Marineford, Marine Headquarters. The Fleet Admiral's Office.
"Why ask about him all of a sudden? Isn't that kid staying quietly in the North Blue with Borsalino?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Great Staff Officer, paused in her sorting of documents.
Due to Gion's close relationship with Raleigh, Tsuru had paid some attention to this supposedly lazy student who had graduated from the academy.
He had a reputation for doing the bare minimum, yet somehow always being at the center of trouble.
Fleet Admiral Kong lit a fresh cigar, the thick smoke drifting up to the high ceiling.
He slid a classified document across the heavy oak desk toward Tsuru.
"This is recent intel from the New World," Kong said, his voice gravelly with fatigue. "Pirate activities are spiking. The remnants of the Rocks Pirates—Newgate, Shiki, Linlin—are becoming increasingly violent in their territory wars. The sea is getting rougher."
He tapped the paper. "Byrnndi World appeared in the North Blue because his strength couldn't match those monsters yet. He retreated to the weaker seas to build a super-weapon. He attacked World Government tribute ships, killed officials... it was a complete mess."
Kong leaned back.
"However, he's already been killed. By Christian Raleigh. The World Government has been given an explanation, and for once, they are satisfied."
"Sengoku's point," Kong continued, "is that he needs a strong deputy in the New World. He has high hopes for Borsalino filling that position. So, he's asking for my opinion on Raleigh. If I think he's suitable... Raleigh would become the next Commander of the North Blue after Borsalino leaves."
After listening to Kong's words, Tsuru fell silent, her sharp mind quickly simulating the potential impacts of this move.
Transferring Borsalino away from the North Blue wasn't the issue.
Tsuru often assisted Kong with personnel transfers; she knew the logistics.
She also knew, quite frankly, that Borsalino hadn't contributed much to the actual stability of the North Blue.
He was a nuclear deterrent, not a governor.
The reason the crime rate in the North Blue had dropped by five percentage points in such a short time was entirely due to the islands Raleigh had governed.
Tsuru believed that if Raleigh were allowed to govern the North Blue for another two or three years, he might be able to reduce the crime rate there to a level similar to the peaceful East Blue.
However, Tsuru was also concerned.
Based on the initial reports from Gion and Marine Intelligence, it was clear that Raleigh was not a by-the-book Marine.
He was ambitious and ..... he was cunning.
If he were to serve as the North Blue Commander for a few years with no oversight... it might reach a point where even Headquarters couldn't command him anymore.
"Fleet Admiral Kong," Tsuru said cautiously, "if we make him the North Blue Commander... I'm worried the North Blue Marines might become his personal possession. He builds loyalty to himself, not to the Justice of Marineford."
Kong puffed on his cigar while rubbing his temples.
He felt a headache coming on.
Faced with the troublesome anomaly that was Raleigh, he was also at a loss.
"I know, Tsuru. But if Borsalino is transferred, who else can do it?"
Kong gestured at the map on the wall.
"That is the North Blue, not the East or South. It's a war zone of Mafia families and technologically advanced warring states. Those who serve as Commander there need not only formidable strength but also the political ability to coordinate various forces effectively."
"Sakazuki," Kong recalled, "was once the hawkish newcomer I had high hopes for. I thought he would crush the North Blue into submission. But after nearly two years, he failed to resolve the fundamental issues. He crushed pirates, yes. But the Mafia? No matter how many families he burned, two or three new ones would pop up the next day."
Kong sighed. "However, ever since Raleigh arrived... things changed. The Mafia families near Marine bases suddenly 'found religion.' They unified, controlled crime rates, and even drove away pirates. It's absurd, but effective. Raleigh's handiwork is definitely behind it."
"Ahem, Tsuru," Kong said, his voice firming up. "Sometimes we need to give young people more opportunities."
"Although making Raleigh the Commander might allow him to grasp significant power, replacing him with a by-the-book officer won't achieve the same results. Sakazuki couldn't do it. Borsalino couldn't do it. Even that freezing kid Kuzan, who's always following Garp around like a lost puppy—he couldn't do it either."
Kong took a deep drag of his cigar and then downed a large glass of rum.
"We need results."
"Fleet Admiral Kong," Tsuru persisted, "I have no doubt that Raleigh is an outstanding marine officer. I'm just worried he might monopolize power. I believe he needs... supervision."
"Hmm, you're right about that." Kong pulled a document out from his desk drawer, marked it with a decisive red check, and turned to Tsuru.
"Tsuru, I've decided to elevate Raleigh's file to Sequence Level. From now on, we'll train him according to Admiral-candidate standards."
Kong's words left Tsuru with no objections.
She nodded silently.
To be honest, Tsuru had no personal vendetta against Raleigh.
She would have suggested limiting anyone's power in such a remote, powerful position.
Borsalino, Sakazuki, Kuzan—though their talent and potential far surpassed their peers, their strength lay primarily in their individual combat power.
They were weapons.
But Raleigh was different. Even though his reputation at Headquarters was that of a slacker, after being assigned to the Four Seas, it was as if he had unlocked his potential.
Even while slacking off all day, his own strength and that of his subordinates improved rapidly.
Take Gion and Tokikake, for example.
Back at Headquarters, they had the best instructors.
Yet, their growth hadn't been this rapid. After being assigned to Raleigh's side for only a short time, their abilities had improved by leaps and bounds.
Moreover, this fellow's political acumen and methods genuinely made Tsuru feel wary.
Compared to his senpais, Raleigh's political maneuvering was terrifyingly superior. Through various means of benefit distribution, he could always find allies in any environment—be it Kings, Mafia dons, or rebels.
"His strategic intelligence is also outstanding," Tsuru admitted. "Being able to annihilate the notoriously vicious Byrnndi World in one fell swoop... that surpasses the capabilities of many Headquarters strategists."
The Marines had certainly considered capturing Byrnndi World before, but the guy was simply too slippery.
Over the past few years, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp had all encountered him in the New World.
Each time they pursued him relentlessly, yet always returned empty-handed.
In a sense, Raleigh's scheme this time was a success that the old guard had to acknowledge.
Kong stood up from his seat, walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, and gazed at the distant sea.
"Tsuru, whether you believe it or not, I always feel that within Raleigh lies a seed capable of changing the world's structure." Kong's eyes grew distant. "He has ambition, capability, and can govern everything under his command. One day, when he grows up and perhaps takes the position of Fleet Admiral from Sengoku... he might be the doom of all pirates."
"Those troublesome opponents who gave us so many headaches—Whitebeard, Shiki, and that bastard Roger—might all be sent to Impel Down by Raleigh himself."
Kong wasn't worried about what Raleigh might become in the future, because he trusted his own judgment.
The Marines might only produce a seedling like Raleigh once in a hundred years.
"As long as Raleigh continues to execute Headquarters' orders, as long as he continues to capture pirates under the banner of Justice... then he remains a Marine. And we must protect him unconditionally."