"How could this be...?" Cross's face showed an expression of disbelief, finding it hard to accept Sengoku's words.
"I understand how you feel, but there's a saying that rings true: 'A clay pot doesn't escape shattering at the well, just as a general can't avoid death on the battlefield.' You haven't been in the Marines for very long, so it's understandable that this is difficult for you to accept," Sengoku said with a sigh, offering a bit of comfort.
"I understand these things and was mentally prepared, but when it actually happens, it's still hard to accept at first." Cross looked dejected and instinctively rubbed his face.
Gobert was much older than him, but that hadn't stopped them from becoming friends. Especially during Cross's time at Marine Headquarters, he often went to the Sabaody Archipelago for missions and fought alongside Rear Admiral Gobert.
Afterward, Gobert would often treat him well, and a good comradeship was naturally formed. Since both of them were part of the neutral faction, Gobert also looked out for him as a junior, so their relationship was quite close. Hearing that Gobert had ended up in such a state made him feel terrible.
"In any case, the worst-case scenario for Rear Admiral Gobert is a disability and retirement, which is far more fortunate than those who have fallen in battle. At least he won't have to live the rest of his life surrounded by clashing swords and flying bullets," Sengoku consoled him again.
"I know. What about Jonathan? He's more qualified than me to be the commander of the Marine base, isn't he?" Cross pulled himself together, returning to the original topic.
"Based on seniority, Jonathan is certainly more suitable than you," Sengoku said, his expression serious. "However, Marine Headquarters is planning to change some of our policies. We're going to shift our focus to the four seas and the first half of the Grand Line, reducing conflicts with the monsters of the New World. At that point, the Sabaody Archipelago will become an even more crucial location, requiring a powerful person to hold it down. Jonathan's strength is slightly lacking, so after getting his opinion, we've decided to swap you two. He will take your position at Branch 211, and after a year of training in the New World, he will take your place."
Sengoku had given this matter a lot of thought. Although Jonathan's strength wasn't as great as Cross's, he was a rare genius in command. He was far more skilled at commanding troops in battle than most Marine officers. This was the reason Sengoku was sending Jonathan to train in the New World. Once he fully matured, he could definitely serve as a commander of a G-branch.
Similarly, Cross understood Sengoku's intention to train Jonathan and knew that he would become the commander of Branch G-8 in the future, so he naturally wouldn't disagree.
However, Cross furrowed his brows and said in a low voice, "I have no problem with Jonathan being transferred to Branch 211 to take my place. But please excuse me, I refuse to be the base commander of the Sabaody Archipelago."
"Give me a reason," Sengoku said without changing his expression, picking up his teacup to drink.
"Because I don't want to be an accomplice to those Celestial Dragons! While in some ways, the Marines are one of the Celestial Dragons' most effective accomplices, it's unavoidable. But I simply don't want to see them," Cross said with a grim expression. "I refuse to be an accomplice, cleaning up their messes, while watching them perform all sorts of despicable acts that go against justice. It would shake my 'Justice.' I'm afraid that one day, I won't be able to hold back and will cut off those bastards' heads. You wouldn't want to see that, would you, Sengoku-san?"
Suup~
Sengoku drank his tea in silence.
In the Marines, almost every officer with a sense of justice was unwilling to take a leading role in the Sabaody Archipelago and act as an accomplice to the Celestial Dragons. Even Rear Admiral Gobert had to go to the Marine base on the Sabaody Archipelago because there was no other suitable position for him.
Take Jonathan, for example; why was he willing to transfer from a great place like the Sabaody Archipelago to a backwater branch like 211? It was precisely because he couldn't stand the evil deeds of the Celestial Dragons. He would rather be demoted and transferred elsewhere than remain on the Sabaody Archipelago and aid their tyranny.
To be honest, if the Celestial Dragons didn't hold a dominant position in the World Government, even Sengoku himself would have long since killed them. Not to mention, as an Admiral, he was still required to protect them if they were offended.
Back to the present...
"So what did Admiral Sengoku say?" Tokikake asked urgently after hearing Cross's story.
"What else could he do?" Cross rolled his eyes and said bluntly. "When Sengoku-san heard me say that, he wouldn't dare place me on the Sabaody Archipelago. So, Vice Admiral Borsalino, who was returning to Headquarters for a debriefing, requested me for Branch G-2. I'll be a patrol officer, in charge of inspecting Branch G-2."
"A patrol officer, huh? That's a good job," Tokikake said, shaking his head and chuckling. "But the pirates on that sea route where Branch G-2 is located are in for some bad luck! They already have that monster Borsalino there, and now they'll have another little monster in you. I almost feel sorry for those pirates."
Cross wasn't interested. He said casually, "What's there to feel sorry for pirates? While many of them became pirates because they couldn't survive and had no choice but to go to sea, when they transfer the oppression they suffered onto the innocent and cause them harm, they become slaves to hatred and desire. They are no longer people deserving of sympathy."
"I was just saying!" Tokikake rolled his eyes, a little speechless.
Cross ignored Tokikake and continued to mutter angrily under his breath, "I didn't study politics well in my previous life, and I'm a bit lazy. Otherwise, I would have made those Celestial Dragons and those self-proclaimed noble kings taste what a red iron fist is! I'd make them understand the meaning of 'Are princes and nobles born of a different stock?'"
"What are you even saying?" Tokikake hadn't heard Cross's muttering clearly but didn't care. He continued to ask, "So according to what you said before, do I still have to stay here for another year?"
When Tokikake asked this, Cross's face became playful, but he said with a serious expression, "Don't worry, you won't have to. Sengoku-san decided that you will be the commander of the Marine base in the Sabaody Archipelago!"
Pooff—
Tokikake spat a mouthful of tea onto the floor.
"Hey, hey, hey~" Cross sat back in disgust, then said in a teasing tone, "What a waste of good tea. Are you so happy about this?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Tokikake's eyes were wide, and he shouted in disbelief, "You must be joking, right?"
"Who's joking with you? Sengoku-san will be calling you personally soon to have you report back to Headquarters," Cross said with a laugh, sounding a little gleeful. "Besides, the Sabaody Archipelago is an extremely prosperous and important place. There are plenty of bikini-clad ladies there that you'll love!"
Tokikake's eyes lit up, then he slumped back into the couch as if struck by lightning, muttering to himself like a wilted eggplant, "Don't try to trick me! I'm not falling for it! I'm not going to a place like that!"
——————————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my Patreon ——— patreon(.)com/JuanPiece [remove the parenthesis ( )]
There are 100+ advance chapters available for you to read!