Gigue's Arrangement

Urged on by Spandine, Babus had no choice but to speak.

"Sorry, I can't make that decision. If you want to enter Marine Headquarters, you'll have to report to the recruitment office first. Admiral Zephyr has transitioned into an instructor now, and he's in charge of recruiting and training new soldiers."

At the mention of Zephyr's name, even someone as arrogant as Spandine quieted down a little. He knew Zephyr. In his own words, the man was "stubborn"—difficult to talk to and completely unwilling to compromise.

But Zephyr was indeed strong enough. After all, he had once served as a Marine Admiral.

Spandine had some self-awareness. He knew he could flaunt the World Government's authority before a Marine Vice Admiral like Babus, but things might not go so well with Zephyr.

He secretly glanced at Gigue and found no trace of displeasure on his face. If anything, he was even smiling.

To Spandine, there were only two possibilities behind that reaction.

One was that Gigue was exceptionally well-mannered and could perfectly control his emotions even after being rebuffed by Babus.

The other was that Gigue simply did not take Babus seriously at all. He had absolute confidence in his family's influence.

Although Gigue felt very different from the other Celestial Dragons, Spandine still leaned toward the second possibility.

Because members of the Figarland Family could do whatever they wanted!

The moment he thought of the Figarland Family, Spandine's wariness of Zephyr vanished without a trace.

That was right. Wasn't Zephyr merely a Marine Admiral? Before the Figarland Family, what did one Marine Admiral amount to? Even the current Fleet Admiral Kong would be nothing.

Just from Garling's attitude toward Gigue, Spandine knew that this was someone who could strut through Mary Geoise without restraint!

The more Spandine thought about it, the straighter his back became. He raised his brows, pointed at Babus, and said,

"It's an honor for your Marines that Lord Gigue wants to join them. Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. You said Zephyr, right? Come on, give me the Den Den Mushi. I'll speak to him myself. I want to see whether he'll show the World Government some respect or not!"

Babus had not expected Spandine to remain so overbearing even after hearing Zephyr's name. But since the words had already been spoken, he gritted his teeth and reached into his clothes for the Den Den Mushi.

Gigue suddenly reached out and pressed down on his arm.

"There's no need for that. We should still follow the proper procedure. You only need to take my friends and me to Marine Headquarters."

As he spoke, he even gave Spandine a nod, instantly moving the somewhat uneasy Spandine to tears.

This gave Babus a way out. He was not so tactless as to refuse, and he immediately agreed, saying that he would safely escort Gigue and the others to Marine Headquarters.

Kuma turned back to look at the cross hanging on the wall in the center of the church, concern in his eyes.

Gigue saw through him. He called Spandine over and quietly gave him an instruction. Spandine nodded rapidly.

After finishing his instructions, Gigue gave Ivan's shoulder a firm pat, then called Kuma and Ginny over and followed Babus out of the church where they had lived for six years.

Ivan stood silently where he was for a while, then suddenly broke into a sprint and rushed out of the church.

He shouted at the backs of Gigue and the others as they were about to disappear,

"Gigue, thank you! And Kuma, Ginny! You all have to take care of yourselves!!"

Hearing Ivan's shout behind him, Gigue did not turn around. He merely curled his lips into a smile.

He comforted the sobbing Ginny beside him, then turned to Kuma and said,

"Kuma, are you worried about those old people?"

Kuma froze for a moment. Just as expected of Big Brother Gigue. He always saw right through me.

"Yes... They're all old and can't do heavy labor anymore. If they get sick, they won't even have money to see a doctor..."

Gigue stopped and stared into Kuma's eyes, speaking earnestly.

"Kuma, there are many people in this world just like those old people. You can't take care of every single one of them. Their suffering wasn't caused by you, so you don't need to feel guilty about it."

Kuma silently nodded. He understood Gigue's reasoning, but he had spent a long time with those old people. Leaving them behind like this inevitably made him reluctant.

Gigue put away his solemn expression and smiled.

"Don't worry, Kuma. I have my own arrangements for those old people. Look, hasn't Spandine stayed behind?"

"Hm?"

Inside the church, the ministers and nobles of the Kingdom of Sorbet stood with their heads lowered before Spandine like a group of schoolchildren.

Spandine's expression had changed as dramatically as a Sichuan opera mask. Compared to how he had acted before Gigue, he seemed like a completely different person.

With a cigar clenched between his teeth, he paced back and forth before the ministers and began berating them.

"You people really are useless. You can't even govern such a tiny country properly? So many old people don't even have money to see a doctor?"

The two men in suits behind him exchanged looks. From what they knew of Spandine, he was scum who only cared about getting promoted and making money. Since when did he care about people's livelihoods?

One minister timidly said,

"Lord Spandine, we didn't want things to be this way either. It was all the former King Beckley's doing. He kept raising taxes in order to—"

"Enough! I don't want to hear any more of your nonsense. Since that Beckley was incompetent, then replace him with another King!"

"Understood... Huh?!"

Under the ministers' disbelieving gazes, Spandine blew out another cloud of smoke and said casually,

"That settles it. I heard the previous King was named Bourdou. He was quite good, wasn't he? Put him back on the throne!"

"But changing the King of an affiliated nation has to be reported to Mary Geoise, doesn't it? Lord Spandine, you..."

"Hmph! Do you need to tell me that? Do I look like someone who doesn't know the rules?"

At those words, everyone present except Spandine himself inwardly scoffed, but no one dared utter a word.

Spandine knew that what he had said was not particularly convincing. In truth, he did not have that authority.

But since he dared make such a decision, he naturally had his backing. That backing was Gigue.

Because Gigue had instructed him to do all of this just moments ago. Thinking of Gigue, a fanatical expression appeared on Spandine's face. He tossed away his cigar and wiped the ash-stained fingers on a minister's clothes.

"Let me tell you, this is all Lord Gigue's will. He is the heavens, and his words are imperial decrees! Just do as you're told. You don't need to worry about the rest!"

With that, Spandine waved his hand and swaggered away under the escort of the two men in suits.