A Favor from Sengoku

Several days later.

Lunster Wharf.

Aboard a warship, Marine Soldiers bustled about, carrying large numbers of safes onto the ship.

The safes contained gold, silver, jewels, and vast amounts of cash.

After the last safe had been loaded aboard, Lieutenant Colonel Mata came onboard to count them. Once he confirmed that everything was correct, he approached Victor. "Lord Victor, all your luggage has been loaded onto the ship."

Victor smoked a cigarette and patted Lieutenant Colonel Mata on the shoulder. "Once I reach Headquarters, I'll recommend you for colonel of Branch 191. If you run into any trouble, send a fax to Headquarters anytime. I'll help you handle it."

"Thank you, Lord Victor." Lieutenant Colonel Mata looked at Victor gratefully.

Victor said earnestly, "This parting is only temporary. Once I rise to a high position and hold real power, all of you will be able to return to my side."

Lieutenant Colonel Mata said sincerely, "I will not let down Lord Victor's patronage."

Before Victor came to Branch 191, Lieutenant Colonel Mata had only been a captain.

With no backing, Mata had never been able to rise any higher.

But Victor had chosen him, and in less than a year, Mata had been promoted from captain to lieutenant colonel.

Now that Victor was leaving, he was even going to recommend Mata for promotion to colonel.

This was a favor greater than giving him a new life!

Victor whispered into Lieutenant Colonel Mata's ear, "Watch over our territory. I'll need money for many things in the future."

"Rest assured, Lord Victor. This subordinate will complete the mission!"

Lieutenant Colonel Mata straightened up and gave Victor his assurance.

"Mm." Victor was very satisfied.

His reason for favoring Mata was simple.

Mata came from a South Blue recruit camp. He had no connections and no strength to speak of, and had only risen to the rank of captain through sheer passion.

Yet Mata had remained a captain for five years without receiving another promotion.

Because promotions in the Marines depended on only two things.

First, strength. Second, connections.

Those with strength could thrive anywhere. For example, after the Summit War, the Marines held a worldwide draft and directly selected Ryokugyu and Fujitora to serve as Marine Admirals.

Those with connections needed no further explanation.

Smoker had defied military orders time and again, yet he was still promoted to lieutenant general of G-5.

Therefore, Mata was utterly loyal to Victor.

Because without Victor, he would never have been promoted in his entire life.

"As for all of you..." Victor then looked at the colonels and lieutenant officers he had personally promoted. "I'll recommend all of you as well. After I return to Headquarters, every one of you will receive a promotion."

"Long live Lord Victor!"

The colonels and lieutenant officers of Branch 191 shouted in unison.

"Even after I leave, your salary and benefits will remain unchanged."

Victor said to the Marine Soldiers of Branch 191.

"Long live Lord Victor!"

"Long live Lord Victor!"

"Long live Lord Victor!"

The Marine Soldiers shouted together.

As long as they had a chance to gain rank and wealth, the rank-and-file Marine Soldiers were willing to offer their loyalty.

What was more, during the year they had followed Victor, their lives had all improved.

As for justice? It might work on new recruits.

But anyone who had served for a few years would understand the darkness of the World Government.

Justice was nothing more than a hypocritical slogan of the World Government.

Was it really worth risking one's life for a hypocritical slogan?

Marineford, Marine Headquarters.

Victor arrived outside Sengoku's office.

"Reporting!"

Victor gave a military salute.

"Come in."

Sengoku's voice came from inside the office.

Victor pushed open the office door and walked inside.

At that moment, Sengoku tore up a discarded document and fed the scraps to the goat at his feet.

Sengoku looked at Victor and said, "You did well in the South Blue."

Victor stood there expressionlessly.

"Have a seat." Sengoku invited Victor over to the sofa.

Victor did not stand on ceremony and sat down on the sofa.

Sengoku picked up the fruit cookies Victor had brought, eating as he spoke. "Do you know why I transferred you back?"

Victor replied, "Not for the time being."

Sengoku did not hide it either. He got straight to the point. "I want to send you to the New World. You also need more training."

"Yes." Victor was not surprised.

He had not deliberately concealed his strength.

Moreover, he had great talent for training, and Zephyr thought very highly of Victor.

In the two years after Victor graduated, he had spent the first year interning in the first half of the Grand Line, then the second year at a branch in the South Blue.

This had left Zephyr quite dissatisfied, feeling that Victor's talents were being wasted.

Therefore, whether it was Zephyr or Sengoku, they would sooner or later put Victor to important use.

Sengoku smiled and said, "Go to Branch G5 first."

"Yes!" Victor answered.

Sengoku looked at Victor and said, "Your subordinates from Branch 191 will all be promoted."

Though Victor was surprised, he was not taken aback.

As a strategic commander, Sengoku excelled most at gathering intelligence.

Therefore, from Vice Admiral Wood's investigation report, he could tell that Victor had been earnestly building up Branch 191.

As for his intentions, naturally, it was to cultivate his own people.

Everyone had selfish motives. It was perfectly normal to foster trusted subordinates.

Thus, Sengoku simply decided to do him a favor. At the same time, he was also conveying a message to Victor: he would look after him from now on.

"Then I'll thank Uncle Sengoku on their behalf," Victor said gratefully.

Even if Sengoku had not helped, Victor could still have sought out the other uncles and aunts at Marine Headquarters.

However, Sengoku was now an admiral and would become fleet admiral in the future. If Victor wanted to be promoted to admiral, he would still need Sengoku's help!

Branch G1 and Branch G5 were the only two branches directly under Marine Headquarters located in the New World.

Branch G1 and Branch G5 shared one thing in common: each had two vice admirals, four rear admirals, a total of 10,000 elite Marine Soldiers, and ten large warships.

Because they stood directly against the pirates of the New World, Branch G1 and Branch G5 maintained the highest level of combat readiness and had the most elite Marine Soldiers.

Victor took a ship to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, crossed through Mary Geoise, then changed ships for Branch G1.

From Branch G1, he would head to Branch G5.

At this moment, Victor's warship was on its way to Mary Geoise.

Victor emerged from his cabin, intending to get some fresh air on deck.

"Are you Senior Victor?"

Suddenly, a man's voice rang out behind Victor.