"Welcome to the Marine Headquarters, Uchiha Shinra."
"Thank you for welcoming me, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
As Shinra and Sengoku met for the first time, the two greeted each other amiably, and naturally, everyone also stood there, staring curiously at Shinra, whose appearance was so dazzling that it easily charmed all of them.
If a king or a prince from a storybook came into reality, then this is how they would be pictured.
This was their impression of Shinra, and no one looked down on him, especially when the battle between Shinra and Kuzan had already been seen by everyone.
Still, Shinra also used this chance to observe his surroundings and saw many familiar faces, but
"Do you want me to guide you around the Marine Headquarters?"
Shinra looked at his women and asked, "What do you think?"
"Why not?"
Robin, Carina, and Baby 5 nodded, as they were quite curious about the Marine Headquarters.
"Then, can you help us?"
"Okay, let's talk along the way."
This is the art of negotiation, as one can't be direct, and everyone has their own wishes.
Sengoku might appear gentle and honest, yet Shinra knew well that this guy was crafty, and probably one of the smartest men in the world, as he had eaten the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, Buddha.
When Shinra knew Sengoku's Devil Fruit, he knew that it was impossible for Sengoku to be weak, and frankly, he felt that Sengoku should be more powerful, as his Devil Fruit was Buddha.
How could Buddha be weak?
Yet, Shinra didn't bother too much with the details and just talked with Sengoku about the Marines, and many other trivial things, but as they walked away, Kuzan was also lifted, and Kizaru and Akainu came to look at him.
"Oh my, Kuzan, how could you lose so badly?" Kizaru asked with his exaggerated tone as usual, but on the other hand, Akainu, who should talk and mock his rival, Kuzan, was silent and frowned.
Kuzan also ignored Akainu and answered Kizaru's question with his usual helpless tone. "He was that strong, after all."
"Did he use his Devil Fruit?" Kizaru asked curiously.
"No."
"Then only pure swordmanship?"
"Also, a Haki."
"....." Akainu and Kizaru.
"Oh my, he really has grown stronger." Kizaru still remembered his first meeting with Shinra, and of course, at that time, Shinra's power wasn't as exaggerated as it is now.
"What kind of Devil Fruit did he eat?"
"I don't know, but it should be a Mythical Type of Zoan."
"Like the Fleet Admiral?"
"Yes."
"Oh, my, will he become an admiral like us, then?"
As Kizaru asked a question, Akainu and Kuzan were silent, thinking about this possibility. Yet, while they talked, they didn't realize the reactions of those in their surroundings were stronger than they had thought they would be.
Admiral?!
Would that young man become an admiral directly?
Yet, when they saw Kizaru, who was still hurt, all of them could only remain in silence, since if they were in Shinra's place, could they directly defeat Kuzan like this?
Regardless, no matter what the decision of the higher-ups, those at the bottom could only follow. This was a military; the order of their superior was supreme, and all they should do was follow the order.
Nevertheless, when Shinra finished touring around the Marines Headquarters, watching that group of soldiers training, and also the facility, weapons, and everything, Sengoku brought him to the main room where there were many higher-ups of the Marines, including Tsuru, Kizaru, Akainu, and Kuzan.
"By the way, where is the Marine Hero?" Shinra asked.
Among all of the Marines, without a doubt, Mokey D. Garp was one of the legends, as this guy was so lawless. His son was the creator of the Revolutionary Army, and his grandson was a pirate.
Garp was even the one who took care of Ace and even worked together with the pirates.
Frankly, while Garp was strong and his achievements echoed around the world, Shinra felt that this guy didn't do much, especially when all of his achievements weren't done alone. Instead, Garp's reputation came from the World Government's decision to hide away its shame of having its plight solved by a pirate.
Still, Shinra didn't care about that since no matter how shitty Garp was, Garp's talent was good, and he thought to rob it.
Anyway, Garp was already old, and sooner or later, he would retire. Instead of letting him work for Luffy and his son to overthrow the World Government, it was better for Shinra to help him return to the East Blue to have an early retirement.
"Oh, I sent him back to his hometown."
While Sengoku didn't want to, especially when he had a grand plan to publicly execute Ace in front of everyone, and even erase one of the Four Emperors before he retired, the Five Elders also reminded him about the consequences of having Garp by their side.
Unlike the others, Sengoku knew all of Garp's bad habits and also his dirty secrets, and because of that, he agreed to the decision of the Five Elders.
Yet, the problem was, would Garp even listen?
Still, at this moment, Garp was still at the East Blue, and as for why Sengoku easily agreed, it was because Shinra would join the Marines.
"Shinra Uchiha."
Sengoku looked at Shinra and said, "Let me be straight with you. Please join the Marines."
"Okay."
"..."
Before Sengoku talked about his reason, Shinra agreed immediately.
"...can I ask the reason why you agree so easily?"
"My women are pregnant, so I thought I should get a stable job."
"...." Everyone.
There were many things that everyone wanted to stay at this moment, but somehow, they were all subconsciously looking at Kizaru, who gave a nod in acknowledgment of Shinra's purpose in joining the Marines.
Without a doubt, Shinra and Kizaru suited each other well.
"Don't worry. I know your objection, especially with how active you are in promoting the public execution of the 2nd division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, and I will do my best to erase the Whitebeard Pirates, fighting wholeheartedly, so the ocean can be peaceful and free from pirates."
This time, Akainu nodded at Shinra's words.
"Thank you, then—"
Sengoku was also happy, and the rest were even more so, especially when Shinra's answers were so firm and righteous. More importantly, as he was about to become a father, wasn't it normal for him to wish for the sea to be peaceful, so his children wouldn't have to fight?
"But before I join the Marines, can you agree to some of my requests?"
"Requests?'
This time, Sengoku's expression changed as he knew that everything wasn't as simple as it seemed to be, but—
"Let me hear it first."
"Okay." Shinra nodded, then listed all of his requests. "I want to work only Monday to Thursday from nine in the morning to five in the evening, and three days of holidays on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Also, I want annual leave, sick leave, force majeure leaves, additional pay for overtime work, employee benefits..."
As Shinra listed his requests, Kizaru raised his hand high. "I want to! I want to have the same benefits as him!"
"..." Everyone.
Sengoku's lips twitched, and he wondered whether the second Kizaru had emerged, but with an ugly expression, he asked, "Do you think it is possible?"
"It is." Shinra nodded. "I am good at swordsmanship, martial arts, all types of Haki, and I have also eaten a Mythical Type Zoan of Devil Fruit."
"Mythical type?!"
"What type?" Sengoku hurriedly asked.
"Vampire." Shinra didn't hide anything. "I can control blood. As long as their Haki isn't strong, I can make many people burst into a firework of blood."
"..."
All of them gulped, feeling at a loss, but Shinra's request wasn't excessive, especially when he just wished for flexible and fewer working hours.
Compared to his friend, Garp, who just lay around the office, stealing his snacks, Sengoku felt that Shinra's request was acceptable, especially when Shinra was young.
Garp was old, and he had grown weaker and would retire.
Meanwhile, Shinra represents the future, and with him, the position of the Marines was as stable as it could be, so—
"Okay, you are hired."
"Thank you." Shinra nodded and grasped Sengoku's hand. "I swear to protect this sea from evil."
"I can't wait for that!"
"Fleet Admiral! I want the same benefits, too!"
Yet, regardless, Kizaru and those who followed him also wanted the same benefits!