One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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"No wonder everyone aspires to a high position. Besides being a high-ranking and powerful man, Fleet Admiral is also quite laid-back!"

In the office, Akira leaned back in his chair and lit a cigar.

He sighed deeply.

It was obviously a significant event for all Marines to prepare an attack on the dangerous seas in the second half of the Grand Line.

But in reality, Akira wasn't as busy as he had imagined.

He merely communicated his ideas with Chief of Staff Tsuru, and from there, all the action plans, orders, and implementation were handled by the designated officers.

As Fleet Admiral, Akira only had to sit in the office, waiting for his subordinates to carry out orders. When they encountered major problems that couldn't be resolved, he'd step in and make decisions.

Truly, those at the top only need to give orders, while those below break their backs following them.

If Akira were any lazier, he could even leave matters that didn't involve an infamous pirate like Whitebeard to Tsuru and head off to enjoy some leisure or training.

Of course, Akira couldn't actually do that—it would be too irresponsible.

"Vergo, what do you think?"

Akira tapped the ash from his cigar, glancing at Vergo, who was diligently working in the corner, and asked.

"Fleet Admiral!"

Vergo didn't hesitate for a moment. He immediately stopped what he was doing, stood up straight, and gave a sharp salute.

He replied loudly, "You seem laid-back, but in reality, you're under pressures that ordinary people can't even imagine.

"Although I haven't read many books, I've heard this saying: 'Those who are truly skilled in battle don't seek personal glory.'

"Without your wise leadership, the righteous Marines would be like headless flies, unable to act effectively."

"Therefore, I believe that even if all the generals' contributions were combined, they wouldn't compare to the effort you've put into making this plan."

Vergo's expression remained serious, and his passionate tone left no room for doubt.

He might be adept at many things, but flattering wasn't one of them.

Akira had to admit, it was pleasant to hear.

It wasn't so much the words themselves, but the sensation of someone going out of their way to praise him. Even though Akira knew Vergo's compliments were exaggerated, the effort alone was enjoyable.

There's something satisfying about someone hiding their true thoughts to flatter you—it makes the praise feel even sweeter.

"I really picked the right man, Vergo!" Akira nodded approvingly, a slight grin forming on his face as he gave Vergo an unreadable look. "You've got a bright future ahead, and I truly admire you."

"Thank you, Fleet Admiral. I will never let you down."

Vergo's expression flickered with surprise. Receiving such straightforward praise from the Fleet Admiral wasn't something he had expected. He'd merely offered casual compliments about how Akira might look laid-back but must be extremely busy behind the scenes.

However, Vergo knew the truth. After spending time with Akira since his return from the Four Seas, he realized just how much freedom the Fleet Admiral actually enjoyed.

On the surface, Akira seemed laid-back, but secretly, he was even more leisurely.

He only handled major issues himself. Medium matters were left to Chief of Staff Tsuru, smaller issues to civil servants, and the trivial tasks were passed down to Vergo.

But with the era of the great pirates coming to an end, and the myth of One Piece seemingly concluded, there weren't many big issues to tackle anymore.

In all his time at the office, Vergo hadn't seen much happen.

So, rather than blatantly lying, Vergo had found other ways to flatter Akira.

"I heard you've taken an interest in Lu Feld recently," Akira said, biting down on his cigar as he casually picked up a newspaper from his desk, reading it as he spoke.

Vergo's heart skipped a beat.

'Was it that obvious when I asked Rosinante and the staff?'

'Word's already gotten back here…'

Despite his internal panic, Vergo didn't miss a beat in his response.

"Master Fleet Admiral, it's not Lu feld I'm interested in—it's you.

"You are my idol, and the reason I joined the Marines was to follow your example.

"So, I want to know everything about you so I can learn and grow."

Akira laughed.

If any other soldier had said that, he might have believed it. But Vergo, idolizing him?

Good one. Where does that leave your 'real' master, Doflamingo? This feels like putting a hat on Doflamingo without him even knowing it!

"If you ever want to ask anything, Vergo, feel free to come to me directly," Akira said.

"Yes, thank you, Fleet Admiral," Vergo replied respectfully.

"But speaking of Lu feld, the first time I met him, I had some business to handle with his help."

Akira's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke in a measured tone, "But he's been out of the underworld for quite some time. Otherwise, we might have had to trouble him again."

"May I ask what it was about?" Vergo inquired.

"A woman who ate the Luck-Luck Fruit!" Akira slapped the document in his hand onto the table, shaking his head. "The casino of the Bertomy Passion Kingdom could really use her presence right now."

"It's been a while, and still no word," he sighed. "Maybe only those with deep connections in the underworld could track her down."

Hearing this, Vergo lowered his head, hiding the gleam in his eyes.

...But from an angle Vergo couldn't see, the smile at the corner of Akira's mouth widened just a bit.

Time passed, and night fell.

In the courtyard of his residence, Akira sat on a stone chair, speaking into the Den Den Mushi in his hand.

"Master, the venue for our gathering has been set. It'll be in three days."

"I know. I'll be prepared," Akira replied.

"Yes. By the way, Master, there is something important I must remind you of."

"Go ahead."

"It's like this: as the one in charge of the CP0, the captain's vivre card is kept in the Holy Land so his status and location can be tracked at all times."

The voice on the other end paused.

Akira's pupils shrank.

He understood exactly what the CP0 member was implying.

If Graeme were killed—or even just gravely injured—the vivre card would immediately react, alerting anyone monitoring it. This meant that if Akira made a move against Graeme, the Five Elders would instantly know that Graeme was in a life-or-death situation.

Even worse, if the Five Elders didn't intervene and Graeme somehow returned intact, how would Akira explain the vivre card burning down to ashes? And if he pretended Graeme was just seriously injured, the next question would be: who* had the power to deal such a blow to an Admiral?

Someone capable of severely injuring an Admiral wouldn't be an unknown face. No matter how he spun it, this situation was filled with pitfalls, and things could easily go wrong.

"Why does the CP0 have such ridiculous regulations?" Akira muttered, frowning. If the CP0 member hadn't brought this up, it might have slipped his mind completely.

As Fleet Admiral, Akira had never been required to handle something like a vivre card for himself. But after thinking it over, it made sense.

CP0 had a different role from the Marines. The CP0 were the personal enforcers of the Five Elders, handling sensitive information and often carrying out missions personally. Their movements were closely monitored because they served as the "eyes" of the Five Elders.

As for the Fleet Admiral, there was seldom a reason to leave Marine headquarters. If there was a situation, an Admiral would be sent to handle it. Having a vivre card for someone like him would be pointless.

"Do you know where Graeme's vivre card is kept?" Akira asked, taking a deep breath to steady his thoughts.

CP0 member: "One is in the captain's office, and the other is with Commander-in-Chief Kong."

Akira: "...Damn."