"Stealing our jobs... no, I mean the World Military Draft..." Kizaru reined in some of his teasing and continued.
"It sounds grand, but when you get right down to it, aren't they just pulling the so-called 'best' straight out of the armies and royal guards of the World Government Member States to fill the ranks?"
Gern took a sip of black tea without answering.
Because Kizaru was right.
The so-called "World Military Draft" had an impressive name, but it was not really an open recruitment drive for the general public. Its scope was essentially restricted to the World Government's affiliated nations.
It was more like a redistribution of resources and a diversion of talent within the existing power structure.
Moreover, with Gern's unquestioned authority within the Marines, especially his control over the powers of the New World's Grand Commander and virtually those of the Fleet Admiral,
if he did not give his approval, not a single person recruited under the World Government's draft order could hope to enter the Marine system.
Final approval over personnel appointments and troop reinforcements had already shifted toward him without anyone quite noticing.
But he could not refuse.
Gern set down his teacup and let out an almost inaudible sigh.
"You don't know how much it costs to run a household until you're in charge, Borsalino."
"In the Paramount War, Fleet Admiral Sengoku committed a full hundred thousand Marines. They were elite troops pulled from practically every branch scattered across the world!"
"And the result? We lost more than half of them!" Gern rubbed his brow, then continued.
"For over a year now, headquarters-no, the entire Marine system-has been desperately replenishing its ranks and training recruits.
But training a qualified Marine takes time, and producing an elite officer who can hold their own takes countless