Chapitre 95: Chapter 96 : World Military Draft!!
Shanks found a chair and decided to sit down on it. He waved his hand and said, "Everyone, take a seat! Let's discuss how we can get the Navy back up and running as soon as possible!"
Several CP0 agents stood silently behind Shanks, maintaining the pretense of his authority.
The Navy personnel exchanged glances, but eventually, under Tsuru's guidance, they each found a place to sit.
Once everyone was seated, the atmosphere grew tense and silent, with no one knowing how to begin.
After a lengthy pause, Shanks coughed softly and, with a warm smile, asked, "Could someone give me a brief overview of the current situation with the Navy?"
Though he didn't single anyone out, Shanks's gaze settled on Tsuru.
Tsuru took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. "To handle the conflict with the Whitebeard Pirates, our Navy has mobilized a total of 100,864 elite personnel, including logistical staff, from various Marine bases across the Four Seas and the Grand Line."
"Almost every member of our Navy was injured in this conflict. Out of them, 68,923 were killed in battle, 8,427 were disabled and can no longer fight, and 21,569 were injured and needs time to recover."
"In other words, we have fewer than 5,000 personnel left who are fit for combat!"
Shanks frowned. That's a staggering loss of over a hundred thousand people! Coupled with the nearly 50,000 members of the Whitebeard Pirates, the total comes to 150,000!
The other Navy members also wore somber expressions, feeling the weight of the numbers like a sharp pain.
These were their subordinates, comrades, and friends.
Taking a deep breath, Shanks said, "The World Government will be sending financial support soon. We must ensure that pension arrangements are made promptly so that everyone feels properly cared for."
Despite the seriousness of Shanks's words, the Navy couldn't help but find it odd to hear a pirate speaking so thoughtfully about such matters. It was almost surreal.
Nevertheless, Shanks's concern for the victims' families was a welcome relief.
Tsuru sighed softly, nodded, and said, "Understood. I will handle the arrangements!"
Shanks paused and then continued, "By the way, while we're gathering the remains, let's make sure we properly handle the corpses of those pirates as well. With so many deaths, mishandling them could easily lead to an outbreak of disease."
Tsuru added calmly, "Don't worry, the Navy has protocols for dealing with such matters."
Realizing it wasn't appropriate to dwell on the subject of the pirates, Shanks shifted the topic. "The Navy has mobilized 100,000 elite troops from across the globe. That must leave the other naval bases quite under-staffed, right?"
Tsuru considered the question before responding, "We haven't pulled any forces from the New World bases. Most of these 100,000 elite troops have been reassigned from the first half of the Grand Line and the Navy Headquarters. While some have come from the four seas, it's manageable."
"We've decided to withdraw all our forces from the New World to prepare for the potential upheaval to come."
Shanks nodded in agreement. "Given the current situation, consolidating forces is the right move. How do you plan to handle what's coming next?"
Tsuru replied, "We're preparing to concentrate part of our forces to suppress any pirates that might emerge in the first half of the Grand Line. Although the situation in the four seas is relatively stable, we need to remain vigilant, so we'll allocate some troops there as well."
Shanks pondered for a moment. "We currently have a few thousand men at our disposal. Even if all the wounded navies are recovered and combined with the forces withdrawn from the New World, we'll only have around thirty to forty thousand troops."
"If we spread these forces across the first half of the Grand Line, they'll be stretched thin, and that's not even considering the four seas."
"It looks like conscription will be necessary."
Conscription?
The Navy's eyes turned toward Shanks, filled with curiosity and concern.
They had been considering conscription for a long time, but there were no specific details given, such as the scale or number of recruits. It all depended on the World Government's directives!
After all, the World Government controls the Navy's finances, and without their funding, the Navy's complaints are meaningless!
Shanks, understanding the urgency felt by everyone, didn't prolong the suspense. He cleared his throat and said, "Given the current situation in the Navy, the Five Elders of the World Government plan to initiate an unprecedented World Military Draft!"
"To put it simply, there will be no restrictions on region or number of recruits. As long as you are innocent, you can join the Navy!"
At this announcement, everyone's eyes lit up with joy!
It seemed that those in higher positions were still approachable!
In the past, when Sengoku had sought funds from the World Government, he had to argue tirelessly with the Five Elders and use countless words to persuade them.
Now, with Shanks directly announcing this, there are no upper limits. This is the status of the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons!
The way the Navy personnel looked at Shanks changed instantly; they were no longer as resistant to the idea of him becoming the Fleet Admiral.
After a brief pause, Shanks continued, "Additionally, to compensate for the lack of high-end combat power, a special rule will be implemented for this massive conscription."
"That is, military achievements, qualifications, and background won't be considered. As long as your strength is sufficient, you can directly attain the corresponding position!"
At this point, the Navy members frowned. They had earned their positions through merits and strength, fighting through countless battles on the seas with their lives on the line!
The idea that newcomers could rise to equal or even superior ranks without proving themselves made them feel uneasy and somewhat unsettled.
Shanks glanced at everyone's expressions, smiled, and said, "The situation is unique right now, so I hope everyone can understand!"
He continued, "After all, those powerful individuals are generally quite proud. Even if they are committed to joining the Navy to uphold justice, they wouldn't be inclined to start out as mere handymen!"
He then added, "In addition to our Navy's overall strength, we have also suffered significant losses in high-end combat power, which has left us no choice but to make this decision."
Tsuru furrowed her brow and asked, "Are there any limits on their ranks?"
Shanks shook his head and replied, "No! As long as someone has the strength of a Vice Admiral, they will be given the rank of Vice Admiral. If they have the strength of an Admiral, then they will be an Admiral!"
The room fell silent once again at these words.
The notion of joining the Navy directly as an Admiral was unprecedented!
After a long pause, Aokiji suddenly asked, "What about the Fleet Admiral?"
The question sent a chill through the room, and everyone felt the temperature drop noticeably.
Shanks looked at Aokiji, smiling gently, and said, "What, do you want to give it a try?"
**********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.
patreon.com/PirateKing24
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone