Chapter 132: Sengoku's Conditions

"You have received what you wanted; now it is time to discuss my conditions."

Seeing Luo Lan’s satisfaction, Sengoku let out a sigh of relief. He put on his glasses and spoke with a serious expression.

"Please, go ahead!"

Luo Lan stood opposite Sengoku, matching his solemnity. He understood the principle of the carrot and the stick. By granting him what he wanted, Sengoku had effectively ensured that Luo Lan could not refuse his terms. As a Fleet Admiral, Sengoku certainly knew how to do his job well.

"Your current adjutant, Pungeles, is only a Major. That is more than enough for a ship, but for a base, he falls far short in terms of seniority, capability, and rank. Therefore, we intend to assign you a new adjutant. What do you think?" Sengoku said calmly.

"Assign a new adjutant?" Luo Lan paused, feeling a bit strange.

Generally speaking, if Sengoku wanted to replace an adjutant, he had the authority to do so without needing to consult anyone. The fact that he was bringing it up now suggested this individual was no ordinary officer. It was highly likely that beyond managing the base, the new adjutant’s task would be to keep an eye on him.

However, Luo Lan was not overly concerned. As long as the officer was a true believer in justice, he was confident he could sway them to his side. After all, if they both believed in justice and wanted to make the world a better place, how could they refuse his leadership?

"Could Pungeles be reassigned under my command? He doesn't need to be my adjutant, but we’ve worked together for a long time, and I find him reliable," Luo Lan replied after thinking it through.

"That is not a problem. Pungeles can continue to serve under you, but he cannot be the adjutant. We have already arranged for a successor—someone who strictly adheres to justice, unlike that filth Tucci," Sengoku said firmly.

"If that is the case, I have no objections," Luo Lan said, nodding. If the new person was a strict follower of justice, let them watch him; he had no intention of doing anything untoward for the time being. Perhaps, over time, they would be conquered by his own charismatic aura and become one of his own.

"Furthermore, once the branch base is established, I want you to turn your jurisdiction into a 'no-pirate zone' as soon as possible, just as you mentioned to Smoker."

"I intend to use your base as a pilot program. If it works, we may finally have a chance to eliminate the pirates in the first half of the Grand Line in one fell swoop."

"As long as the first half of the Grand Line is stable and devoid of pirates, the Four Emperors of the New World will receive no fresh blood. If their strength is steadily drained, they will gradually weaken and eventually disappear." Sengoku pointed to the location of the G-10 branch on the map.

He had high hopes. In the past, the establishment of branch bases had been meant to deter pirates, but they had proven ineffective. Without the strength of the Marine Headquarters, those bases could handle small-time pirates but were no match for the true powerhouses. He wanted to use Luo Lan as a test case. If a powerhouse like him could effectively command a branch and deter pirates, then the Vice Admirals from the headquarters could be dispatched elsewhere. If the plan succeeded, the Great Pirate Era, sparked by Roger twenty years ago, might actually come to an end. Even if pirates were not fully eradicated, they would no longer be the plague they were today.

"Maintaining order in a region is something I would do regardless of your request," Luo Lan nodded. "The existence of pirates is detrimental to the world's development and should have been crushed with ruthless force long ago."

"Another thing: once the headquarters issues an order, you must return immediately. Even if you are in the middle of suppressing pirates, you must depart the moment the battle ends. Furthermore, the Marines at your branch must treat my orders as the absolute highest priority. When I issue an order, they are no longer under your command." Sengoku’s expression grew even more severe.

Compared to the previous terms, this was the one he absolutely needed Luo Lan to accept. He did not want to provide the resources to build up someone who would eventually turn against the Marines. If Luo Lan accepted this, the rest of the paperwork was trivial.

"Is that all? As a Marine, obeying the Fleet Admiral is a given, isn't it? Fine, I have no objections. The moment you give an order, I will return to headquarters, even if I am in the middle of a battle. As for the latter part, if our opinions differ, the Marines under me will naturally follow your lead."

Luo Lan chuckled inwardly at this condition. It wouldn't affect him as long as he wasn't planning anything subversive. And if he ever did decide to make a move, if he hadn't already won the hearts of his men by then, he might as well just go home and farm. This condition was far easier than the first one.

"The rest are just trivialities; I'll list them out for you," Sengoku said. Seeing the lengthy list of remaining conditions, he sighed and began to go through them one by one.

To Luo Lan, however, they were indeed just minor details. The only real conditions were the new adjutant and the absolute control of the base by the headquarters. But once he brought his people in, he would have plenty of time to "brainwash" them. Once that was done, these conditions would be meaningless; he could even play along with Sengoku's theater. For those obsessed with justice, convincing them to serve a "true" cause was simple. After all, the corruption within the Marine Headquarters was no secret. He only needed to guide them slightly, and it would be clear who they truly followed.

Still, Luo Lan was intrigued by the new adjutant. A Colonel who strictly followed justice—there were few such people in the Marines. Who could it be? He asked, but Sengoku only shook his head, saying he would find out in due time.

Luo Lan left the office with his appointment letter and returned to his residence. When night fell and everyone gathered, they rejoiced at the sight of the appointment letters laid out on the table. Even Nami, who usually didn't care much about rank, was thrilled to see she had been promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer and immediately called home to Cocoyasi Village to share the news.

The only one unhappy was Coby. Colonel Luo Lan had become Major General Luo Lan, Mr. Zoro had become Major Zoro, and even Miss Nami was a Master Chief Petty Officer. Why was he still just a Sergeant? He was not convinced!