—Regarding the recent matter of inappropriate treatment of marines by the World Nobles, which came to light due to the efforts of the West Blue Marine Branch, an immediate internal investigation has revealed the involvement of several Celestial Dragons.
—They are currently being detained and questioned by the Holy Knights of God. The individuals in question have admitted that, due to the cumulative stress of their daily duties, they lacked common sense and proper judgment, leading them to commit these acts, for which they have expressed remorse.
—However, even for Celestial Dragons, these actions must be described as a deviation from established order. The Celestial Dragons involved will, following their interrogation, be subject to punishment as determined by a trial within their own ranks. Simultaneously, it has been decided that each will pay a sum of compensation, determined through consultation with the Navy High Command, to the afflicted marines and their families.
—Once again, the World Government offers its deepest apologies to the marines and families who were affected.
"Some people might take this as a declaration of war, don't you think?" he mused aloud. If he let it slip that this was the most sincere apology he could wring out of them, the entire Marine organization might just snap.
"Well, the marines who worked in the Holy Land understand how much effort you put into getting those words out of them. It is the job of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and myself, as a Special Admiral, to keep them in check. More importantly, how did you manage to secure additional compensation?"
He had to thank Admiral Zephyr for all his help, including the security detail. Thanks to him, he had been able to work with a degree of peace of mind and even get enough sleep. He'd had the door to his room removed, though, just in case someone tried to poison him or use drugs to incapacitate him. It was a kind gesture for the admiral to come all the way to the port just to see him off and inspect his ship.
"Without something tangible to gain, it would have been impossible to satisfy the victims, let alone the marines who know the truth of what happened."
Convincing the reluctant Five Elders had been an ordeal. He'd used every trick in the book to get them to agree, in front of Sengoku and the others, to a minimum compensation of thirty million Berries per person. It had been exhausting. Truly exhausting. Those people were incapable of genuine remorse. If they had been forced to apologize face-to-face, they would have undoubtedly committed an even greater offense in the process.
An official apology was absolutely necessary to bring the matter to a close, but that alone wouldn't bring peace of mind to the marines who had survived or to the families who thought their loved ones were dead. For the families of the victims, the situation was unbearably frustrating. If he couldn't at least get some money for them, there would have been no point in him coming all the way to the Holy Land.
"In a way, the confiscation and transfer of their wealth is the most painful punishment for the Celestial Dragons. It is far from a real solution, and little more than a temporary comfort, but… if the marines and their families don't gain something from this, nothing can move forward."
"Indeed…"
Special Admiral Zephyr and Hina, who stood slightly behind him, both wore grim expressions. It was understandable.
By the way, Hina, isn't your positioning a little off? You should be guarding Zephyr, not me.
In any case, his work was done. But for Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the other high-ranking officers, the hardest part was just beginning. The same went for the non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers who had to carry out their duties and training in this tense atmosphere.
A significant number of marines are still not satisfied… in fact, it's probably most of them.
He believed he had succeeded in currying favor with both the Navy and the Government, demonstrating his faction's principles and building a certain level of trust and prestige for the Black Cat Pirates, no matter which direction they moved in the future. In fact, he had been too successful. Some marines had taken to giving him their sharpest salutes whenever they saw him.
Are you guys alright? It could put you in danger, so please, keep a low profile. Seriously. And the officials had no reason to defer to him, either. He had given them instructions expecting them to complete maybe thirty percent of the work, but they had all exceeded his expectations. That alone was more than enough. While the CP units remained wary of him, he had to wonder if the regular officials had mistaken him for their boss. He had nearly jumped out of his skin when they started asking him for orders, especially in front of Zephyr and Sengoku.
My primary goal, improving security in the West Blue, still hangs in the balance. Don't you dare go getting yourselves killed for some ridiculous reason, any of you.
No life was cheap. Without each and every one of their small contributions, politics and public order could never improve, let alone be maintained. If the government continued to disregard that, it would all come crumbling down in an instant. Everyone seemed to undervalue their own existence, but he hadn't had the time or opportunity to get deeply involved enough to properly convey that each individual's worth was anything but insignificant.
"In the end, we never met face-to-face, but the marines who were able to return from the Holy Land…"
He had received a mountain of thank-you letters, even from the afflicted marines themselves. Those who had been treated relatively well and were on the road to physical and mental recovery had sent them. Replying to them all had taken more care than some of his actual work. Damn it. He couldn't possibly throw them away, which meant he had to take them with him, and they were bulky. He would have to protect them with his life until he got back to their base in the West Blue. Maybe he'd ask Mihawk to build him a proper letter box when he returned.
