Early the next morning.
After finishing his morning routine and donning his uniform along with the marshal's coat, Orion strode out of his bedroom with a spring in his step.
"Do you always get up this late?" Just as Orion opened the door and stepped out of his bedroom, before he could even head upstairs to check on the elderly lady, a familiar voice unexpectedly reached his ears.
Following the sound, he saw Mihawk, dressed casually, sitting at the dining table with one leg crossed over the other, holding a newspaper published by the Marine Headquarters.
"Breakfast is ready. Since you took half an hour longer, the old lady and I didn't wait for you!" Not only had Mihawk shalessly settled into his ho, but he also made himself at ho by cooking breakfast.
Orion lips twitched slightly.
However, his attention was soon drawn to the variety of breakfast dishes laid out on the table. What surprised him the most was that the elderly lady completely ignored his presence, happily munching on a rice ball as if he weren't there.
After swallowing her food, the old lady finally noticed Orion. Surprisingly, she hadn't forgotten him. The mont she saw him, she imdiately waved him over.
"Good grandson, co here quickly. Grandma saved a lot of delicious food for you. Just don't let Sakazuki know—that boy is really bad!"
Orion didn't dare delay and quickly walked over to sit beside her. He asked knowingly.
"Grandma, where did all this food co from?"
The old lady pointed at Mihawk. "Mitaro made it. It's really delicious."
"M-Mitaro?" Orion blinked, barely holding back a laugh.
Mihawk, on the other hand, remained silent, his eyes fixed on the newspaper, though his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably.
He was utterly helpless!
Early in the morning, before he could even get out of bed, the old lady had barged into his room, startling him. Fortunately, he had t her the day before and knew her identity, so he guessed she might be suffering from dentia. Not daring to be rude, he imdiately got up and started talking with her.
That conversation nearly drove him insane!
The old lady was so forgetful. He had just told her his na, and she imdiately asked who he was. Just as he was about to lose it, the old lady suddenly said she was hungry. Being soone who enjoyed cooking, he didn't dare continue the conversation and rushed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Strangely, while he was cooking, the old lady didn't cause any trouble. Instead, she kept praising his cooking skills whenever he flipped sothing in the pan! It was a good start!
But— The old lady couldn't rember his full na, Dracule Mihawk. She only rembered the character "Mi." And instead of just calling him "Mi," she added "Taro" to it!
He was Dracule Mihawk from Kuraigana Island, the world's greatest swordsman, not so "Taro"!
If it had been a pirate or even a marine who called him that, he would have drawn his sword without hesitation.
Seeing Mihawk remain silent, Orion decided not to press further.
After chatting briefly with the old lady, he left.
...
Marineford, conference room.
All the vice admirals and rear admirals were present, sitting upright and attentively, their eyes fixed on Orion, who was seated in the marshal chair. Admiral Sakazuki and Kuzan, along with Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp, were seated on either side of Orion.
Outside the door, the neatly arrayed naval soldiers stood at attention every ten paces, holding their steel rifles upright. Though their expressions were stern, their eyes brimd with pride.
The reason was simple, the man they once served as a vice admiral had now beco the fleet admiral of headquarters and enjoyed privileges equal to those of the Five Elders.
Most importantly, they would no longer have to endure the arrogance of the Celestial Dragons, especially those haughty nobles from the Holy Land!
"Gion, let's begin~" Seated on the fleet admiral chair, Orion glanced around the conference room and spoke calmly.
"First, let's address the issue of salaries for all officers and soldiers of the naval headquarters."
"Yes~" Gion picked up a docunt and stood up, getting straight to the point.
"Since we've already disbursed a year salary in advance to all officers and soldiers, the headquarters' available funds are nearly depleted. We are temporarily unable to pay the bounties submitted by the various branch bases. This issue must be resolved quickly, as failing to pay the bounty hunters will severely damage the navy's credibility."
"Of course, this is only a small part of the problem. The headquarters' financial needs far exceed this."
After a brief pause, Gion suddenly raised her voice.
"I have a proposal, could the officers above the rank of captain contribute generously to help us overco this imdiate crisis? Once the Heavenly Tribute is collected, we can double their contributions as compensation!"
