章 15: 15. Come Back Quickly, The Fleet Admiral Sent You A Wife!
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The atmosphere in the Fleet Admiral's office felt unusually tense.
Sitting quietly on the sofa, Rouge, who had always been a background presence, was stunned, as if his understanding of the world had been completely upended.
Her thoughts before coming to the Fleet Admiral's office were:
As the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, he must be making major decisions that affect the entire world every day. I can't speak out of turn and disturb the adults. I need to read more, learn more, and think more.
But after arriving at the Fleet Admiral's office, her thoughts were:
What the heck? The dignified Fleet Admiral is worried about soldiers' wives like some auntie at the village entrance!
Why does this feel so out of place?
Am I still dreaming?
Gion, who had been lost in her own self-reflection, was snapped back to reality by these words.
"Akira, are you serious? Didn't Tsuru veto your plan in the meeting room yesterday?"
Gion knew that Akira was vying for the position of Fleet Admiral and urgently needed to prove himself with some achievements.
If possible, she was willing to help Akira with any plan, even if it meant going to challenge Whitebeard right now.
Although the chances of winning were slim, fighting Whitebeard seemed far more reasonable than this plan about soldiers' wives.
She thought that after everyone rejected his plan yesterday, Akira would give up on this ridiculous idea.
But now it seemed that not only had Akira not given up, but he was also dead serious about it.
With Admiral Sengoku and Chief of Staff Tsuru absent, and Admiral Zephyr being indifferent, there was no one to stop him from going ahead with his plan.
Realizing this, Gion became anxious.
"Akira , let's think of something else. There are actually many other ways to achieve success."
"Like what?" Akira asked, puzzled.
"Like... like..."
Gion thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything else, so she stomped her foot in frustration.
In desperation, she blurted out, "Why don't we go to the New World and fight Whitebeard?"
Now it was Akira's turn to give her a strange look.
Really? We're going to pick a fight with Whitebeard, just like that?
How did you even come up with that?
Although the current Whitebeard Pirates are still a bit rough around the edges, with guys like Marco the Phoenix and Diamond Jozu not fully grown yet, Whitebeard himself is at his peak, healthy and strong.
It's not an exaggeration to call him the strongest man on the seas.
Even Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp were careful not to push him too hard.
You have to remember, this is the era right after Roger's death, before the Four Emperors structure has even formed. The next generation's recognized king of the seas is Whitebeard.
With such a dominant force around, Kong, Garp, and Sengoku never considered confronting him directly.
No one wanted to risk Whitebeard getting desperate and launching a full-powered Shockwave from his Tremor-Tremor Fruit at Marineford or even Mariejois, potentially wiping everyone out.
More than 20 years later, the Marines only dared to challenge him because they believed he was weakened and couldn't fully unleash the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, which led to the Summit War.
And even then, Marineford was almost completely destroyed.
"During this time, you're actually asking me to take you to fight him?"
If it hadn't been for knowing Gion for six years, Akira would have every reason to suspect that she was an undercover agent sent by Sengoku to set him up!
Seeing his discomfort, Gion realized how strange her suggestion was and retorted, "That's still more reliable than your plan about soldiers' wives."
"Not necessarily. Just hear me out," Akira replied, pulling his hand back and pacing slowly as he organized his thoughts.
At the moment, Vice Admiral Gion was the only person he could rely on in the headquarters. As the acting Fleet Admiral, it wasn't easy for him to leave Marineford, especially when all the top officers were out at sea. So, convincing Gion was crucial.
Although he could force her to follow orders, "voluntary overtime" and "forced overtime" don't yield the same results.
Akira had assumed that with the ability to transform into a raccoon, there would be no shortage of manpower. But this morning, he discovered a problem.
The "Kyōka Suigetsu" he copied yesterday had reverted back into a withered leaf, making it unusable.
After spending an hour thinking and testing in his room, he still couldn't figure out why.
It turns out the items and characters copied by the monster-level raccoon ability have enhanced durability—they won't easily break apart like those at the regular or elite level. However, their existence depends on "stamina value."
The stamina used by Akira during the copying process acts as their life bar and action meter. Their existence, injuries, and use of abilities, just like game characters, reduce this action value.
Yesterday, Kyōka Suigetsu's ability was used on all the high-ranking members within its range of influence, which must have consumed a significant amount of stamina. After a full day of natural consumption, the remaining stamina was depleted, turning it back into a deformed leaf.
