At that moment, Gion also walked into the office.
Seeing Darren and Gion sitting there, smoking away like old buddies, she furrowed her brows but ultimately said nothing.
"Commodore Darren."
Gion saluted Darren.
Darren smiled and waved a hand.
"Major Gion, you're too formal."
He casually glanced at Gion and her partner.
It was clear that after yesterday's "sparring session" had put them in their place, they respected him a lot more.
In the end, strength was what mattered on these seas.
"So, what do you two have planned for today?"
Darren exhaled a stream of smoke like a dragon and asked with a smile.
Gion and her partner exchanged a glance. Gion's expression grew serious as she spoke.
"Colonel Darren, after looking into things, we've found some problems with the income and expenses of the branch under your command."
"Oh?" A flicker of interest crossed Darren's deep-set eyes. "What do you mean, Major Gion?"
Gion had come prepared. She took out an intelligence file and placed it on the desk, her expression gradually turning cold.
"Colonel Darren, according to the information provided by Headquarters and my own observations... Setting aside the situation at the other Marine branches in North Blue, the income of the Marines at Branch 321 alone far exceeds the military pay standards set by Headquarters."
Darren tapped the ash from his cigar and smiled.
"Isn't that a good thing? As Marines who bear the burden of justice, we could be killed in action at any time while hunting pirates."
"Leaving 'justice' aside, being a Marine is an extremely dangerous profession."
"Without enough pay and allowances, who would be willing to risk their lives for justice for that little money each month?"
Gion gritted her teeth.
"Colonel Darren, you know that's not what I mean!"
"What I mean is that the branches receive their funding from Headquarters. In other words, the military pay for the Marines at each branch is set. But under your command, the pay standards for Marines at the branches across the Four Blues have far exceeded the limits set by Headquarters..."
"...In fact, they're five times higher than the pay for Marines of the same rank at Headquarters, or even more!"
"So, Colonel Darren, I want to know where this additional funding is coming from."
Darren hadn't said a word yet, but Gion's partner beside him had already changed expression.
Looking at the expensive cigars on the desk, he suddenly realized something and turned to stare at Darren.
Faced with Gion and her partner's questioning looks, Darren merely shrugged with ease.
"You already know the answer to that, don't you, Colonel Gion?"
Gion gritted her teeth and enunciated each word. "You've taken bribes!"
"Bribes?"
Darren laughed as if he'd just heard a joke and shrugged. "No, no. When it comes to the Marines, how could you call it bribery?"
"It's a reasonable fee."
Gion stared at Darren, who looked completely untroubled, unable to believe her eyes. She snapped:
"So the rumors are true. You really do have close ties to North Blue's mafia, and you've even taken their money!"
"Do you know that money comes from the blood and sweat of ordinary people? The mafia's rampaging and exploitation have torn countless families apart!"
"Torn families apart?"
Darren couldn't help laughing.
"You've read my report, haven't you? Under my jurisdiction, crime throughout North Blue has dropped significantly, and ordinary people's living standards have improved as well."
"Major Gion, you're right. The mafia's money does come from ordinary people. So, in that sense, I have taken money from the people."
"But when I take their money, I get things done."
"Do you know that in a place like North Blue, ordinary people aren't afraid of the Marines taking money. They're afraid of the Marines not taking money."
Hearing Darren say that, Gion trembled with anger.
Ordinary people were afraid the Marines wouldn't take money? What kind of twisted logic was that?!
"Protecting ordinary people is the Marines' duty! Taking money changes the whole nature of it! You bastard, Darren! What happened to your belief in justice?"
Darren smiled.
"You have your beliefs. I have my own way of doing things."
"I let the results speak for themselves, and the result is that I've managed North Blue very well—better than at any other time in history."
"The situation in North Blue is far more complicated than you imagine. A lot of things aren't anything like what you've seen in Marineford."
"Of course..."
He spread his hands.
