Although Shadowflow Island had encountered a crisis and lost many people, the appearance of the Xuanwu Navy successfully established its image there. Furthermore, there was no resistance to the Xuanwu Navy's stationing; on the contrary, they were very welcome.
The age of great navigation had begun.
Pirates like those encountered today were common. More powerful pirates would appear later. For the Xuanwu Navy to firmly establish its hegemonic position in the East Sea would not be easy.
"Marshal, is your plan to station troops in every place where humans live?" Sakata Gintoki approached Benedict on the warship returning to the Xuanwu Navy base and asked.
"To protect peace, we must give every governed citizen a sense of security," Benedict, who was looking at a nautical chart, said as he drew a circle on Shadowflow Island.
"Marshal, we are short of personnel. If we dispatch two hundred soldiers to station on Shadowflow Island and are attacked by pirates, I fear they won't hold out for long and will suffer losses," Sakata Gintoki mused.
"Moreover, Shadowflow Island has no concept of nationhood. But what about those kingdoms that possess national civilized systems?"
Benedict had naturally considered this question. Upon hearing it, he replied, "If they have the ability to defend themselves, let them defend. We are the Navy, maintaining order on the seas and fighting pirates, which also means safeguarding the security of every land. However, if they are incapable and the people seek help to endure their suffering, then do not hesitate. When the time comes to act, for those common people in dire straits, we are there to uphold justice for them."
Sakata Gintoki fell into brief contemplation. Finally, he said solemnly, "I understand."
Taking a deep breath, Sakata Gintoki added, "Marshal, Gintoki wishes to apply for a hundred-man detachment to patrol the seas."
Benedict glanced at Sakata Gintoki, seeing the spark in his eyes, and smiled, "Alright, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Today, we return to base and let everyone get acquainted."
Sakata Gintoki received the answer he desired and a smile appeared on his face.
"I want to go out to sea too. Give me a hundred-man detachment as well." Buggy, who had been peeking from outside the door, saw that Sakata Gintoki had gotten the chance to lead a hundred-man detachment, and immediately saw hope, then he emerged.
"I refuse!" Benedict said without hesitation.
"Why can he get the chance to lead a hundred-man detachment, but I cannot?" Clown Buggy immediately became indignant and threatened, "If you don't even give me a chance to lead a hundred-man detachment, I'm quitting the Navy."
Benedict frowned, then a faint smile played on his lips. Sakata Gintoki turned around, revealing a mischievous "Berserk" meme expression, and taunted, "Do you even have a clue why?"
"You bastard, take back that damned expression!" Buggy became instantly enraged upon seeing Sakata Gintoki's Berserk meme.
"Chicken!" Sakata Gintoki ignored Buggy's anger, picked his nose, and said dismissively.
"I want to fight you one-on-one!" Buggy leaned in close to Sakata Gintoki and roared furiously.
Bang!
Sakata Gintoki suddenly struck, throwing a punch. Buggy, caught completely off guard, flew backward and slammed heavily against the ship's cabin, his vision blurring.
"Chicken!" Sakata Gintoki came before Buggy, lowered his head, and opened his mouth, but made no sound. Yet, Buggy, whose vision was blurred, somehow understood the meaning.
"Ah, I'll kill you!" Buggy, now in pieces, staggered and prepared to fight Sakata Gintoki desperately.
"Buggy!" Benedict spoke at the opportune moment, his immense pressure engulfing Buggy.
In an instant, Sakata Gintoki looked at Benedict with immense shock. This powerful aura made him instinctively draw his sword. Buggy, however, was almost knocked unconscious by this potent aura.
"Buggy, this is the gap in strength." Sometime later, Benedict retracted his aura, approached Buggy, grabbed him by the neck, and said.
Buggy instantly sobered up. Looking at Sakata Gintoki, who appeared as if nothing had happened, he fell silent for a moment.
"To surpass Shanks and defeat him, you still have a lot to do. Buggy!" Benedict's tone softened considerably as he reminded Buggy.
"Over the next two months, I will give you special training. If you meet the standard, I will give you the opportunity to lead a hundred-man team out to sea. As long as you don't bring shame to the Xuanwu Navy, you can do whatever you want with that hundred-man team."
Buggy's spirit immediately soared. His head split apart, hovering in the air, and he stared at Benedict, "Benedict, you're not joking with me, are you?"
"Do you think I need to joke with you?" Benedict said faintly.
"Good, it's just special training, it's not like I haven't been through it before," Buggy immediately declared firmly.
The Bara Bara no Mi was quite interesting. If it could be developed, it would be very powerful. Thus, Buggy was about to face hellish special training.
Xuanwu Navy Base.
When Benedict returned, Kenshiro had already returned. Kenshiro was currently arranging those special forces who had gathered.
"How many soldiers have gathered today?" Benedict inquired.
"We have recruited three thousand one hundred and seventeen soldiers, each with combat power not inferior to D-class," Kenshiro handed a document to Benedict.
Benedict glanced at it casually. It listed their names, strength, and the techniques they had mastered. Undoubtedly, they were all at D-class level and proficient in the Six Powers of the Navy. Some individual soldiers had even mastered Armament Haki.
Seeing this information, Benedict's face broke into a smile. Three thousand Colonel-level soldiers couldn't compare to the current Marine Headquarters. However, with more Colonel-level soldiers gathering continuously in the future, reaching one hundred thousand would make a difference.
"Marshal, although our soldiers possess considerable strength and continue to increase, we are still lacking a large amount of funds for weapons and equipment purchases. Additionally, we also need a fixed base for warship and weapon research and production."
Benedict also knew that these were the current deficiencies of the Xuanwu Navy base. Moreover, the Xuanwu Navy could not rely solely on special forces summoned by the system. The world was vast, with so many islands; even a million marines might not be enough. Therefore, at this juncture, it was necessary to recruit people from this world to bolster the Xuanwu Navy base. The educational base was one such method. But this was still not enough. Marine Headquarters obtained resources and money from all over the world through the World Government for various research and procurement. For the Xuanwu Navy to develop long-term, it also needed its own channels to acquire money and procure various resources.
With this in mind, Benedict had to plan a commercial empire for the Xuanwu Navy.