"It seems they have all decided to leave the marines, after all."
I figured as much. The bigger concern wasn't whether they could continue as marines, but whether they could even lead normal lives again.
"What about their livelihoods?"
"We are thinking of having them taken in by trading companies affiliated with the Navy… but Kuro, what do you think?"
Why ask me? Well…
"I believe that is the best course of action. I feel for them, but it is safer to keep them within the Navy's reach."
They would be receiving a large sum of money, even if it was compensation. Unscrupulous people wouldn't care where the money came from, and while he hoped it wouldn't happen… he couldn't rule out the possibility of the Celestial Dragons scheming to get their money back through some underhanded means. It was better to be safe than sorry.
"I see… So, you are departing soon?"
"Yes. I came here with nothing but the clothes on my back, so I don't have much luggage."
"If you'd brought even a single weapon, the fight with the Golden Lion would have been much easier. Hina is displeased."
"Don't be ridiculous," he shot back. Disarming himself had been a condition of his visit. Well, to be fair, he had calculated that he could manage even if they put shackles on his feet, but still!
"...About that, Kuro."
"Yes?"
"I am having Corporal Hina accompany you on your return voyage."
"...Excuse me?"
"What, you got a problem with that?" she retorted.
That's not it, you idiot!
"Hina."
"What is it?"
"It's going to be a reasonably long voyage. Double-check your luggage."
"? Yes, I know."
"We still have some time, but we need to make our farewells."
"You're right… Speaking of which, I haven't seen Spandine. He was drinking like a fish at your farewell party yesterday and passed out."
Oh, that guy. He'd been chugging free booze, saying nothing tasted better, and was the first one to go down. He was probably dying from a massive hangover right now. But that wasn't the point.
"Check your luggage, just in case. And check mine while you're at it."
"Huh?"
"A pirate is leaving the Holy Land. Having a marine check my belongings will demonstrate that I have nothing to hide."
"Are you asking Hina to help you build your reputation?"
"Please."
He gave Hina a slight bow. With what had become her customary sigh, she gave a perfunctory salute and left. Genetta and the others were waiting outside; she would be fine if she went with them. He never expected them to cry while saying goodbye. In any case…
"Special Admiral Zephyr."
"Yes."
"Is Corporal Hina in that much danger?"
A pirate, one the Celestial Dragons themselves wanted, was leaving the relative safety of the Holy Land. Honestly, it wouldn't be surprising if they ran into some trouble or a fight. At worst, they could be met with cannon fire the moment they sailed out. He considered it a very real possibility. And they were deliberately putting Hina in that situation.
Which is it? Are the Navy not planning to act, or have they not received orders… or perhaps…
"You have achieved the results we in the Navy had hoped for. Not just this apology and compensation, but also the training of Corporal Hina and the other soldiers, and the knowledge you imparted. In the defense of the Holy Land, your brilliant command kept our casualties to a minimum."
Training? What he'd taught Hina and the surrounding soldiers was the dregs, the absolute basics of the basics he taught his own rank-and-file troops. The difference between fighting on land and at sea, the strengths and weaknesses of dense formations, tips for individual situational awareness to compensate for those weaknesses, how to identify key points in a defensive battle, and so on.
On the other hand, they taught me that insane training method with the 'warship bag'… They could have taught me something more useful. Like an analysis of the power balance between member nations and their points of contention. Fighting ability and seamanship were important, of course, but for the navy of a massive coalition of nations in this ocean world, if they didn't have a firm grasp of such matters, their ability to respond would be wildly inconsistent. Or so he thought. He had been shocked by how many soldiers were vague about the internal affairs of the countries in their assigned territories. They should at least be made to analyze the local cultures.
"It was just a brief overview."
"No, Vice Admiral Tsuru was astonished by Corporal Hina's growth. Her skill in quickly re-establishing a chain of command centered around you amidst that chaotic battle… A moderately experienced officer would not have been able to manage that."
Please, improve the quality where it really matters, not just their fighting prowess!
"Our intention was to have her use the experience she gained under you to train a new generation of marines to support Fleet Admiral Sengoku's command, but…"
Our intention. If he meant the Navy, then in this case…
"The Government?"
"It seems they view Corporal Hina as someone extremely close to you."
Are they planning to use Hina as a hostage? I'll kill them.
Honestly, if he were asked whether he had grown attached to her, the answer was a resounding yes. He would never prioritize her over his crew, but if something were to happen to her, could he remain calm? No. He was confident that even if he managed to keep a straight face, he would be a wreck on the inside. To the point that, if the situation allowed, going on a rampage in the Holy Land would quickly become a viable option.
"Surely not the Five Elders… right?"
