NOVEL WEB Chapter 134: Tashigi's Choice
Alabasta's waters were a hive of activity. A Germa snail warship and a hippopotamus-headed warship were on the offensive, sweeping through pirate crews that had previously tried to overthrow the Goa Empire's fleet, as well as some pirate crews that wanted to watch the show or take advantage of the chaos. Behind the two warships, a Marine warship brought up the rear, capturing pirates.
During the more than a week Kael stayed in Alabasta, Aramaki, Erick, Zoro, Van Augur, Lafitte, and Saga led the Royal Guard and clone army from the two warships, sweeping through pirates in this sea area. They completely restored peace. Their actions were even more diligent than the Marines.
On Tashigi's Marine warship, more than a dozen pirates with bounties ranging from 20,000,000 to 60,000,000 Berries had been captured. These military achievements were enough for her and her Marine soldiers to be promoted. It must be said, "lying flat" had its advantages.
Under Issho's guidance, Tashigi herself often sparred with swordsmen like Zoro and Saga, and her strength soared. She even learned the Rokushiki technique, Soru, and awakened Armament Haki. This bespectacled girl, following Smoker, only gained her current strength in the Punk Hazard arc, being able to injure the Logia-type snow woman Monet. Indeed, only by following strong individuals can you become stronger faster.
Even for the Straw Hat Pirates, if Luffy hadn't learned from Silvers Rayleigh, and Zoro hadn't learned from Hawkeye Mihawk, they probably wouldn't have known where to learn Haki. If they relied solely on their own struggles, they might have had to spend more than a decade, like other pirate crews, to become strong and make a name for themselves. After all, strong individuals like the Roger Pirates and Four Emperors didn't reach their peak until they were in their thirties or forties.
After several days of sweeping, Tashigi sent all these prisoners to a Marine Branch 16 fortress on the Grand Line. Fleet Admiral Sengoku of Marineford knew that Tashigi, this Marine Branch 16 Colonel, was a person supported by the Goa Empire. However, upon learning that Tashigi had awakened Haki, he felt she could be cultivated.
Vice Admiral Tsuru personally called Tashigi, asking if she wanted to be promoted to Marine Branch 16 Rear Admiral in the East Blue, commanding several Navy Branches of the Goa Empire. Alternatively, she could enter Marineford to study for a period of time and become an honorable Marineford Colonel. According to the rule that Marineford ranks are three levels higher than Marine Branch 16 ranks, if Tashigi chose to stay in the East Blue, she would only be promoted one rank. If she entered Marineford, she would be directly promoted three ranks.
However, to become a Marineford Colonel, one must study hard, undergo special training, and also receive the Marineford's 'baptism' of justice and loyalty, completely severing ties with the Goa Empire and henceforth being completely loyal to Marineford and the World Government.
These two choices made Tashigi quite hesitant. Being promoted to Marineford Colonel, this was Smoker's rank back then. She had only followed Kael around the South Blue, West Blue, and Grand Line, and she had already caught up to Colonel Smoker. However, she did not immediately reply to Vice Admiral Tsuru. She instinctively wanted to ask for Kael's opinion. After hanging up Vice Admiral Tsuru's Transponder Snail, she immediately called Kael for advice.
...
"Marine Branch 16 Rear Admiral? Marineford Colonel?"
Kael listened to Tashigi's report and pondered for a moment. He understood that Tashigi carried the label of the Goa Empire. After all, she was a Marine Branch 16 Colonel personally promoted by Kael. If Tashigi chose to stay in the East Blue this time, Marine Branch 16 Rear Admiral might be her lifelong limit. It would be very difficult for her to enter the core circle of Marineford in the future. However, to enter Marineford, she would definitely have to accept their 'test' to ensure a heart of justice and loyalty.
"Don't be conflicted. Just follow what your heart tells you."
Kael had no intention of trapping Tashigi in the East Blue.
"Your Majesty, tonight I want to come find you... to discuss something."
Before Kael could finish considering whether to use the Seven Star Dragon Sword to strengthen Tashigi's sense of belonging, this bespectacled girl stammered, her voice seemingly very nervous.
"You may."
How could Kael, this old fox, not understand Tashigi's meaning? He directly agreed to her request. It seemed his heart would have to split off another piece to give this bespectacled girl a warm harbor. Kael truly wasn't promiscuous; he just wanted to give every beautiful woman who was devoted to him a warm home.
"Yes, Your Majesty ~"
Tashigi excitedly hung up the Transponder Snail, then gave Vice Admiral Tsuru a definite answer. She wanted to enter the Marineford training camp for special training; she wanted to become stronger; she wanted to become a powerful swordswoman Vice Admiral like Gion (Momousagi).
...
That night, Marine Branch 16 Colonel Tashigi secretly met Kael in Alabasta's port city. No one knew what happened between them.
The next day, Tashigi returned to her warship with a smile and peculiar movements, leading her Marine soldiers away from Alabasta and heading directly to Marineford to report for duty. A figure watched the departing warship from the port.
"I didn't expect Tashigi to be so brave."
Kael smiled faintly. This time in Alabasta, he didn't 'eat' his fiancée Vivi, but instead got this naturally clumsy bespectacled girl.
"Don't worry, Tashigi, I will push you to a higher position."
Kael turned and left. If Doflamingo could push Vice Admiral Vergo, then he would also find a way to make Tashigi stronger and push her to the position of Vice Admiral.
...
These days, quite a few strong individuals had indeed come to Alabasta to pledge allegiance to Kael. Kael left the capital, Alubarna, and came to Alabasta's port city to inspect these Bounty Hunters and wandering strong individuals.
"Wihahaha, do you know me? I'm the fighting champion of Stoa Island!"
A burly man wearing a wrestling mask, with long purple hair flowing behind him, kept asking others, revealing a wide, toothy grin and a very bold laugh.
"Stoa Island? Fighting champion? What kind of ghost place is that? Some remote island, never heard of it at all."
"He looks like an idiot!"
"Have you defeated a pirate with a bounty over 50,000,000 Berries?"
"If not, don't even think about becoming an Imperial Baron of the Goa Empire!"
"I heard that the Imperial Barons of the Goa Empire in the East Blue only need to defeat pirates with bounties of 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 Berries to be granted the title of Baron by Emperor Kael. But in the Grand Line, you actually have to defeat a pirate with a 50,000,000 Berries bounty."
"Ahaha, I will definitely become an Imperial Baron! Weaklings, get out of my way!"
Some Bounty Hunters and strong individuals around him spoke up, mocking this so-called fighting champion. But soon, various strong individuals started their verbal attacks again.
"Damn it! I will definitely make the whole world hear my great name!"
The fighting champion, Jesus Burgess, touched the championship golden belt on his waist, his eyes full of rage. The golden belt he had fought so hard for was worthless in the eyes of these bastards!
"Is there any pirate with a bounty over 50,000,000 Berries here!! If there are no pirates, are there any Bounty Hunters who have defeated pirates with a 50,000,000 bounty?!"
Burgess desperately wanted to spread his name as a fighting champion throughout the world. He clenched his fist and targeted the Bounty Hunter who kept claiming he would become an Imperial Baron, then wildly threw a punch.