Julian sat on the sofa, waiting for the crew copying the books to finish. Looking at the remaining Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Leopard, he wondered whether he should give it to Obi Pablo or Rekdon, the young Squadron Captain of the First Division.
Julian thought that Pablo was indeed stronger than Rekdon at present. Besides, if he gave a Devil Fruit to a mere Squadron Captain while the other Squadron Captains had none, the others would feel slighted. It could easily stir up envy among the crew and dampen the workers' enthusiasm. That would not be conducive to the principles of being a worker.
Julian said, "It'd be great if I had another Devil Fruit. Then I could stir up everyone's competitive spirit and hold a martial arts tournament. The Devil Fruits would go to first and second place, whoever earned them would take them. But there's only one."
Julian thought that Pablo was truly excellent in his position as Logistics Officer. He always considered the needs of all the crew members, handled people well, treated the crew with great tolerance, and had never let Julian down. He was also highly knowledgeable. Julian thought to himself, It's decided. It'll go to you. He took out a Den Den Mushi and called Pablo. "Pablo, come over. I have something good for you."
Pablo replied, "Understood, Captain. I'll be right there." Julian waited for Pablo in the room. A few minutes later, Pablo entered. Julian took out the Devil Fruit and handed it to him. "This is a powerful Devil Fruit. It's for you. I've seen everything you've done for the Mud Dragon Pirates, and I'm deeply grateful. This fruit is your reward. I hope you'll keep up the good work."
Pablo said emotionally, "Captain, you saved my life. You made me a logistics officer on the ship and have always treated me with such care. I'm deeply grateful. This Devil Fruit is extremely valuable. It would fetch over a hundred million Berries at any auction. I'm not worthy of such a precious gift from you."
Julian said, "Don't feel burdened by it. Taking good care of the ship's affairs in the future will be the greatest help you can give me." Julian continued, "Take it and eat it." Pablo said, "I understand, Captain. I'll ensure the other brothers' meals and benefits are properly handled. I'll also inspect the crew's ship rules and training on a regular basis."
That was right, Julian had delegated authority. He had Head of Logistics Pablo inspect the ship rules and training of every crew member, including the Division Captains, on the first day of every month. Anyone who failed or could not recite them would have their name written down and sent to Julian. Julian had previously said everyone would be tested on the first of every month, but he had only said it and never actually carried it out.
Now he handed the task to Pablo, having him inspect whether the crew had memorized the ship rules and training on the first. At first, some people still could not recite them. Then Julian spoke up: anyone who could not recite them was a low-level pirate, unqualified to enjoy benefits. Go scrub the deck. Go clean the toilets. Without rules and regulations, how could workers be willing to work? The Four Ship Rules were all meant to make everyone willingly work for Julian and take pride in working hard.
Now Pablo had done an excellent job, and the other Division Captains had also done well. As a result, the crew members all worked hard to study, and their souls were elevated as well. Julian was very pleased with Pablo's reports.
Julian looked at the worker before him with satisfaction and said, "Keep it up, Pablo. I believe in you. You're the best Head of Logistics." He raised a thumb at Pablo again. "Accept your captain's approval."
After Pablo ate the Devil Fruit, he instantly transformed into a leopard over five meters long and 2.3 meters tall at the shoulder. He resembled an enlarged cougar, with long claws. Julian said to Pablo, "As expected of a Zoan Devil Fruit. Your strength should be formidable, right?"
Pablo said, "Yes, Captain. I feel like I've become three times stronger than before." Julian continued, "Go get a Marine Rokushiki manual later and train with it." Pablo said, "Understood, Captain." Julian added, "You can slowly teach it to the Logistics Department, but don't distribute the manual carelessly." Pablo understood the seriousness of the matter and said, "Understood, Captain."