"If you can't accept what I'm saying, you're welcome to file a complaint with Headquarters. As long as they issue an order, I'll accept any punishment they give me."
Gion opened her mouth, about to say more, but Momonga hurried into the office just then.
"Colonel Darren..."
Momonga looked extremely grave. He seemed to sense the tense atmosphere in the office and hesitated.
Darren glanced at him and waved a hand. "Go ahead. What happened?"
Momonga nodded and replied in a low voice:
"Germa 66's 'Conquest of the Four Kingdoms' operation has begun. The Evil Army has assembled more than ten thousand troops and is about to attack the Yadis Kingdom!"
"Based on the forces and combat strength of both sides, once the Germa Kingdom launches its attack, the Yadis Kingdom will likely fall within an hour."
"Governor Tyrrell of the Yadis Kingdom has sent a request for help to the North Blue Marines, asking us to send troops and mediate."
At that, Gion and her partner both went pale.
Germa 66, a powerful force known as the "Evil Army" and the "War House," was the world's only nation without territory and was recognized as an Affiliated Kingdom by the World Government.
At the top of the Germa Kingdom's power pyramid stood the Vinsmoke Family.
As officers from Headquarters, the two of them naturally knew something about this powerful military nation in North Blue.
The king of the Germa Kingdom was the current head of the Vinsmoke Family, Vinsmoke Judge, whose epithet was "Garuda."
He was a scientist who possessed advanced military technology.
And the Germa 66 he led was one of the most formidable armies in the world, with a great reputation throughout North Blue.
If Vinsmoke Judge really intended to dominate North Blue, as he'd declared, the entire region would likely be dragged into war!
Thinking about it, both of them shuddered, their eyes betraying their alarm.
They had grown up in Marineford at Marine Headquarters and were still very young. They'd never seen a war firsthand, so they were rattled for a moment.
Almost instinctively, they looked to Darren.
"So... that Garuda didn't get the letter we sent him?"
Darren narrowed his eyes, smiling faintly as he spoke.
Seeing Darren's expression, Momonga knew from their years of working together that Vinsmoke Judge was in for trouble.
"He definitely received it."
Momonga replied in a low voice.
"Good..."
Darren smiled, then crushed out his cigar. His gaze gradually turned icy.
"Then let's move out."
Momonga nodded, took out a Military Den Den Mushi, and called the officers under his command. They quickly sprang into action.
Darren casually threw a broad Justice coat over his shoulders.
"Wait!"
Gion's uneasy voice came from behind him.
Darren looked back at her.
Gion hesitated, then gritted her teeth.
"Shouldn't we report this to Headquarters first? The Marines have no authority to interfere in conflicts between nations. Interfering in another country's internal affairs without permission could easily lead to a diplomatic dispute."
What a naive girl...
That thought flashed through Darren's mind.
"With Germa 66's forces, by the time Headquarters responds, the kings of all four kingdoms in North Blue will probably already be hanging from Vinsmoke Judge's walls."
He sneered.
"Besides, I won't allow Germa 66 to start a large-scale war in my jurisdiction and cause innocent civilians to die."
Gion was stunned, her eyes lighting up.
So the guy did have at least some sense of responsibility...
But Darren's next words nearly made her spit blood.
"—Otherwise, if all the civilians are dead, who am I supposed to collect money from?"
Gion's chest heaved as she glared at the towering man before her and shouted:
"You bastard, Darren! Are you only protecting civilians so you can collect money from them?!"
Bugle calls were already ringing out from the distant naval port.
The Marines of Branch 321 were assembling.
Darren smiled.
"Of course not."
Gion froze, inexplicably relieved.
Darren smiled and continued:
"Besides that, well, Lady Margery is in the Yadis Kingdom... We slept together just two nights ago. It'd be hard to justify not stepping in..."
Gion: ...
Gion's partner: ...
They stared at him, dumbfounded.
So you're sending troops just to save your mistress!?
Before you continue