Spandine: Now Is the Time for Loyal Men Like Us to Step Forward!

At this moment, Ortolan was sitting on the beach rocks at G-5 base.

He held a fishing rod in his hand, and beside him was an empty bucket, without a single fish in it, yet he still looked patient.

Upon hearing Spandine's words, Ortolan smiled and said, "Yes, I have a slight connection with Doflamingo. What's up? Is there anything you need to cooperate on? I can act as a middleman for you."

"It's not that. I just received urgent intelligence that something big has happened in the North Blue. Donquixote Doflamingo, for some reason, hijacked a ship carrying next year's Celestial Gold. Are you aware of this?" Spandine quickly asked on the Den Den Mushi.

"They made their move so quickly!?" Ortolan exclaimed in surprise.

Upon Spandine a weight lifted from his shoulders, and at the same time, a secret delight crept in. Clearly, Vice Admiral Bane not only knew about this matter, but... to put it more boldly, he might have even been involved!

After a brief pause, Ortolan didn't hide anything from Spandine, and said with a smile, "We're friends, so there are some things I can talk to you about more deeply. But don't let these words get out to me, understand?"

"Understood, understood. Vice Admiral Bane, you know me well. You are known for your loyalty and would never betray a friend!" Spandine quickly agreed.

"Not long ago, I went to Cake Island to attend Big Mom Pirates' Tea Party, right? Doflamingo was there too, and I ran into him," Ortolan said.

"Yes, I've heard about that. And that business you mentioned to me last time, I've already started pushing it forward, and I believe there will be results soon." Spandine casually mentioned his contribution again.

Ortolan smiled and thanked Yu: "Then thank you very much, Commander Spandine."

"Of course, we're all friends, we should help each other out," Spandine said cheerfully.

"Ahem..." Ortolan cleared his throat slightly, then said, "Back on Cake Island, Doflamingo was clearly unhappy. He said he spent a lot of money, but Mary Geoise didn't give him any face at all. They wouldn't even let him become Shichibukai. I think he's holding a grudge..."

"And then?" Spandine asked in a low voice.

"Then he was in a bad mood, so he drank a lot of alcohol and started cursing about taking revenge on the World Government and teaching Mary Geoise a lesson. He said he wanted to rob the Celestial Gold and see if they valued the Celestial Gold's reputation more or their position Shichibukai more..." Ortolan continued.

Spandine hearing this, also realized what was going on and quickly asked, "So, Doflamingo's raid on the Celestial Gold this time was actually to try and get a position Shichibukai? He wasn't really determined to turn against Mary Geoise?"

"That's right," Ortolan replied affirmatively.

After a moment's hesitation, Spandine asked, "So, do you think there's any room for me to maneuver in here?"

"You want to use this to gain merit?" Ortolan pondered for a moment and asked.

"Ahem... As you know, I'm just like you, utterly loyal to the World Government and to Mary Geoise. Since something's happened here, of course I want to be the first to help Mary Geoise, that's what I should do to deserve my position, Vice Admiral Bane." Spandine throat, speaking in a pretentious manner.

Ortolan laughed, agreeing, "Yes, that's right. We're all from the World Government, so naturally when something happens, we should think about how to help those above us..."

After a brief pause, Ortolan continued, "However, I don't know much about this matter, but I hope Dover will give me some face. So, can you contact him?"

"Yes, we can. To be honest, Doflamingo and our CP Agency also have some business dealings," Spandine a smile.

Both are shrewd and worldly-wise characters who enjoy expanding their networks. It's no surprise that Spandine and Doflamingo could communicate; Ortolan makes perfect sense!

"Then contact Dover and tell him I introduced you. You can handle the arrangements after that. If there's any opportunity, it will definitely fall to you," Ortolan said magnanimously.

"With your words of comfort, I'm relieved. I'll go and take over the mission on Mary Geoise, contact Doflamingo, and see how we can resolve this issue quickly and efficiently while preserving everyone's interests," Spandine said happily.

What was originally thought to be a potentially fatal matter turned out to be a complicated one, with someone acting as a guarantor and mediator, making things much simpler and easier to handle in many places.

