The shipbuilding base project was essentially left in Master Tom's hands. As soon as the… labor reform units from Impel Down arrived, operations could begin.
Ortoren's grand shipbuilding venture was finally starting to take shape. After inspecting the shipbuilding island, he and his group quickly returned to G-5.
When Ortoren stepped into his office, he found Issho and Gion chatting.
During the time Ortoren had gone to the Sabaody Archipelago to find Tesoro, Gion had finished her work and applied to take a post at G-5.
There was a catch, though. She was a Vice Admiral, and theoretically, a single base wasn't allowed to have two Headquarters Vice Admirals. It blurred the chain of command and could cause problems.
But Gion and Ortoren had a good relationship, so that wasn't an issue. Besides, her move followed the intelligence division's path. Officially, she remained a Vice Admiral of the Intelligence Department. Her posting at G-5 wasn't a transfer under Ortoren's command but the establishment of a New World intelligence outpost. That arrangement was perfectly reasonable.
Of course, that was only on paper. In reality, Ortoren intended to have Gion do the same work as Issho—hunting pirates, giving G-5 troops constant real combat, and sharpening them into elites.
"Well, well, it's been a while, Gion. You finally made it," Ortoren said, pulling a lighter from his pocket and lighting the cigarette in his mouth.
Gion's eyes softened when she saw the lighter she had given him, and she smiled warmly. "You were urging me so much, I thought you'd scold me if I didn't come."
"How could I dare scold you?" Ortoren chuckled. Inwardly, he figured that since Gion had come, Tokikake would probably show up on his own once he heard the news. No need to rush him.
After some light conversation with Gion, Ortoren turned to Issho.
"How have things been lately?"
"No problems. After repeated combat missions, our fighting strength has seen significant improvement," Issho reported briskly.
Ortoren listened closely, occasionally asking questions as he fulfilled his duties as Base Commander.
Once the report was finished, Issho suddenly added, "Do you remember the guy I mentioned before, named Slekemind?"
"Yeah. Didn't he just become the second Shichibukai after Crocodile? Just a few days ago, right? I saw it in the paper on my way back. I'll admit, he looked pretty sharp in that photo—handsome, even," Ortoren said with a grin.
He paused, then glanced at Momonga. "Don't forget to get in touch with him. Have him come over and settle that two hundred billion Belly debt from the Shichibukai."
Momonga nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Gion, on the other hand, looked confused.
"Two hundred billion? What's that about?" she asked.
Before Ortoren could reply, Issho cut in. "I happened to run into him on my way back. I already told him about it, but he clearly doesn't take G-5 seriously. He has no intention of paying."
Ortoren's face twisted in anger. "That bastard actually thinks he's somebody!?"
Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Momonga. "And what about Crocodile? What did he say?"
"He said you should go to hell," Momonga answered flatly.
"One after another, none of them are showing me any respect, huh? Looking down on Doflamingo, are they? And where the hell is that bastard Crocodile?" Ortoren snapped.
"Currently in Alabasta's territory," Momonga responded immediately.
"Alabasta, huh? Hiding pretty far away. I'll deal with him when I've got the time. Let him enjoy himself for a couple more days. What about this Slekemind? He's based in the New World, right?" Ortoren asked, turning back to Issho.
"Right. He's been entrenched in the New World for a long time. He's clashed with the Whitebeard Pirates multiple times and even had conflicts with Kaidou's Beasts Pirates. He's definitely a troublemaker," Issho confirmed with a nod.
"I can't touch Alabasta, but I can't even deal with someone making waves in the New World?" Ortoren muttered irritably.
Momonga reminded him at the right moment. "That guy is one of the Shichibukai now. According to the system, we can't take action against him without special cause..."
"I know. Relax. It'll all be done within proper procedure," Ortoren said with a wave of his hand. Then he pulled out his Den Den Mushi.
Everyone present was an insider, so Ortoren didn't bother hiding anything. He dialed Katakuri directly.
A moment later, Katakuri answered. The background was a cacophony of noise—artillery fire, the clash of battle, and the occasional scream.
"Toren? What is it?" Katakuri's voice was as gentle as ever, calm and smiling despite the chaos.
Listening to the commotion on the other end, Ortoren asked, "Busy right now?"
"Not too busy, just wrapping things up..."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Katakuri tossed the pirate corpse he was holding onto the deck and casually wiped the blood from his hands on a tattered pirate flag. His tone was calm as ever.
"Oh..." Ortoren responded, then chuckled. "I've got something I need your help with, Second Brother..."
Katakuri smiled at that. "You rarely call me Second Brother. For that alone, go ahead—what is it?"
"Well," Ortoren said openly, "I was wondering if you've heard about the Shichibukai?"
"I've heard of them, but never paid much attention. Seems Crocodile, the one who once challenged the Whitebeard Pirates, and some newcomer who showed up in the last two years took those titles. Why?" Katakuri asked, a little puzzled.
"It's like this. That guy Slekemind is getting way too arrogant. He owes me two hundred billion Belly and refuses to pay. But now he's one of the Shichibukai. As a Marine, I can't just go after him directly. So I figured... if you've got the time, big bro, maybe you could rough him up a bit. Just don't kill him—if he's dead, I can't collect my debt..." Ortoren raised an eyebrow and grinned as he explained.
"Oh? He owes you two hundred billion?" Katakuri was surprised, but didn't press for details.
As for Slekemind and his Shichibukai status, Katakuri didn't take it seriously. Maybe the man was strong, but was Katakuri weak? If he couldn't beat Ortoren, did anyone really think he'd lose to some upstart who'd only recently appeared?
After a brief thought, Katakuri replied, "Alright, leave it to me. Give me a little time, and I'll send him over to G-5."
"Perfect! No problem at all!" Ortoren laughed heartily, thanked him again, and hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Turning to Momonga and the others, Ortoren looked smug. "See that? That's what it means to walk both sides. In this New World, there's no one I, Benn Ortoren, can't handle!"
Momonga and Issho were already used to this kind of thing. Gion, however, still pressed, "Wait—explain this to me. What's this about a two hundred billion debt? You're doing business with pirates?"
Momonga patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. Sure, we extort protection fees, sell arms and warships, and do business with pirates, but we're good Marines. Justice is on our side!"
Issho chuckled. "Exactly. Relax—we're all righteous Marines. Once you've been here a while and seen how G-5 runs, you'll understand."
Gion eyed the two of them suspiciously before finally fixing her gaze on Ortoren.
Ortoren, straight-faced and righteous, said, "What are you looking at me for? They're not wrong. We're all good, just Marines. Admiral Sengoku knows about this too. Don't worry, there won't be any problems."
"Sengoku knows too?" Gion asked in surprise.
After Ortoren gave her a firm nod, Gion was still doubtful and confused. But for now, she decided to wait and see just what kind of place this G-5 really was before making her judgment.
...
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