If Akira wants to use Kyōka Suigetsu again, he would need to copy it from the deformed leaf once more.
This limitation means that the copied characters can't complete long-term tasks or engage in multiple battles. For them to exist long-term like real people or objects, the Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon would need to be "awakened."
But there's a silver lining: since the copies eventually revert back, there's no risk of them being lost or stolen and used by strangers as permanent thugs in unknown places.
So for now, these replicas are only useful as temporary assistance.
Considering this restriction on the monster-level Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon, Akira was willing to accept it. After all, even the famous "time-travel" ability can only move forward in time, not back.
The most important task now was to get Gion on board with leading the mission, with the clone assisting her.
"Gion, you know what the biggest problem facing the Marines is right now, don't you?" Akira suddenly stopped and asked.
"Yeah, Vice Admiral Tsuru said we're short on people and funds," Gion replied.
"Exactly. Let's focus on the manpower issue first. The Great Pirate Era caught us off guard, and we don't have enough soldiers. Every day, more people are deserting. Do you know what the Marines are like now?"
"Like what?"
"A balloon with a hole in it."
Akira narrowed his eyes and said with a firm tone, "If we don't patch this hole, the Marines will never be able to refill that balloon."
Gion pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Akira continued, "First, why are the soldiers deserting? The main reason is that they can't handle the constant death of their comrades and the relentless pirate attacks, so they choose to flee."
"But I believe they should understand by now that running away is useless. In this era, where evil sweeps across every corner of the world, individual power is incredibly weak."
"So weak that they can't even make a difference; all they can do is run or die."
"I think that at this moment, aside from those who are pure criminals, anyone with a shred of conscience must already regret fleeing the Marines."
"Even though the Marines are currently facing many challenges, at least they can ensure that the soldiers don't starve and have a safe place to sleep."
"But they're also worried. You know, desertion isn't a light offense."
"They need a reason to come back, so I plan to give them one."
Gion bowed her head in thought.
Akira waited patiently, not interrupting her contemplation.
After a long pause, Gion finally looked up and asked, "But why wives? Why not just call them back? Or simply recruit more troops from around the world?"
"You've hit the nail on the head. Those in the meeting yesterday didn't think it through as deeply as you," Akira replied with a look of appreciation, subconsciously patting Gion on the head.
Gion blushed, feeling a bit dizzy from the praise. She wanted to say that Chief of Staff Tsuru and Admiral Sengoku were far from brainless, but she couldn't help but enjoy the compliment from Akira , who she admired as the smartest person she knew. So, she kept quiet.
—That's right, I'm different from your other officers. I'm not just good with a sword; I can think things through too.
"First, to answer your question about 'why not simply recruit troops globally,' as an officer, you should know that compared to veterans, recruits have many shortcomings."
"The first issue is discipline, and the second is their mentality. It would take at least two years to train them to the level of veterans."
"Do you think the world can wait for us for two years?"
Gion quickly shook her head. Given the current state of the seas, people couldn't wait even a minute, let alone two years. So, experienced veterans were indeed far more valuable than fresh recruits.
"We will recruit as well, but until they are battle-ready, veterans are crucial."
"Now, to answer your other question—why not just call them back instead of involving wives."
"Because if we just call them back, they'll only return to collect a paycheck, to survive and stay warm."
"Neither I nor the world wants soldiers like that."
Akira walked over to the window, gazing at the clear blue sky with his hands behind his back, his tone softening.
Over the past six years, starting from a simple soldier, Akira had gained a deep understanding of those serving under him.
Before the Great Pirate Era began, despite the presence of some legendary pirates, their impact on the world was relatively limited. It took a long time for them to plunder a village, a city, or even a country.
Even if all their evil deeds were combined, they were just a drop in the ocean compared to the whole world.
Only a small corner of the second half of the Grand Line was truly affected. Ninety-nine percent of people's lives carried on normally.
From a broad perspective, most of the residents of the Four Seas and the Grand Line still had untouched places, or at worst, they might encounter a small-time pirate every year or so.
But now, the number of pirates had exploded, like a flood, with countless incidents occurring daily across the world, leaving destruction in their wake.
In this era, many soldiers had yet to experience the true weight of their duty, to understand the struggle of "carrying a bag of rice up multiple flights of stairs," so to speak.
Because of this, the current soldiers could be divided into two categories.
The first group deeply understands the evil of pirates, hates them, and is willing to sacrifice themselves for justice.
The second group sees being a Marine as just a job.