More than two hours passed. Alice entered with Beatrice and said, "Julian, the Marine Rokushiki manuals you wanted have been copied. There are over three hundred copies." Julian took one and handed it to Pablo. "Take it. The manual must not be leaked." Then he took out the Den Den Mushi and called all the other Division Captains. Upon receiving the message, they immediately brought their Squadron Captains to Julian's ship.
Julian distributed Marine Rokushiki to the Division Captains and sternly instructed them not to lose it and to store it carefully. If this thing were lost and spread across the Sea, it would be troublesome. Everyone had to remain vigilant. All the Division Captains and Squadron Captains nodded hurriedly. "We'll keep it safe."
Julian told them not to return to their own ships yet. They would stay on the flagship while he used mud weights to help everyone improve their strength. Then Julian led them to the open-air deck on the fourth level. Looking at the 2.0 version of Soru before him, he found it truly detailed, far superior to his own 0.5 low-end version. Julian wanted the Division Captains to learn Soru first, then teach it to their division members. With that, Julian activated the Earth-Earth Fruit ability and created mud-weighted clothes for all the Division Captains. Even Julian himself put on mud clothing for weight training as he began practicing Soru with everyone.
Julian also planned to improve the strength of the Squadron Captains and Squad Leaders of each division during this period. His current strength was, at most, on the level of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral. If he encountered a Vice Admiral proficient in Armament Haki, Julian might get pinned to the ground and beaten badly. But against a Vice Admiral who was not proficient in Armament Haki, Julian could crush them.
Furthermore, Julian's Devil Fruit ability development was progressing quickly, thanks to the immense Mental Power from living two lives and the knowledge from his previous life. For example, in the recent battle, Gilmi had suffered from lacking intelligence. How could he have expected Julian to be so underhanded, to lure him around like a dog and set traps? Gilmi had not even managed to activate Geppo before Julian blocked his path with mud, leaving him nowhere to retreat.
Of course, Julian would not be able to ambush other Marines so easily in the future. He guessed that Rear Admiral Gilmi had already submitted intelligence on him to Marine Headquarters. From now on, it definitely would not be so easy to trick the Marines' High-End Combat Power.
Julian led the Division Captains in practicing Soru, starting with the simpler techniques. Herbert only needed to train Soru, Geppo, and Rankyaku. Rankyaku was also a slashing technique, except it used the legs to slash. Julian still hoped Herbert would become a Swordmaster. Julian had been in this world for nearly half a year, and his greatest wish was to take Sky Island and build up his forces there. A Swordmaster would be such an important symbol of prestige.
Julian could then proudly say before others, "Give me some face. I'm killing Momonosuke today, no matter what." Julian himself also planned to practice Marine Rokushiki. Once he mastered all six techniques, he would gain the Divine Skill Seimei Kikan. After mastering Seimei Kikan, it would be time to eat, eat, eat, and frantically increase his physical strength and stamina.
Julian estimated that, given his Mental Power and talent, it would still take four or five years to master the six techniques proficiently. Soru, Rankyaku, and Geppo were all leg techniques, while Paper Art, Finger Pistol, and Iron Body were skills involving the body and fingers that required long-term training. Julian was not even seventeen yet. He was still young.
In this world, as long as he kept his footing steady, opportunities would come. Julian began by practicing Soru, incorporating Soru's speed into his Earth Elementalization. The speed of his Mud Bounce could already rival that of his mud bullets.
He wrapped himself in Earth Elementalization and launched himself like a bullet. If he added Soru's ability, Mud Bounce would become even more impressive. Thus, Julian led all the Division Captains in practicing Marine Rokushiki.
Meanwhile, Marine Headquarters received Rear Admiral Gilmi's report and immediately organized a meeting. Sitting in the Fleet Admiral's seat was Steel Bone Kong. Below him sat Admiral Buddha Sengoku. Admiral Black Arm Zephyr had already moved to a less active role and spent every day at the Marine Headquarters elite training camp teaching elite Marine students. In Grand Line Era 1490, Zephyr's wife and child had both been killed by pirates, so he became an instructor. His first batch of students included Crooked Mouth God Borsalino Kizaru, the Celestial Dragon Government's strongest gatekeeper Sakazuki Akainu, and Revolutionary Army founder and commander-in-chief Dragon.
