April 8th, 1518 Sea CalendarEast Blue, Marine Base"Seraphina!"
A little orange-haired girl ran toward Saint Roselith Seraphina the moment she stepped off the Marine warship.
Seraphina stopped in surprise and looked down at the child rushing toward her.
"Who are you?"
She was completely bewildered.
There was something strangely familiar about the little girl's appearance, almost as though she were looking at a much younger version of herself.
"Seraphina, don't you remember Luna?"
The little girl's expression immediately fell, and her eyes began to well up with tears.
"You're Luna?"
Seraphina quickly recognized her and bent down to pick up the orange-haired girl, then turned toward Fran with a puzzled expression.
"Fran, what happened?"
"Vice Admiral, I'm not entirely sure how to explain it either."
"You'll probably understand better if you ask Luna herself."
Fran gave an awkward smile.
This was the same information he had mentioned during their previous conversations: the enormous Sea King cub that Seraphina had once encountered in the East Blue had somehow transformed into a human girl.
Even Fran had been shocked when he first discovered it.
After all, Luna had once been a gigantic Sea King, yet she had somehow shrunk into the appearance of a small human child.
"Colonel Hina had been helping take care of her until recently, but I only learned about what happened within the last month."
Seraphina lowered her gaze toward Luna.
"Luna, what happened?"
"Well… that day…"
Luna nervously poked her little finger against the other.
"A strange fruit floated in the sea, and Luna thought it looked delicious, so Luna ate it!"
The little girl puffed out her cheeks as she recalled the unpleasant experience.
"After eating that awful fruit, Luna suddenly became like this!"
She immediately shook her head.
"But, Seraphina~ that fruit tasted horrible!"
Seraphina's expression darkened.
"Will you ever dare to eat something you find floating in the sea again?"
"No…!"
Luna shook her head violently.
"Luna will never eat a strange fruit again!"
Seraphina sighed helplessly and gently patted her head.
"After eating the fruit, could you still swim?"
Seraphina suddenly realized the most important problem.
Luna was a Sea King.
If she had eaten a Devil Fruit, what would happen to her ability to move through the sea?
"Waaaaah!"
Luna immediately burst into tears.
"In the water… ugh…"
"It became so heavy that Luna couldn't swim anymore!"
"But… Moo Moo pulled Luna back!"
She sobbed as she recalled the terrifying experience.
"Luna really regretted eating that thing!"
"I see."
Seraphina thought about it carefully.
That result actually made sense.
A Devil Fruit user loses the ability to swim and becomes helpless in the sea, but Luna's natural ability to breathe underwater would not necessarily disappear simply because she had consumed a Devil Fruit.
The sea itself was weakening her body rather than preventing her from breathing.
Still, Seraphina couldn't help becoming curious.
A Devil Fruit capable of transforming an animal into a human was most likely a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
But the strange part was that Luna had apparently retained her memories and intelligence after transforming.
Could it be a particularly unusual Devil Fruit?
"Luna, do you remember what the Devil Fruit looked like?"
"If you can describe it, I might be able to identify it in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."
"Hmm~ Hmm~"
Luna nodded enthusiastically.
Then she tilted her head.
She shook her head.
"Hehe~"
"I forgot!"
"..."
Seraphina fell silent.
"So you remember eating it, but you don't remember what it looked like?"
Luna nodded innocently.
"Yes!"
Seraphina could only sigh.
At least the girl was honest.
Suddenly, Luna's small nose twitched.
"Huh?"
"What's that smell on you, Seraphina?"
"It smells really good!"
Luna leaned closer and sniffed carefully.
A faint, sweet fragrance had caught her attention.
She wriggled in Seraphina's arms, trying to find the source of the scent.
"There's nothing strange about me."
"Don't hold on so tightly, Luna."
Luna ignored her warning and hugged Seraphina even more tightly.
"The smell is strongest here!"
Her little hands reached toward Seraphina's long silver-white hair.
Seraphina immediately became embarrassed.
"Luna, if you keep pulling my hair, I won't give you anything to eat."
"Ah!"
"Luna doesn't want to be hungry!"
Luna instantly stopped moving.
For Luna, hunger was terrifying.
She had once been so hungry that she had eaten anything she could find, including the Devil Fruit that had completely changed her life.
