Chapter 96: Chapter 88 Rise of the White Dragon
The confirmation of Satoru's title as Admiral White Dragon spread like wildfire, orchestrated by the ever-calculating Fleet Admiral Sengoku. He ensured the world would know of this unprecedented event. A twelve-year-old taking up the mantle of an admiral was shocking news, shaking every corner of the seas.
The reaction was mixed.
"Is this a joke? A kid as an admiral? Has the Navy lost its mind?"
One disgruntled civilian waved a newspaper furiously, incredulous at the announcement. He turned to his friends for validation.
"It's nonsense. What's next? Will toddlers start commanding fleets?"
Others, however, placed their trust in Sengoku's judgment.
"The Navy wouldn't promote someone unqualified," argued one believer. "That boy must have something extraordinary."
Still, skepticism reigned supreme. Parents glanced at their own twelve-year-olds—rowdy, undisciplined, and incapable of handling even simple chores—and shook their heads.
The pirates' reactions, as expected, were mocking.
"Hahaha! The Navy must be desperate if a brat is leading their charge!"
One pirate, his ship anchored in the first half of the Grand Line, threw his head back in laughter. "What's next? Can I apply to be a Fleet Admiral?"
But not everyone dismissed the boy outright.
"Wait… isn't that the same kid who was called a 'Navy Supernova' last year? Didn't he fight alongside Admiral Kizaru to fend off Kaido?"
"Ridiculous!" scoffed another pirate. "Kizaru might've handled Kaido, but there's no way that kid had anything to do with it!"
Still, a dangerous gleam sparked in some eyes.
"If he's that weak, taking him down would catapult us into infamy. Defeating an admiral, even a rookie one, is the ultimate glory!"
Meanwhile, in the quiet Windmill Village, Satoru's hometown erupted in disbelief.
"No way! Satoru? Admiral? That little rascal?"
The villagers, who had seen him grow up, couldn't wrap their heads around the news.
"This has to be some sort of trick. Maybe Vice Admiral Garp pulled some strings?"
The village chief, alarmed, immediately contacted Garp to confirm. The reply was unequivocal—Satoru had earned this on his own.
When the truth sank in, the village erupted in celebration. Satoru wasn't just any naval officer; he was *their* naval officer, and now, he was one of the most powerful figures in the world.
Far away, in the heart of the New World, Kaido sat brooding over the newspaper. His underlings glanced nervously at their captain.
"Shall I take care of him?" asked King, Kaido's right-hand man, breaking the tense silence.
"You're no match for him," Kaido replied grimly.
Gasps rippled through the ranks. King, second only to Kaido, couldn't handle the boy?
"His growth is terrifying," Kaido admitted. "In just over a year, he's reached this level. I underestimated him."
Meanwhile, on a different sea, the Red-Haired Pirates were in the midst of a banquet. News of Satoru's promotion had reached them, and their reactions were far less tense.
"Oi, boss, the brat made it to admiral!"
"Next time we run into him, should we be the ones running?" someone joked, earning a round of hearty laughter.
"Run? Us? Nah, it'll be him running away," said another. "We're the Yonko, after all."
The crew celebrated, raising their mugs in Satoru's honor. Though they were pirates and he was now a Navy admiral, the bond forged through past encounters still held strong.
For the new recruits, however, the display of camaraderie was baffling.
"Why are we toasting an admiral's success? Isn't he our enemy?"
The veteran crew members grinned knowingly.
"He's no ordinary admiral, kid. He's Satoru, and if you don't get it now, you will soon enough."
The seas churned with change, and the name "White Dragon" was on everyone's lips. Whether hailed as a hero or a threat, one thing was certain—Admiral Satoru had arrived, and the world was watching.