"I do not know. But when the Corporal was not with you, she was being watched by multiple, highly skilled individuals."
"Not marines, of course."
"Correct. They are not known to us."
That practically screams the Five Elders! So that's why Hina started bringing a bed into my office and sleeping there after the battle! He had thought she was just getting unwanted attention after the fight with Shiki, and that was why his own surveillance had gotten tighter. But she had been by his side every single day. For a marine to have to rely on a pirate for protection… the World Government really needed to get its house in order. Seriously.
The fact that those colonel-class officers were with Genetta and the others… I thought it was for surveillance, but it might have been for their protection.
Well, as long as they were with Hina, they would probably be fine. Besides, the government had little reason to make a move here. If there was a problem, it was more likely to be—
"Understood. Whatever happens on the voyage ahead, I will ensure Corporal Hina reaches the West Blue safely."
"My apologies, Kuro. It is a relief to hear you say that."
I'm a pirate, though. And she was a marine… but well, he supposed it couldn't be helped. He had sparred with her a few times when they had a moment, and she was still a few steps behind his Royal Guard. Her raw physical abilities were quite high, though.
"I will live up to that trust. However, Admiral Zephyr, in return, I have a request."
"Of course, name it. I will do everything in my power to grant it."
"Ensure the safety of Lady Genetta and the others."
They were in more danger. They had been treated like disposable pawns from the start. Looking back, placing them around him, someone who often dealt with the Celestial Dragons, might have been a way of offering them up as potential sacrifices.
Well, I'll take what precautions I can.
He handed Zephyr a bundle of documents he had been working on in his spare time—a proposal, what would have been called a project plan in his previous life, along with supporting data.
"What is this?"
"A proposal for the establishment of a new section that I believe is essential for the future governance of the World Government, along with data to support its usefulness."
He had planned to give it to Sengoku, but now that things had settled down, it was better to go through the proper channels rather than appealing directly to the top.
Sengoku and Tsuru are people who can cast aside personal feelings to make a decision when necessary. For now, this man, who is compassionate and values the front lines, is the right choice.
Admiral Zephyr flipped through the papers, let out a small sigh, and adjusted his glasses.
"…A unit specializing in reconstruction missions for regions affected by pirate attacks or war damage?"
"Yes. By its nature, it cannot be a large force, but in an emergency, the presence of a unit that can respond immediately, regardless of the political situation, will greatly affect the survival rate of the populace and the stability of the region afterwards. And above all, it will greatly influence the reputation of the Navy."
"And you propose your subordinates as the staff to run it…"
"Yes, and no, Admiral. They are valuable personnel entrusted to me by the World Government, not my subordinates."
He had to be careful to establish their titles and the official pretext. He needed to draw a clear line.
The government will likely see it as an easier way to monitor and observe them if they are all in one place. For the Navy, they will become a relatively favorable channel of communication with the Government.
In other words, they would become an asset that neither side would want to, or rather, could easily discard. If they started from there, built a track record, and established their value, that should protect them.
I kept that in mind and taught them everything I could. They can do it. The problem isn't them, it's—
The frustrating part was that he could only say "should." That was the nature of the World Government, the nature of the scum that were the World Nobles. But that was just how it was. He had to do what he could within those constraints.
"…I will speak to Vice Admiral Tsuru about this at once."
"If possible, please also speak with Lord Pinscher, the Administrative Vice-Minister of the Environmental Division."
"Ah… The one who reportedly stormed into your office sobbing and shouting every three days?"
"It was almost every two days. But he is a man who is sincere in his work and is keenly aware of his responsibility for the lives of the World Government's citizens."
"…Can he be trusted?"
"Of all the people in the government, he is the one I trust and respect the most."
Spandam was the type to cut his losses when things got tough, so his reliability was low. Though, as he had proven in the defense and the reconstruction, if their interests aligned on a project, he could be an incredibly dependable ally.
"Kuro."
"Sir."
"You have been pursued as a pirate, yet you have upheld a code of honor that is in no way inferior to the justice we champion. I swear on your resolve." Zephyr's voice was firm. "I will protect them."
"…Thank you, Special Admiral Zephyr."
◆ ◆ ◆
"He was exactly the man his letters suggested…"
With the returned Corporal Hina by his side, the pirate departed on a government ship, seen off with regret by many. Lord Pinscher had grabbed him by the collar, wailing, "Won't you stay in the government, you bastard!? There's a mountain of work you arranged still left to do! If you're a pirate, then work and help me, will you!?" The pirate had been at a complete loss.
