Garp burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the spacious office.
"Hahahaha!"
"What a self-torturing move!"
"But it certainly suits your fighting style, Lorne!"
"I like that kind of head-on fighting!"
Sengoku closed the report, took an official document bearing a red seal from his drawer, and pushed it toward Lorne.
"This is what I promised you earlier."
"In light of your outstanding performance and the strength you've demonstrated, Headquarters officially grants you the authority to establish an independent force."
Lorne reached for the document, his eyes brightening slightly at the words "Special Vanguard Team Independent Establishment."
"An independent force... meaning I can recruit my own subordinates and decide my own course of action, without reporting to a regular fleet?"
"That's right."
Sengoku nodded.
"Your unit will answer directly to me and the three Admirals, with a very high degree of autonomy."
"However, Lorne, establishing an independent force also means Headquarters won't provide you with ready-made elite soldiers."
"You'll need to find your own subordinates and train them yourself."
"If your team turns out to be a bunch of useless fools and gets wiped out on an upcoming mission, Headquarters won't bail you out."
Lorne folded the document, tucked it inside his clothes, and stood up.
"I don't need those sheltered flowers from Headquarters."
Lorne spoke haughtily.
"The people I choose must be beasts who can charge into battle alongside me."
"If they can't even endure my training, they don't deserve to stand behind me."
Sengoku looked at Lorne's young, arrogant face and sighed inwardly.
The boy's personality was exactly like Garp's, only even more domineering and belligerent.
Still, in this chaotic era, the Marines truly needed a blade that sharp.
"Since you're that confident, go ahead."
Sengoku took out another red authorization bearing the Fleet Admiral's seal and handed