Chapter 355: Air Force Admiral Kizaru and Army Major Bege!
In the First Half of the Grand Line, on both sides below Reverse Mountain, the Lighthouses, originally one on the left and one on the right, had now been painted with the characteristic Marines Blue Paint and white Seagull icons.
Six Headquarters-level massive Warships were anchored three hundred Nautical Miles away from the Entrance/Exit, to the east and west, aiming the two rows of Gun Barrels on their Broadside and the Triple-barreled Turrets on their Deck simultaneously at the Seaships lining up in the center, waiting for inspection.
At the same Time.
A Navy Base, featuring clusters of sky-blue Castles, stood tall. Its massive area, comparable to an Island, completely blocked the front of Reverse Mountain.
Ships passing through, after completing a series of inspections, could only diverge to the left and right sides, and then choose one of the seven Routes for their Voyage.
This was the newly established G-0 Branch of the Marine Headquarters.
Since its appearance here, almost every day Pirate Ships from the Four Seas would rush down from below Reverse Mountain, throwing themselves into the Net.
It perfectly demonstrated the Effect of 'waiting by the stump for a rabbit'.
The Marines assigned to this Branch were both happy and pained by this Situation.
The happiness came from not needing to Patrol everywhere or chase Pirate Ships across the Great Sea like other Branches, while the pain was having to endure high-Density and high-Intensity Combat almost every day.
Especially when the Rumors of ONE PIECE were at their peak, they didn't even have Time to eat a proper meal in the Cafeteria. Pirate Ships, large and small, surged down like a continuous Sardine School.
At that Time, the Prison inside the Base was full, Cannonball reserves were once depleted, and the Casualty Rate even reached the highest among all G-Branches.
One must know that previously, the Branches in the New World usually had the highest Casualty Rate.
Fortunately, Base Commander Kizaru was capable enough. Each Light Beam he fired accurately blasted the Pirate Crews that were Stronger or almost escaped!
However, the number of Pirate has decreased significantly recently, but the Marines' work hasn't become easier because of this.
Fewer Pirate means the Sea Situation is safer, especially in the Sea Areas of the Four Seas where the Climate is relatively stable. This directly led to a sharp increase in Civilian Ships like Merchant Ships and Cargo Ships.
This is certainly a good thing.
But their Base also serves as 'Customs', which is why the spectacular Scene of sails like clouds and ships stretching for a thousand miles has appeared now.
This again resulted in the Ship flow being too dense, almost filling the Sea Surface between Reverse Mountain and the G-0 Base, often causing problems of Ship collisions or Sea route blockages.
So, what should they do?
The Marines have to act as Sea traffic police!
In short, they are busy, extremely busy!
The Marines and Government Officials within the Base are living extremely fulfilling yet overwhelmed lives every day because of the busyness...
But no matter how busy they are, it's only the people below who are tired, not Borsalino.
In the Base Chief's Office, he was seen lazily lying on a wide chair, his legs resting on the Office Desk, picking up the Transponder Snail that had just started ringing.
"Yo~ Isn't this Fleet Admiral Sengoku? You actually have Time to call me?"
However, the other end of the Handset remained silent, which made Borsalino glance strangely at the Transponder Snail.
Because the Transponder Snail imitates the caller's Expression, he found the Transponder Snail looking serious and helpless.
After a moment, Sengoku finally spoke.
"Borsalino, the latest Order from the Command Department, you are being transferred to Air Force Headquarters and promoted to Air Force Admiral!"
"..."
This left Borsalino speechless. He put his legs down from the desk, but he always goes with the flow and didn't dwell on it too much. Then he asked.
"I just became an Admiral Candidate. Is my Military Merit enough for a promotion to Admiral?"
"It's enough. The number of Pirate you and your Branch dealt with at Reverse Mountain is almost the total of the other few Branches in the First Half of the Grand Line."
"Then who will replace me?"
Sengoku, in the Fleet Admiral's Office at Marine Headquarters, said expressionlessly: "Kuzan!"
