Building My Own Team

Ener could not help but laugh. "I might not be good at other things, but I have to be good at this. Next year, I'll definitely get you a grandson and granddaughter..."

As long as there was enough land, and it was fertile enough.

With a few more seeds scattered, was he really afraid he would not be able to grow crops?

Burns said, "All right... I'll be waiting. Well then, I won't disturb your good time, kid."

With that, he hung up with a smile.

Ener smiled as well, then stood up and walked outside. Tashigi was already waiting there.

"You came so early?" Ener had thought she had come first thing in the morning to practice swordsmanship with him.

Tashigi's face fell. "I'm afraid we can't... Orders from above have arrived. Colonel Smoker wants you to report to him immediately."

Ener was delighted.

He did not want to be stuck in Loguetown. With Smoker around, even though Smoker's impression of him had changed, Ener still had to hold himself back whenever he did anything.

After all, they were fundamentally not the same kind of people.

Before long, Ener arrived at Smoker's office. The instant Ener entered, Smoker's gaze fell on him.

His expression was somewhat complicated.

He had only just started to see Ener in a different light yesterday!

And this guy had already taught him a lesson first thing in the morning.

"An exceptional double promotion to Captain, and a transfer to the Marine Inspector Department as one of the ten Inspectors of the East Blue."

What impressive methods!

He was not surprised by the exceptional promotion, but being transferred to the Marine Inspector Department and becoming an Inspector was impossible without some serious backing.

Although the Marine Inspector Department belonged to the Marines and was ostensibly under Marine Headquarters' jurisdiction—

Everyone in the Marines understood that it was a department the World Government used to supervise the Marines. Ordinary people could not get in. Those who could all had backgrounds in the Holy Land.

More importantly, the people from the Marine Inspector Department were even more detestable than CP. At least CP did work. Not a single one of these bastards did anything decent.

But when it came to lining their pockets with Beli, every one of them was more capable than the last.

"Whew..."

Smoker took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself.

No matter what, having one more Ener was better than having someone else. After all, Ener was truly ruthless toward pirates and cared about ordinary civilians.

His only flaw was that he was lecherous.

But compared to the other Marine Inspectors, was that even a flaw?

With that thought, Smoker immediately handed the appointment letter to Ener. "Congratulations on your promotion to Captain and your appointment as one of the ten Inspectors of the East Blue."

He paused, then said solemnly, "I hope you will truly fulfill the duties of a Marine Inspector. Do not deliberately target the Marines, much less use any means necessary to rake in Beli."

"Ding-dong. Congratulations on your promotion to Captain. You have obtained Gun Mastery and Physical Technique Mastery."

Ener's eyelids twitched. The rewards were quite ordinary, but they were only rewards for reaching the rank of Captain.

He did not dwell on it too much.

So he immediately replied, "Everything will depend on my actions from now on!"

Smoker's gaze flickered. "I hope you do not forget what you said today."

Then his expression turned serious. "All right. Have the soldiers who were originally under your command follow you and form your team."

This was Smoker taking the initiative to show goodwill.

Ener shook his head. "Forget them."

After saying that, he looked at Tashigi. "I think Corporal Tashigi..."

"Stop right there!"

Before Ener could finish, Smoker cut him off. Smoker glared at Ener. "She's my only assistant. Don't even think about it. Pick someone else..."

Tashigi, meanwhile, was stunned. She had never expected Ener to ask for her.

A blush crept onto her face.

After a moment of silence, Ener said, "Then... I want someone from you."

Smoker asked, "Someone? Who?"

"Gin the Man-Demon from the Krieg Pirates." Now that he was an Inspector, he could not follow the path of a regular Marine.

Moreover, he already had a plan in mind.

But that plan required some capable helpers. He could not accomplish it with his current strength alone, so he set his sights on Gin.

After all, Gin was one of the strongest figures in the entire East Blue.

"What?"

Smoker cried out in surprise.

Making a pirate into a Marine was already against the rules. And this was no ordinary person.

He said gravely, "Do you know what kind of person he is?"

Ener said, "Cold and ruthless. Even if an enemy cries and begs for mercy in front of him, he kills without blinking. He is a textbook pirate!"

Smoker asked, "And you still want to use him?"

Ener said, "What kind of person he is is not important. What matters is what kind of person uses him."

After saying that, he immediately added, "You should know what the other nine Inspectors have been doing in the East Blue! Especially the one colluding with Colonel Nezire!"

Smoker's eyes widened sharply. "You want to make a move against Arlong?"

Ener nodded. "That's right! If we let that guy keep doing whatever he wants, the Marines' reputation will be ruined. And Gin is the sharp blade I'll use against Arlong!"

Smoker frowned slightly. Arlong not only possessed considerable strength himself, but his crew were all Fish-men, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

Most importantly, Arlong was secretly colluding with Colonel Nezire. Of course, Colonel Nezire only dared to do that because an Inspector stood behind him.

Furthermore, Arlong's identity was extremely sensitive. He was the "brother" of Jinbe, one of the Shichibukai. For all those reasons, Smoker had tried to act against him several times, but never succeeded.

Either he had just set out when higher-ups suppressed the operation.

Or before he even arrived, Arlong's group had vanished without a trace. Yet when he returned to Loguetown, Arlong had returned there as well.

It made Smoker furious.

Smoker narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing within them. "Fine, I agree."

But he immediately changed the subject. "However, that depends on whether you can persuade Gin yourself. And you will have to resolve the matter of changing his identity on your own. I will not clean up after you..."

Ener smiled. "No problem."

Smoker said, "Tashigi, take Ener to the base prison!"

Tashigi replied, "Yes!"

Under Tashigi's lead, Ener made his way into the base prison without obstruction.

At that moment, Krieg, Gin the Man-Demon, and Pearl were each locked in separate cells. When they saw Ener, all three of their expressions changed.

Gin the Man-Demon even cried out, "It's you!"

Seeing Gin the Man-Demon's reaction, Krieg immediately understood. "Gin, is this the Marine who defeated you?"

Gin nodded.

Krieg's expression grew even uglier. Finally, he stared fixedly at Ener. "It seems our entire pirate crew was defeated by you."

As he spoke, he clenched his fists. If he had not been locked in a cell, he likely would have been unable to stop himself from throwing a punch at Ener.

Unfortunately, Ener did not even spare him a glance.

Instead, he said to Gin, "I'm building a team of my own now. Are you interested in following me?"