Carl only joined the Navy less than a month ago, and he's already been promoted to Colonel! He's become the rising star of the Marine branches here his accomplishments are overwhelming..."
The Marine beside Taotu spoke with barely contained excitement, his tone warming as he recounted Carl's exploits with genuine admiration.
As the battleship neared the port, the Marine eagerly narrated Carl's recent missions and achievements.
It was obvious he was a devoted fan of Carl—there's no other way he'd remember such detailed records so vividly.
Not a single event left out!
"So that's the situation I understand now. That explains why Fleet Admiral Sengoku specifically asked me to monitor and assist a new recruit named Carl when I arrived.
But this kid... is he really as extraordinary as you all claim?
Even I struggled when facing Donquixote Doflamingo or the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.
You're telling me this rookie fought both Shichibukai alone and won?
It all sounds a bit... far-fetched, doesn't it?"
"Master Taotu, while Vice Admiral Strawberry was present during the engagement with the Pirate Empress, the actual combat was handled solo by Colonel Carl.
As for Doflamingo there are over a thousand eyewitnesses on the Sabaody Archipelago who can confirm the outcome!"
And you also know very well what the combat power here looks like except for Colonel Carl, no one can withstand even a single technique from Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha.
So you don't have to doubt it Colonel Carl is truly exceptional, though I'd still say he's just a little less impressive than you, Vice Admiral Gion."
The Marine beside her was skillful with his words first praising Carl, and then, with subtle grace, lifting up Peach Rabbit as well.
His approach was clearly effective.
"In that case let me see what this kid is capable of!"
"Stop the ship—everyone disembark with me!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
At the sound of Peach Rabbit's commanding voice, the Marines accompanying her began disembarking in formation at the Sabaody Archipelago's Marine port.
Carl narrowed his eyes when he spotted Vice Admiral Gion Peach Rabbit—stepping onto the dock. He quickly gave a sharp order.
"Salute!"
"Welcome to Vice Admiral Gion!"
"Welcome to Vice Admiral Gion!"
The welcoming cheers rose in waves loud, enthusiastic, and reverberating through the night air.
Had it been daytime, the ceremony would have been even more magnificent.
Unfortunately, due to her leisurely nature and oversleeping, Gion's ship had arrived at Sabaody Archipelago after nightfall.
"You know who I am?"
Peach Rabbit turned to the young Marine before her—Carl and asked with a hint of curiosity.
Carl nodded politely, offering a standard, respectful smile.
"Of course Vice Admiral Gion, also known as Peach Rabbit, is one of the Navy's top Admiral candidates. Your reputation precedes you—I'd be a fool not to know who you are!"
"Hmph I thought you'd be just another arrogant rookie with your nose in the clouds. But it seems the Fleet Admiral has good instincts after all."
"Naturally the Fleet Admiral Sengoku's judgment is never wrong. If anyone dares say otherwise, I'll be the first to argue with them!"
Carl puffed out his chest with mock pride, his expression half-playful and half-defiant.
"I know you're here to take command but protocol still applies. Please present your appointment orders, and then everything will be in order."
"What if I said... I lost my appointment order?"
Vice Admiral Gion narrowed her eyes, her gaze intense, as a wave of pressure radiated off her.
The surrounding Marines, who had been smiling and chatting a moment before, immediately froze at her words.
Even the Marines who had traveled with her were caught off guard none had expected their superior to stir up such blatant provocation.
This was clearly an intentional test or worse, a confrontation.
And it wasn't just anyone picking a fight—it was a Vice Admiral targeting a newly appointed Colonel.
If news of this got out, it could reflect poorly on Peach Rabbit's reputation.
Yet none of her subordinates dared speak up. Despite her usual approachable demeanor, when Vice Admiral Gion got serious, no one but Vice Admiral Tsuru who treated her like a younger sister could stop her.
"Apologies but if you don't show your appointment, Vice Admiral Gion, I cannot permit entry."
"That's the rule."
Seeing that the other party had come to test him, Carl refused to back down.
Without hesitation, he released his Haoshoku Haki the Conqueror's Haki directly targeting Peach Rabbit with overwhelming pressure.
Since Gion clearly intended to assert dominance, Carl had no reason to remain passive.
Even if she was a top Admiral candidate, as long as she didn't initiate physical combat, he had no obligation to submit.
Although Gion's power rivaled high-tier enemies like Doflamingo, the fact remained she was still considered just short of true Admiral strength.
Otherwise, the World Government wouldn't have initiated the World Military Draft (Sekai Kaigun Kanyu) later to recruit external powerhouses like Fujitora and Ryokugyu both of whom were chosen over existing candidates.
Clearly, it had been due to the limitations of their current prospects!
"Is that… Conqueror's Haki?!"
The pirates who had accompanied Gion on the voyage were shocked by the overwhelming spiritual pressure suddenly filling the port.
However, Carl had deliberately focused his Haki solely on Peach Rabbit—none of the others were directly affected by the force of the Conqueror's presence.
They merely sensed the heavy atmosphere but remained physically unaffected.
By contrast, the Marines on Carl's side remained calm and unshaken.
From the very first day Carl had arrived at the base, he had released his Conqueror's Haki to establish dominance.
So, for them—this was nothing new.
In fact, many of them were already hoping Carl would engage Gion directly and teach her a lesson!
Who did she think she was, showing up and acting like she could do whatever she pleased just because she was beautiful?
Nonsense!
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