"Everyone, this is one of the three Admirals of Marine Headquarters. If you have any grievances, you can bring them up directly with him."
"And even if an Admiral can't resolve it, he can still report straight to the Fleet Admiral."
Realizing this matter was far beyond what a Vice Admiral like him could handle, Gumir moved quickly, pushing Kuzan forward while quietly retreating a good distance himself.
"..."
Kuzan, looking half-asleep and utterly confused, glanced at Gumir and the other Marines who had stepped back dozens of meters. For a moment, he didn't even know what to say.
"Uh… that…"
Just as Kuzan finally opened his mouth
"Admiral, please help us make the decision!!!" ×10,000 voices roared.
"..."
Yeah, there was no need for further explanation. The sheer volume was enough to shake the entire base. Even Sengoku, sitting in his office, heard the shouts and rushed over immediately.
At the same time, the noise drew people from the Marine residential quarters and the military district. They gathered together, staring at the scene unfolding before them.
"Everyone, I am Fleet Admiral of the Navy, Sengoku the Buddha," Sengoku announced as he approached Bellemere and the others, quickly introducing himself.
"If you have any problems, I will help you address them. Please don't panic. For now, we will arrange a place for you to rest."
"You can hand over the evidence you've collected, and we'll deal with each matter one by one."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. This is the evidence I've gathered."
Bellemere, seeing the legendary Fleet Admiral before her, handed the documents over without hesitation.
"Thank you for your trust," Sengoku replied. For a moment, he was visibly moved.
He hadn't expected her to place such faith in him, passing along evidence she had risked so much to collect.
But then again… wasn't she worried he might be the very "Black Navy" she was standing against?
"I'll be honest, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Bellemere said calmly.
"This is only a backup. I've kept the originals safe in my hometown. If… if we can't go back, then what we gathered will still reach the newspapers."
"..."
After hearing Bellemere's words, the warmth in Sengoku's heart faded.
Meeting her gaze, which carried a quiet helplessness, he could only answer with firmness:
"Please rest assured. It is impossible for us to do such a thing."
His face was serious, but the eyes of Bellemere and the others still showed hesitation.
After all, compared to pirates, it was the Navy who had hurt them first.
Once everyone was settled, Sengoku returned to his office. Bellemere, however, was invited along as a representative.
"It's actually… the Fleet Admiral's office…"
Standing inside, Bellemere's expression was complicated.
When she was still enlisted, she never had the qualifications to step foot in Marineford headquarters, much less the Fleet Admiral's own office.
And yet, after retiring, here she was—not because of honor, but because of complaints about corruption at a local base.
Wasn't that just absurd?
"Bellemere, correct? According to our records, you once served as a Marine before retiring?" Sengoku asked gently, his tone softer than she expected.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Bellemere nodded. She didn't bother hiding her identity. A faint, self-mocking smile tugged at her lips.
"To put it bluntly, I came here precisely because I couldn't bear it anymore. I filed this petition to Headquarters because someone had to."
"…I see." Sengoku bowed his head slightly. "I am terribly sorry."
It wasn't just formality—he genuinely felt the weight of apology.
"There's no need for that," Bellemere shook her head, her eyes clear and steady. "I don't need an apology. I only hope the Navy can resolve this matter thoroughly. That will be enough."
"Please rest assured—this time, we will never tolerate those rotten Marines."
Sengoku's voice was firm, his expression iron-blooded.
With the Navy's current state, if corruption kept spreading, who knew how long it would take before the institution itself collapsed?
"The Navy must restore its purity. The anti-corruption campaign starts now especially in the Four Seas."
"Every base must be investigated thoroughly." His eyes grew sharp, almost cruel.
"No matter who it is, no matter what kind of backing they have… if there's a problem, we root it out. All of them."
He clenched a fist against the desk. "From one corner of the world to the next, every branch will be checked. Even if it takes years, we will not stop until this filth is purged."
"The moment has indeed come," Kuzan said, nodding gravely from where he stood in the office. His calm tone carried agreement with every word.
Sengoku didn't pause. "Each of the Four Seas will have a Vice Admiral from Headquarters dispatched to oversee the investigations."
"In addition, Borsalino, your speed is unmatched. You'll serve as the central support leader, ready to provide reinforcements whenever needed."
"…Okay."
For once, Borsalino didn't joke or drag his feet. He simply nodded, his expression serious. He knew full well that in this matter, there was no room to bargain.
But just as Sengoku was laying down his orders, a colonel burst into the room, pale-faced and breathless.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! I'm sorry...what just happened here… it's already been published in the newspapers!"
"What?!" Sengoku's face darkened instantly.
"Who leaked it?!"
This was a stain on the Navy's honor. He had planned to clean up the mess internally. But if it had already gone public, published for the world to see...what would become of their credibility?
His jaw tightened as fury surged through him. If this spread, his own reputation could end up worse than those who came before him.
"…It's the World Economic News."
The colonel swallowed hard before finishing:
"Morgans!"
Sengoku slammed his palm against the desk.
[Author Note]📢
Hey everyone! Merry Christmas ⛄
Just a quick update — I've started a new Naruto novel:
Naruto: Blackbeard Template
It's a fresh project with cleaner writing and a steadier release pace.
If you enjoyed my previous stories, feel free to check it out!
Thanks for the support 🗣️
— Arthorain