Seeing Luna finally settle down, Fran took the opportunity to discuss the girl's future with Seraphina.
"Vice Admiral, what are we going to do with Luna from now on?"
Before, Luna's enormous size had made it impossible for Seraphina to take her with her when she left the East Blue.
That was why she had entrusted Luna to reliable Marines for the time being.
Seraphina looked at Luna's expectant expression.
"Never mind."
"I'll take her with me."
Luna's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really?!"
Seraphina smiled.
"Yes."
"After all, I'm the one who found you in the first place."
Luna immediately hugged Seraphina again.
"Seraphina is the best!"
Seraphina gently patted Luna's head before turning her attention back toward Fran.
"Fran, Vice Admiral Garp told me that you've done a good job."
Fran's expression immediately became serious.
He straightened his back and saluted.
"Lieutenant General Garp's praise is more than enough for me, Vice Admiral."
Seraphina nodded.
"Then give me your report."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
Fran began his report.
"The East Blue railway network project is more than halfway complete."
"Several sections are already operational, and according to the current construction schedule, the remaining major sections are expected to be completed by the end of 1521."
"With the assistance of Tom's former shipbuilding knowledge and the engineers working under the project, the experimental sea-train technology has also progressed significantly."
"However, mass production of true sea trains remains a much larger undertaking than originally anticipated."
"The necessary rail infrastructure, engineering facilities, and maintenance systems are being constructed simultaneously across several islands."
"The pirate forces operating throughout the East Blue have also suffered a heavy blow."
"Most of the major pirate groups have either been captured, destroyed, or driven away from the territories under Marine protection."
"As a result, the remaining pirates have become much more cautious and rarely dare to openly challenge the Marines."
"The East Blue Marine Academy is also approximately sixty percent complete."
"If construction continues according to schedule, it should be capable of beginning its first intake next year."
"That concludes my report!"
Fran once again gave a formal Marine salute.
"Major… no."
Seraphina paused briefly.
"Rear Admiral Fran."
Fran's expression froze.
"Rear Admiral?"
He looked at Seraphina in confusion.
He was still a Marine officer who had risen through the ranks from the 18th Branch.
He had served as Seraphina's adjutant and had spent years assisting her during her patrols throughout the East Blue.
Yet he had never expected to hear that title directed at him.
"That's right."
Seraphina smiled.
"Well done, Fran."
"You've proven yourself through your actions rather than merely through your words."
Fran lowered his head.
"Vice Admiral, I only fulfilled my duties as a Marine."
Seraphina shook her head.
"That's precisely why you deserve this promotion."
"During your years in the East Blue, you've had countless opportunities to abuse your authority."
"But according to every report I've received, you've consistently refused to use your position for personal gain."
"You protected civilians."
"You maintained discipline among your subordinates."
"And you continued working on the East Blue's development even when nobody was watching."
"Those qualities are far more valuable than empty ambition."
Fran's expression became solemn.
"Vice Admiral…"
Seraphina reached into the documents she had prepared before leaving the warship.
"After reviewing your achievements and receiving approval from Marine Headquarters, your promotion has been finalized."
She handed the documents to him.
"Fran, you are hereby promoted to Rear Admiral."
Fran's eyes widened.
"Furthermore, you will assume command of this Marine base and oversee Marine operations throughout the East Blue under the authority of Marine Headquarters."
Fran stared at the appointment papers in his hands.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he immediately snapped to attention.
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
"I accept!"
His voice was firm, but his hands trembled slightly around the documents.
Seraphina smiled.
"Don't disappoint me, Rear Admiral Fran."
Fran's expression became resolute.
"I won't!"
"I swear on my honor as a Marine!"
Luna, who had been quietly watching the exchange from beside Seraphina, suddenly raised her little hand.
"Seraphina!"
"Hm?"
"Does this mean Fran is a really important Marine now?"
Seraphina glanced at Luna before smiling.
"Yes."
"But remember, Luna."
"Rank doesn't make someone important."
"What they do with that rank does."
Fran's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened.
Those words were simple.
Yet to him, they carried more weight than the promotion itself.
He tightened his grip on the appointment papers.
From that day forward, the East Blue would no longer merely be the sea where he served.
It would become the responsibility entrusted to him by the Marines.
And he intended to protect it with everything he had.
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