"!!!"
"Everyone on this sea... will have to act according to the Navy's will!!!"
Sengoku's heart felt as if a giant hand had clenched it tightly and then suddenly released it.
Blood rushed wildly to his brain, bringing a brief wave of dizziness.
If this...isn't standing above the world…
Then what else could be called standing above the world?!!!
"Huff—"
He drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down from his surge of ecstasy.
Calm down!
Sengoku!
You are the Fleet Admiral of the Navy!
You must stay calm!
You must remain composed!
"Huff—"
Taking another deep breath, Sengoku followed Hawke's line of thought, pondering over the "Sea Bottom Dredge" plan.
This was still just an initial concept.
To make it a reality, countless details still needed to be filled in and implemented step by step.
However, with the ideas provided by that kid Hawke…
Everything suddenly became crystal clear!
This matter would need to be discussed thoroughly with Tsuru once he returned, to make sure there were no loopholes.
"Hawke!"
"This merit, I'll remember it well!"
"The 'Sea Bottom Dredge' plan—leave it to Marine Headquarters!"
"As for cleansing the Paradise area, you can proceed boldly…"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
Hawke replied calmly.
For something that required mobilizing the entire Navy, leaving the overall coordination to Sengoku, the current Fleet Admiral, was undoubtedly the best choice.
"Toot—"
"Toot—"
The Den Den Mushi call was cut off.
Sengoku stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the towering, magnificent Marine Headquarters looming just ahead.
His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's.
He pulled out another Den Den Mushi. "Buru buru~"
"Hello, Sengoku? What is it now? I'm enjoying my delicious donuts!"
Garp's carefree voice came through.
"Garp!"
Sengoku's tone left no room for argument, brimming with the authority of a Fleet Admiral.
"Return to headquarters immediately!"
...
Rain Dinners Casino.
Hawke put away the Den Den Mushi and turned to walk back to his office.
Cobra and Vivi sat rigidly, their expressions solemn.
Everything that had just happened had completely overturned their understanding of the world.
Rear Admiral Hawke—a Navy officer so young—had been speaking to the highest commander of the entire Navy, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, as an equal… perhaps even casually.
And Sengoku's trust and delegation of authority to Hawke had reached a level that was simply unbelievable.
"From now on, matters like these don't need to be reported anymore!"
"The Navy has your back!"
"His decisions are the Navy's decisions!"
What did this mean?
Cobra's heart surged like crashing waves.
It meant that the man before him—Rear Admiral Hawke—had the power to wield the full will of Marine Headquarters!
Who, then, was the true overlord of these seas?
Was it the Celestial Dragons, those so-called gods above all others?
Was it the Yonko, the four emperors who ruled vast territories with unmatched might?
Was it the Shichibukai, those pirates legally sanctioned to plunder under the World Government's banner?
No!
The true overlord… had always been one—the Navy!
They commanded the largest fleet, the most elite soldiers, the strongest warriors, and an unmatched organizational and mobilization capability that spanned the entire world.
They were the sole foundation maintaining order across the seas.
But until now, this slumbering lion had been tightly bound by the chains called the "World Government."
And now… Rear Admiral Hawke…
He seemed to be the one unlocking those chains!!!
"A hero truly rises young…"
Cobra looked at Hawke, his gaze filled not only with gratitude but also with a deep, heartfelt reverence.
"Cobra-san."
Hawke sat back down, casually lighting a cigar.
"Now, let's talk about the specifics of our cooperation."
"Yes!"
Cobra straightened his back, his expression solemn.
"First, the Navy needs to demonstrate… our sincerity!"
Hawke waved his hand toward Hibari behind him.
Hibari stepped forward and handed over the confiscation list.
Hawke opened the list, glanced at it briefly, and spoke flatly,
"All assets confiscated from the Rain Dinners Casino—the Navy will not take a single Belly."
"Seventy percent will be returned to the people of Alabasta."
"Twenty percent will be allocated as a special fund for rebuilding civilian infrastructure."
"The remaining ten percent will be handed over to the royal family for discretionary use."
"…"
"What?!"
Cobra and Vivi gasped in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.
Crocodile had operated in Alabasta for years, and this "Rain Dinners" casino had been his largest money-printing machine.
The wealth stored here was easily over one billion Belly!
And Hawke was just… giving it away?!
"Th-this… how can this be!"
Cobra quickly protested, his tone urgent.
"Rear Admiral Hawke, the Navy came all this way, fought bloody battles—they should be rewarded! This money should—"
"Don't worry, Cobra-san."
Hawke waved his hand dismissively.
"The bonuses due to the soldiers will not be reduced by a single Belly."
He looked at Cobra, his gaze earnest.
"The Navy has always been generous to its true allies."
"And this is just the beginning."
"As our cooperation deepens, the Navy will bring even more development opportunities to Alabasta."
In the future, vast amounts of gold would circulate through Alabasta.
The more prosperous this country became, the more sophisticated its commercial network, the faster that gold would "flow."
Alabasta, as the first World Government member nation to side with the reformed Navy, must be built into a dazzling "model" for all to see!
When the people here live in peace and prosperity, when the nation grows wealthy and strong, that prosperity itself would become the most irresistible lure for other member nations.
Let them see exactly what kind of good life awaits those who stand with the Navy!
At the very least, a stronger Alabasta would also wield more influence at the Reverie, securing greater benefits for the Navy.
This was an investment that could only yield profit.
"This…"
Cobra stared into Hawke's sincere eyes, momentarily lost for words.
He sighed softly, his emotions in turmoil.
Alabasta truly needed this money.
Three years of drought had already emptied the royal treasury, and the people had been suffering on the brink of despair.
Rebuilding homes, restoring agriculture, stabilizing public morale… all of it required Belly.
This money was a life-saving rain after a long drought!
At the very least, it would ensure his people could finally have enough to eat.
Moreover, Rear Admiral Hawke had made it perfectly clear—Alabasta would be deeply tied to this new Navy, becoming its staunchest ally.
If he kept refusing now, it would seem overly formal, even distant.
Thinking this through, Cobra no longer hesitated.
He took Vivi's hand, adjusted his robes, and prepared to bow deeply to Hawke once more.
"Eh…"
Hawke raised his hand, stopping Cobra and Vivi.
"We're all on the same side now."
"Helping each other out is only natural, isn't it?!"
"Smoker, Hina."
Hawke turned to the two officers who had been standing silently at the side.
"Sir!"
Both stepped forward immediately.
"You two will remain stationed in Alabasta for now."
"There are three primary tasks."
"First, verify all assets confiscated from the Rain Dinners Casino, and work with the royal family to distribute seventy percent of the wealth to the people as quickly as possible."
"Second, assist King Cobra in stabilizing domestic order and eliminating the remnants of Baroque Works."
"Third, and most importantly, ensure Alabasta's absolute security."
"Hina understands."
"Hmph, let anyone try and I'll show them the art of explosions!"
"Hm."
Hawke nodded in satisfaction.
"I'm leaving things here in your hands."
"Yes, sir!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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