He must have been truly cherished. The people who worked under him, starting with Lady Genetta, who he had entrusted with his work, watched him go with genuine sadness, even as the ship became a tiny speck in the distance. Lord Pinscher had a seizure while trying to detain Kuro and was carried away on a stretcher.
I must act at once to keep my promise. Politics is not my strong suit, but…
The World Government had spread Kuro's name across all the seas, including the Grand Line, to publicize the precedent that they would elevate exceptional individuals from the outside to the rank of Celestial Dragon. At the same time, news that he had refused the offer had also spread.
The government will likely use his refusal as grounds to increase the pressure on the Black Cat Pirates. But at the same time, there are many marines who believe in him, no, who are utterly devoted to him. Not just in the West Blue, but even among the troops at headquarters.
The soldiers who had fought under his command against the massive army of zombie soldiers created by Gecko Moria. And above all, he had the quiet but strong support of the parents and grandparents of second and third-generation marines. It was this generation that was holding unofficial meetings to discuss a reduction of his sentence, to have his crimes as a pirate erased and welcome him into the marines.
Perhaps I should approach them first. They may be able to offer wisdom I could never conceive of.
"Zephyr, so you were here."
"Fleet Admiral."
The man, a few years his senior but from the same cohort, had approached without him noticing.
"To think you would come all the way to the port."
"My apologies. I had to see Kuro off with my own eyes."
"…Kuro, is it?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku seemed somewhat tense. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"Zephyr."
"Sir."
"…We need to talk."
◆ ◆ ◆
"Empress. A message from the main base. It seems the Director himself has informed them that he is about to leave the Holy Land."
"Hmph. That is a relief, for now."
"We can't let our guard down until we see Kuro with our own eyes…"
At the port of Mogwa, their joint base with the Navy, the First Fleet of the Black Cat Pirates, led by Boa Hancock, had finished sorting the spoils of war and handing them over to the marines. They were now gathered in the Black Cat's outpost on the port side. Hancock's two sisters stood guard before the large conference room reserved for the senior officers. Inside, all the top members, including the Royal Guard, were assembled.
There was the Empress, Hancock; her strategist, Galdino; Perona, who had acted as a spotter on this mission; and Guild Tesoro, who could be called the strategist for the Black Cat's main forces on this expedition. The group, which could have easily sunk a standard Marine fleet, sat around the table with grim expressions.
"Still, to think that Kuzan would leave, and that Commander Taki and the others would be sidelined…" Galdino lamented.
"They were supposed to be the unit with the most distinguished service in the West Blue, especially with the matter of that transported island," Tesoro added.
The news that the marines who, after Admiral 'Aokiji' Kuzan, had the best relationship with the Black Cat Pirates and were accustomed to working with them, had been suddenly transferred from Mogwa, filled all the senior officers with a sense of foreboding.
"Vigre, Basenji, and the other soldiers the Master particularly relied on have also been moved… Tesoro, Galdino. What do you make of it?" Hancock asked.
"It seems the Navy is splitting into two factions."
"I am of the same opinion."
One might associate pirates with alcohol, but at a Black Cat meeting, tea or green tea was the standard.
"This is from one of the Royal Guard, but apparently the commander of the soldiers transferred here has a gait that is somewhat similar to the Director's. I have not yet met the Director in person, but I can imagine a few things." Galdino, the First Fleet's tea-loving strategist, tilted his cup of Earl Grey. "Just as the Director predicted, the World Government is likely sending its own forces and candidates into the depleted ranks of the Navy to form its own faction."
"Yeah, now that you mention it, right before Kuzan left, some of the guys trying to probe our internal affairs started moving like Kuro. Their preparatory motions are bigger and easier to read than Kuro's, and they can't use that Haki thing, so I've been silencing them with my ghosts." Perona, sipping hot cocoa instead of tea, agreed with an annoyed expression. She was currently manipulating her ghosts to keep watch on their surroundings.
"So this Fleet Admiral, Sengoku, has even less room to maneuver now, is that it?" Hancock asked.
"Yes, and our problem is how this new faction, let's call them the Government faction… no, the Noble faction… will try to expand its influence within the military. Depending on their moves, our own actions will be affected," Tesoro explained. He couldn't help but scowl as he recalled the face of the new commander of the West Blue branch, a Vice Admiral named Hibakari, whom he and Hancock had just met.
The man's eyes were familiar to him, and they filled him with disgust, no, revulsion. He had looked at Hancock with the same eyes as the slave traders who had tried to sell his beloved, the eyes of someone putting a price on a person.
"It may give the marines a pretext, but…" Tesoro trailed off.
"We should temporarily reduce our forces, citing preparations for the planting season, and gather our strength at Mopuchi."