65. Let The Big Pirates Of Impel Down Enter The Factory To Work Part-Time!

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Time ticked by, minute by minute, second by second.

Finally, the thick stack of Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau regulations, along with the scope of powers and responsibilities, had been thoroughly reviewed.

"Aunt Tsuru, this is great! The staff department did a very comprehensive job," Akira remarked as he lifted his head, pushing the document forward with a tone full of appreciation.

Even with his experience from Blue Star, he couldn't find any major flaws in the document.

Not that he didn't think it could be improved.

But the societal structure of the Pirate World is quite different from that of Blue Star.

Some things aren't yet suitable for implementation in this feudal world.

Trans-epochal systems often cause major disruptions, and that kind of attention from the Five Elders wouldn't be good.

If you take too big a step, it's easy to stumble.

So, as long as it's functional, it's acceptable.

Anyway, the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau is mainly responsible for crimes committed by soldiers and officers, and whatever happens, it won't cause widespread turmoil.

"Alright, I'll hand it over to Sengoku and have him run the bureau according to this system," Tsuru said as she stood up, taking the file.

"Sure, if he needs manpower, he can choose from the officers himself and then submit the list for approval."

"Okay, but when is Sengoku stepping down as Admiral to focus on the Bureau?" Tsuru inquired.

"Well...," Akira trailed off, moving his fingers thoughtfully. After a moment, he shook his head and replied, "No rush."

"Sakazuki and the others, who are in line to succeed as Admirals, still need to build up momentum and prove themselves first."

"Let's do something similar to what we did with Teacher Zephyr—let Sengoku hold both roles for now."

A Marine Admiral is the highest combat power endorsed by the headquarters.

Not only does it come with significant authority, but also a vast reputation.

It can be said that, aside from the position of Fleet Admiral, the role of Admiral is the spiritual pillar for all Marine soldiers and the people worldwide.

The position of Admiral isn't like that of a Vice Admiral. You can't just say, "Fleet Admiral Akira decided I am a Admiral," and take the role the next day.

It's necessary to build up momentum and publicize the strength and achievements of the three.

This way, everyone can feel confident in their upcoming leadership.

So for now, Sengoku should continue as Admiral while also serving as the Director of the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau.

This way, Sengoku can familiarize himself with and refine the new department, avoiding any rush that might mess up a good system.

"It's definitely safer this way; I'll inform him," Tsuru agreed, quickly understanding Akira's plan.

"Alright, I'll take my leave then."

"Wait a moment, Aunt Tsuru!"

Akira raised his hand to stop her. "There's something I want to discuss with you."

"Go ahead."

"What do you think about our current situation? Where do you see the Marine's weaknesses?" Akira leaned back in his chair, adjusting his glasses, and asked seriously, "Why can't we control this era of great pirates?"

"We have the manpower, the resources, the weapons, and we also have the courage and reputation of justice. At this stage, we shouldn't be losing to the pirates."

"But the reports from various regions all say they can barely hold their own against the pirates, and sometimes they even have to retreat."

"Why? Where is our disadvantage? Why can't we wipe out all the pirates we encounter at sea?"

Hearing this, Tsuru's expression grew serious.

She didn't respond immediately, instead taking a moment to stand still and think deeply.

Akira didn't rush her either.

After all, he had plenty of time, and he needed Tsuru to give the most honest and insightful opinion.

She had been out at sea for the past two months, which likely gave her a unique perspective on the challenges the Marines were facing.

If anyone in Marine Headquarters could address his concerns, it would be this seasoned chief staff officer.

"Being in the position of Fleet Admiral has its pros and cons," Akira thought to himself as he pulled out a cigar from his drawer, lighting it and taking a deep puff.

As Marine Fleet Admiral, he enjoyed the admiration of everyone. All he needed to do was sit in his office, sip tea, and review a few documents each day.

He didn't have to be like a Vice Admiral, leading ships out to sea to fight dangerous pirates, making his life relatively safer.

But, in exchange, he lost direct, first-hand experience of what was happening on the seas.

His understanding of the world and the situation on the seas now depended on reports and information gathered by others.

Of course, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Many Rear Admirals would give anything to sit comfortably like him, enjoying the relative peace of Marineford.

Soon, Tsuru finished her contemplation.

She looked at Akira, ready to speak but hesitated.

"Aunt Tsuru, don't hold back. If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them," Akira encouraged, looking at her expectantly as he stubbed out his cigar.

"Then I won't hide anything from you."

Tsuru pressed her lips together, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "There are actually many factors at play, but some of them can be discussed openly, while others cannot."

