One Piece:The Fruit of Evolution

Two hours later, a warship slowly approached from the open sea.

"Colonel Sakazuki, we're about to reach Gris Island!" A Marine reported to Sakazuki, who stood at the bow, draped in an admiral's cape.

"Almost there?" Sakazuki raised his head slightly, revealing a stern, rigid face beneath his imposing figure. "A mere group of pirates dare to attack a country under the World Government. Ever since Roger and Whitebeard appeared, the seas have been teeming with unstable elements."

The Marine lowered his head, staying silent. Colonel Sakazuki was notorious for his volatile temper.

"It's the incompetence and collusion of the Naval Headquarters and the higher-ups in the World Government that let these scoundrels roam free," Sakazuki growled, his eyes becoming increasingly irritable. If he became Marine Marshal, he would severely crack down on such negligence.

The Marine in front of him broke into a cold sweat, knowing better than to respond. This was beyond the rank of a low-level sailor.

As the warship neared Gris Island, pieces of pirate ship wreckage floated on the water. The closer they got, the more debris and bodies drifted by.

Sakazuki narrowed his eyes, a flicker of surprise passing over his face. He knew the headquarters had sent a colonel to hold off the raiding pirates, but he hadn't expected such results.

Judging by the wreckage, there had been at least a dozen pirate ships. To have destroyed so many with a single warship was impressive, even to him.

Sakazuki's warship finally reached the coast of Gris Island, and another warship of equal size came into view.

"Gasp!" A Marine behind him audibly sucked in his breath, even Sakazuki himself was taken aback by the sight.

In the offshore waters, countless corpses and the wreckage of pirate ships filled nearly half the sea. A blood-red slash severed a pirate ship trying to escape, spilling blood everywhere and leaving the entire crew dead. The entire plundering pirate crew had been annihilated.

Sakazuki squinted, his surprise growing. He prided himself on his extreme stance toward pirates, yet this Marine's ruthlessness surpassed even his own.

This method of completely eradicating the enemy filled him with an odd sense of satisfaction. Could there be others in the Marines who shared his unyielding sense of justice?

The two warships gradually docked together.

"Naval Headquarters Colonel Sakazuki!" Sakazuki shouted from the bow in a deep voice. "Identify yourself, Marine!"

The strength displayed by this Marine had even Sakazuki feeling a hint of danger. There was no doubt that this man was powerful, someone destined to rise within Naval Headquarters. Sakazuki already had plans to recruit him into his own camp.

"Naval Headquarters Colonel, Ron," the other Marine responded, a cigarette hanging from his lips as the cloak of justice fluttered behind him.

 Crimson Cry was sheathed at his waist, and his eyes glinted with interest as he watched Sakazuki's warship approach.

The two warships docked side by side, and Ron officially met the future Marine admiral.

 First impressions? Sakazuki seemed overly serious, with an aura of oppression that made those around him tremble. His heat-based Devil Fruit abilities made the air around him feel like it was boiling.

"Logia Devil Fruit power… dangerous," Ron thought. But he was confident his own powers would one day surpass even an admiral's.

Sakazuki's mind was racing. He had heard of Ron before. Though not the strongest at Naval Headquarters, Ron was infamous for his unforgiving stance toward pirates. The saying "dead pirates are the best pirates" was admired by many hardline Marines, though Ron's strength had kept him from rising as high as others. But now, seeing his power firsthand, Sakazuki realized the rumors were wrong.

If Ron's strength couldn't make him a Rear Admiral, then half of the Naval Headquarters' Rear Admirals didn't deserve their ranks. It seemed likely that Ron had offended someone in high command and had been unfairly held back.

"You did well. I'll report this battle to the headquarters, and you'll be awarded honors and a promotion," Sakazuki said, admiration evident in his voice.

He despised the current rotten atmosphere at Naval Headquarters. For someone like Ron, capable and righteous, the rank of Rear Admiral was too low. Once Sakazuki became Marine Marshal, he'd see to it that Ron at least became a Vice Admiral.

"Thank you, Colonel Sakazuki," Ron replied, nodding. He owed Sakazuki a favor now. By speaking up for him, Sakazuki was essentially backing him.

While Ron was only a colonel at the moment, everyone knew that Sakazuki was a top candidate for Vice Admiral. With his Logia Devil Fruit power, he had the strength to be promoted but lacked the necessary merits and experience. Destroying the pirates and saving the Kingdom of Gris would earn Ron a commendation, but with Sakazuki's support, a Rear Admiral promotion seemed inevitable.

Rejecting the Kingdom of Gris's invitation for a banquet, Ron set sail for Marineford with his fleet. The pirate's cannon fire had severely damaged his warship during the boarding battle, and it needed at least two weeks of repairs.

Ron figured this was a good time to let his men rest. After countless battles, even if he didn't need a break, his sailors certainly did. He also needed time to develop his newly evolved powers.

"In half a month, the rewards from headquarters should be issued," Ron muttered.

While the Naval Headquarters could decide promotions for most officers, moving up from Marine Colonel to Rear Admiral required approval from the World Government. An application had to be submitted, and once approved, instructions were sent down.

In addition, forming a fleet required the reassignment of Marines from various divisions, a process that was both time-consuming and complicated. The whole procedure could take about a month.

But next time Ron left headquarters, he wouldn't be sailing with just one warship. He would command a fully equipped small fleet.