Successfully Promoted to Major

But no matter what, this was a good thing!

Black Forbidden Island was one of the few dark places in the East Blue. Like the Arlong Pirates, it had Inspectors with powerful backers shielding it.

In other words, they were all hands the Celestial Dragons used to rake in money.

Even he dared to make a move against them.

Now things were better. Ener was also one of the Celestial Dragons' hands.

Let him deal with them!

And this time, he had earned the greatest merit in wiping out Black Thorn Island as the commanding officer. He had to give him a push and get this guy into the position of East Blue Inspector General.

That would be far better than letting those nine guys fight on their own and run wild, harming civilians.

At that thought, he could not help but smile. "Then let me congratulate you in advance. There should be no problem with your promotion to Major this time."

As long as the rank of Major came through, Burns would get things moving without him needing to lift a finger. The position of East Blue Inspector General would naturally fall into Ener's hands.

Ener said, "Thank you, Colonel Smoker. I'll remember this favor!"

Although this was the East Blue, an officer rank was still an officer rank. Promotion was not so easy. Black Thorn Island was only barely enough to qualify him for a promotion to Major.

It was not enough to get him promoted again anytime soon. After all, he had only recently received an exceptional promotion to Captain.

But with the strong recommendation of Smoker, the East Blue's highest-ranking officer, things were different.

Smoker took a deep drag from his cigar, then slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.

Then he said, "I hope you won't disappoint me. More importantly, don't make me regret this."

Ener understood what he meant and replied with a serious expression, "I don't claim to be a good person, but... I have my own bottom line. Even if I make money like they do, I won't take it from civilians."

After speaking, he added silently, How much could they possibly earn after working themselves to the bone? The nobles are the ones who control most of this world's wealth. One good haul from them would last for years.

Smoker's teeth ached at that.

As expected, no one from the Holy Land was any good. But when choosing between two evils, one had to choose the lesser...

He had a feeling that certain people in the East Blue were about to have a very bad time. But so what?

As long as the civilians were safe, who cared about everyone else...?

Both sides, each harboring their own thoughts, ended the call.

Ener set out with the others once more, but this time, they headed straight for their final destination: Syrup Village.

That evening, when Ener returned to his room, he found Lina and Johnson waiting there early.

He was not surprised that Lina was there.

But Johnson...

Ener was puzzled and asked directly, "What do you need from me?"

Lina said, "It's like this. Didn't Johnson become the Chief Quartermaster? But his strength really isn't much to speak of, so I was thinking..."

At that moment, Ener's face darkened.

Because he already knew why Johnson had come.

Did they take him for some gullible fool?

"Gulp..."

Lina swallowed hard. It was her first time seeing such an expression on Ener's face, and it truly startled her. She forcibly swallowed the rest of her words!

When Ener's gaze fell on Johnson, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "If you have something to say in the future, come to me directly... This is the first time, and the last."

Johnson's expression turned solemn. "Yes!"

But at that moment, his heart was trembling.

His legs had gone a little weak as well.

Only then did Ener look back at Lina. "You were thinking? What were you thinking? That I should get him a Devil Fruit too? Do you even know how precious Devil Fruits really are?"

"At the Sabaody Archipelago on the Grand Line, Devil Fruit auctions are held from time to time. Every single one sells for no less than a hundred million Beli."

"And that's for unidentified Devil Fruits. A Devil Fruit like the one you ate, one clearly identified as a Zoan—the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: White Tiger—selling for five or six hundred million is perfectly normal. And whether it's the former or the latter, both are priceless and impossible to buy... because the people competing with you at those auctions are either nobles or the world's great nobles, the Celestial Dragons. Even if you had the Beli, would you dare compete with them?"

"Not to mention that the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: White Tiger, you ate is among the finest of all Zoans. My father originally spent a fortune and used every connection he had to get it from the Celestial Dragons.

It was originally meant for me.

Did you think it was some ordinary fruit? That you could get one just by opening your mouth?

What were you thinking?"

"What?"

Lina and Johnson both widened their eyes. They knew Devil Fruits existed, but they had no idea just how precious they truly were.

Lina especially understood now just how valuable the Devil Fruit she had eaten was.

At the same time, she realized something.

Ener had given her his own Devil Fruit... It moved her beyond words.

"I... I'm sorry!"

But even as she was moved, she also felt immensely guilty and ashamed. Such a precious thing, yet she had actually... actually... dared to ask for another one.

Johnson was completely numb.

Really!

At that moment, Ener's gaze landed on him. "Remember this. You are the Chief Quartermaster now. Take care of your responsibilities, and I naturally won't treat you unfairly. Don't entertain any unrealistic thoughts... Otherwise, I can put you in that position, and I can stomp you back down with one foot."

"Y-yes... yes... Captain Ener, I understand."

Ener waved a hand, signaling for him to leave.

Lina immediately pulled Ener into the room.

Then she shut the door behind them.

"Master... Let Lina repay you properly!" As she spoke, Lina tugged her collar open slightly, then pulled out a chain from within and placed it in Ener's hand.

Then she removed her outer garment, revealing a tight-fitting top, a tight short skirt, and black stockings.

"Damn..."

Ener had to admit that this girl was getting better and better at understanding his desires. She was also becoming increasingly playful... ten thousand words omitted here.

Time passed quickly, and another half month went by.

During the day aboard the ship, Ener, Zoro, Lina, and Gin either trained their strength or sparred with one another...

So over the past half month,

the four of them had come to thoroughly understand each other's strengths, while their relationships had also grown closer.

The outline of a small group slowly took shape.

Of course, Ener was the most exhausted one. After all, he still had to fight a great battle every night.

"Brrr, brrr..."

Just as they were about to reach Syrup Village, Smoker finally got through to Ener's Den Den Mushi.

"The appointment orders from above have come through."

"Captain Ener, you are promoted to Chief Inspector General with the rank of Major. You will oversee all Inspectors in the East Blue and select a location to establish the East Blue Inspector Headquarters."

"Lina is promoted to Lieutenant Staff Officer at the East Blue Inspector Headquarters."