"Come on, let's go see him."
"Ensign Tashigi, tell Captain Smoker that I'm going to stay at the Barto Club for a few days. Thank you all for taking care of me."
"I'll commend you to Sengoku. Just wait for your promotions."
Wang Shi, covered in bandages, put on his platinum-colored uniform and swaggered out of the hospital room, making sure to bring his huge piece of roast meat with him.
"Your Majesty Wang Shi, are you going to recuperate at a criminal underworld club? I don't think that's a good idea."
Tashigi hurried to persuade him. The Marines at the entire Marine Branch felt deeply responsible for Wang Shi's attack in Loguetown.
They were all doing their utmost to treat him and provide him with the best service.
"Are you worried they'll eat me?"
"Relax. My baron subordinates aren't so ordinary."
Wang Shi chuckled, and Eric and El Drago both puffed out their chests.
Even Van Augur's lips curled into a slight smile.
It wasn't easy to earn Wang Shi's praise.
Among the officers under Wang Shi, only these three had been granted baron titles.
Even the two young men, Zoro and Saka, hadn't been granted titles.
They would receive titles after defeating an enemy with a bounty of more than ten million Belly.
To be promoted to Viscount, they would need to defeat or kill a pirate with a bounty of over a hundred million.
Defeating or killing a pirate with a bounty of over three hundred million would earn them the lofty title of Earl.
Defeating or killing a great pirate with a bounty of over five hundred million would earn them the title of Marquess, with all the power and influence it entailed.
Aside from Zoro, the title of Marquess was probably the limit for the others.
Even Eric and El Drago would find it difficult to reach that level.
Van Augur, however, had the potential.
As for the title of Duke, one's strength had to be at least on par with the Three Disasters or the Four Sweet Commanders.
If someone was strong enough—comparable to an Admiral—Wang Shi might even grant them the title of Royal Duke in the Goa Empire.
In the kingdoms of the Affiliated Nations, an Earl was generally the highest-ranking noble.
Only a handful of people held the titles of Duke or Marquess, and their families were no less influential than the royal family.
In fact, many kingdoms had no Dukes or Marquesses at all.
The royal families wouldn't allow powerful nobles who could threaten their position to emerge.
In the Mokomo Dukedom on Zou Island, for example, the leader of the country held only the title of Duke.
If Red Count Redfield joined the Goa Empire, Wang Shi would surely grant him the title of Royal Duke.
A mere Earl would never match Redfield's strength.
But Red Count, the great pirate, was destined to have nothing to do with Wang Shi.
Wang Shi led his subordinates out of the Loguetown Marine Branch.
Bartolomeo and a group of his underlings watched Wang Shi excitedly, completely unafraid of Captain Smoker.
After all, His Majesty Wang Shi could take Smoker down in an instant.
Smoker watched Wang Shi, who seemed to have recovered well, chewing on his cigar with an expressionless face. No one knew what he was thinking.
According to the debriefing on the incident, Wang Shi had most likely awakened Conqueror's Haki.
He didn't know whether that was a blessing or a curse for the East Blue.
"Your Majesty Wang Shi, please make sure to get plenty of rest."
Tashigi didn't forget to remind Wang Shi, her face full of concern.
"Ensign Tashigi, your concern warms my heart.
"How about this? I'll ask Sengoku the Buddha to promote you to colonel of a Marine Branch and appoint you base commander of either Marine Branch 153 or Marine Branch 16.
"I have enough influence to put in a word at either of those branches."
For some reason, Wang Shi suddenly turned around and smiled at Tashigi.
"Eh?!"
"No!"
"Your Majesty, I-I-I... I'm not strong enough..."
Tashigi heard Wang Shi's words and immediately stammered, unable to get anything else out.
She was only an ensign at a Marine Branch. If she were promoted to colonel, wouldn't that mean skipping five ranks?
She couldn't possibly take on such an important position.
Even Captain Smoker was only a colonel at a Marine Branch.
Smoker had originally been a colonel at Marine Headquarters, but after disobeying orders and defying his superiors over a certain matter, he was demoted three ranks to colonel at a Marine Branch and sent to Loguetown in the East Blue as its commanding officer.
Under Marine regulations, ranks at Marine Headquarters were three levels higher than equivalent ranks at the branches in the Four Blues.
The Marine fortresses along the Grand Line and in the New World were directly controlled by Marine Headquarters, and their ranks matched those at Headquarters.
Moreover, Marines strong enough to reach the flag officer ranks were almost always transferred to Marine Headquarters or to fortresses on the Grand Line or in the New World.
In the Four Blues, Marines could still rise through the ranks on seniority and merit.
At Marine Headquarters, however, advancement truly required both strength and merit.
"Just wait for your promotion, Ensign Tashigi. In a few days, you might be Smoker's equal in rank."
Wang Shi laughed, ignoring Tashigi's panic and Smoker's dark expression, and left the Loguetown Marine Branch.
"Captain Smoker, I-I-I... I don't want a promotion..."
Tashigi fumbled for words as she tried to explain herself to Smoker. How could someone as weak as her become the highest-ranking officer at a Marine Branch?
"Tashigi, train hard and work to bring your strength up to the level your rank demands."
Smoker clenched his fists around his cigar but still chose to let Tashigi grow on her own.
Perhaps entrusting her with an important responsibility would help her grow quickly.
After all, pressure created motivation!
Of course, that depended on Wang Shi being able to handle things with Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
After all, Wang Shi couldn't simply interfere with Marine promotions, especially not to promote someone five ranks at once.
Smoker had always wanted a transfer back to the Grand Line.
He'd heard that his old classmate Hina was already building up her record of merit, preparing for promotion to Commodore at Marine Headquarters, or even Rear Admiral.
That left Smoker feeling rather frustrated.
In the Weakest Sea, the East Blue, he couldn't earn any meaningful military accomplishments.
Who knew when he'd finally be able to leave Loguetown?
"Can... I do it?"
"Yes!"
Tashigi had still been hesitating, but when she saw the stern look in Smoker's eyes, she immediately stood at attention and saluted.
The other Marine officers watched Tashigi, who had Wang Shi's backing and could skip several ranks, with nothing but envy and jealousy.
They wanted a powerful patron, too.
Becoming the highest-ranking officer at a Marine Branch meant being a little emperor in one's own domain!
Inside the bar at the Barto Club.
Before Wang Shi could invite him, the green-haired, pompadoured Bartolomeo had already offered to follow him.
He wanted to help Wang Shi bring down Germa 66, the Overlord of the North Blue, and make a name for himself around the world!
He would spread the East Blue's glory throughout the world!
"Since Bartolomeo has such ambition, how could I possibly turn down a hero like you?"
"Bartolomeo, I hereby grant you the title of Baron of the Goa Empire. You will unite the East Blue's underworld in the name of the empire!"
Wang Shi rested a new sword on Bartolomeo's shoulder, completing the ceremony.
"An Imperial Baron? Uniting the East Blue's underworld?"
Bartolomeo trembled with excitement. This was an enormous responsibility!
He was deeply moved that Wang Shi thought so highly of him.
"Boss, I'll definitely unite the East Blue's underworld for you!"
Bartolomeo promised, tears welling in his eyes.
Dezaya, Gambia, and the others were practically green with envy for their boss.
In no time at all, he'd gone from being a gang leader in Loguetown to a Baron of the Goa Empire, entrusted with uniting the East Blue's underworld.
The title of Baron in the Goa Empire was even more prestigious than the title of Earl in other Affiliated Nations.