Pirates: How Many Divisions Do the Five Elders Have? Talent Shortage

"Scarf Kid, are you really planning to spend that much money to help these villagers?"

On a hospital bed in the Cocoyasi Village clinic, Smoker was wrapped up like a mummy, with a cute bunny knot on his head.

He looked worriedly at the villagers registering through the window.

Returning the pirates' spoils to the villagers is already a rare example of the navy's excellent conduct; going to great lengths to help them rebuild their homes is something unheard of on this high seas.

Whether it's the navy or pirates, once they defeat the forces entrenched in a certain area, honor, fame, flowers, and praise will follow.

As for how to clean up the mess, that was never something they ever had to think about.

Smoker found Ma Qiao's approach perplexing, feeling it was a thankless task for him.

Ma Qiao sat with his legs crossed, peeling an orange in his hand.

To be fair, the citrus fruits from Cocoyasi Village are truly exceptional—juicy, sweet, and delicious.

Ma Qiao peeled a piece out and tossed it steadily into Smoker's mouth.

An elder once said that the military is strictly forbidden from engaging in business...

Ma Qiao stuffed the remaining orange into his mouth, chewed it haphazardly a couple of times, and swallowed it.

"However, times have changed. The navy in this world is probably the most advanced organization now. Therefore, in my opinion, the military should all engage in commerce on this vast ocean..."

After thinking for a moment, Ma Qiao punched his fist in the palm and said, "Consider this a pilot project. Who knows, it Cocoyasi experience in the future!"

Smoker, whose mind was filled with nothing but cigar ash and muscles, couldn't understand a word Ma Qiao was saying.

After thinking about it for a while, he gave up.

In any case, having the navy organize local people to engage in agricultural, livestock, and fish production is, by all accounts, a matter that does not undermine justice.

"If you have any difficulties, just talk to Tashigi. She's in charge of military procurement in Loguetown."

"Um..."

"Um?"

"Damn it, give me another segment of orange! How can you give the wounded only a slice and eat the rest yourself?!"

Ma Qiao stuffed two whole baskets of oranges into Smoker's stomach until the bandages on his stomach burst, then clapped his hands and left.

She truly deserves to be called a kind and righteous little angel, feeding fruit to injured marines; she deserves to be on the front page.

It's just that Smoker's look at me at the end had a murderous quality to it.

Ma Qiao decided to visit him later.

Although Arlong has been defeated, there is still a lot of cleanup work to be done.

The first priority, of course, is to clean up the scum of 16th Branch.

This is, after all, a rectification campaign within the Navy, and it's not appropriate for Ma Qiao, as an outsider, to participate.

Most importantly, Garp, furious and feeling betrayed, has led his men back to the 16th Branch base in a rage.

The only thing that puzzled Ma Qiao was what Garp meant by "we must not allow such delicious meat sauce to be defiled by these cockroaches."

In addition, Twitch and Morgan have led the East Blue China Sea navy of the original 153rd Branch to cheer them on.

It wasn't that Ma Qiao didn't trust the old Garp; it was just that this guy had a long history of misdeeds when it came to arresting people.

Not only did he abandon Ace and Luffy, but he also has a "dark history" of being knocked down by a corrupted Morgan with an axe and running away.

Fortunately, according to the report sent back from the front by Twitch, Garp is in serious mode this time.

His iron fists smashed Twitch's future office building to pieces.

There's not much to say.

They requested another 400 million Beli from Marineford for repairs.

While we're at it, let's also take care of renovating those dormitories, Little Gardens, sanatoriums, gyms, and the like.

The Sengoku is probably not something to be criticized for.

After all, the door to his office has to be replaced countless times every year because of that guy Garp.

Aren't these all being repaired using public funds?

Fleet Admiral can do it, why can't my 16th Branch?

Of course, you need people to repair a house.

Ma Qiao felt that the construction team from the East Blue branch of Otori Big Bird Corporation seemed to be a strong contender for the contract.

This is something that needs to be planned as soon as possible.

Including Cocoyasi United Fruit Company., East Blue Military Tobacco and Liquor Cooperative, Big Bird Communications East Blue Branch...

There are still far too many things to consider on the path of the Big Bird Consortium's takeover of the East Blue.

Talented, talented, incredibly talented.

These are the things Ma Qiao needs most right now.

Fortunately, heroes are truly useful and reliable tools.

After Ryze reaches level 6, while his ultimate ability can't Teleport directly from Whiskey Peak to the East Blue, it can certainly traverse Reverse Mountain.

Therefore, during this period he traveled between the Grand Line and the East Blue to conduct trade.

It's only natural that he's now being promoted to the head of the Big Bird Group in the East Blue.

Having made up his mind, Ma Qiao had Ryze use the [Teleport] skill to arrive at Cocoyasi Village.

In addition to Ryze, Ma Qiao also brought Gangplank, the Terror of the Seas Gangplank, who had been playing solo for a long time.

More than two months have passed, and this small-time pirate who struggled to start his business in a small sampan has now become a menacing pirate officer.

Fortunately, Ma Qiao met him in a secluded valley and had Ryze protect him with a fake eye to monitor the surroundings beforehand. Otherwise, if others had seen the meeting, Ma Qiao would have had no way to defend himself.

Well, how should I put it?

Gangplank, that guy, just standing there, looks like a notorious villain.

In fact, judging from their attire, Gangplank and Roger do bear a striking resemblance.

However, Gangplank's expression was far more menacing Roger's.

This is a ruthless man who can open his heart to his father. If it weren't for the unalterable rule of absolute loyalty, Ma Qiao would never have dared to use such Retainer.

Ma Qiao could only offer his condolences in advance for Gangplank's current boss—Admiral Krieg, the overlord of the East Blue.

The reason Majo called Gangplank over wasn't for anything else; it was mainly because while Ma Qiao was eating oranges, he remembered that he hadn't learned Gangplank's W skill [Remove Scurvy].

That's an amazing skill.

Eating an orange quickly not only restores health, but more importantly, it removes all control effects and negative statuses, essentially giving you a built-in Quicksilver Sash.

However, Gangplank is currently only at level 3, and he can only learn [Remove Scurvy] to level 2.

Having just embezzled—or rather, protected a lot of justice—from Arlong, Ma Qiao naturally didn't hesitate to spend 42 million Beli to upgrade Gangplank to level 6 as well.

He also spent 70 million Beli to learn Gangplank's W skill and ultimate ability.

Then, after giving the filial son Gangplank a hug, Ma Qiao told him to go back to the Krieg Pirates and continue his undercover work.

To be honest, judging from Arlong's combat performance, he's only at the level of a level four or five hero.

Krieg is most likely only a level three or four character, but he has an equipment advantage compared to Arlong is unequipped.

If Gangplank's equipment wasn't so bad, and if he weren't an AP captain who maxed W, he probably could have easily killed him with auto-attacks.

But no matter how you look at it, Ma Qiao feels that Krieg's days are numbered.