"Tea Pig" Kake

The document recorded a general account of Kuzan's landing on Capone Island, as well as Fleet Admiral Sengoku's subsequent investigation into the state of the West Blue Marines.

"As you can all see, because Marine Headquarters is located on the Grand Line, its supervision and management of the Marines in the Four Seas are clearly inadequate, making it extremely easy for all kinds of corruption to take root."

"The problem above is merely an issue with the West Blue Marines, but the West Blue Marines are by no means the only ones with problems."

As Fleet Admiral Sengoku raised the issue, the Navy High Command members seated in the conference room all wore thoughtful expressions.

After a moment, Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke first.

"This issue does indeed require our attention. Even if the Marines in the Four Seas generally possess low combat strength, setting aside the fact that they will be the source providing Marine Headquarters with a steady stream of fresh forces, more importantly..."

Vice Admiral Tsuru folded her hands and raised them slightly to cover her chin as she continued.

"Perhaps the Grand Line is the chaotic battlefield where pirates flock, but the Four Seas are the source of that chaos. Moreover, the area the Marines in the Four Seas are responsible for is far larger than that of Marine Headquarters. Thus, the Marines in the Four Seas are also deeply connected to the peace of this ocean."

Vice Admiral Spandine asked, "Does Vice Admiral Tsuru mean that we should dispatch Marine Headquarters' forces to be stationed in the Four Seas Marines for the long term?"

Vice Admiral Sakazuki, seated to the side, spoke without hesitation.

"I oppose that. The pressure on Marine Headquarters in the 'New World' is growing heavier by the day. We simply have no surplus forces to dispatch to the vast Four Seas."

"I agree with Vice Admiral Sakazuki's opinion." Vice Admiral Onigumo immediately followed.

"Compared to the Four Seas, the Grand Line is the true priority. And we cannot deny that, because of Gol D. Roger, pirates are now appearing in an unending stream."

"To resolve this issue completely, we still need to concentrate our forces and annihilate the Great Pirates of the Grand Line with overwhelming force, using deterrence to prevent the seeds of evil from sprouting."

For a time, the Navy High Command members present engaged in heated discussion. Clearly, they had vastly different opinions on this matter.

One side believed that diverting some of Marine Headquarters' resources and forces toward the Marines in the Four Seas would be more beneficial to peace across the seas;

The other side believed that the Marines' priority should be to urgently draw upon the strength of the Four Seas Marines and quickly crush the Great Pirates of the Grand Line with overwhelming force, thereby deterring all pirates across the seas and slowing the continuously rising number of new pirates.

"Silence!"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku knocked on the table. After restoring silence to the conference room, he spoke.

"I understand everyone's opinions. However, I believe that the current shortcomings of the Marines in the Four Seas do not lie in their combat strength, but in flaws in their management system and insufficient supervision."

"Then what do you mean, Fleet Admiral?" Vice Admiral Spandine asked with a cigar between his teeth.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku thought for a moment before saying, "We'll establish a new position, directly managed by Marine Headquarters. Its primary duty will be to inspect the Marines in each sea."

On this day, Yaen lazily got out of bed. After washing up, he was surprised to find Fleet Admiral Sengoku sitting in the living room.

"Are you on leave today, Old Man?" Yaen asked with a yawn.

"Justice never takes a day off."

Sengoku spoke while handling the documents in his hands.

"Then why are you so free that you're handling affairs at home?" Yaen asked in confusion.

Sengoku, gripping a pen as he continuously reviewed the documents, cast Yaen a glance and asked, "Free?"

Yaen wisely stopped pursuing the subject and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

"By the way, Old Man, have you eaten breakfast?"

Yaen did not forget to ask considerately.

"I'm full of anger," Sengoku replied flatly.

"That's good. Saves me the trouble."

Yaen's unconcerned tone nearly made Sengoku crush the pen in his hand.

However, Sengoku's expression quickly calmed. He muttered under his breath,

"Brat, you've had it easy long enough. Enjoy the last quiet morning properly."

Then, just as Yaen had finished quickly dealing with breakfast, two voices rang out from the courtyard gate.

"Reporting in. Second Lieutenant Gion and Kake reporting for duty."

Sengoku organized the documents in his hands, then said, "Come in."

Soon, two figures entered. One was Gion, whom Yaen had encountered once before, while the other, who called himself Kake...

Tea Pig?!

Yaen carefully examined the young man before him. Compared to Gion, he appeared somewhat short and hunched, with rather lecherous-looking features.

If not for his distinctive row of protruding teeth, Yaen would have thought he was something like Borsalino's illegitimate son.

However, Yaen knew very well that this lecherous-looking, short Kake was no simple character. He was the man who would later take the name "Tea Pig" and become a candidate for Marine Admiral alongside Gion. His strength was terrifying.

"No wonder there would later be talk of Tea Pig failing to confess his feelings to 'Momousagi' Gion a hundred times. Looking this lecherous while still so young, it would be strange if Gion could accept him."

Just as Yaen muttered to himself and wondered why Sengoku had called them over, Sengoku suddenly turned his head toward Yaen and spoke in a tone that brooked no refusal.

"Yaen, you come over too."

?!

Yaen.

Almost instantly, based on his understanding of Sengoku, Yaen realized that the matter was certainly not simple. Sengoku might even be about to bring him a huge problem.

No wonder the old man had stayed home so strangely today. He must have been guarding against me figuring out his intentions and slipping away halfway if he summoned me through a messenger...

He's basically blocking me in!

Faced with Sengoku's behavior, which was practically the equivalent of blocking both the spring and his home, Yaen had only just woken up and had no chance to slip away. He could only walk over helplessly.

"Gion, Kake, Yaen—you three are all the most outstanding members of the Marines' new generation. Marine Headquarters now has a mission to entrust to you..."

At that moment, Yaen weakly interrupted, "Um... I haven't joined the Marines yet."

The moment Yaen finished speaking, Sengoku pulled a document from the stack he had just processed and tossed it to Yaen.

"Your father has already submitted your application to join the Marines, and it has just received the Fleet Admiral's signature and approval."

After a pause, Sengoku's expression turned solemn.

"Congratulations. You're a Marine now, Yaen."

???

Yaen.

Yaen immediately took the document and hurriedly flipped to the last page, looking at the section listing the rank.

Marine Headquarters Captain!

In an instant, Yaen felt his vision go black.

At that moment, Yaen could not spare any thought for Gion and Kake's presence. He instinctively protested,

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there's an error in this application. The merits I've accumulated could never be enough to qualify me for the rank of Marine Headquarters Captain."