Soon, every soldier received over 700,000 Berries. They held the thick stacks of cash with trembling hands, and some even wept with joy.
"Sir... sob..."
"Long live Base Commander Tatsuki!"
A scarred veteran, holding a bowl, wobbled up to Tatsuki and fell to his knees with a thud.
"Boss Tatsuki! I've served under three base commanders before! They only called us trash and treated us like cattle! Only you! Only you treat us like human beings! Like brothers!"
"From today on, my worthless life belongs to you! Even if you told me to go bite Whitebeard's balls, I wouldn't even blink!"
"Right! We all listen to Boss!"
"If anyone dares to disrespect Boss, I'll be the first to twist his head off!"
"I am willing to die for Boss!"
The soldiers' emotions were completely ignited. One by one, they grew impassioned, their eyes filled with unwavering loyalty as they looked at Tatsuki.
On a high platform not far away.
Borsalino watched the chaotic scene below, his lips curling into a lewd smirk. "Oh my... it seems G-5 has become quite an extraordinary place now."
Kuzan looked at the check he had just received, appearing unusually spirited. "More importantly, how should I spend this money? Should I add a solid gold bell to my 'Polar Traveler'? And maybe a top-tier sound system?"
Sakazuki, the future Fleet Admiral, was currently staring at the staggering amount on the check in his hand, his brow furrowed.
"What? Not enough?"
Tatsuki had approached at some point, reeking of alcohol, and placed his hand on Sakazuki's stiff shoulder.
Sakazuki gritted his teeth, his voice low. "We are Marines, not pirates."
Tatsuki chuckled and asked back, "And so?"
"Should we just take our meager salaries and risk our lives against those murderous pirates worth hundreds of millions? And then let our fallen brothers not even afford a decent tombstone?"
Tatsuki's tone suddenly became sharp. "Sakazuki, don't be naive. True justice requires money to maintain. Stronger warships, better weapons, and superior benefits are what allow soldiers to carry out 'justice' without any worries."
"If you can't even feed your own people, how can you talk about purifying the world? As long as our hearts are white, what does it matter if the money in our hands is black?"
This last sentence struck against Sakazuki's heart.
His pupils contracted violently.
Tatsuki shoved the check into the pocket of Sakazuki's suit. "Take it. Don't hold a grudge against money."
Sakazuki's body was stiff, but eventually, his clenched fists slowly relaxed, and he didn't pull the check back out.
[Ding! Detected the host has used money as a bond to completely corrupt all officers and soldiers of the G-5 Branch, turning them into a mercenary private force!]
[Ding! Detected the host has successfully corrupted the 'Absolute Justice' values of the future Marine Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, making him accept the degenerate ideology of 'using the black to nurture the white'!]
[Violation Points +50,000!]
[Violation Points: 431,300]
Tatsuki turned around, raised his glass again, and shouted to all the fanatical soldiers below, "To our justice!"
"To justice!"
Everyone roared along, as if what they were doing was truly the most glorious thing in the world.
...
After the revelry, Tatsuki returned to his office.
Looking at the long string of numbers on the system panel, the curve of his lips rose further.
The frantic discipline violations of the past few days had pushed his total Violation Points past the 400,000 mark.
'System, raise my Physique to 90.'
Previously, his Physique was at 85 points, comparable to a young Kaido. But 90 points was the true "monster" level.
[Ding! The host's current Physique is 85 points. To increase it to 90 points, 80,000 Violation Points are required.]
[Do you confirm?]
'Confirm.'
Boom!
Even though Tatsuki was prepared, this enhancement still made him groan, and he collapsed onto his knees.
He could clearly feel every bone becoming denser, every bundle of muscle fiber being infused with explosive energy, and even every beat of his heart becoming as heavy and powerful as a war drum. His life was undergoing a higher-level leap.
Ten minutes later.
"Whew... Haa..."
Tatsuki panted heavily, his entire body soaked in sweat.
But he could feel that his body had undergone an earth-shaking transformation. His muscle lines were smoother, and beneath his skin, there was a faint flow of an indestructible texture. He could clearly sense the vast, ocean-like physical strength and vitality within him.
'90 points in Physique...' Tatsuki grinned.
He now had absolute confidence that even if he stood still and took a "Thunder Bagua" from Kaido head-on, he would at most spit out some blood. He could definitely stand right back up and retort: "Is that it? Haven't you eaten yet?"
He planned to save the remaining 300,000-plus Violation Points. Once he gathered 600,000, he would immediately exchange them for the long-coveted Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
Just as Tatsuki was savoring the thrill of his skyrocketing power—
"Report, Boss!"
An emergency communication from the lookout post rang out urgently through the den den mushi.
"An unidentified vessel has been spotted in the waters ahead, sailing straight toward our checkpoint!"
Tatsuki raised an eyebrow, walked to the window, picked up the telescope, and focused on the distant sea.
Under the bright moonlight, a solitary small boat, flying no flags, drifted into the 'Taxation Zone' demarcated by the G-5 Branch like a ghost.
"Hmm? Can't see what kind of ship it is?" Tatsuki's voice came through the den den mushi, carrying a hint of ordinary curiosity.
"Report, Boss! It's too small, and it has no distinguishing features. It looks like... like a private skiff." The lookout's voice was filled with confusion.
A G-5 patrol warship quickly spotted this uninvited guest. A warship turned its bow and approached the target.
At the prow, several G-5 veteran scoundrels held den den mushis, shouting the 'Toll Station Declaration' Tatsuki had newly composed just yesterday with great fanfare.
"Vessel ahead, listen up! This is the Marine G-5 Branch Justice Maintenance Tax Collection Office! Stop your vessel immediately, submit to inspection, and pay the required fee!"
"Repeating! Refusal to pay will result in physical transcendence!"
The Marines shouted with earth-shaking volume, putting on the arrogant airs of a gang collecting protection money.