There were many ways to make money. Lofan's was particularly unusual.
Binz wandered aimlessly aboard the ship. This was his fifth day at sea.
He should have been training at Search Bureau headquarters, but Lofan had thrown him out of the office and sent him roaming the seas.
Apparently, collecting money meant starting at sea. Every passing merchant ship belonging to a major trading company had to pay.
If they refused, he was to impound their ships and take them back to the Search Bureau to await further handling.
As Lofan put it, the wool had to come from the sheep. Since he wasn't going to squeeze money out of the poor, he had to make these wealthy patrons bleed a little.
It was to be treated as a donation in support of the Marines. Lofan had sent Binz to collect the money, saying he had entrusted this lucrative assignment to him because he trusted his abilities.
"Do I look like an idiot? Getting tricked into drifting around at sea for days."
Binz really couldn't stand this aimless life anymore. Collect money? Where was he supposed to collect it?
Which of these wealthy patrons didn't have some major power behind them? An outright falling-out would have been easier to handle, since the Marines would still back him up.
Collecting protection money like some street thug was not only demeaning, but also something the Marines would certainly never acknowledge.
If anything happened, he would have to bear the consequences himself. He was caught between both sides: the people paying would come after Binz, and if he failed to collect, Lofan would come after Binz.
"Forget it. I'll keep drifting. I'm not going back yet."
Binz felt utterly helpless, but had nowhere to vent, so he could only continue drifting aimlessly at sea.
He had already spent a long time working beyond his limits, saving up a considerable sum of Beli for Lofan.
Lofan had used that money to buy quite a few ships. Along with the vessels supplied by Marine Headquarters, the Search Bureau's fleet had begun to take shape.
Things were much more straightforward for Lofan. He didn't have to drift at sea; he only needed to arrest people according to his list and make some money along the way.
Marine Branch 199, a secret sheltered harbor on the coast of the Red Line.
Lofan effortlessly dodged an attack, turned, and delivered a knife-hand strike.
It landed squarely on the back of the attacker's neck. The attacker lost his balance and fell, sliding a long way across the ground face-first.
Having struck, Lofan found the man lying on the ground laughable.
When Lofan arrived, these people had been extremely uncooperative.
They had even arrogantly resisted Lofan's enforcement of the law with ridiculous declarations like, "I have people above me."
"Marine Rear Admiral Morris: murder, treason, plunder, and embezzlement of Marine property.
"Today, I will arrest you." Lofan calmly pronounced the man's crimes.
Yes, the man who had attacked Lofan was none other than Rear Admiral Morris, the officer in charge of Marine Branch 199.
A few hours earlier, Lofan had led his men in taking control of this warm-water port and surrounding the Marine branch stationed there.
To prevent word from leaking out, Lofan had specifically asked Morgans to release flocks of birds to monitor every movement in the harbor from the air.
Before landing on the island, Lofan had specifically notified Morris that he would be visiting his branch for an inspection and hoped he would cooperate.
By the time the notice was sent, Lofan's encirclement was already complete.
His purpose in doing this was precisely to alert Morris.
As the newly appointed Cloud Gull Admiral,
news of Lofan's appointment to the Marine Search Department had long since spread throughout the Marines.
The sweeping reforms Lofan had carried out after taking office had sent an even greater tremor through the entire organization.
Having heard of Lofan's formidable reputation, Morris would inevitably move important evidence once he learned that Lofan was coming to inspect the island.
Releasing the news at this point would ensure that the evidence could be intercepted. That was why Lofan had arranged things this way.
Lofan lifted Morris off the ground with one hand.
"For resisting law enforcement, I can execute you on the spot. Do you understand, Rear Admiral Morris?
"Once the Search Bureau sets its sights on someone, not. One. Person. Escapes."
Morris coughed up a mouthful of bloody foam. Lofan's strike had inflicted considerable internal injuries.
"Kill me if you've got the guts. Then we'll see what Marine Headquarters does to you."
Morris's defiant words revealed his incorrigible nature.
But on reflection, that was indeed understandable. After all, no one had ever thought much of the Search Bureau, however great the Cloud Gull Admiral's reputation might be.
His move to the Search Bureau inevitably struck people as a political maneuver by the Five Elders.
So, although everyone was shaken, no one felt afraid. Everything remained just as it had always been.
"There's a saying in my hometown: you won't shed tears until you see your coffin. Do you know what that means?
"You should know, and you must know. Men, show our esteemed rear admiral what we have."
At Lofan's command,
a group of Search Bureau military police wearing armbands marked "Search" escorted several people before Lofan and the others.
"Have a look, esteemed Rear Admiral Morris. These are your trusted assistants.
"Quite a haul: Skull Colonel Taya and Commander Peifuri, both old acquaintances of yours. Would you like to hear what they had to say?"
A trace of fear appeared on Morris's previously defiant face.
Despair spread across his entire fleshy face, and his eyes filled with disbelief.
"It looks like we've got the answer we wanted, haven't we, Rear Admiral? Now, tell us about your glorious deeds."
Morris crumpled instantly, and the military police around him immediately stepped forward to hold him up.
Morris said nothing, vainly attempting to resist the investigation through silence-or perhaps to escape it.
Looking at the limp Morris, Lofan said coldly:
"Rear Admiral, refusing to cooperate is not a good habit. You attacked a soldier of heaven and defied heaven's decree.
"Death is your only path now. I suggest you confess sooner rather than later and spare yourself the suffering. I have your branch surrounded so tightly that nothing can get through.
"Not a scrap of information will leak out. If you're dreaming of having your superiors come to protect you, that's most likely out of the question.
"You'd better face reality, cooperate with my work, and name whoever instructed you.
"Then I'll reduce your punishment. Otherwise, once you end up in the Search Bureau's prison, I can make no guarantees about how your days will go."
As though resigned to his fate, Morris hung his head without a word, as silent as a dead man.
Lofan wasted no more time on this useless man and decisively delivered his judgment.
"Marine Branch 199: commanding officer, Marine Rear Admiral Morris; First Division captain, Skull Colonel Taya; Fourth Division Captain, Commander Peifuri.
"You are accused of murder, plunder, robbery, embezzlement of Marine funds, dereliction of duty, disobedience of military orders, and rebellion.
"Effective immediately, I hereby announce that Rear Admiral Morris is relieved of all duties.
"Morris is stripped of his rank of rear admiral and will be escorted to Search Bureau headquarters to await investigation and interrogation.
"Marine Colonel Taya and Commander Peifuri assisted Morris in his rebellion and are deemed accomplices."
"Both are hereby relieved of all duties, stripped of their Marine ranks, and escorted to Search Bureau headquarters to await disposition.
"Marine Branch 199 is thoroughly corrupt, undisciplined, and negligent in its duties.
"I hereby announce that, effective immediately, Marine Branch 199 is disbanded. All branch personnel will be transferred back to Marine Headquarters to await investigation.
"Marine Branch 199 is temporarily disbanded!"
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