Within this second group, there are those who take the money but don't work, those who do half the work for full pay, and those who do only a part of the job for a small portion of their salary.
The first group, though small in number, has the most determined fighting spirit and the strongest combat power.
Gion asked, "Then what kind of soldiers do you want?"
"Soldiers with a strong sense of justice."
Akira took a deep breath. Even though he knew what he was about to say might sound a bit shameless, it had to be said.
"I need soldiers who can forget the fear of death, who will give their all, and who, even in the face of death, will take pirates down with them."
"I want them to have the dedication to fight for what is right."
"But…"
"The Marines can't afford to pay them full salaries right now, and there's no guarantee that their pensions will be provided."
"So!"
Akira turned his head slightly, lowering his voice, "I want to establish a sense of justice for them with my own hands."
Gion asked, "How will you do that?"
Akira had already prepared for this. He pulled out two newspapers from the cabinet on his desk, holding them up high and pointing to the bold headlines.
Gion leaned in to read, and Rouge, curious, also took a peek.
The headlines read:
"The End of an Era! In Just Half a Month, Several Kingdoms Have Been Destroyed by Pirates. The People Were Displaced and Forced to Eat Tree Bark to Survive."
"Shock! A Marine Soldier Who Was Disabled in the Line of Duty for Justice Was Shunned and Despised by a Girl from His Own Village Upon Returning Home."
"Because these soldiers who fled have seen so much war and death, their hearts are filled with pain and fear. Right now, we need to rekindle their fighting spirit with love."
"Where does love come from? For most men, it's found in the soft embrace of a woman."
Such straightforward words instantly made Gion and Rouge's cheeks flush with embarrassment.
But Akira remained unfazed, continuing in a serious tone:
"After passing through towns ravaged by pirates, many women have lost their husbands, fathers—everything. At this time, they need us, the Marines, to give them support."
"What I'm proposing is simple: let the headquarters take the lead and bring these two groups together."
"Let these women, who have suffered under the tyranny of pirates, influence their partners. Let the soldiers who haven't yet grasped the true danger of pirates and who don't fully embrace the responsibility of justice gain that sense of justice through their women."
"These women, with nowhere else to go, can find solace in them, and the soldiers will be motivated to fight, not just for justice, but for the happiness they find with these women. This..."
"This could be seen as a different form of justice."
At the end of his speech, Akira sighed deeply, as if he were a sage speaking profound truths.
Gion was left speechless for a moment.
If this plan were executed, it could indeed be a win-win situation, saving countless lives.
But it was also...
A bit too shameless.
Her expression turned complicated as she said, "There will be many who won't accept this. If those women, who have lost their countries and families, find out that they're part of this plan to get soldiers back to fight pirates, they'll be furious."
Akira noticed the slight change in Gion's tone, sensing that she was beginning to agree with his plan.
That's good, just a little more effort.
"The greatest art in the world is language."
"When used correctly, the art of language has a power beyond imagination in its ability to persuade, inspire, and connect with people."
"Of course, we can't present this plan to everyone in such blunt terms. We need to package it carefully."
"Otherwise, those desperate women might not only reject the idea but also stir up resentment among the soldiers. If they find out they're being used to lure them back into fighting, they might feel disrespected and manipulated, like mere cannon fodder."
"And if that happens, forget about instilling justice in them—they might even turn into pirates themselves, further fueling the chaos of this era."
Akira stepped closer to Gion, grasping her wrist firmly, his voice serious:
"So, here's how we present it..."
"We could announce in the newspapers that a large number of young women in their prime are looking to marry brave Marines who fight for justice."
"These women, who once rejected the advances of wealthy heirs and noble sons, now seek only to marry fearless soldiers who have stood against the terror of pirates."
"Or perhaps..."
"For those poor, helpless girls, the headquarters is willing to arrange for brave and fearless Marines to take care of them, providing food, shelter, and protection."
"Where pirates have left you homeless, the righteous Marines will give you a new home."
"Of course, we can craft even more refined and artistic messages, like..."
"'I am proud because my husband is a Marine.'"
"'You fight for justice on the front lines, and I stand proud behind you, my beloved warrior!'"
"'I'm willing to fight all evil pirates for you, because I love you.'"
"'Even if you lose your arms and legs, I will never leave you, just because you fought for justice.'"
"'A loyal Marine, driven by love, hunts down the enemies of the woman he loves across the seas.'"
Gion: "..."
Rouge: "..."
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