Emotionless Drudge

"For the civilians abused by pirates!"

"For the subordinates who trust in me!"

"For the Marines on the front lines!"

"For justice in the world!"

"For World Peace!"

"For ideals..."

"Fuck that!"

"I'm exhausted!"

"Ah!!"

Wright let out a weak cry. The last trace of Holy Light around him slowly faded, and he collapsed headfirst onto the floor, losing consciousness.

This was the highest-security secret chamber of Marine Headquarters Marineford.

Looking around, all unnecessary items in the chamber—tables, chairs, sofas, filing cabinets, and the like—had been cleared out. The entire room had been converted into a workshop—a workshop for processing Lightforged Crystals.

A month earlier, after attending the emergency meeting, the four big shots had immediately sprung into action. With an efficiency that horrified Wright, they had settled every issue. These old men usually seemed unhurried and occasionally ridiculous, but when it came to getting things done, every one of them was impatient as hell.

A volunteer team of one hundred men had quickly been assembled. Every one of them was an elite Marine with a clean background and unwavering loyalty to justice.

With Sengoku, Garp, and Wright working together, the hundred Marines had been subjected to simulations of various common wartime injuries. Even injuries involving severed limbs were no problem with Wright present. His presence ensured that no accidents would result in casualties.

Without question, the test had been a complete success! Even injuries involving severed limbs could be initially reattached by actively triggering a Lightforged Crystal, provided the severed limb remained intact, then await Wright's deeper healing.

At the suggestion of the seasoned Admiral Sengoku, they had even tested a previously overlooked function of the Lightforged Crystal—purification.

What had made Wright famous in his early years? A drinking contest with the Red Hair Pirates? Of course not. It had been the Purification Spell! A Holy Light skill that removed poisoning, disease, and all sorts of messy negative effects. The Purification Spell was undoubtedly a healing-type Holy Light Power.

Under tests involving poison, viruses, toxic gas, strong liquor, frostbite, burns, and all sorts of negative conditions, the Lightforged Crystal displayed the expected results—it could basically remove all of those effects. If those effects caused weakened life force, meaning a near-death state, the Lightforged Crystal could also be actively triggered. Even if the damage was too severe to be completely removed, it could still keep the victim alive.

"Wonderful!" Sengoku said delightedly. "Wright, this function of the Lightforged Crystal may be even more useful than directly healing injuries. With poisoning, viruses, and similar conditions, finding the right antidote wastes a tremendous amount of time—and sometimes there simply isn't one!"

"For this test, I even asked the Venom-Venom Fruit user for all sorts of exclusive deadly poisons. I never expected every last one of them to be neutralized!"

While Wright was still wondering whether Magellan suspected Sengoku of plotting against someone, Sengoku had already arranged for the first batch of twenty thousand White Crystals to be handed over to Wright—every single one represented a life!

"..."

Seeing the twenty thousand White Crystals piled up in the secret chamber, Wright was on the verge of breaking down. He had known ever since he developed this thing that this situation would be unavoidable—but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon!

Sengoku really was an asshole old man!

"Old Man Sengoku! Old Man Garp!" After spending a month infusing all twenty thousand Lightforged Crystals, Wright opened the chamber door and found an Admiral and a Vice Admiral standing guard outside with their eyes closed.

Hearing the door open, the two old men opened their eyes. Seeing Wright's exhausted little face, a trace of guilt flashed across their expressions.

"Wright!" Garp rushed over and inspected him from head to toe. Once he confirmed Wright was merely exhausted and still in decent spirits, he turned and pointed at Sengoku. "You bastard, Sengoku! A few days ago, I sensed that Wright's aura had weakened, yet you wouldn't let me go in!"

"Garp, you idiot!" Sengoku glared at Garp. "Only Wright can make Lightforged Crystals. Wright specifically instructed us not to enter unless something extraordinary happened, so we wouldn't cause mistakes. If you had gone in and triggered some unknown consequence, wouldn't you have harmed Wright?!"

"His aura was weakening, and that isn't extraordinary?!"

"Uh... Old Man Garp, I'm fine. Don't get worked up." Wright rubbed his forehead. "Old Man Sengoku did the right thing... Huh?"

"Hm? Old Man Sengoku? Ahahahaha!" Garp sharply noticed something he shouldn't have noticed. "Sengoku! You old bastard, you've finally dropped to the same level as me! Hahahaha!"

"..."

What should he do after accidentally saying what was on his mind? Would he be punished for talking back to a superior? Would he be given a hard time?

"Hmph!" Sengoku shot Garp a contemptuous look. "What, do you think I'm that petty? Wright is still so young. Calling me... well, it's no big deal."

"Given Wright's tremendous contribution this time, I permit him to call me that!"

As expected of Buddha Sengoku. Well... he really was broad-minded!

Looking at the room full of golden radiance, Sengoku could not help sighing. "Wright, if the Marines knew everything you had done for them, your name would probably truly resound throughout the world! It's just..."

"Haha, my wish is World Peace. All of this... is only the beginning. I understand." Wright declared dramatically.

"World Peace..."

Neither Garp nor Sengoku laughed. This brat... perhaps...

Fleet Admiral Office.

Once again, Wright stood with the four big shots as Fleet Admiral Kong announced an appointment. "Headquarters Colonel Wright, in recognition of your enormous contributions and your strength far exceeding your current rank, you are hereby promoted to Headquarters Commodore."

Kong looked approvingly at Wright and slowly continued, "Wright, the great merit you earned this time would have been more than enough for a direct promotion to Rear Admiral. But in order to protect you, we must suppress the pace of your advancement and temporarily keep your role in all this confidential. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Wright pointed one finger upward and gave a knowing smile, surprising the four big shots. It seemed this kid knew quite a few things. But considering Wright's background, they understood.

"It's good that you understand." Sengoku gave Wright a deep look. "Although the Lightforged Crystal is immensely useful, our intention is to roll it out gradually—"

"We will not exploit your abilities. Your first priority is to grow stronger, to become even stronger. First, because as you become stronger, making these Lightforged Crystals will become easier and easier for you. And second... so you possess the strength to protect yourself!"

Wright nodded to show he understood. Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing nearby, also spoke. "Based on the current data, this first batch of twenty thousand Lightforged Crystals can sustain the most dangerous front lines for roughly one year—if used solely as precious life-saving supplies. Even so, I recommend issuing them to elite units on a trial basis first, then gradually expanding distribution after observing the data."

Garp agreed. "Lightforged Crystals may be miraculous, but we can't let soldiers become dependent on them. Soldiers who no longer value their lives will cause serious trouble!"

Sengoku nodded solemnly. "Tsuru is right. We need sufficient time to observe changes in the soldiers' mentality and the new wartime data after the introduction of Lightforged Crystals before we can gradually promote them. Wright, you only need to make twenty thousand Lightforged Crystals for Headquarters each year."

"Also, Wright, I hope you can make some Lightforged Pointing Crystals for secret use. They will not be disclosed publicly—though naturally, you may make such crystals yourself and give them to people you trust."

Wright nodded and took out a wooden box he had prepared long ago. "I've already prepared for that."

Opening the wooden box revealed ten neatly arranged Lightforged Pointing Crystals.

At this rate, would Lightforged Crystals become hard currency? Haha!