"Well, you still have such determination? I'm quite pleased. However, I've already made up my mind. Besides, if you're not under my watchful eye and keep running around causing trouble, it will put me in a difficult position. It's not easy for me to keep your strength a secret, so you should give me a break, right?"

"..."

This old guy is determined to send him back to headquarters.

His ambitions have been dashed.

Going back to headquarters is fine. I'm just a lieutenant anyway. I can just quit when the time comes, find a ship to patrol the Grand Line before the war starts, or station myself somewhere nearby. That way, I can avoid that top-level war.

"By the way, you've been promoted, as have your subordinates, Lida and Kuro. You captured a great pirate. According to our understanding, the great pirate was captured by the three of you, so Kuro, headquarters has decided to promote you to major, Lida to lieutenant, and Kuro to second lieutenant."

"???"

A question mark appeared on Kuro's head.

"I got promoted?" Kuro pointed at himself, uncertainly asking, "Grandpa, are you talking to me?"

"Young people these days are terrifying. They managed to get a pirate worth 370 million to surrender without a word. Even I couldn't do that. Well, that's settled then. I'll be waiting for you to come back and complete your promotion ceremony."

Click.

The Den Den Bug (a type of electric scooter) stopped working.

"Wait, wait, old man!"

Kuro straightened up and shouted, but there was no sound from anywhere.

You got promoted?

What happened?

How did I suddenly become a major?!