"Oh—"
Borsalino understood. This was to let Kuzan earn Military Merit at Reverse Mountain, to prepare him for his upcoming promotion to Marine Admiral.
That place, Fish-Man Island, should have no Pirate now. Keeping Kuzan there would truly be a waste of Time.
"But Mr. Sengoku, my Strength isn't enough to be an Admiral, is it?"
Hearing this Bastard directly change his address and no longer call him Fleet Admiral, a string of Black Lines appeared on Sengoku's forehead.
"This is an appointment from the Command Department, and Sakazuki, who is similar to you, isn't he also an Army General now?"
"That's true..."
Borsalino mumbled.
"Then where is Air Force Headquarters? Do I need to wait for Kuzan to arrive before reporting?"
"In Elbais on Sky Island. The specific Position will be sent to you later, but it is said that it hasn't been fully constructed yet, so you don't need to rush."
Sengoku cursed inwardly, 'Are you in such a hurry to leave the Marines?'
"Also, you need to go to the Red Line immediately. The Command Department wants you to participate in the upcoming Otherworld Conquest."
"Otherworld Conquest, huh? Sounds terrifying~~"
Borsalino twisted his mouth with a look of refusal. Those four words sounded particularly troublesome. Then he asked curiously: "Are you going too?"
"Yes, both Garp and I have received the Order. Besides us, 'Whitebeard', 'BIG MOM', 'Kaido', and others will also be going."
"By the way, Kaido, like you, has been appointed as an Air Force Admiral. You should be careful," Sengoku said expressionlessly.
Borsalino felt even more troubled. Thinking of Kaido, an Azure Dragon drinking heavily and drunk appeared in his mind.
"Alright, I understand~"
"Oh, one last question, Mr. Sengoku. How are the Salary and Benefits at Air Force Headquarters? Are they higher than here in the Marines?"
Hearing this sentence coming from the Handset, the Veins on Sengoku's forehead suddenly bulged.
"Get lost!!"
[Slap—]
Borsalino looked at the hung-up Transponder Snail in surprise, twisting his mouth and complaining: "Why is Mr. Sengoku so angry? Was he angered by Mr. Garp again?"
Anyway, he felt that the question he asked was very normal. Isn't the Treatment issue the most important thing!
"Hope it's more comfortable over at the Air Force..."
Red Line, RL1557, the Star Gate Base leading to the Demon Slayer World.
Something here seemed to have changed.
Logically, there should still be a long Time before the two hundred thousand Army Soldier enter the Demon Slayer World.
But now, the long queues were gone. Instead, on the Open Ground outside the Base, they were lined up in a rather spectacular massive square formation.
At this moment, a man wearing the Army's Black Justice Coat, a black Gentleman's Hat on his head, and a Cigar in his mouth walked out from the Main Gate of the Base and stood at the front.
It was Capone Bege, who was only 1.66 meters tall!
That day, he fought a battle with Doflamingo, and after losing, he was brought here. He heard that he would be able to see 'Whitebeard' here in a few days, so he settled down and became an Army Major.
"First three rows, step forward."
[Bang!]
The Army Soldier who were called out all took a step forward in unison. The Footsteps they made shook the red Sand.
Capone Bege began to activate his Castle-Castle Fruit Ability. His entire Body rapidly expanded, turning into a small Fortress five meters high and six meters wide in the blink of an eye.
His Devil Fruit Ability would increase the Castle's Volume, internal space, and surface Defense along with his own Strength.
Therefore, this Castle was far from as large as the 'Big Boss' in the Canon twenty-three years later.
But regardless, it was still much larger than the Star Gate, which was only two meters wide.
"Come in, quickly!"
As Capone Bege's Order was given, the three rows of Army Soldier, holding Automatic Rifles, walked quickly in a long line into the wide-open Fortress Main Gate...
Thank you to Reader Dancing with the Maple for the 500 Qidian Coin Tip! Bow! Thank you for your support and Encouragement!
(End of this chapter)