While the Five Elders deliberated on their strategy for managing Luffy's future, the newly promoted admiral followed his assigned escort through the ornate corridors of Pangaea Castle, his mind racing with analytical thoughts.

Suspicious old men, he reflected bitterly. Despite my years of demonstrated loyalty to the World Government, they still subject me to these transparent tests. Clearly, I've yet to earn their genuine trust.

As he continued walking, something about the meeting continued to trouble him. Their behavior was peculiar. I had prepared numerous eloquent justifications for my promotion, yet they granted it almost immediately, without debate or deliberation. Something doesn't add up.

Increasingly perplexed, Luffy surreptitiously observed the holy land guard leading him through the castle's labyrinthine passages. When the man's attention briefly shifted to greeting another patrol, Luffy seized the opportunity to activate his rarely-used mind-reading ability, an ability gain my combining the Goro Goro no Mi and Observation Haki, interpreting neural activity with precise control to delicately probing the guard's recent memories.

Originally, Luffy had contemplated using this technique on the Five Elders themselves, but quickly abandoned the notion after considering their formidable abilities and the mysterious Im who lurked in Mariejois' shadows. Such an attempt would have been catastrophically dangerous.

However, extracting information from an ordinary guard presented minimal risk.

Outwardly, Luffy maintained casual conversation, asking innocuous questions about interesting locations in the Holy Land to distract his guide. Meanwhile, he carefully sifted through the man's surface memories.

Soon, his subtle mental exploration uncovered something significant: just days earlier, another unexpected visitor had arrived requesting an audience with the Five Elders.

The mysterious figure had concealed their appearance beneath a hooded cloak, but this particular guard had been stationed outside the council chamber during the meeting. From his position, he had caught a glimpse of unkempt reddish stubble beneath the visitor's hood.

At the time, the guard had briefly wondered who would dare appear before the world's most powerful men with such casual disregard for appearance. However, well aware that excessive curiosity in Mariejois often led to shortened lifespans, he had quickly suppressed these thoughts.

Yet when Luffy arrived today, the image of that mysterious visitor had involuntarily resurfaced in the guard's consciousness.

Though the mental image appeared only briefly, Luffy captured it with perfect clarity. Unlike the guard, who lacked context to identify the visitor, Luffy immediately recognized the distinctive facial hair.

It could only belong to one of the current Emperors of the Sea—a man with rumored ties to the Celestial Dragons themselves—"Red-Haired" Shanks.

{This fanfic is created before Shank are free from the rat allegations}

This revelation surprised Luffy, but not excessively so. Based on what he knew of the Canon, Shanks had met with the Five Elders before, so his presence in Mariejois wasn't entirely unprecedented.

What intrigued Luffy far more was the timing of this visit—occurring shortly after his defeat of Kaido and immediately before his own promotion to admiral.

Unfortunately, the actual conversation between Shanks and the Five Elders remained beyond his reach. A mere guard would never be permitted to overhear such sensitive discussions, and without directly reading the Elders' minds—a suicidal proposition—Luffy would never learn the exact nature of their exchange.

Nevertheless, he could formulate reasonable conjectures based on his extensive knowledge.

Shanks always seeks to maintain equilibrium on the seas, Luffy reasoned. His primary concern would be preventing the Marines from gaining overwhelming dominance before the prophesied Joy Boy emerges. With Kaido's defeat, that balance has already shifted significantly.

The pieces began falling into place in Luffy's mind. My promotion serves multiple agendas. For the Five Elders, elevating me represents both an attempt to secure my loyalty and an acknowledgment that my contribution to Kaido's defeat was too significant to ignore without risking alienating me entirely.

Shanks likely came here after learning of Kaido's fall, concerned that the Marines might capitalize on this momentum to eliminate the remaining Emperors in rapid succession. He would have urged the Five Elders to restrain the Marines' aggressive tendencies.

This explains their readiness to promote me without extensive questioning—the decision had already been made, possibly as part of some broader arrangement with Shanks.

As these realizations crystallized, Luffy's expression darkened momentarily before he smoothed his features back to neutrality.

Whether my analysis is accurate remains to be seen, he mused. The coming months will reveal the Marines' strategic direction. If I'm correct, they'll face increased constraints and complications—and as a new admiral, I'll inevitably be caught in these political crosscurrents.

A flash of genuine irritation crossed his mind. Damn you, Shanks. If you've interfered with my plans, you'll regret underestimating me.

By this time, they had exited Pangaea Castle and reached an open courtyard. Luffy inhaled deeply, sardonically appreciating the "fresh" air of Mariejois—air purified through the suffering and labor of countless slaves over generations.

Composing himself, Luffy turned to the guard with a practiced smile. "Though I never caught your name, I appreciate your guidance and explanations throughout our walk. Now that my business here is concluded, I'll take my leave. Perhaps we'll meet again someday."

The guard immediately halted and offered a respectful bow. "Vice Admiral Luffy—no, Admiral Luffy—you honor me with your courtesy. I've merely fulfilled my duty. Your satisfaction is the greatest reward I could receive."

Luffy responded with a polite nod before focusing his concentration. Brilliant blue-white electricity crackled across his body, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a living bolt of lightning that shot skyward, disappearing into the clouds above Mariejois.

The guard stood momentarily stunned by the spectacular departure, his reactions delayed by astonishment. When he finally regained his composure, he belatedly snapped to attention, offering a formal salute toward the now-empty sky.

After maintaining this position for several seconds, he lowered his arm and began walking back toward his post, shaking his head in wonder.

"He's even more personable than rumors suggested," the guard murmured to himself. "Truly worthy of becoming the youngest vice admiral in Marine history—no, the youngest admiral now. I've witnessed a historic moment today."

As the guard returned to his routine duties, he remained blissfully unaware of how thoroughly his mind had been examined—or how significantly the information he had unwittingly provided might influence the course of world events.

Meanwhile, Admiral Monkey D. Luffy streaked through the atmosphere, his mind already formulating contingency plans for whatever political complications awaited him upon his return to Marine Headquarters.