The Navy's Biggest Problem

Momonga's words struck Gion and Gion's partner like a series of invisible sledgehammers, shaking them to their core as their faces gradually turned pale.

They had never imagined that this densely populated, prosperous island had once been the city of sin, the lawless land Momonga had described.

What they found even harder to understand was that all the peace and prosperity they saw was thanks to Darren, who had single-handedly propped up two mafia families.

The shock kept challenging everything they had been taught and every belief they had formed at Headquarters.

"B-but... don't mafia families make their money by exploiting ordinary people?"

Gion murmured, her face pale, a trace of confusion in her eyes.

"That's true."

Momonga admitted frankly:

"But compared with the possibility of getting shot every day, having your family and friends killed in gang warfare, or watching your children turn bad because of the terrible living conditions and eventually join a gang or go to sea as pirates..."

"Compared with living in constant fear, being too afraid to run a business, losing your job, going bankrupt... ordinary people would rather pay the mafia families a certain amount for protection in exchange for a relatively peaceful, stable life."

"That's reality."

Gion's legs weakened, and she took two steps back, shaking her head.

"B-but... if the Navy stepped in and wiped out all the mafia families, wouldn't ordinary people no longer have to pay protection money?"

"Wouldn't their standard of living improve?"

"Why leave two mafia families in place...?"

Momonga sighed again.

He had lost count of how many times he'd sighed.

"That's where Colonel Darren's brilliance comes in."

He spoke slowly:

"If we wiped out every mafia family, the outcome would be the same as it was back when Rear Admiral Sakazuki was here. In less than half a year, maybe even a few months, countless new mafia families of all sizes would spring up again..."

"They'd fight even more fiercely over territory, and the ordinary people would be the ones who suffered."

"By leaving two mafia families and dividing the territory between them... on the one hand, they'd keep each other in check and remain hostile, afraid to deceive the Navy. On the other, it would make them easier to control and intimidate."

"The two remaining mafia families protect their own territory for their own benefit, fighting off pirates who come to plunder and other underground forces. In that way, they indirectly 'protect ordinary people.'"

"After all, now that their positions are secure, the better and more prosperous life the people enjoy, the more protection money the families can collect."

"And with Colonel Darren keeping them in check, they wouldn't dare go too far. They know full well that everything they have was given to them by Colonel Darren."

Gion felt as if she'd been struck by lightning.

Using mafia families and pirates to "protect" ordinary people...

She had never heard of anything like it.

"But... if the Navy could clearly do more..."

"No," Momonga said, shaking his head, his voice weary, too.

"The Navy can't actually do much."

"The Navy is simply the military force under the World Government, and because of geographical constraints, we only have law-enforcement authority in various places. We have no governing authority, and no right to station troops."

"In other words, no matter what happens—pirate raids, gang vendettas, mafia turf wars—we can usually only investigate after the fact or deal with the immediate crisis."

"The Navy isn't allowed to station troops in independent nations or on islands, so we can't protect the local people permanently."

"That's the Navy's biggest problem."

"By propping up the mafia families, Colonel Darren can achieve a degree of 'governance' and 'protection' in the area, keeping ordinary people safe."

"It's a path no one has ever taken before, and at least for now, it's clearly working."

"And most importantly, this approach lets Colonel Darren keep a close eye on the situation in each place, while freeing him to focus most of his energy on dealing with genuinely dangerous pirates."

"Major Gion, Major Gion's partner, do you understand now?"

Momonga looked directly at Gion and Gion's partner, his tone solemn.

If the Navy had the right to station troops, there would be no need for such a complicated approach. They could simply deploy troops locally to protect the people.

But the system didn't allow it.

After all, if the Navy could station troops anywhere, it wouldn't be an independent military organization anymore. It would be a warlord regime.

And that was something the World Government and the various kingdoms would never allow.

"I know that both of you hold a noble, unwavering belief in justice. On that point, Colonel Darren and I have the utmost respect for you."

"Yes, you heard me right. I know Colonel Darren well. Though he seems reckless on the surface, it's clear he doesn't have much of a problem with you."

Seeing the disbelief on their faces, he added:

"Otherwise, there's no way you would have discovered any of this."

"Believe me, with Colonel Darren's abilities and methods, if he wanted to keep something hidden, you wouldn't have found a thing."

Gion and Gion's partner fell silent.

Momonga continued:

"You two have some reservations about the way we do things in the North Blue, I know. But in the end, this is the North Blue. The way things are done at Headquarters simply won't work in these waters."

"By every measure, this is... the best era the North Blue has ever known."

His face brimmed with pride.

Watching islands and towns fall under the Navy's jurisdiction and steadily grow more peaceful and prosperous was, in itself, a source of immense pride.

It was also the greatest reward for wearing this uniform.

Even if the methods used along the way weren't always honorable.

"Neither of you would hear these things from Colonel Darren. They're not convenient for him to tell you, and he wouldn't deign to explain himself."

Momonga continued:

"Other people's opinions and judgments mean nothing to him. He has his own way of doing things."

"But what I want to say is that Colonel Darren isn't the kind of scum you think he is."

Gion bit her lip, her teeth pressing against her red lower lip, and murmured:

"But no matter what, taking money from ordinary people on behalf of the mafia is still wrong..."

Momonga smiled.

"Taking money isn't ideal, but the North Blue Navy really is short on money."

"And most importantly, Colonel Darren has a principle..."

He winked.

"If he takes the money, he gets the job done."

This book's viewpoint isn't as idealistic as the last one. It's a little more realistic.

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