Because of this independence, every Marine base commander is granted considerable authority, so they can respond to emergencies and make decisions swiftly.
To more effectively strike down pirates, Marine Headquarters has little choice but to delegate such power.
Otherwise, if every base had to wait for approval before acting, not only would Headquarters struggle to respond in time, but the vastly different conditions of each sea would also make accurate remote judgment nearly impossible.
That is why, before Sengoku became Fleet Admiral, the Marines constantly emphasized the idea of "Justice." It was a way to foster cohesion and responsibility among the scattered bases across the world.
But to completely eliminate these issues from all four seas? That's nearly impossible.
After all, the root of the problem lies in geography itself. At best, strict oversight can only reduce such problems, not erase them.
Right now, however, what Yahn was troubled with was this: how to improve the discipline and conduct of the North Blue Marines… while also keeping himself out of the spotlight when the credit came rolling in.
It wasn't that Yahn refused to return to Marine Headquarters at Marineford. Rather, he simply couldn't bring himself to leave behind the warm and welcoming people of the North Blue.
So, for the sake of ensuring a peaceful and stable life for them, he felt it necessary to remain here for the long term.
While Yahn was mulling over various solutions, his warship soon reached the island where the 521st Marine Base was located.
On the way, his ship had caught up with another vessel that had returned to Base 521 earlier. Thus, the two warships arrived at the island together.
As they docked at the port, Yahn was surprised to see an unusually large crowd of civilians gathered there.
"Are these civilians here to welcome the Marines?" Yahn asked the adjutant of Base 521.
"Yes," the adjutant replied.
"I didn't expect your base commander to be so popular, so loved by the locals," Yahn remarked, genuinely impressed.
But cold sweat was already forming on the adjutant's forehead, and he dared not speak another word.
The very next moment, to Yahn's astonishment, all the civilians at the port dropped to their knees in unison and shouted:
"We humbly welcome the great Marines back from their expedition!"
For a moment, every Marine on Yahn's ship stood frozen in disbelief.
"…This is how your base operates?" Yahn ground out through clenched teeth.
"Please forgive us, Lord Yahn! This… this was all the base commander's order. We had no choice but to obey!" the adjutant cried.
"Any Marine who dared to disobey him was sent to die against pirates under his command. We truly had no way out…"
Yahn took a deep breath, stepped closer to the rail, and looked down at the kneeling crowd. Their faces were blank, numb, devoid even of the spark of resentment.
"Ensign Hope," Yahn called out.
"Yes, Lord Yahn."
"Angry?" Yahn asked.
"That bastard insulted the Marines themselves—he insulted Justice," Hope spat, eyes burning with fury.
"…I suddenly feel the North Blue is a bit too far from Enies Lobby," Yahn muttered. "No need to waste manpower transporting him there."
"Hm?" Hope blinked, unsure of Yahn's meaning.
"When we dock, carry out a thorough cleansing. Too much filth here. As for the prisoners—hang them temporarily at the harbor square."
Yahn spoke casually, then disembarked ahead of the others, heading for Base 521.
It took Ensign Hope a few moments to process the order. When realization struck, he broke into a grin, flashing his broad white teeth.
Soon, under the disbelieving eyes of the island's civilians, the once-mighty commander of Base 521—who had lorded over them like a king—was hoisted high above the very center of the harbor.
After that, the Marines silently followed a single young officer, leaving the port behind. They marched straight into the base and shut the gates tight.
Yahn knew well that the civilians' fear and distrust of the Marines could never be dispelled with mere words. The hatred buried in their hearts would not fade so easily.
So, better to let them make their own judgment.
As night fell, Yahn stood in the highest office of Base 521, his Observation Haki clearly sensing the moment when a civilian, unable to contain himself any longer, hurled a rock from afar at the bound and hanging commander.
"Ahhh!"
A scream tore through the night, followed by curses from the burly Marine captain. Then silence.
But as the base gates remained tightly shut with no response, the civilians' courage slowly grew.
Rocks, rotten eggs, kitchen knives…
From his vantage point, Yahn listened to the man's cries—roaring with rage at first, then weakening, until they became pitiful groans.
"…A strong man indeed. His body really was quite resilient," Yahn remarked almost idly.
Meanwhile, the remaining Marines of Base 521 trembled in fear as the screams of their once-invincible commander echoed through the night. Dread crept into their hearts—would they too one day find themselves strung up in the harbor square by the North Blue Inspectorate?
The night passed.
Yawning, Yahn rose the next morning as Ensign Hope reported.
"Lord Yahn, the commander of Base 521 is dead."
"Is that so? What an unfortunate accident," Yahn replied. "Inform every Marine base across the North Blue of his death. Suggest that all Marines hold a moment of silence for him."
He paused, then added:
"Oh, and issue it under your name, not mine. As for the culprits—they were pirates disguised as civilians who infiltrated the island. Otherwise, how could they be so vicious? Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Yahn."
Hope jotted it down in his notebook, then continued.
"In addition, we found treasure worth approximately 1.29 billion Berries within Base 521 and the commander's residence."
"??!!"
Yahn was floored.
That much?!
He had already calculated exactly how much wealth his own father, the Fleet Admiral, had accumulated—wealth he would eventually inherit.
Never in his wildest dreams had he thought a mere base commander in the North Blue could hoard more riches than the Fleet Admiral himself—if not for Yahn's own "side earnings" from Capone Island, even he would have been left behind!
It was… utterly absurd.
But recalling the ragged appearance of the island's civilians, and the fact that the burly colonel had been stationed as commander here for over a decade, Yahn quickly understood the source of this "fortune."
After all, Base 521's jurisdiction extended far beyond this single small island. It encompassed an entire stretch of surrounding seas.
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