We Have Connections at the Top (Thanks to Ge Tianming for the 5,000 Qidian Coin Tip)
"Fool, of course I'll help you!"
Ma Qiao originally intended to say it loudly.
However, he ultimately said nothing, only smiled and nodded, reaching out to pull the little Cat Burglar up.
Thump!
Just then, Twitch, who was standing to the side, also knelt down in front of the tombstone.
Just now, since Master Ma Qiao's mistress was kneeling, it wasn't appropriate for me to kneel beside her. Now that she's stood up, it's naturally my turn to perform!
Twitch glanced at the belatedly aware Big Garen.
That's it?
Demacia nobility?
You'll just have to follow me around and eat my dust!
But Garen was surprisingly quick.
Moreover, he knelt on one knee before Bellemere's tomb in the most standard Demacia aristocratic manner, reciting the knight's oath.
"Ms. Bellemere rests here, her chivalry lives on!"
Twitch's face immediately turned even paler.
Ordinary naval personnel could never imagine that Twitch would be jealous of Lieutenant Garen.
Their ranks are completely mismatched!
But in reality, in Twitch and Garen's minds, naval rank meant nothing; compared to the trust they had in their master/His Majesty, it was utterly insignificant.
As Twitch and Garen knelt, the Root Division navy soldiers followed suit, kneeling down in droves.
The navy led by Morgan also knelt down.
Further away, on Smoker's side.
Tashigi was moved to tears.
"Waaaah... Mr. Ma Qiao... This must be another of Mr. Ma Qiao's arrangements. He... he's just so kind."
As she spoke, she knelt down as well.
"How boring!"
Smoker took a deep drag on his cigar, tightened his riot gear, and turned to leave.
I looked up and glanced at the rain.
"Thankfully, it's raining..."
Smoker wiped his eyes and nose, muttering, "This guy really knows how to... make my nose hurt... Come on, Tashigi, let's go to the ship and get some sleep!"
Click, click!
Wallace's camera hasn't stopped moving since just now.
The newly appointed colonel of the 16th Branch actually knelt down before a deceased female Petty Officer First Class, an unprecedented event in naval history.
This kneeling can be described as a kneeling of the century.
Wallace had already planned out a three-page feature in his mind.
Even if the great pirates surpassing the Wicked Twin Stars, as Mr. Ma Qiao claimed, do not exist, this news alone is enough to make the trip worthwhile!
Of course, given Wallace's understanding of the Navy's upper echelons, Twitch's future promotions will likely be very difficult.
The higher-ups at Marineford don't like officers who easily abandon naval dignity.
Especially the most rigid of the three Admirals, Lord Akainu.
As the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper, which country on the sea hasn't Wallace visited?
Okay, he really hasn't been to the New World.
But he still knew some information about Marineford.
Therefore, this deputy editor, who was eager to create a Big News Morgans, hesitated for once when faced with a truly "Big News Morgans" story.
Ma Qiao patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't worry, sir, we have connections..."
As he spoke, Ma Qiao raised the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
On the screen of this strange Den Den Mushi, a large, gray-haired man with snot and tears streaming down his face, his nose and beard stuck together.
No wonder he's King Luffy's grandfather; Garp, that old scoundrel, lived to be seventy-four, with countless military achievements throughout his life, yet he still maintained that straightforward temperament.
Wallace paused for a moment, then immediately recalled the Dog-Head Warship that had arrived in the East Blue Sea not long ago.
"I see."
"If it's Lord Garp, then there's really nothing to worry about... but..."
Wallace curiously picked up the Den Den Mushi, wanting to study its workings, but immediately heard Garp's cursing voice coming from inside:
"Scarf Kid, who's that big-nosed guy? He's blocking my screen! Get him out of here!"
Wallace returned the Den Den Mushi reluctantly, but didn't say anything more.
After all, Audio-Visual Den Den Mushis aren't unheard of; it's just that the one Ma Qiao had was rather odd.
·
"Vice Admiral Garp, when did you become so particular? The meat sauce on your hand looks delicious!"
Ma Qiao found it a bit strange.
Garp is usually either munching on senbei (rice crackers) or tearing into meat bangs; when did he ever start eating meat sauce with Shakushi?
Although the size of that Shakushi still has nothing to do with elegance.
"Uh... well... I haven't been digesting very well lately, so I'd like something softer... Anyway, Scarf Kid, I've arrived at 16th Branch, and I think this place is quite nice... there are kind people everywhere..."
"Then you can have your food and drinks first, we'll keep in touch later, bye!"
Ma Qiao hung up the phone.
Unsurprisingly, Garp supported the memorial service and even the acknowledgment that justice is lacking.
Four years later, Fujitora was completely unfazed by Kasasuki's roar, let alone the old scoundrel Garp.
With him holding the reins, Marineford won't interfere much with the restructuring at the Root Division.
As for Garp saying that everyone in the 16th Branch is a good person, Ma Qiao can just ignore that.
This old man goes back to the East Blue every few days. With so many corrupt naval personnel East Blue, which one has he actually caught?
In the original storyline, King Luffy was easily bribed by the good food and drinks at Whiskey Peak, naively believing that everyone there was a good person, and even fought with Zoro over it.
Garp's intelligence is slightly better than King Luffy's, but it's still limited.
The fight against organized crime still relies on the newly established Root Division.
Garp, who has a heart full of justice but lacks insight and wisdom, is simply no good!
Only in the face of the Root Organization with Mr. Ma Qiao at its core will the petty tricks of those corrupt local navies be exposed and have nowhere to hide!
Ultimately, Twitch, in the name of the colonel of the 16th East Blue 16th Branch, announced that Bellemere's grave would become the spiritual symbol of the 16th Branch.
After the 16th Branch is reorganized, the Navy will send someone to erect a statue here depicting Bellemere in a naval uniform, bravely fighting with a rifle in hand.
Every year on the anniversary of Sergeant Bellemere's Petty Officer First Class, the 16th Branch organizes officers and soldiers to come and sweep his grave.
This is not only to educate officers and soldiers to fight bravely and not be afraid of sacrifice, but also to tell the sergeants of the 16th Branch that their superiors will not forget them, Root Organization will not forget them.
As long as you remain loyal to your roots, you will never be abandoned or forgotten.
Veterans' benefits, disability benefits, combat allowances, and various honors.
These will all be available.
Moreover, these acts of kindness did not originate from Marineford, but from the branch leaders...
Such profound matters are currently beyond the comprehension of anyone.
The importance of "favor from above" is still too profound in a world where political consciousness is almost nonexistent.
Garp didn't understand, Smoker didn't understand, Nami understood even less.
All she knew was that her adoptive mother's heroic deeds would be passed down from generation to generation in the navy.
Bellemere has finally earned the honor that belongs to her.
These are not things that King Luffy, could achieve by defeating Arlong in the story.
This is what Nami has truly wanted all these years.
She had always thought that there were no fairy tales in this world.
But today, her hero has arrived, riding a gray warship to save her!
Nami could even imagine the fierce battle that Ma Qiao and his Marine friends had just gone through before they met her!
That's why their warships were damaged to this extent.
"Twitch"...
You must be so proud!
After years of pent-up pressure was released all at once, Nami cried uncontrollably.
Helpless, Ma Qiao had no choice but to once again sacrifice his broad chest to bear the girl's tears.