I'm Krieg, and despite being told my injuries would take a month to heal, I managed to finish treatment and get discharged in less than half that time.
The doctors looked at me like I was some kind of freak of nature. One even asked if I'd participate in a clinical trial. His eyes were terrifying, so I politely (read: quickly) declined.
Anyway, more importantly: the "Marine Independent Company."
To lay the groundwork for my ultimate "Plan," I need to build a record of achievement, scout for key personnel, and undergo a warrior's pilgrimage by crushing pirates across every sea.
The brass handed down three conditions for the establishment of what would later be known as the "Krieg Company":
Return to Marineford once a year.
Conduct intelligence gathering on pirate movements.
Scout and recruit promising individuals for the Marines.
While adhering to these rules, I have been given the authority to conduct nomadic suppression missions across all maritime borders.
The core team consists of me as the Captain, my Vice-Captain, Lieutenant Rapanui Pasqua, and four squads of five men each. Including the ship's doctor and other non-combatants, we are a compact unit of about 30 people.
Lieutenant Rapanui, my second-in-command, is a super-veteran who joined the Marines decades ago.
He's the type who stays on the front lines by choice, repeatedly turning down promotions just to keep active in the field. Wait, Rapanui... the name sounds familiar. Was he from a movie or a filler arc? Eh, probably just my imagination.
For the rest of the crew, I followed Vice Admiral Garp's advice and hand-picked useful veterans to cover my blind spots.
While the numbers are small, I personally screened and interviewed them to ensure we have a team capable of rapid response.
Actually, it's small because of the current state of the world. Admiral Sengoku mentioned that they originally planned to give me a battalion-sized fleet, but since Roger's execution, the number of pirates has exploded, and they simply don't have enough manpower to spare.
To compensate for the lack of men, they provided me with an abundance of resources: top-tier weapons, ammunition, shipwright materials, and food supplies.
Most importantly, they gave me a mid-sized Marine warship with full permission for modifications.
I immediately visited the technical division (who were likely still busy repairing my personal armor) and told them exactly what kind of upgrades I wanted.
The lead engineer practically slammed his pen and paper down at my requests, but they got to work.
To make the ship operable by a small crew, we simplified various systems. We replaced the standard cannons with high-performance variants, reinforced the hull, and optimized the engine for a perfect balance of firepower, defense, and mobility.
Admiral Sengoku did grumble about the budget being "excessive," though.
If I sink this thing, I don't even want to think about what he'll say to me... Ships sink way too easily in this world, especially Marine ones.
The result: The Refitted Battleship "Beatrice" (named by the technical staff). Its primary armaments include a massive reinforced ram at the bow, a colossal triple-barrel main turret, long-range breech-loading guns, and four heavy machine guns on each broadside.
I even had them install a rear hatch for storing smaller scout vessels. It's packed with every "convenient" mechanism the engineers and I could dream up.
Now, as Krieg and his crew scramble to finish preparations for their maiden shakedown cruise in nearby waters...
A Flashback: Fleet Admiral's Office, Marineford
"So... that's the situation. What do you think?"
"Kong-san, I'm in favor of it," Sengoku replied. "Piracy is only going to increase from here. We are bound to have areas our reach can't quite cover."
"But letting a promising candidate for General rank leave the Headquarters like this..." Fleet Admiral Kong looked contemplative.
The three men in the room—Kong, Sengoku, and Garp—were discussing a letter brought by Garp. It was a request from "Dull Bear" Krieg, who was then still hospitalized after his duel with the Golden Lion.
His request: "I wish to lead an independent unit to conduct suppression missions across all seas." His stated reasons were to intercept the rising tide of pirates and to further his own training.
"I don't see the harm," Garp said, munching on a snack. "I was planning on having him run a branch office for a few years anyway."
"I was considering assigning him as an adjutant to a General," Kong countered.
"Experiencing leadership over his own men now will be good for him," Sengoku noted.
Garp and Sengoku were in favor, seeing it as a way to handle the pirate surge and season the young officer. Kong was more hesitant to let a powerhouse like Krieg leave the center of command.
Marine Captain "Dull Bear" Krieg. Age: 20. Origin: East Blue. Ten years of service. A massive man, nearly 3 meters tall, with short light-purple hair and a rugged, intimidating face.
Despite his blunt, unsociable demeanor, he has surprising hobbies like cooking and a soft spot for kids—often leading people to compare him to a bear or a gorilla.
In terms of combat, his monstrous strength allows him to swing a five-ton mace with ease. He has mastered all six "Rokushiki" techniques and possesses the Haki necessary to fight Logia users.
The brass considers his strength to be approaching the General level, even if his rank is only Captain. However, his tendency to rely solely on his own power rather than his subordinates is a known trait.
"Hmph. If you're worried about him being away too long, just make it a condition that he returns to the HQ once a year," Garp suggested. "He's still young. No need to rush him into a General's seat just yet."
"Fine," Kong sighed. "I'll approve it with a few conditions. What about the personnel?"
"I'll draw up a list and let the Captain choose," Sengoku said. "Since it's his first time leading men into the open seas, I'll make sure he has veterans."
"Let's give him a whole fleet! A regiment!" Garp laughed.
"Garp! We're too busy for that! A Company-sized unit is the limit," Sengoku barked.
"Then we'll give him the best equipment. What about the ship?"
"There's a mid-sized vessel scheduled for commission soon for open-sea patrol. Give him that one."
"And give him permission to modify it," Kong added. "I'll notify the branches to lend him men if he needs extra muscle locally."
"Very well. Sengoku, Garp, I leave the details to you. Oh, and one last thing... let's give him a distinct ensign."
"An ensign? Isn't the Marine flag enough?"
"You want him to fly a pirate flag or something?" Garp teased.
"No! It should be a deterrent—something clear to friend and foe alike! As a warning in the front lines of a sea dyed red... let him fly the 'Red Gull.'"
Thus, by the decree of Fleet Admiral Kong, the "Marine Independent Company" was born. Their flag: the Marine seagull mark, dyed blood-crimson against a field of white.
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