"Roman, which member of your family is a Marine officer?"
Monkey D. Dragon asked with genuine curiosity.
He only commanded fifty men, so remembering their names wasn't difficult.
During the day's pirate sweep, Roman had performed exceptionally. Unlike some grunts, he spoke clearly and confidently.
"You still remember my name, Lieutenant?"
Roman was stunned. They had known each other for only four or five days before that, they were strangers. He didn't even know the name of the person in the bunk next to him, yet the lieutenant remembered his.
"I don't have many men under my command, and every single one is elite, so I should know their names," Dragon explained, then returned to his original question.
Roman hesitated before clenching his teeth. "My father is a Marine Vice Admiral. Please, Lieutenant, don't treat me differently!"
"So your family has served for generations. No wonder you see things so clearly."
Dragon nodded knowingly and patted Roman on the shoulder. "Relax. We choose people based on ability. Even if you're the son of a Vice Admiral, it doesn't matter. Even if your father were a Fleet Admiral, I would still find you a quiet, respectable post."
"Ha ha!"
"This kid is still light-years and decades away from becoming a Fleet Admiral's father!"
The surrounding Marines burst into laughter.
Yet when they looked into Dragon's eyes, their admiration deepened. In the Marines, someone who could speak like this was rare and refreshing.
"Lieutenant, I've been overthinking," Roman muttered, bowing his head in embarrassment.
Rude but accurate. Perhaps a bit coarse, but undeniably true.
With the tension eased, Dragon raised his hand and called out, "You've all worked hard today. Since the mess hall refuses to provide a proper meal, we'll go out and eat well on the bounty we just claimed."
"Eat, drink, and rest. As for those who fuss "
I still have plenty of strength and tricks left!
If they want to play games, let's see who lasts the longest.
An arrogant district chief trying to bully us? Preposterous!
"Lieutenant, you're amazing!"
"Once we fill the place, we'll deal with them!"
"We've completely crushed the Tiger Shark Pirates why should we fear cowards?"
The fifty Marines encircled Dragon and marched confidently toward a tavern outside the base.
Meanwhile, the other 141st Branch Marines who had been observing quietly rushed to report to Donald.
In the Base Commander's office, another loud crash resounded as night fell.
After their meal, Dragon and his men returned to the barracks. At least Donald hadn't tampered with the dormitory.
If he tried any tricks, Dragon was ready to draw his sword and teach him a lesson.
After two hours of nightly sword meditation, Dragon's swordsmanship had slightly improved.
To advance from an Advanced Swordsman to a Master Swordsman would take about two more months of focused training breaking from Great Swordsman to Supreme Great Swordsman.
He finished washing up in the four-room dormitory and was preparing to sleep when
Sss!
The Den Den Mushi shrieked incessantly.
He only had two: one connected to Garp, the other directly to Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
This time, it was Sengoku calling.
Dragon seized it solemnly. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, still up this late? Take care of yourself! You are the backbone of the Marines. If you overwork, the entire force will suffer."
"If there's a special mission, issue the order. I will eliminate all evil in the night on your behalf!"
"Tell me, which of the Four Emperors is causing trouble? I'll go and teach them a lesson."
He knew why Sengoku was calling, but a little flattery would smooth the situation.
"Ha "
Sengoku's ears twitched slightly, as if hearing music. Every inch of his body felt relaxed, like after a massage.
This kid can really talk.
A few well-chosen words had already persuaded him to hand over a warship and elite troops.
Hearing these novel expressions brought him unexpected delight.
Sengoku's tone softened gradually. "Dragon, I heard you're not getting along very well with the 141st Branch colleagues."
It wasn't just bad relations Base Commander Donald had already submitted a complaint overnight, listing Dragon's 'crimes,' effectively requesting a military trial.
Defying orders, disrupting the squad's deployment, striking comrades, killing prisoners, seizing spoils any one of these would be serious. Yet Dragon allegedly committed all of them in just two days; Sengoku could hardly believe it.
"Some unpleasant things did happen," Dragon admitted, then added, "but sir, they were not my fault."
"Since arriving at this branch two days ago, I have eliminated the Tiger Shark Pirates of Bali Island, who had a bounty of 27 million berries, and have taken down over 300 pirates in this region."
"I know this is only a small portion of the record, but at the 141st Branch, this is a remarkable achievement I've been very diligent."
He listed his accomplishments first, laying the groundwork.
"Yes, that is indeed impressive."
Sengoku was clearly pleased.
He kept a close eye on Dragon's growth. A copy of the North Blue Gazette sat on his desk.
Though he had once easily defeated pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million, Dragon's results in the North Blue in two days equaled what many branches accumulated over years.
Achieving such efficiency in just two days he was clearly a practical, action-oriented officer, not someone who only spoke in theory.
"You see, sir, you recognize my achievements, but Donald does not," Dragon added, his tone appearing aggrieved. "I eliminated the Tiger Shark Pirates, but he says the district tasks come first. I cleared eight pirate groups in the region, yet he claims I disobeyed orders."
"Then today, after this raid, he cut off my fuel, provided food without a drop of oil, and withheld my bounty."
"How could we ever get along?"
He didn't act arrogant as he had when hitting William; instead, he played the part of a loyal subordinate.
"You make a good point."
Sengoku nodded, sighing. "Still, Commander Donald has served the 141st Branch for years, with excellent performance every year. He may be stubborn, but he is still an outstanding Marine. If you open your heart and communicate, perhaps the conflict can be resolved."
He worried the young man would feel wronged and hurriedly reassured, "Dragon, don't think I won't help. You are destined to become a Fleet Admiral. Mediating disputes is necessary justice alone isn't enough."
"Fleet Admiral, have you confirmed me as your successor?"
Dragon seized the opportunity, pretending to be excited.
"Yes, yes," Sengoku laughed. "Akainu is too reckless, Aokiji too soft, Kizaru too lax."
"The Marine Admirals are failing so you must strive harder!"
Though his gaze was initially on Aokiji, Dragon's age made him the perfect candidate for the next generation.
"Rest assured, Fleet Admiral. I will live up to your expectations. When I become Fleet Admiral, I will resolve the conflicts among the three Admirals!"
Dragon smiled sincerely.
"Ahem, it's late time for you to rest!"
Sengoku cleared his throat and ended the Den Den Mushi call.
Wiping his cold sweat, he realized he had almost fallen into Dragon's trap. This kid's words were even sharper than his uncle Garp's.
None of Donald's complaints had been resolved on the contrary, Dragon had painted a vivid picture of himself as a future Fleet Admiral.
He glanced at the clock: 1:00 AM.
Sengoku pulled out a sheet of paper, wrote a note, and pinned it at the top of his to-do list.
Kizaru is free recently send him to the North Blue to observe.
After speaking with Dragon and reviewing Donald's report, Sengoku suspected the 141st Branch situation was far more complicated than it seemed.
Eliminating three hundred pirates in a single day not only demonstrated Dragon's capability but also revealed that the branch's condition was far worse than Donald reported.
He decided to send Kizaru to investigate the truth behind Dragon's three alleged 'crimes.'