"Pfft, hahahahaha!"
"It seems that I may be able to see the end of the Great Pirate Era before I retire."
"No, it's about seeing world peace arrive before I retire."
Garp stared intently at Rosen during the video call, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Peaceful justice.
This is the justice that Monkey D. Garp upholds, and it's why he chose to stay in the Marine.
For peace.
He can tolerate, endure, and bear everything.
Previously, the Marine Headquarters was an agency directly under the World Government. No matter how hard he and Sengoku tried, they could only maintain a certain level of purity in the Marine's justice. But now things are different.
The Marine has become independent.
From the moment the Five Elders stepped down and Rosen seized power in the Marine Headquarters, he had already seen the dawn of peace.
"Is it pure?"
"Every kind of justice at headquarters now."
"It can all be pure."
Tsuru smiled with delight.
She hadn't been this happy in a long time.
Pure justice.
It's not just what she herself adheres to, but she hopes that the justice upheld by everyone in the Marine Headquarters can become purer.
Whether it's peace, non-killing, thoroughness, burning, or any form of justice.
"Originally, I shouldn't say such discouraging things when everyone is so happy, but I must remind you all."
"Rosen's decision to make the Marine independent is a fantastic thing, without a doubt."
"However, this also means that the various conveniences and support that the Marine Headquarters had when it was a direct agency of the World Government may also be lost from now on."
Just as the Marine high command was basking in the joy of Marine independence, Victor Seiji's slightly hoarse voice brought them back to reality, forcing them to confront the various challenges that the Marine would face after independence:
"First, in the past, all of the Marine's expenses were paid by the World Government. Now that it is independent, given the Five Elders' style, they are likely to manipulate the budget to continue to control the Marine."
"Secondly, we will face the complete loss of Cipher Pol's intelligence support, making it difficult to accurately locate pirates around the world and to know the situation of major forces as quickly as before."
"Third, what about Impel Down? Will there be any problems? Don't forget that the current Impel Down is the former Marine, and both are directly under the World Government."
"Fourth, technology. Although the name 'Marine Science Class' has the word 'Marine' in its name, it is actually the World Government's science class. This means that our Marine may no longer receive advanced technological support from the science class in the future."
"Fifth, and finally, in the area of news, we will also completely lose control, lose the voice of the world, and be led by the nose by the world government."
"This is the problem we must face after the Marine becomes independent."
After saying that.
The first thing Victor Seiji did not look at was Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral of the Marine, but instead fixed his gaze on Rosen.
Since Sengoku had no idea that the Marine would declare independence at today's meeting, he certainly had no idea in advance what problems he would face after the Marine became independent, or what solutions he would have to do with them.
On the other hand, since Rosen had already made his move on the issue of Marine independence and forced the Five Elders to back down, given his usual style of doing things, he must have been prepared in advance.
It wasn't just Victor Seiji who thought this way; even Sengoku himself thought so.
Similarly, the same applies to Garp, Borsalino, and others.
This moment.
All the high-ranking Marine officers looked at Rosen, at the lowest-ranking officer in the conference room, who was universally recognized as the King of the Marine.
Whether it's a Fleet Admiral, a hero, or an Admiral.
They were all completely convinced and willing to bow down to this man.
Gion.
Faced with the Marine independence dilemma posed by Victor Seiji, and the gazes of the high-ranking officials, Rosen remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.
He is like the Red Line continent that stands majestically on the Grand Line.
It can provide shelter for the Marine from the wind and rain.
"yes!"
Gion took out a projection Den Den Mushi and projected a video onto another screen, allowing the high-ranking officials in the conference room, including Garp in the East Blue and Sakazuki in the New World, to see it.
"Nice to meet you."
"I am Gild Tesoro."
"Minister of Finance of the First Branch of North Blue".
Gild Tesoro appeared in the video footage. He first introduced himself to all the high-ranking Marine officers, and then with one sentence, he made everyone understand what it meant to be synonymous with Berry:
"I have investigated the headquarters' financial expenditures in previous years."
"Including the headquarters and branches, the total number of Marine personnel is approximately 10 million."
"Then wages, food and lodging, weapons, clothing, ships, etc., the annual expenditure is about 1.56 trillion Berries, while the World Government only provides 1.6 trillion Berries."
"Going back five years, the figure was 1.6 trillion. In other words, the Marine's compensation has not increased for at least five years. The Five Elders are really stingy. This won't do."
"With a military budget of 1.6 trillion Berries a year, how can we expect the Marine to risk its life?"
"It needs to be increased; this year's military spending must exceed the 2 trillion mark."
Gild Tesoro's single statement resulted in a 400 billion Berry increase in the Marine's budget, which hadn't risen in five years.
"2 trillion?"
"You've got quite the big mouth, kid."
Will you pay this money?
Garp picked his nose and then blew on his finger.
"If I didn't give it to you, did you?"
Gild Tesoro retorted directly, showing no respect whatsoever to the Marine hero.
"you!"
Garp wanted to argue, but Sengoku stopped him.
"A few months ago, he casually donated a few Rogers and a few Newgates to headquarters."
Sengoku's words immediately shut Garp up.
Although the hero is a master of iron fists, not an economist, he has heard about this matter more or less.
That means Gild Tesoro is Rosen's money bag, and also the money bag of the North Blue First Branch.
He knew the Golden Emperor was rich, but he didn't expect him to be this rich.
Moreover, this was the Golden Emperor from just a few months ago.
"Tesoro".
"Whether it's 1.56 trillion or 2 trillion, it's not a small amount. And this isn't just taking one sum of money; it's a sum that must be taken out every year."
"Most importantly, this doesn't just involve one branch, but headquarters and all branches, totaling tens of millions of Marine personnel. On a larger scale, this involves the world order."
Although Sengoku knew that Gild Tesoro was rich, supporting one branch and supporting all branches are two completely different things.
Not to mention.
We also need to add a Marine Headquarters.
"I am no longer the Tesoro I spoke to you on the phone a few months ago, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"A few months ago, Tesoro earned about one Gol D. Roger a day; now, Tesoro earns at least five Gol D. Rogers a day."
"By the way, I meant net income."
Gild Tesoro surveyed the conference room, his ostentatious aura of wealth so overwhelming that even through the video screen, Sengoku, Kuzan, and the others could feel the oppressive power of money.
"If that's the case..."
"From now on, when I eat rice crackers, I can buy two packs, eat one, and throw the other away."
Garp blurted it out first, then realized he'd said something inappropriate, so he coughed.
"Cough cough."
"Excuse me."
"That Tesoro kid, I admit I was a little loud just now."
When facing Gild Tesoro, Garp grinned, completely losing his heroic demeanor.
no way.
Who told Gild Tesoro to not only control the Marine Headquarters' budget, but also his Senbei's budget?
...
POWERSTONE! POWERSTONE! POWERSTONE!! 🔥🔥🔥