"Hey, Mr. Spandine."
"...What," Spandine grunted.
"Suddenly, your workload increased, didn't it? Related to the reconstruction plan," I remarked.
"...We are lending out manpower properly."
"Yeah, that's right, Mr. Spandine."
Why did I have an office built right next to the room where I sleep?
No, that's fine.
Because they are connected, I can sleep immediately, and I can secure a little sleep time. Somehow, two hours.
Besides my desk, several work desks were set up, and government officials are processing miscellaneous tasks and moving according to my instructions, which honestly helps.
They accepted the rough reconstruction plan, and the temporary evacuation of the Celestial Dragons—under the pretext of isolation from the site—which I requested jointly with Fleet Admiral Sengoku, was also approved.
Right now, we are discussing the adjustment of the material and labor acceptance plan and the expansion of the loading entrance for that purpose with Sengoku and Spandine, trying to make it in time for the first delivery date...
No matter how I think about it, isn't it weird that I am doing this job?
...W-well, it's fine.
"Hey, Mr. Spandine."
"...Yeah."
"Why are there only women guarding my surroundings?"
"The men, you see... were sent to the reconstruction work," Spandine deflected.
"Is that so? But it seems like they are all beauties, as if by design."
"...It's better than being surrounded by sweaty men."
"Look me in the eyes and say that," I demanded.
Hey, Mr. Spandine.
I'm talking to you.
"Spandine, face Kuro," commanded Hina, who was sticking by my side like a secretary.
"Hey little girl, I am the Chief of CP, you know. Watch your mouth!" Spandine snapped.
It helps a lot that Hina is here. Even though she is a beauty too, she is completely on our side. Honestly, I'm too scared to eat or drink anything other than what she has checked.
"...Yes, understood," Hina muttered.
"Muhaha. Yeah, you have to be proper about these things when you're you—"
"Defendant, answer," Hina cut in coldly.
"Hey, is this a trial?!"
Well, I'm glad we could wrap up work for today.
It's really unsettling with that army of beauties around. Food doesn't even taste like food.
Even though it's a group of beauties, unlike the Guards who naturally stay by my side, it feels like... my every move is being observed. It's really unsettling.
During lunch, I had to do urgent work while eating, so it couldn't be helped, but it was an awkward lunch...
"So, Defendant Spandine," I said jokingly.
"Kuro, even you!?" Spandine cried out.
Just answer already.
No, I already know the answer.
But...
"Honestly," I sighed, "what do you think about seriously setting a honey trap for a 14-year-old kid? As a grown adult."
"Don't stab at my heart!"
"Honestly, I'm totally put off by you. Hina, despises."
"Shut up, dammit!" Spandine yelled.
A grown old man shouldn't be talked down to by a little girl. You look like you're about to cry.
"I mean, not all of them were arranged by me! Even if I'm the CP Chief, I'm the Chief of No. 9! Other departments are sending women to your place too! The ones I prepared were just good women who were actually useful for office work!"
"Then please check those movements... You can do it, Mr. Spandine."
"This would all be solved if you just quickly joined the Government or the Navy! Bring the guys left in the West Blue and come here!"
"I told you, I respectfully decline, you bastard," I replied flatly.
I can clearly see a future where I'm kept on a leash and wasted away. And don't tell me you forgot about Robin.
Besides, after everything that happened, it's clear that the people around the Celestial Dragons aren't trustworthy.
...No, I actually sympathize with Spandine quite a bit.
Serving under superiors who are tyrannical beyond measure is truly painful.
It would be better if the Celestial Dragons weren't watching, but this time we have to stay in the Holy Land, their home turf.
"Anyway, is everything okay with the CP guys doing a honey trap as a first move?" I asked.
I thought CP was more proper...
Ah, no, come to think of it, the guys Sanji fought were all pretty hopeless.
"What's wrong with a workplace where you can do the work you like and leave the dangerous stuff to your subordinates! And you can be surrounded by as many beautiful women as you want!? I wanted to be in that position!!" Spandine wailed.
"Disgusting."
"Hina, stop cutting him down with one word."
Men become fragile as they age. Their hearts do.
"Or rather, why is this seriously happening? The solicitation has been persistent since I submitted that report."
"You mostly understand, don't you?" Hina said. "An imperial order went out to each CP to keep you here by any means necessary."
"Then why honey traps?"
"Young men usually fail with women at least once."
"...Personal experience?"
"Stop it, little girl. Don't analyze me."
Hina, please stop looking at him like he's raw garbage.
....
Huh? Are they looking at me too?
It's fine, a honey trap of this level is so lukewarm it doesn't even count as a trap.
"Actually, you showed your value too much," Spandine said, recovering slightly. "Why did you work this hard? The same goes for the Golden Lion, you could have just stayed hole up in the castle."
"Considering the influence of the Holy Land, it's only natural to minimize the damage as much as possible," I reasoned.
No, really.
