Chapter 788 - 787: Supernovas and Charlotte Linlin

Marine Headquarters, New Marineford.

After burying Garp’s coffin deep within the soil of Foosha Village, Kuzan returned to Headquarters alongside Sengoku.

Nearly a month had already passed since Garp’s passing.

"It is time to hand this seat over to you," Sengoku said, sitting in the Fleet Admiral’s chair. He addressed Kuzan, who stood before him still dressed in his usual vagabond attire.

"Eh? Give it to someone who is currently a pirate? Surely Issho-san is a much better fit?" Kuzan replied with an exaggerated grimace.

In the past, many within the ranks had recommended Issho. However, due to his anti-Government political stance, his candidacy had always drawn severe opposition from the World Government.

Now, although Issho had also severed ties with the Government, he had merely walked away; he hadn’t crossed the line like Kuzan had by joining a pirate crew and becoming a wanted criminal. For Issho to return to the Navy, even to become Fleet Admiral, was well within the realm of possibility.

Kuzan, on the other hand, was officially a pirate. To bring a pirate back and instate him as Fleet Admiral was highly unorthodox, to say the least.

"It is precisely for this reason that you must take up the mantle of Fleet Admiral," Sengoku sighed heavily. "This is for the future development of the world. Garp’s sacrifice has effectively silenced those aggressive, hardline hawks. Within a single month, our Navy has received over twenty thousand new enlistment applications. Such an immense success was bought by Garp with his very life."

Fixing Kuzan with a solemn look, Sengoku concluded, "Protect all of this... Aokiji."

Sengoku deliberately used Kuzan’s old codename, signaling his official endorsement of the man’s return to the Navy.

"...It seems things are going to get incredibly hectic from here on out," Kuzan murmured after a long silence. Though it wasn’t a direct acceptance, his meaning was entirely clear.

Just then, Vice Admiral Bastille, a prominent representative of the Marine hawks, stepped into the Fleet Admiral’s office. He showed not a single shred of surprise at the presence of Kuzan, who technically still carried a bounty.

Saluting sharply, Bastille reported, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, urgent intelligence just came in! At Whole Cake Island, a faction of Supernovas from a few years ago, including the Fire Tank Pirates, the Kid Pirates, the Hawkins Pirates, and the Straw Hat Pirates, have launched a rebellion during Big Mom’s Tea Party in league with the Vinsmoke Family! They are currently engaging Big Mom in open combat!"

Kuzan jammed his hands into his pockets, turning his head. "Arara... our captain didn’t make a move?"

Bastille did not treat Kuzan as an enemy. In fact, his demeanor was no different from when Kuzan served as an Admiral. He replied, "There are no signs of Alucard taking action. However, his subordinates are growing restless. Younger crews under his banner, spearheaded by the Heart Pirates, the Barto Club, and the Bonney Pirates, are currently advancing toward Totto Land at extreme speed."

"Kuzan!" Sengoku suddenly barked.

"Ah? Present."

Kuzan turned back blankly, only to see a white coat flying straight toward him. He caught it out of reflex. It was a Fleet Admiral’s Marine coat.

"I am ordering you to lead five Vice Admirals and a fleet of six battleships to Totto Land, the territory of the Big Mom Pirates, to secure the area. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise, I leave the situation entirely to your discretion!"

Bastille’s jaw dropped slightly, visibly stunned by the swiftness of the appointment.

After a prolonged silence, Kuzan draped the mantle over his shoulders. As he walked out the door, he threw a final word back to Bastille, "Inform Fujitora, Shirokitsune, Momousagi, and the others. It’s time for our old comrades to come home."

"Understood!"

...

Meanwhile, on Whole Cake Island, Charlotte Linlin was covered in wounds, making her already bloated, grotesque physique look even more repulsive.

Standing defiantly before her was the Supernova Alliance, spearheaded by Bege and Kid.

"Bege, you little brat..." Charlotte Linlin hissed through gritted teeth.

Bege let out a sinister chuckle. "My apologies, Big Mom. This wasn’t the original plan, but out of the Sweet Four Commanders, two are dead, that idiot Cracker was taken out by the Straw Hat, and Snack was dealt with even earlier by Urouge. Given the circumstances, I had a sudden change of heart."

"Cut the damn chatter!!!"

True to his explosive temper, Kid flung his arms wide. Countless metallic weapons magnetically converged onto his limbs, forming a pair of scrap-iron gauntlets that rivaled the size of a Giant’s arms.

With a fierce roar, the corners of Kid’s mouth curled into a savage grin. "We’re about to take down a Yonko right here, right now!"

"Luffy! We’ve rescued the ero-cook!" Zoro shouted toward Luffy from afar, standing protectively in front of Sanji.

"Hey, hey, what do we do now? Are we retreating?" Chopper asked, twitching his blue nose in sheer panic. The suffocating pressure of facing a Yonko, even an injured one, was immense.

"I’m not running away!" Luffy declared, clenching both fists tightly. "If I back down here, how am I supposed to become the Pirate King?!"

Hearing those words, Zoro’s fighting spirit flared up instantly. "A Yonko, huh? Sounds entertaining."

"Ma-mamamama!"

Charlotte Linlin suddenly erupted into a manic fit of laughter. "A bunch of bratty children who scored a few cheap hits using underhanded schemes, and you honestly think you can defeat me? Don’t make me laugh, you arrogant little pests!"

As her voice boomed across the field, ominous, pitch-black silhouettes began to seep out from the surrounding earth of Totto Land.

These were homies manufactured by Charlotte Linlin using the raw essence of her soul power. She had kept them hidden beneath the soil, deploying them for the very first time during her clash against Alucard.

This was only the second time they had ever seen the light of day.

"No matter how you look at it, this is completely absurd..."

Sanji’s jaw dropped so far in disbelief that the cigarette slipped from his lips, tumbling onto the dirt.

Under Charlotte Linlin’s absolute command, every inanimate object in the vicinity, whether it was buildings, massive trees, or shattered boulders, shook off its lifeless state and transformed into a soldier in her personal vanguard.

"Ma-mamamama! Come on then, brats! Show me what else you’ve got!"