Lieutenant Vice Admiral Bane is a true friend worth getting to know. If you ever need anything, just ask him, and he'll definitely be able to help you!

Spandine initially felt a pang of regret for giving away Ancient type Devil Fruit, but now he feels he didn't give enough and will add two more gold bars later.

It's not about currying favor; it's just friendship, you know? It's about social interactions!

After ending the call with Ortolan, Spandine quickly contacted his underlings at Mary Geoise headquarters and asked, "How's it going? Are those bastards over there hiding like cowards?"

"Yes, just like you. Whenever the Commander-in-Chief mentions this matter, they all say they're busy and don't have time..." the young man said, sounding clueless.

Spandine displeased. "What do you mean, 'like me'? I just said they were cowards, and you say they're like me? Looks like you're not very clever. I'll have to find a chance to kill you."

Spandine suppressed his anger and then said righteously, "Those guys are a bunch of unreliable good-for-nothings. Whenever Mary Geoise needs their help, they all cower in fear, only knowing how to protect themselves. In the end, it's always a loyal and righteous man like me who has to step up. Alright, I understand. Go and tell the Commander-in-Chief -Commander-in-Chief that although I, Spandine not in Mary Geoise, I've always been thinking of him. He's in trouble, and while the others are afraid to take on the task, I am. Leave this matter to me. I guarantee that the Celestial Gold will reach Mary Geoise safely as quickly as possible!"

After saying that, he worried that his younger brother was bad at talking, so he changed his mind again. "Forget it, you don't need to go. I'll contact the Commander-in-Chief myself!"

Immediately, Spandine hung up the Den Den Mushi, ready to stand up for the World Government!

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

In front of the solitary confinement cell, Hina, a beautiful girl with long pink hair, was looking at Smoker, who was walking out of the cell in a disheveled state, with a smirk.

"Oh my, isn't this the Chief? How come you've gotten so shabby after just a few days?" Hina teased Smoker.

As soon as Smoker came out, his first question to Hina was, "Got any cigarettes? Want one..."

"I knew you'd say that." Hina rolled her eyes, casually took an unopened box of cigars from her pocket, and tossed it to Smoker.

Smoker was a ruthless man; he lit three cigarettes in one go, put them in his mouth, and puffed out smoke as if he had finally come back to life.

Then he asked, "Wasn't my confinement supposed to last a month? How come I was released in less than a week? Did Teacher Zephyr speak up for me?"

"How much influence do you have that you Teacher Zephyr to intervene?" Hina couldn't help but complain before explaining, "It was senior Bane from G-5 who saw the news about your confinement in the Monthly Bulletin. Then he sent a Den Den Mushi directly to the personnel department, ordering them to lift your confinement and take your position from headquarters."

Smoker paused, surprised, "I don't know Bane at all. I'm indebted to him now..."

"Don't worry about not having a chance to pay it back. Anyway, you're now officially part of G-5. Senior Bane said you need to report to G-5 immediately. I reckon he's got his eye on you. Just watch your performance, and I estimate it won't be long before you regain your colonel status," Hina instructed.

After a slight pause, Hina said with a hint of envy and longing, "G-5, that's the front line of the New World. I heard their battles are the most intense. And Senior Bane is a big shot in our Marines, strong, brave, and handsome. I heard that a couple of years ago when he was at headquarters, countless female Marines officers had a crush on him..."

Speaking of this, Hina excitedly brought up another topic. "By the way, do you know Gion -Gion? There's a rumor that Gion- senpai has a special crush on Bane-senpai, and she even followed him to the New World for that reason. She's in G-5 now!"

Seeing Hina's excited expression, Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke and teased, "Looks like you also have a crush on Bane, right?"

"What are you talking about?" Hina glared at Smoker, but then explained shyly, "I've never even met Bane, so it's not really a crush... just admiration, you know? Admiration!"

After saying this, Hina added helplessly, "It's a pity, I can only work as a clerk at headquarters now. Teacher Zephyr won't let me go to the front lines. I can only shed tears of envy for you..."

"When you're really old enough, Teacher Zephyr will let you go. If you really want to see Senior Bane then, just apply for a transfer to G-5. I'll put in a good word for you with him," Smoker said with a smile and a wave of his hand.