Establishing a new Marine Branch was no easy task. If they wanted to establish a lasting branch on Water Seven, Kuzan and Tsugikuni Yoriichi first had to secure a reliable supply route.
Because the island's original residents had relocated when the Marines had prepared to go to war with the pirates, some fertile fields and orchards had been left abandoned. At the same time, to accommodate the large number of Marines, many extra houses had been built during the town's postwar reconstruction.
To avoid wasting resources, Kuzan and Tsugikuni Yoriichi's first thought was to replenish the population and develop maritime trade.
Only then would the Marine Branch be able to obtain supplies easily. Once trade flourished, merchants would naturally bring all kinds of goods to the island to do business.
That way, the Marines would no longer need to sail to other towns or countries for supplies.
A week after the Marine fleet departed, Kuzan and Tsugikuni Yoriichi, having designated the branch's location, set out to sea with over a dozen Marines. They planned to head to Migo Town, the closest settlement to Water Seven, and recruit people willing to move there.
The original residents of Water Seven had all received relocation payments and moved to Migo Town. If they were willing, Kuzan did not mind bringing them back to live in their hometown.
Of course, houses and farmland could not be given away unconditionally. They would be sold at 70% of the original relocation subsidy price. The discounted portion would be considered "island depreciation."
After all, Water Seven's terrain had changed drastically. The slash Roger used to "say hello" had split the island in two. Though the rift was only a few meters wide, it ran through the entire island and inevitably affected daily life.
Migo Town might have