As Sakazuki and Enel reached the Marine branch located at the massive tree, Number 66.
The full moon had already ascended into the sky, indicating the late hours of the night.
Enel, having recovered his senses, looked at the halted Sakazuki and asked:
"Aren't we going in?"
Sakazuki replied:
"We are, but not from here."
With that, he grabbed Enel's shoulder and stomped his foot.
Their figures instantly vanished as they entered the base from a concealed corner.
Standing atop the tallest and largest building of the branch.
Sakazuki looked at Enel:
"Use your Kenbunshoku Haki to perceive everything here."
Enel nodded.
Inside the hall on the middle floor of the building.
The Marine branch was surprisingly bustling late at night.
A group of soldiers were moving boxes.
One by one, they were piled up to fill half the hall.
Many of the boxes were still dripping blood, yet the soldiers here acted as if it were commonplace.
Once the moving was done, all the soldiers, except for two guards at the base entrance,
gathered in this hall.
The Branch Commander, Demora, smirked wickedly:
"Begin the report."
"Yes!"
A clerk beside him picked up a notebook:
"This week's protection money collected: 3,170,000 Berries."
"Plundered wealth and gold from various pirate crews: a total of 43,240,000 Berries."
"Profits from capturing and selling slaves and pirates to human traffickers: 10,320,000 Berries."
"Report complete."
Branch Commander Demora looked at the soldiers below and said:
"Same as always, Ross, distribute the protection money to everyone!"
"Ooh!!!"
The soldiers cheered. Although the money was illicitly obtained, under the influence of the prevailing environment,
everyone had become an accomplice.
How much could a Marine earn for their salary? How much for upholding justice?
The money Branch Commander Demora gave them in a week was equivalent to two months' salary.
Demora narrowed his eyes, looking at the Marine soldiers who had been thoroughly deceived:
"Alright, alright, keep it down."
"Ross, after distributing the protection money, send the remaining wealth to my residence."
"I need to sort it out in detail."
"For kickbacks and bribes."
His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it ensured that all the Marine soldiers in the hall could hear.
Then, Demora turned and walked away. No one saw the slight upturn of his lips.
These fools, hahahahahahahah.....
The triumphant Demora was unaware that two individuals with extremely potent Kenbunshoku Haki stood atop the building.
Witnessing everything.
After Demora had gone far, Enel spat out two words fiercely:
"Insects!!!"
Sakazuki's indifferent voice rang out:
"Demora, a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters."
"Took office at the Sabaody Archipelago branch three years ago."
"Since his appointment,"
"The jurisdiction within the Marine's area of responsibility and its surroundings were thoroughly 'cleaned up'."
"However, he is greedy, cunning, and without any bottom line."
"Think from the perspective of those in power."
"How would you deal with him?"
Enel remained silent for a long moment, then said with difficulty:
"Let him be..."
Sakazuki stated:
"Correct."
"Let him be."
"Sabaody Archipelago, as the gateway to the New World."
"A chaotic mix of fish and dragons."
"Powerful pirates and bounty hunters are everywhere."
"In three years, Demora has 'cleaned up' the Marine area and its surroundings."
"Regardless of his character, his competence is undeniable."
"The higher-ups are aware of his actions."
"In fact, among the hundreds of branch commanders in the Marine,"
"There are quite a few like him."
"But there's no way to deal with them."
"Do you know why?"
Enel pondered for a moment:
"Because our main enemies are pirates."
Sakazuki nodded:
"Precisely."
"Pirates are the main enemy."
"I can tell you this."
"If those who are guilty were dealt with, at least half of the Marine branches would be paralyzed."
"Their character is poor, but they are adept at winning people over."
"There are some underlings who are clean, but not many."
"Although in recent years, many children orphaned by pirates have been taken in and trained,"
"They haven't grown up yet."
"If these people were dealt with and temporary replacements were chosen,"
"It would expose the weakness of the Marines."
Enel looked confused:
"Weakness?"
Sakazuki nodded:
"Weakness."
"The Battle of Marineford, though seemingly a victory,"
"Was merely a superficial illusion."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is missing, Admiral Zephyr has retired."
"Over twenty thousand elite soldiers from Headquarters were killed."
"Currently, the only ones capable of upholding the reputation of Marine Headquarters are"
"Fleet Admiral Kong himself, Vice Admiral Garp, and myself."
"And some veteran Vice Admirals, but they are also aging."
"Headquarters is at its weakest point, with a lack of succession."
"These branch commanders, with their methods and capabilities, are the facade on the outside."
"They allow the world's citizens to know that Marine branches are capable."
"That the Marines can maintain peace on the seas."
"And this facade probably won't last much longer."
"Pirates with ambition will surely realize this over time,"
"And conduct probes."
"If Fleet Admiral Sengoku remains unfound for a prolonged period,"
"Then the power balance between the Marines and pirates will shift."
"If another battle like Marineford were to occur, the Marines would be the ones to lose."
Enel sighed:
"I understand."
Sakazuki said:
"No need to be so pessimistic."
"It's just not the right time yet."
Enel looked up:
"How much longer must we wait for the right time?"
Sakazuki gazed into the distance:
"How long...."
"Until all of you have grown up...."
"You, Barret, Borsalino, Momonga, Doberman, Dalmatian, Straw,....."
He murmured a string of names.....
After a long silence.
Sakazuki snapped back to reality:
"Let's go, back."
"It's too late."
"Tomorrow, I'll take you to see those pirates who call themselves adventurers."