Right now, Daz and the others are probably devising countermeasures against requests for aid or forceful measures from the Government and Navy.
The scale of that influence is...
The Government's borderline depends too much on the mood of the Celestial Dragons. It's too scary to work under them.
Seriously, even if I have to become something like a Warlord as a last resort, it's too scary unless the plan is led by the Navy.
"You promised in front of me and Sengoku, albeit verbally, that you would refrain from collecting food to a moderate extent, but the impact on the world will still be large, right?"
"...Well, yes."
"Even at the time of the food collection happening when I came here, several countries fell to non-member status. If you think that will increase further..."
"That's not something a pirate should worry about," Spandine scoffed.
"I do worry. We are the 'Black Cat'."
No really, the West Blue is in the middle of adjusting its trade network with Bege's cooperation, so I think we can manage somewhat, but if there's no food, we can't sell cheaply or provide aid.
The Kanan Kingdom that Robin and Mihawk are developing now, and the countries in Area A that we protected... Superior and Ligalo. Both were rumored to have kings who indulged in luxury and women just like the old Mogwa... but they are the key.
Superior was a nation with a strong longing for Celestial Dragons, just like the Goa Kingdom.
Ligalo wasn't that bad, but it was a shrewd nation.
...They definitely have a considerable amount of food stored, probably to use as a bargaining chip with neighboring countries later.
Kuzan, Daz, and Hancock might be angry, but it's reliable that there is a pool of food in this situation. No, I should say it's a blessing in disguise.
Anyway, if that is offered to the Holy Land, the burden on neighboring nations should be significantly reduced... I hope.
"If I were just a pirate who rampaged around, aside from Hina, I wouldn't have met you, Mr. Spandine, let alone worked side by side with you."
"If I hadn't met you, my stomach wouldn't be wearing away like this!"
Well, that's certainly true.
"Ultimately, what I aim for is the stable development of the world. And honestly, I don't think the World Government is taking that role seriously, even though they call themselves a government."
"Kuro, you bastard, how many times do I have to tell you this is the Holy Land!!" Spandine hissed.
I'm saying it because it's the Holy Land.
"Seriously, Mr. Spandine. The collection of non-member citizens' labor you initially tried to do—you could have managed without doing that, right?"
"...That's all the more reason to join the Government, Kuro."
Oh my, it's been a while since you smoked in front of me.
I guess you're under a lot of stress after all?
"Since you helped with various adjustments while negotiating, it looked like we could manage just with what we collected through aid requests to each country."
"...There were some places where the World Government went too far, though."
"Ah, no, well... well, yeah."
Specifically, the nations that almost fell to non-member status.
There was a reason for doing that, right? There was a legitimate reason, right? At least on paper, they should have cleared the required food amount without doing that, right?
Please tell me that's the case. I'm too scared to ask.
"They are too used to consuming... to using things up."
"If you guys come to our side, wouldn't it change a little? I heard from the subordinates left in the West Blue, but your subordinates are quite capable too, aren't they?"
"They are still in training."
Well, we are managing somehow because Tesoro is there.
Daz and the Guards are studying governance and money-making, but without Tesoro, I couldn't have acted separately.
Daz, Robin, Amisu, and Hancock are doing their best, but it will take time for them to fully mature.
Regarding production, as long as we have the strongest farmer Mihawk, there is a sense of... security.
Plus, our soldiers are used to farm work and construction work.
I really want one or two more people who can balance governance, or rather public sentiment and profit... isn't there anyone lying around somewhere?
Also, I almost forgot because of the Golden Lion's attack, but the Five Elders' leadership is unnaturally unified. It's too dangerous to go inside.
After all, having to constantly fear something worse than dismissal or disciplinary action... it goes beyond a 'black company', it's dangerous.
"...You've seen the World Government's methods. Were there times when you thought things should be done differently?"
"Well, of course..."
"For example?"
"...Like the Ohara incident," I admitted.
I think there was a better way to handle that.
"Kuro, what would you have done?" Hina asked, cutting into the difficult topic.
"Let's see..." I paused. "If it were me—"
"—Hmph, that is quite an interesting discussion."
...Uh oh.
"This is... I didn't expect you to come here yourself," I stood up abruptly.
It was a completely unexpected person who opened the door after knocking a few times, without waiting for a reply.
I thought it was Zephyr guarding the outside...
So, they walk around too.
"The Five Elders, 'Warrior God of Justice', Saint Topman Warcury."
Mr. Spandine, I understand straightening your posture, but there's no need to prostrate yourself.
Even if he is one of the Five Elders, he came to us, and this is my office.
Hina, please suppress your suspicion a little more.
He is my guest.
"I planned to finish my business quickly and return, but..." The Elder stepped into the room.
If I say "Please go home quickly," Spandine will probably drop-kick me.
"Interesting," Warcury said. "Tell me while we chat, Kuro. How would you have dealt with the Ohara incident?"
If I recite a sutra, will these guys scatter green liquid and explode? Dammit...
--
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