"Me? I handle the funding!"
Mike grinned, wiggling five fingers at Sengoku in a playful, almost dismissive gesture.
He had planned the structure of the New Marine for a long time, and he knew his own strengths.
His new organization couldn't just be a military force; that was far too narrow-minded.
It had to be a true government, a force for civilization.
It had to shoulder the responsibility for the entire sea's development.
Military, economy, civil affairs, education—not a single pillar could be neglected.
Comprehensive development was the only way forward.
And as the New Marine's spiritual leader and financial wellspring, he would, of course, remain a hands-off figurehead.
He would quietly play the dual roles of a handsome mascot and a literal god of wealth, all while enjoying the good life he so rightfully deserved.
What could he say? One must never, ever forget their original aspirations.
Specific, difficult, and time-consuming tasks? Those should be handled by the professionals he'd so carefully collected.
Sakazuki (Akainu), for all his magma-fueled rage, had a keen and brilliant mind for military affairs.
His passion wasn't just using force; it was organizing it.
The expansion of armaments, the optimization of fleet logistics, the creation of new strategies—the entire military department would be his to command.
It was like giving a master artist an infinite canvas and an endless supply of paint.
Kuzan, on the other hand, was the heart of the group.
He was the one who was truly, deeply concerned with people's livelihoods.
He was always pondering how to improve the lives of the common citizen.
The civil affairs department was his natural domain.
All public welfare, infrastructure, and social guarantees would be his responsibility, giving him the power to enact the "true justice" he had always yearned for.
And the old man, Kizaru? Handing the entire finance department over to him?
Wasn't that like putting a fox in charge of the henhouse?
Not at all.
Mike's plan was devious in its simplicity.
The money in the finance department didn't just appear out of thin air; it still relied on the "God of Wealth" (himself) to pour it in.
Bonuses for the other departments would be tied to their performance.
But the finance department, as an internal support unit, would have its bonuses allocated based on a percentage of the total funding pool.
That old man had always wanted to save up enough for a comfortable retirement, hadn't he? Well, if he wanted bigger bonuses, he'd just have to work harder to secure more funding, manage it more efficiently, and make the entire organization richer.
It was the perfect motivation.
Instructor Zephyr, the "Teacher" of the Marines, was a perfect fit for the education department.
Look at the current backbone of the New Marine—who wasn't trained by him?
In the future, his role would be expanded a thousand-fold.
He wouldn't just be training Marines; he would be building an education system for the entire sea, ensuring every child had a chance to learn.
Finally, with four massive departments, each with its own powerful leader, they needed a central hub to manage and harmonize their efforts.
The best, and only, candidate for that role was "Minister" Sengoku.
He was the former superior to all of them, with the experience and authority to be the coordinator, the "Resourceful General" who would keep the entire machine running smoothly.
There was only one drawback.
Two of his five main department heads were getting on in years.
Zephyr was 72.
Sengoku was 77.
Both had sustained injuries in their long careers.
He couldn't afford to lose these two pillars so soon after building the framework.
Medicine… that was another department that would need to be incorporated into the New Marine's agenda, and quickly.
"..."
Sengoku looked at Mike, his gaze was complex and deep.
The entire structure of this new world power had been meticulously, perfectly arranged by this one young man.
Military, civil affairs, finance, education, and coordination—five departments, like the five fingers of a hand, clenched tightly into an unstoppable fist.
As for himself, he had stepped down from Fleet Admiral to become the head of the "Coordination Department."
On the surface, it sounded like he'd been sidelined.
A demotion.
'But no…' Sengoku's brilliant mind turned the idea over, and a slow, dawning realization spread across his face.
'This isn't a demotion. This is a promotion in disguise!'
In the past, he was the "supreme commander," but in reality? He was a puppet.
Above him, the Five Elders exerted their suffocating pressure, obstructing his every move.
Below, the three admiral factions were a constant headache of infighting and reconciliation.
His entire tenure as Fleet Admiral had been one long, stifling, humiliating exercise in compromise.
He had to beg for military funds, fight tooth and nail for personnel appointments, and even consider the whims of the Celestial Dragons before he could execute a common pirate.
But now?
This kid, Mike, had flung open the treasury, Funding was no longer an issue.
This kid, Mike, had unified the hearts of his admirals and smoothed out all their relationships.
This kid, Mike, had given them a new, shared ideal.
And then, with a grand gesture, he had delegated all authority.
It was as if Mike had said, 'I've handled all the impossible problems above and below. Now, the five of you, go forth and realize the Justice you've always dreamed of.'
It meant Sengoku could finally go all out.
No more kowtowing.
No more begging for money.
No more headaches over petty rivalries.
All he had to do was what he did best: strategize, coordinate, and secure victory.
A wave of pure, unadulterated exhilaration washed over Sengoku.
The corners of his lips curled up into a genuine, satisfied smile.
'That kid Mike… he's really something else. He's assembled a dream team. The three Admirals, Zephyr, Garp, Tsuru… plus the Warlords who now obey his every command…'
Wait.
Sengoku's train of thought slammed to a halt as a new, earth-shattering realization hit him.
'If you think about it… that old geezer Whitebeard is now one of us, too!'
'Then this war… the whole reason we're here… is it still happening?'
"Kid," Sengoku couldn't help but speak up, his voice cutting through the quiet buzz of the room.
"What about the war against Whitebeard? Are we still fighting?"
The entire meeting room fell instantly silent.
Everyone's gaze—Akainu's, Kizaru's, Kuzan's, Garp's, Zephyr's, Tsuru's—snapped onto Mike, their breaths held.
After all, the situation was beyond bizarre.
The Marine's entire leadership had just "defected."
The Warlords had switched sides.
And their primary target, Whitebeard, had apparently already reached a secret agreement with their new leader.
This war… it couldn't possibly happen now.
Mike looked at the faces filled with anticipation as a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his own.
He stood up.
"Fight!"
The single word was resounding and decisive, echoing in the silent room.
"Not only will we fight," Mike emphasized, his gaze sweeping over every single person, "but we will fight spectacularly, and we will showcase the New Marine's might to the entire world!"
"But…" Sengoku hesitated, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"If we fight Whitebeard, won't that destroy the deal? How can we recruit Marco and Ace if we go to war with their 'Pops'?"
The other officers nodded, their faces etched with the same worried confusion.
Mike's smile widened.
"Who said anything about fighting Whitebeard?"
He waved a hand.
"Kuro."
Kuro, who had been standing silently in the corner, stepped forward.
He pulled out a document and began to report in his crisp, emotionless voice.
"Latest intel. One of the Four Emperors of the New World, Kaido of the beast, has sunk all surrounding surveillance ships and is currently leading the entire Beasts Pirates fleet at full speed. Their destination: Marine Headquarters, Marineford."
Kuro paused, then added with emphasis, "According to our analysis, Kaido's target is us."
Tap.
Mike's finger lightly tapped the table.
All eyes were on him, awaiting his decree, awaiting the New Marine's first-ever roar.
"We'll use one of the Four Emperors as our sacrificial offering," Mike's voice wasn't loud, but it rang with the clarity of a tolling bell in every person's ears.
"Let the entire world witness the strength of the New Marine."
"We'll Annihilate the Beasts Pirates!!!"