Swordsmanship Instructor

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

At this moment, inside the Fleet Admiral's office.

After hanging up the phone, Fleet Admiral Sengoku clasped his hands before his chin, his brow furrowed as he fell into deep thought.

Then, as though remembering something, he lowered his head and opened a huge drawer beneath him. Reaching toward where the East Blue pirate bounties were kept, he rummaged around as if searching for something before pulling out a wanted poster.

Name: Moke

Bounty: 30,000,000 Beli

That was right. This was the bounty of Moke, Captain of the Moke Pirates, who had given Marine Branch 16 in East Blue such a headache.

Ordinarily, as Fleet Admiral, he would not pay much attention to a pirate like this. Although a bounty of 30 million Beli was already extremely high in that weakest of seas, he was still merely a small pirate with a 30 million Beli bounty who remained in East Blue.

As long as he had not entered the Grand Line or caused any major trouble, he was a minor matter to Marine Headquarters.

As for Marine Branch 16, while they had indeed applied for funding frequently, investigations by the review personnel had shown that the 16th Branch's application documents were all legitimate and compliant. The only suspicious thing was simply how frequent they were.

However.

Now, it seemed...

Sengoku lowered his head and frowned at the wanted poster in his hand. "It seems the 16th Branch really has been wronged."

To escape from Garp's hands, earn even Garp's recognition, and have Garp suggest raising his bounty directly to 50 million—he was indeed not someone an ordinary Marine branch could handle.

A pirate like that was truly troublesome for East Blue, the weakest sea.

For the 16th Branch to have held him off for so long was, now that he thought about it, already somewhat unbelievable.

But.

Why had such a formidable pirate remained in East Blue all this time?

Did that guy have no ambitions?

If he had no ambitions, why had he kept harassing Marine Branch 16?

What kind of grudge was this?

Moreover, Sengoku had some impression of Dander Xieche, the base commander of the 16th Branch.

After all, he had once been a Marine Genius Colonel. Yet after being transferred away, he seemed to have started declining.

He had remained in East Blue all these years without any remarkable achievements.

Back then, Sengoku had also suspected that Colonel Xia Che, who had no notable record, was relentlessly targeting the Moke Pirates because he had truly collaborated with pirates to defraud the Marines of military funds.

But now, it seemed...

Since even that old fellow Garp had said so, perhaps things were not as they had thought.

Although Garp had always been careless, had lacked motivation ever since Pirate King Roger was executed, and kept sneaking over to steal his snacks, Sengoku knew, as Garp's longtime partner, that Garp would never lie to him about something like this.

That was a pirate, after all.

Surely Garp, the Marine Hero, would not cooperate with a pirate, would he?

What would he even gain from it?

A faintly amused smile appeared on Sengoku's lips. He shook his head and continued looking at the wanted poster in his hand, muttering with a headache, "It seems East Blue is about to produce another great pirate."

Ace had only recently emerged, causing plenty of trouble in the Grand Line and the New World. Now another great pirate had appeared in East Blue.

Could something major be happening in this weakest of seas again?

The only fortunate thing now was probably that the Moke Pirates had remained in East Blue and had not entered the Grand Line.

With that in mind, Sengoku pondered for a moment. Then he picked up a pen from the side, crossed out the 3 on the wanted poster, and wrote a 5 beside it.

Then.

He raised his head and looked at the Marine beside him, his tone stern. "Notify the review department that there are no issues with Marine Branch 16's military funding application. Increase their funding by another ten percent as well. But tell the base commander of the 16th Branch..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "They must stop the Moke Pirates. They must never be allowed to enter the Grand Line."

"No problem." Xia Che looked at Nami, who was glaring at him indignantly, and said with a headache, "I've already had Udo apply for military funds from above. It should keep us going for a while longer."

However.

"Military funds? Who knows how long we'll have to wait for the Marines to release them? And how much could it even be? The 16th Branch can barely afford training and equipment purchases as it is, not to mention all the other places that need money."

Xia Che's reassurance did nothing. Nami crossed her arms and said, "I thought we could take advantage of Marine Headquarters, but instead we have to subsidize them? What a loss~"

Then she glared at Xia Che irritably.

"You lied to me. You said you were letting me manage the money, and that being the finance minister would mean seeing lots and lots of money."

"Well... that wasn't exactly a lie. Haven't you seen plenty of money?"

"I have seen plenty of money." Hearing Xia Che's words, Nami curled her lips disdainfully, slammed the table hard, and shot Xia Che a sideways glare. "But before I could even warm my hands on it, it was all spent. You awful liar! Let me tell you, I quit! Do you know how much it hurts to watch so much money flow through my hands? And you spent my 50 million Beli too."

"..."

Faced with Nami's accusation, Xia Che gave an embarrassed, awkward laugh.

Not only did Nami hold the title of Marine Sergeant, she was also the finance minister of both the 16th Branch and the Conomi Islands.

Nami was extremely sensitive about money and highly responsible as well. She knew exactly where every Beli was spent, so Xia Che was quite satisfied with this finance minister.

As for that so-called 50 million...

It was the money Nami had painstakingly saved over several years as a thief.

Of course~

He knew Nami did not truly care about those 50 million. She was merely complaining.

Cocoyasi Village's main income now came from Canned Oranges and Orange Marmalade. With his help and Bellemere's unique recipe, Orange Marmalade and Canned Oranges were selling fairly well. However, supporting so much construction and Marine development was indeed difficult.

But...

"Marine training and buying weapons and equipment really do cost a lot." Xia Che stood up, walked over to Nami, and sighed. "But there is no helping it. Those are necessary expenses. Without enough strength to protect ourselves, everything we are doing now will be for nothing."

Strength was everything.