Akira's eyes flickered slightly. If even the Marine's chief staff officer felt there were things that couldn't be spoken about, it likely involved the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

If that was the case, Akira already had some idea about the unmentionable topics.

Since these were sensitive subjects, he decided to skip them for now.

When he was in a stronger position in the future, he could revisit them.

For now, the priority was to deal with the era of the great pirates and secure the ultimate mission rewards.

"Then let's stick to what can be discussed," Akira said.

"Alright! Fleet Admiral Akira, you're correct in saying our soldiers aren't inferior to pirates, and our weapons and warships are far superior. But there's one area where we fall short."

"And what is that?" Akira asked.

"Warships, Marine bases, a large number of soldiers, and most importantly... mid-to-high-level combat power," Tsuru replied bluntly, pointing directly at the higher-ranking officers.

"The first three issues are relatively easy to address—you just need enough berries. But the last one is much more challenging."

"Compared to the pirates, our Marine's mid-to-high-level combat power is limited."

"Leaving aside the Admirals like Sengoku, Garp, and Sakazuki, even the Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals who lead fleets at sea often struggle when faced with powerful pirates. The pirates they confront aren't always easily defeated."

"And the small number of Vice Admirals in Marineford doesn't even compare to the officers stationed at other bases."

"To be honest, Akira, you've led teams out to sea multiple times since joining the Marines. You should know how we usually deal with pirates, right?"

Akira nodded, responding thoughtfully, "Most of the time, we rely on superior ships, advanced weapons, and soldiers far outnumbering the enemy."

"Exactly! But when faced with strong pirates, we often have to let them go or risk being overpowered. Do you think such results can end the era of the great pirates?"

Akira fell silent.

He crossed his fingers, resting his chin on them as he contemplated.

Tsuru's words had hit the core issue directly.

Despite the Marines being the dominant force on the seas, they weren't as invincible as they appeared.

In truth, it was the combination of top-level combat power and the sheer numbers of lower-level soldiers that maintained their image of supremacy.

When Admiral-class combat power was deployed, their ships were unstoppable. But without it, their strength was not as overwhelming as they liked to believe.

With enough guns and ammunition, a large number of soldiers can overwhelm ordinary pirates.

But the real issue lies in the mid-to-high-level combat power that bridges the gap between the lower ranks and the top brass.

To put it bluntly, we're talking about the Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals.

Aside from exceptional figures like Momousagi, most others are prone to stumbling in critical situations.

Ordinary Vice Admirals often struggle against pirate captains, and even if they manage to hold their own, the pirate crew's deputy captains and officers can still break through the Marine ranks, tearing apart the soldiers' defenses and gaining the upper hand.

For instance, more than 20 years after the original story, in the Dressrosa arena, Vice Admiral Maynard was easily defeated by Bartolomeo, who only had a bounty of 200 million berries.

The key point: easily defeated.

This situation is absurd...

Akira recalled this and felt an urge to complain.

How someone like Maynard managed to survive for over twenty years is baffling.

One bad day, and he could easily be killed by pirates.

This exemplifies the embarrassing situation for the Marines.

There's no shortage of top-level powerhouses, but the mid-to-high-level ranks are woefully inadequate compared to the endless stream of pirates, both in quality and quantity.

And that's not even counting the likes of Admirals and the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

It's impractical to have Admiral-level combat power patrolling the world just to deal with mid-level pirate captains, right?

Even if they tried, they wouldn't be able to catch them all, and it would be a waste of resources—like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

It's understandable when you think about it.

Pirates live dangerous lives, constantly on the run from the Marines, wary of betrayal from their peers, and targeted by various enemies.

In this ruthless environment, the weak either become lackeys or perish in obscurity.

And this is just the beginning of the Great Pirate Era.

The more pirates there are, the more powerful ones emerge.

"There's no immediate solution to this!"

"Maybe in a few years, we can replace these Vice Admirals by training Zoro and other characters from the original story," Akira mused.

His ideal Vice Admiral would be strong enough to fight on par with an Admiral against the Four Emperors, rather than being easily defeated by a billion-berry pirate.

"I understand, Aunt Tsuru," Akira said seriously, snapping back to reality. "So, if we want to curb the Great Pirate Era, we need to bolster our mid-to-high-level combat power significantly."

"Yes, but that's easier said than done. Those with this kind of strength don't need to join the Marines, and they often can't accept the strict rules we enforce."

"Aunt Tsuru, I have an idea. What do you think?" Akira asked, licking his lips.

"What is it?" Tsuru looked puzzled but answered, "Your clone ability is indeed very practical. The strength limit of the copied characters is high, and their various unique abilities are hard to counter."

"Honestly, if every warship and every base were equipped with such clones, we could handle many pirates and perhaps even contain this wave of piracy."