"No—" Before the attendees could react, Orion imdiately waved his hand. "You may not be aware of the circumstances of many officers at headquarters, but I've seen it all over the years. Many officers have families to support, and they send almost all their salaries back ho. Asking them to contribute now would only add to their burdens!"
"I have a solution" After a mont of silence, Orion narrowed his eyes, a sly smile flickering across his lips.
"In recent years, several figures in the New World have erged as so-called kings of the underworld. So have beco the 'Transport Kings' by monopolizing the vital shipping routes of the Grand Line, while others have beco 'Loan Sharks' through their lending practices. While their reputations pale in comparison to the Four Emperors, their wealth is nothing short of staggering!"
"So, I plan to personally write them an invitation to visit Marineford! If they're too afraid to co here, I'll et them wherever they choose!"
"If they dare to refuse, the navy will do one thing, take over their businesses and seize their wealth!"
"Not only will we target these so-called kings of the underworld, but we'll also go after the World Nobles of Marigeoise!"
"They spend billions of berries on slaves without a second thought. It's ti they contributed to the cause of justice! Gion, personally oversee the booking of a hotel on Sabaody Archipelago. I plan to organize an entertainnt event, a sort of 'transformation project,' and invite so World Nobles to participate!"
Hearing this, Gion lowered her head and covered her face.
As expected, Orion was still Orion. Even as the fleet admiral of headquarters, enjoying privileges equal to the Five Elders, he remained as resourceful as ever when it ca to raising funds.
Unlike Gion reaction, almost all the other attendees, except for Sengoku, Sakazuki, and Kuzan, wore expressions of fervent enthusiasm. Sure enough, their Lord Orion hadn't changed a bit even after becoming a marshal.
It was still the sa familiar plan.
When it ca to making money, no one was more professional than their Lord Orion!
"Orion, no!"
At that mont, Sengoku stood up.
"The six underworld kings of the New World wield imnse influence. If we forcibly take over their businesses and wealth, it could cause global turmoil! Especially the Transport King. His company handles not only shipping for major pirate factions and nations but also supplies for the Holy Land."
"Sengoku-san!!"
Before Orion could respond, one of the rear admirals suddenly stood up, glaring at Sengoku with wide eyes and said in a deep voice.
"During the eting, please address him as Fleet Admiral!"
This sudden remark completely caught Sengoku off guard!
Turning to look, Sengoku eyes widened like copper bells, and he said in disbelief.
"Noah, when did you beco a rear admiral? Did Orion promote you?"
The rear admiral who stood up was none other than Rear Admiral Noah, who had drawn his sword against Mihawk just yesterday!
Rear Admiral Noah stood at attention and loudly declared.
"Yes! All officers below the rank of vice admiral who followed Lord Orion in rebelling against you have been promoted by one rank!"
"Sengoku-san, I'll say it again, please address Lord Orion as Fleet Admiral!"
Hearing this, Sengoku mouth twitched.
He casually pulled out a rice cracker and popped it into his mouth, abandoning his forr stern deanor as a marshal. With a haughty lift of his head, he said.
"What a coincidence, I've been promoted three ranks and am about to take my turn as one of the Five Elders in the Chamber of Power!"
"What?"
Noah eyes widened, his imposing aura instantly extinguished, and he turned to Orion for help.
Orion, holding back a laugh, waved his hand. "Everyone, sit down. The matter regarding money is settled, no further discussion is needed."
"Now, let's move on to the second agenda!"
"Regarding the Shichibukai system, I do not approve of it."
"Since its establishnt, the Shichibukai have not only failed to contribute but have also used their status to gain even greater benefits!"
"However, before abolishing it, I plan to issue a summons to convene a Shichibukai eting to curb their arrogance!"
At this point, Orion turned his gaze to several vice admirals.
"Momonga, Strawberry, Bastille, Doberman, Yamakaji, Stainless!"
As soon as Orion finished speaking, the six vice admirals whose nas were called quickly stood up.
"You will take the summons and set out imdiately. Inform the six Shichibukai mbers, excluding Mihawk, that they must arrive at Marine Headquarters within three days to attend the Shichibukai eting three days from now."
"Tell them that if they fail to appear at the eting in three days, they will face more than just the loss of their Shichibukai status!"
"They must also be prepared to face the wrath of Marine Headquarters!"
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