In that instant, Yahn slapped his thigh, as if realizing he had just missed out on tens of billions. Regret welled up in his chest like a storm.
Ensign Hope, startled by Yahn's sudden outburst, leaned closer with concern.
"Lord Yahn, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing," Yahn coughed awkwardly, nearly blurting out the truth. He masked his frustration with a mournful sigh.
"I was just regretting letting those other seven naval base commanders off so easily… cough, cough…"
He coughed a few times more before forcing himself to continue, expression heavy with grief.
"What really weighs on me is this—just how much did that 521st base commander squeeze from the common people to amass such a staggering fortune?"
"Lord Yahn, the total was actually one billion, two hundred and ninety million," Hope corrected gently.
Yahn gave him a sidelong glance.
"Round it down. Forget the loose change. We'll just report it as twelve hundred million."
Hope frowned, scratching his head in confusion.
Round down? …Is that really how it works?
But Yahn pressed on after a moment's thought.
"No—actually, best not to report it at all. By regulation, half of this would have to be handed up to headquarters…"
He sighed, voice turning bitter.
"And most of this money was wrung from civilians. If we hand it over, those poor people may never crawl out of poverty. Better to find a proper way to return these riches to their rightful owners."
Having walked through the nearby town himself, Hope couldn't help but nod firmly in agreement.
Yahn then fell silent for a moment, before speaking again.
"And another thing—if corruption here was this severe, then even after today's example, some commanders will still act with impunity. We'll need to continue inspections of the North Sea bases."
"I'll prepare the warships for your departure immediately, Lord Yahn," Hope replied quickly.
"No. Not me." Yahn waved his hand.
"You."
"Eh?" Hope blinked in surprise.
Yahn pulled out the document he had drafted the previous night and tossed it to him.
"I'll oversee inspections in two ways: one bright, one hidden."
"The bright method—I'll remain stationed at the 521st base, making it public that anyone—whether civilian or navy—may come here to report misconduct directly to the North Sea Inspectorate."
"The hidden method—you, Lieutenant Hope, will lead a warship and conduct surprise inspections across different bases at random. That will create another layer of deterrence."
Hope's eyes widened as he skimmed the meticulous plan.
"A-amazing… Lord Yahn, this is brilliant!"
"Justice brooks no delay, Ensign. Go at once." Yahn's tone was solemn.
Snapping his heels together, chest puffed with admiration, Hope saluted.
"Yes, sir!"
After a quick handover of treasure and duties, Hope led three hundred elite naval soldiers back onto the warship and set sail once again.
As the ship drifted away from the port, the helmsman turned to him.
"Ensign Hope, where are we headed this time?"
Hope thought for a moment, then drew out the dice from his pocket and tossed it onto the deck.
West.
He straightened, his voice ringing out.
"Set course westward!"
High atop the 521st base, Yahn watched the warship sail into the horizon. His lips curved into a sorrowful smile he could no longer suppress.
"Safe journey… The North Blue is vast. It may be a year or two before we meet again, Ensign Hope."
He exhaled deeply.
"Finally… freedom!"
With Hope—Sengoku's planted eyes and ears—gone, Yahn felt lighter than ever.
From now on, he, Trafymore Yahn, would sit here at the 521st base as nothing more than a figurehead, his "Marshal's protégé" title alone enough to cow the other commanders.
As for rooting out corruption, he trusted Hope's diligence far more than his own. And with Hope's strength as a navy captain specializing in raw physique, Yahn had no need to worry about him falling in the North Blue.
Best of all, when the time came to report accomplishments, Yahn could happily push every bit of credit onto Hope.
"Ensign Hope, I'll think of you often. Just… try not to come back too soon."
He chuckled, then forced himself to sober.
"Now, it's time to deal with the 521st base itself."
Releasing his Haki perception wide, Yahn drew out a Den-Den Mushi from his coat.
"Buru-buru-buru… Buru-buru-buru…"
"Chief of Staff. What is it?"
"First, correction—I never agreed to that title. Anyway…"
He paused, then asked casually,
"The birthplace of the Revolutionary Army—what if it were the North Blue? Interested?"
There was silence on the line. Then Monkey D. Dragon's voice came back, surprised.
"…The Inspectorate of the North Blue. That's you?"
"Barring accidents, yes. For the next few years, it'll be me."
Yahn pulled out another fresh document, voice steady.
"I devised a plan last night—one bright, one dark. What if we use the North Blue as a testing ground for the Revolution's first sparks?"
He outlined the rough plan.
There was a long silence. Finally, Dragon spoke.
"If it's your proposal as Chief of Staff… then it's decided. But I won't be able to come to the North Blue myself anytime soon. My movements draw too much attention—and lately, I've been busy… cultivating other sparks."
"Oh?" Yahn raised a brow.
"What sparks could you possibly be cultivating?"
"I…" Dragon hesitated. Then admitted softly.
"I've met a woman I admire."
"Get lost!"
Yahn nearly shattered the Den-Den Mushi against the floor, fury burning through him.
Back when they first met six or seven years ago, he had confided his dream of finding a lifelong partner, only for Dragon to scoff again and again.
And now this bastard had the audacity to get ahead of him?
"No wonder you've been away from the navy all these years, and the Revolutionary Army is still barely a rumor! Turns out you've just been busy chasing skirts!"
Grumbling, face twisted in disdain, Yahn suddenly froze as a thought struck him.
'Wait—'spark'… you don't mean Monkey D. Luffy, do you?'
"Bah! Lecherous fool! Clouded by desire, wasting your life away… Is this your way of nurturing the Revolution's fire?"
He let out a mocking laugh.
"Truly, I must commend your… dedication."
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