The Chief Staff Officer's Reserve and Consideration

After saying this, Garp stood up and said, "You get some rest for now. Since you have the heart to become a righteous Marine, this old man can't just turn a blind eye. That's the duty of a Marine senior, after all!"

Ortolan didn't reply, but a faint smile appeared on his face.

Garp turned and walked to the door with Bogard. Just as he placed his hand on the doorknob, he suddenly paused and asked without turning back, "Speaking of which, what do you think justice is?"

Ortolan was silent for a moment before answering, "I don't know."

"Is that so?" A kind smile returned to Garp's face. Still not looking back, he said to himself, "That's fair. A little guy like you probably hasn't found the answer yet. But that's fine—you can take your time searching for it later."

With that, he opened the door and walked out.

Ortolan's head still felt groggy. He had done everything he could. As for the outcome, it seemed Garp was inclined to give him a hand. Now, all he could do was wait quietly.

Even if things didn't work out, given Garp's personality, he probably wouldn't just throw him straight into prison, right?

Shaking off those thoughts, Ortolan lay back down on the hospital bed and soon drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, Garp and Bogard walked down the ship's corridor. Suddenly, Garp asked, "What do you think of that kid?"

"I don't know him, so I have nothing to say." Bogard's tone was calm.

"Don't know him..." Garp chuckled, then added, "But precisely because we don't know him, we can't easily dismiss him, can we?"

"So you're planning to give him a chance?" Bogard asked after a moment's thought.

"As a Marine, why would I refuse an outstanding prospect who wants to join us?" Garp countered.

"But his background is troublesome. If he were just some hotheaded nobody, it wouldn't matter. But his talent and aptitude are exceptional. If he really joins the Marines, and if he really... has ill intentions, what kind of consequences would that bring, Mr. Garp... have you truly thought this through?" Bogard's tone remained calm and steady, but his words carried weight.

"Yeah, with his talent and aptitude, joining our Marines, in a few years he'd make a name for himself, maybe even rise to a high position. If he had ill intentions, it would cause us great loss and trouble. You're right." Garp nodded in agreement at first.

But soon, he continued, "But what if he's not that bad, and we reject him out of these concerns? Wouldn't we be missing out on a lot? Compared to the potential he's shown, I think taking some risks is worth it. Besides..."

"Besides what?" Bogard asked casually.

"Besides, we have to trust the Marines. We have to trust the convictions we hold in our hearts, don't we? If even we Marines don't believe in the power of our convictions, don't believe in the power of justice, then that's the real problem, Bogard!" Garp laughed heartily and clapped Bogard on the shoulder.

Bogard didn't respond immediately. After walking a few more steps, he finally said, "What you say makes a lot of sense, Mr. Garp."

Back in his office, Garp took out a Den Den Mushi and quickly made a call.

Soon, the Den Den Mushi was picked up. Chief Staff Officer Tsuru's somewhat exasperated voice came through: "Don't you know I'm busy? Or do you overestimate me so much that you think I can dig up the information you want in such a short time?"

"Hahahaha, I'm here to lighten your workload, little Tsuru." Garp laughed first, then said, "About the matter I asked you to look into earlier, you can stop investigating. I already know the answer I needed."

"Is that so? So the kid you mentioned woke up? You got the information you wanted from him? And it put your mind at ease?" Chief Staff Officer Tsuru asked back.

"I did get the so-called 'information,' but on the contrary, it worries me. That kid is Charlotte Linlin's son. He's probably... isn't that interesting?" Garp quickly recounted Ortolan's situation to Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, chuckling.

Chief Staff Officer Tsuru paused for a moment, then asked, "So, you're not going to let him join the Marines, and there's no need to continue the investigation? Is that the answer?"

"No, quite the opposite. I'm going to bring that kid into the Marines. Speaking of which, isn't Zephyr setting up some kind of Officer Training Camp, or something like that? Anyway, it's an institution to help cultivate fresh, excellent blood for the Marines... I plan to send this kid there for some training." Garp said casually.

"Do you fully understand what you're saying?" Chief Staff Officer Tsuru asked softly.

Garp was silent for a brief moment, then said firmly, "Of course."

"If that's your decision, then suit yourself." Chief Staff Officer Tsuru chuckled in response.

"I thought you'd come up with a bunch of reasons to talk me out of it, hahahaha." Garp laughed loudly.

"Though you're usually unreliable, you're not an idiot." Chief Staff Officer Tsuru teased, then, not even bothering to say another word to Garp, she hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Garp looked at the disconnected Den Den Mushi in his hand and shook his head helplessly. "Not very considerate at all."

"I think the Chief Staff Officer has been very considerate," Bogard said seriously from the side.

Elsewhere, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford, inside the Intelligence Staff Department within the Fortress of Justice, the busy Chief Staff Officer Tsuru put down her Den Den Mushi and said, "Gion, about that matter I mentioned to you earlier, step it up and conduct a thorough investigation."

Gion, sitting across from Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, looked up with some confusion and asked, "Sister Tsuru, didn't you just tell little Garp to do as he pleased?"

"That's because I could tell he'd made up his mind to bring that kid back. And I know very well that once Garp makes up his mind, he won't listen to anyone else." Chief Staff Officer Tsuru said calmly.

"You're old comrades. He should be able to listen to you a little, right?" Gion said with a smile.

"Precisely because we're old comrades that I'm even more certain he won't listen. But it doesn't matter. Like I said, he's not an idiot. First, check out that kid. If he really has any problems, Garp will make the right judgment." Chief Staff Officer Tsuru said offhandedly.

"So, Sister Tsuru, you actually oppose this? You oppose the person little Garp favors joining the Marines?" Gion couldn't help but ask curiously.

"No, why would I oppose it? Whether he's Whitebeard's son or Charlotte Linlin's son, as long as he truly wants to join the Marines and become a like-minded comrade, then none of that matters. On the contrary, I'd welcome it. Garp talked that kid up to the heavens. If even half of it is true, he'd be a rare talent. Strengthening the Marines is something I naturally support and welcome." Chief Staff Officer Tsuru's tone remained very calm.

"Then why investigate?" Gion shrugged.

"Precisely because I welcome and support it that I need to investigate—thoroughly, carefully, and seriously. It's a responsibility to the Marines, to the Intelligence Staff Department, to myself, to Garp, and to that kid. Only by investigating clearly can everyone rest easy. Otherwise, there will inevitably be friction and conflict down the line." Chief Staff Officer Tsuru smiled and explained to Gion.

Gion thought for a moment before speaking. "Indeed, compared to little Garp, Sister Tsuru, you're more meticulous and think further ahead."

Gion now understood Chief Staff Officer Tsuru's intention. If they just listened to Garp now and stopped investigating, and something went wrong later, the blame would fall entirely on Garp, since he had insisted on doing this.

But now, if the Intelligence Staff Department conducted a thorough investigation, any problems would naturally prevent the matter from going through. If there were no problems, things would go as Garp wished, but the nature of it would be different. If trouble arose later, the Intelligence Staff Department would also share the responsibility. On the surface, nothing seemed to change, but in reality, it would lessen the pressure and accountability Garp would face!

Perhaps this is the bond between old comrades? Covering each other's blind spots, silently handling all the aftermath. Is this the reserve and consideration of a mature woman? Truly full of charm, Sister Tsuru~ Gion silently praised Chief Staff Officer Tsuru in her heart.