Chapter 193
I don't know what the headquarters will do next.
It doesn't really matter; we've already passed the stage of constantly accumulating merits.
As for Gion,
Sengoku then mentioned another contributor to this operation, saying, "You're not getting a promotion. Headquarters has decided to award you the Distinguished Marine Cross Medal, a Special Merit, and a cash bonus of ten million Beli."
If a promotion is not an option, then honors and financial incentives are the only recourse.
Naito raised an eyebrow. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, isn't ten million Beli a bit too little?"
Navy salaries are not low.
Before his promotion, as Rear Admiral, his annual salary, plus various subsidies and benefits, totaled around 20 million Beli. After being promoted to Vice Admiral, his annual income approached 30 million Berries.
As the commander of a large base, Gion's salary should be half a level higher than that of an ordinary Headquarters Vice Admiral, with a minimum of 35 million Beli.
In other words, ten million Beli is less than one-third of Gion's annual salary.
"The key is honor."
Sengoku said somewhat irritably, "I'm not telling you to actually get rich off the rewards from headquarters."
"How stingy."
That's what Naito said.
A newspaper costs over eighty Beli, okay?
Inflation has been quite rapid in the past two years, and money is becoming less and less valuable.
"Alright, Little Naito,"
Gion chuckled and patted Naito's hand, then took the Den Den Mushi from him. "Just like Sengoku- san said, money isn't important."
She solemnly said to the Den Den Mushi, "Mr. Sengoku, I am very satisfied."
"Yes, as long as you're satisfied."
Sengoku continued, "The ship that's supposed to pick you up has already set sail. Be careful, and don't let anything else happen."
"Learn."
Gion nodded.
The call has ended.
"He's really been promoted to Vice Admiral?"
Binz, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up in a sour tone.
Naito glanced at him sideways. "If you're not happy about it, you can go and protest to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"Don't be so smug."
Binz snorted, "After being promoted to lieutenant Vice Admiral, you'll have to wait until Kuzan and the others retire to get promoted again. Just wait, Naito, I'll catch up to you soon."
"Brother Binz, sometimes you don't have to be so stubborn."
Sanji shook his head and sighed.
Even he, the youngest brother, couldn't stand it anymore; the older brother was always playing the clown.
Brother Binz is still a major; when will he ever be promoted to lieutenant Vice Admiral?
"Hey, Sanji!"
The younger brother's betrayal deeply wounded Binz, who cried out in disbelief, "I thought you were on my side!"
"As a celebration, Naito,"
Her soft body pressed against Naito's side, Ain hugged Naito's left arm, smiling brightly, "Want to go on a date in town?"
"I'm not going."
Naito answered without hesitation, his tone resolute, "I want to cultivate."
Mastering the Conqueror's Haki's Coating early will also lead to a promotion to Admiral.
That's why people say women are a hindrance.
Dating?
What a load of rubbish.
I guessed so.
Unaffected, Ain smiled gently and said, "Then let's cultivate together."
"Eek~"
Binz couldn't help but shudder; this side of Ain was terrifying.
Gion frowned slightly as she looked at Ain, who was clinging tightly to Naito.
I always feel like it's in my way.
While Naito was getting entangled, on the Sky Island above the Dunas Kingdom...
Luna flapped her wings and floated in mid-air, calmly looking down.
Below, on a wide open space, rows of giant beasts, standing upright, were neatly arranged.
She nodded slightly. "Then, it's time."
Chapter 132 Kaido's Beast Army! The Beasts Unleashed
In the main hall at the very top of the main building in Wano Country, on Onigashima.
"Oh?"
Kaido stared at the large boxes in front of him, his eyes practically gleaming. "They finally delivered them to me!"
"Because it has only recently matured."
Salt, who had personally traveled from the Dunas Kingdom, spoke with a touch of solemnity.
It's best not to be too arrogant in front of this monster.
"Furthermore, we conducted a round of experiments to confirm that the fruits were safe before sending them to you."
"Hehehehe!"
Kaido's lips curled into a smirk as he let out a strange, amused laugh. "And the result? How did the experiment turn out?"
"Just as initially predicted, the success rate is only about one in ten to one in five,"
Salt said, "Of the thousand fruits we had, only a little over a hundred people were created with their own abilities."
"Besides probability, tests have shown that the enhancement level of users who gain abilities through these Artificial Devil Fruit is only about half that of ordinary Zoan."
"Half?"
Kaido narrowed his eyes. "I have a thousand here too, right?"
Salt.
"Hehehe! That's enough!"
Kaido grinned broadly, "That's more than enough!"
Although the enhancement is far less than that of a true Zoan, the sheer number of them completely makes up for this disadvantage!
More than a thousand Artificial Devil Fruit, even if only a hundred or so lucky individuals ultimately succeed in gaining the ability, that would be more than enough!
Even if it takes two artificial Devil Fruit User to equal one real Zoan user, that's still equivalent to dozens of Devil Fruit users!
"Amazing."
Even Jin, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
The power of science is truly astounding.
Even inferior fruits can become terrifying when their quantity is large enough!
"Then what are we waiting for!"
Kaido said impatiently, "King! Get a few guys over here!"
"Yes, Mr. Kaido!"
Soon enough, twenty Beasts Pirates arrived in front of Kaido, each holding an Artificial Devil Fruit.
"Hehehe, eat up, you idiots!"
Kaido leaned forward, looking down at them excitedly, "The lucky ones who gain this power will become my top lieutenants!"
"Hahaha! That has to be me!"
An excited pirate couldn't wait to take a bite of the fruit in his hand.
"The man who will become the pillar of the team is me!"
"It should be me!"
It should be said that a reckless mentality is a common trait of the Beasts Pirates; almost all the pirates bit into the Devil Fruits in their hands without much hesitation.
Luck and misfortune became clear almost instantly.
The bodies of four pirates began to change instantly.
A thick tortoise shell grew on a person's back.
A second head, a dog's head, grew out of a person's shoulder.
The person's mouth transformed into a lion's gaping maw, and a mane grew around their neck.
An elephant's face and a long trunk grew from a person's chest, and the body of a giant elephant appeared from the waist down.
These guys had no psychological burden at all; they were all incredibly excited.
Although they were transformed into bizarre monsters, they gained new powers, so it wasn't a loss.
Can't you see how incredibly envious those who didn't get the ability are?
"Oh?"
Salt was slightly surprised. "There are four people? That's lucky."
"Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh!!"
Kaido laughed, laughed loudly, laughed maniacally, "Excellent!"
Twenty fruits created four artificial ability users; a thousand fruits would create over two hundred!
This was such a great deal!
Devil Fruit, even Artificial Devil Fruit like these, are priceless and unavailable.
"Boss Kaido!"
Queen, with a sour face, suddenly shouted and interrupted, "Statistically, they weren't lying, but as for the extent of the enhancement, we still need to test it out!"