Then he looked Nami seriously in the eyes, meeting her gaze. His tone carried both emotion and relief.

"You've worked hard these past few years. I'll find a solution as soon as possible."

Once he finished speaking.

That tone.

That look.

Nami trembled under his gaze, and the anger in her heart seemed to fade considerably. She turned her head aside. "I-I know! I was only complaining."

Then she spoke helplessly.

"You know our funds aren't that plentiful, so why do so many things? Things that aren't urgent, like cutting down trees and building roads, can be put on hold for now. Why are you in such a hurry?"

As she spoke, she turned around.

"I'll discuss it with Nojiko and the others, see if the orange factory can raise production any further. Honestly~" As she walked outside, she pouted and complained, "At this rate, even if Cocoyasi Village's Canned Oranges are sold all the way to the Grand Line, it still won't be enough for you to spend."

Only after her figure disappeared through the doorway did Xia Che let out a sigh of relief.

Then.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat back down at his desk.

Seeing this, Miss Robin, who was sitting elegantly nearby, rolled her eyes helplessly. "BOSS, you're truly heartless~, exploiting a young girl like that?"

"What do you mean, exploiting? What do you mean, exploiting?" Xia Che took a sip of the tea Robin had poured for him with her ability and spoke leisurely. "I'm developing a young girl's potential. How is that exploitation? Look, hasn't Nami arranged everything in perfect order?"

"Heartless BOSS, do you think I'd believe that?"

"Of course. You're my closest secretary."

"Sorry, I don't believe you~" A cold smile appeared on Robin's face. Then she furrowed her brow and said, "But Miss Nami was right about some things. Perhaps some construction projects can be suspended for now. We don't have enough funds to keep supporting all of them."

"Don't worry. Funding is only a minor issue." In response to Robin's words, Xia Che still took another sip of hot tea and said slowly, "It will only be difficult for a while. I'll also have Moke catch some pirates to help subsidize us. If that still isn't enough..."

His eyes flickered slightly, as though he had thought of something, and a golden gleam seemed to flash within them.

"I know where the Golden Land—Shandora—is. The place is covered in gold. If we run short of money, we can just go dig some up."

Once he finished speaking.

"?!"

The legendary Golden Land?

Shandora?

If it was the legendary Golden Land, perhaps it contained... records of that history?

As though she had thought of something, Robin's expression changed. She hurriedly looked at Xia Che, who was calmly drinking tea before her, and was about to ask him when she seemed to notice something else.

The tension on Robin's face immediately vanished. She calmly sipped her black tea as well and said slowly, "The Golden Land? BOSS, you know where it is? If you're not worried about money, why didn't you tell Miss Nami?"

"I..."

However.

Before Xia Che could finish.

At that moment.

"That's right, I'd also like to ask why you didn't tell me." A meaningful voice carrying a cold smile suddenly came from the doorway. "The Golden Land? Gold everywhere?"

"???"

The teacup in Xia Che's hand trembled in fright. He immediately turned his head and, sure enough, saw Nami, who should have left, somehow standing there again.

He hurriedly put on an awkward smile, laughed, and quickly said, "I only just remembered. I was about to tell you! Hahaha, sorry, sorry." Then he immediately changed the subject. "By the way, why did you come back? Is something wrong?"

"I originally came to ask you about the swordsmanship instructor."

"Oh, that?" Hearing Nami's words, Xia Che hurriedly seized the topic, averted his eyes, and chuckled. "I've already arranged it. Judging by the time, she should be arriving..."

But before he could finish again.

"But none of that matters now. What do you mean, developing my potential?" Nami clenched both hands into fists, making cracking sounds. After staring meaningfully at Xia Che, her eyes suddenly filled with tears, and she shouted, "Do you know how anxious and scared I've been lately? The Marine Inspection Team is coming, and we're out of money! Damn it, you had a solution but didn't tell me? After I worked so hard, how could you do this to me?"

"S-sorry~"

"What good is apologizing now? I'm very angry."

"I-I'm sorry!"

"Where is the Golden Land?"

"On Sky Island!"

"Sky Island? Is it really covered in gold?"

"M-more or less. Anyway, there is a lot of gold, and there's even a city built from gold. Though some idiot with something wrong with his head has probably dug out more than half of it by now."

"Who? I don't care. That's all mine!"

"..."

Seemingly sensing that something was wrong, Xia Che, who had been comforting Nami, raised his head and immediately saw the sly gleam in her eyes.

I think you're acting me.

Meanwhile.

While Xia Che helplessly discussed when to go prospecting for gold with Robin and Nami.

At the docks of Marine Branch 16.

A young woman with a distinctive white longsword at her waist nervously asked a Marine at the dock, "Excuse me, is this Marine Branch 16?"

"Y-yes, this is it!" Seemingly stunned by the young woman's appearance, the Marine from the 16th Branch looked at her blankly. "Sergeant Tashigi, why are you back? Has something happened again?"

"Tashigi? I'm not Tashigi." Hearing the Marine's words, the young woman shook her head in confusion. But after hearing that this was indeed Marine Branch 16, she seemed to sigh in relief. Then she said seriously, "I am Guina, Colonel Xia Che of Marine Branch 16's junior sister. I came here specifically to find Senior Brother Xia Che."

Once she finished speaking.

"???"

Senior Brother Xia Che?

Guina?

The Marine remained blank and confused as he looked at her.

Sergeant Tashigi, stop joking around. Is this another Headquarters mission?

Thanks to A Whispering Softly C for two monthly tickets; Nickname Already Exists for one monthly ticket; and Book Friend 20200317235826218 for two monthly tickets.

Thanks to Book Friend 20200317235826218 for the 500 Qidian Coins donation.

I saw quite a few familiar people~