"But that's not realistic," Tsuru shook her head, pessimistic about the future of the Marines and the world. "Akira, the Great Pirate Era can't be curbed by just one person. The Marines will need time to slowly resolve this..."

Akira laughed, "Since you acknowledge the strength of the clones, why do you say it's unrealistic to rely on them to contain this era?"

"You should know your own ability better than anyone. It's not feasible to mass-produce clones on a large scale."

Tsuru's meaning was clear. Akira's Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon's clones is powerful, but it's also physically taxing.

Even though the energy required is small, it's not negligible, and only a limited number of clones can be produced in a day.

More importantly, the stronger the clone, the more energy it consumes, making mass production impossible.

Tsuru continued, "A dozen, twenty, or even hundreds of clones might ease the situation, but they won't be enough to completely contain the Great Pirate Era."

"Not to mention that the leaves you create in a day have to be supplied to the Marine Bank and turned into teleportation scrolls."

Tsuru started speaking but suddenly froze mid-sentence, her pupils narrowing as she stared ahead in disbelief.

At that moment, Akira, with his left palm facing upward, activated his raccoon ability, forming a circle of light in his hand.

In an instant, deformed leaves began to appear at an incredibly fast pace, like a fountain, spilling out deformed starfish.

Crash.

The leaves fluttered down, filling the entire desk in the blink of an eye.

Some even piled up around Tsuru's ankles, as more continued to fall to the ground.

As for Akira, he remained relaxed, a calm smile on his face. He showed no signs of fatigue or even a change in his breathing.

Gion and Rouge were equally shocked.

They both stood up from the sofa simultaneously, their eyes wide in disbelief as they took in the sheer number of deformed leaves.

"Why... how are there so many?" Gion exclaimed, holding a large handful of deformed leaves, her tone full of astonishment.

Both women knew the value of these deformed leaves, having used them to deceive the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom. 

If these leaves were sold, countless people across the world would pay a high price for them. 

They had thought these leaves were rare, but now, they were being produced at a rate of tens, even hundreds, per second, like they were ordinary items.

Just a quick glance was enough to overwhelm them—there were easily thousands of leaves scattered around.

"Stop, stop! That's enough!" Tsuru suddenly rushed forward, grabbing Akira's hand to stop the torrent of leaves.

Only after Akira deactivated his ability did Tsuru allow herself to breathe again. She asked, panting, "What's going on? How are you able to produce so many all of a sudden?"

"Over the past two months, I've gained a deep understanding of how to copy and create deformed leaves," Akira replied, smiling as he delivered the excuse he had prepared. "Simply put, it's a breakthrough in my control and application my Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon."

"I see... that explains it," Tsuru muttered to herself, processing the new information.

"So, Aunt Tsuru, do you think we can now replenish a significant amount of mid-to-high-level combat power?" Akira asked.

"There's hope, but not much," Tsuru admitted. "Even if Sengoku and the others were to copy leaves non-stop for an entire day, they wouldn't be able to meet the needs of all the Marines."

"Who said we only need a few people doing the copying? What about the other Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals at headquarters? They're not doing nothing," Akira countered.

"Uh, but it's still..." Tsuru hesitated.

"And what about the other powerful people across the seas? If they can't stand Marine rules, let them sell their physical strength. Anyone willing to copy for my Marines will be compensated in berries."

Tsuru, Gion, and Rouge all stared at Akira in stunned silence.

Tsuru, in particular, seemed visibly shaken. Though still in her fifties, her thoughts began to spiral, reflecting on the implications of Akira's plan.

Despite her internal turmoil, she didn't interrupt Akira. Instead, she watched him intently, her ears pricked to catch every word.

Seeing this, Akira smirked, a devilish grin forming on his lips as he continued, "And what about the pirates imprisoned in Impel Down? Why should they get to eat and drink for free, living safely under our watch?"

"Free and easily controlled labor like that would be wasted if we didn't use it."

"Plus, I'm sure the pirates and criminals who were swindled out of their fortunes by the staff department not long ago would be eager to work for us to earn berries to pay off their debts."

"Of course, we'll need to come up with the perfect way to convince them."

The atmosphere in the Fleet Admiral's office grew tense as Akira continued speaking.

The three women stood before him, dumbfounded by the sheer audacity of his ideas.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Tsuru managed to speak.

"Akira, this is too much! Don't you think it's a bit extreme to squeeze them like this?"

"It's not like I'm not paying them. It's a fair exchange—what they want for what we need."

"But what about the pirates from Impel Down?"

"Those vile criminals should be grateful they're still alive."

"But will they cooperate?"

"Trust me, after a few days without food, they'll come begging to cooperate."