His second batch of students included Kuzan Riding a Bicycle at Sea, Aokiji. At this time, Crooked Mouth God Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji were already Vice Admirals, and after the Ohara Genocide Order, they would be promoted to Admirals. There was no helping it; the Marines lacked High-End Combat Power. Garp was still hunting Roger everywhere, appearing and disappearing without a trace. At the meeting, Marine Headquarters Major Brannew introduced Julian Kate's basic information to the Marine Headquarters higher-ups: "Male, sixteen years old, bounty of one hundred million Berries. A Logia Devil Fruit user. His fruit is the Swamp-Swamp Fruit, which he calls the Earth-Earth Fruit. He is extremely powerful. He enjoys ambushing the gold, jewelry, Berries, and Devil Fruits of World Government member nations. He also likes robbing nobles and kings, preferring to fight through intelligence and schemes. The day before yesterday, he defeated Rear Admiral Gilmi, commander of the South Blue branch. His method was to manipulate the mud on the ground to attack his opponents."
At that moment, Marine Vice Admiral Sakazuki Akainu said, "For such an evil pirate, death is naturally the best outcome. I'll personally eliminate him." As he spoke, he stared disdainfully at Julian's bounty file.
Among the other Vice Admirals, Kizaru said with a crooked mouth, "Another Calamity-level Logia Devil Fruit. How scary." Then he crooked the corner of his mouth again, making him look especially old. Admiral Sengoku said seriously, "Roger is currently collecting those Poneglyphs and preparing to head to Final Island. We should focus our efforts on Roger." Fleet Admiral Kong said, "That's true. Garp is still pursuing Roger, but the Roger Pirates are far too cunning. They toy with Garp every time."
Fleet Admiral Kong said angrily, "That bastard Garp keeps getting played by Roger." Sengoku said, "Didn't Mud Dragon Julian announce that he had been defeated by Rear Admiral Gilmi? This gives us a convenient way to step down." Sengoku continued, "After we capture the Roger Pirates, it won't be too late to deal with the other pirate crews, including the Mud Dragon Pirates."
The only female Vice Admiral, Marine Headquarters Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Tsuru, said, "That's true. Moreover, the other great pirates in the New World are already showing signs of unrest. We should stabilize the other four seas and deal with the greatest threat first." When the other Rear Admirals saw Vice Admiral Chief of Staff Tsuru speak, they immediately agreed. Vice Admiral Tsuru had always been the Marines' strategist and held tremendous prestige within the Marines. In her youth, she had also been the most beautiful female Marine, and she possessed the Paramecia Devil Fruit, the Wash-Wash Fruit. She was one of the Marine Vice Admirals Doflamingo feared most. Fleet Admiral Kong made the final decision. "The Mud Dragon Pirates' bounty will remain unchanged. This information does not need to be made public. Ignore these minor pirates for now and capture the great pirates. Have Garp continue pursuing the Roger Pirates. The Marine Vice Admirals will remain at headquarters and protect the stability of Holy Land Marie Geoise." Fleet Admiral Kong added, "Meeting adjourned."
Meanwhile, Garp was pursuing Roger in the New World. Since the great pirates of the New World were highly hostile toward the Marines, and Roger possessed the Voice of All Things, he often left Garp far behind. The Roger Pirates were now preparing to head to Wano Country to search for Poneglyphs, accompanied by Human Body Dance Master-level Kozuki Oden, Pluto Rayleigh, Gaban, Red-Hair Shanks, Buggy the Clown, and the others. Human Body Dance Master Oden knew that his country had suffered a disaster, yet he ignored it completely. It was now the end of Grand Line Era 1496. In the first half of Grand Line Era 1497, Roger would ascend as Pirate King. The Sea had truly begun to churn with raging waves.
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