Pirate: I'm about to do something big!

Chapter 70 Taking Office as Branch Secretary G-1

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Akainu seemed eager to get rid of Alyosha from headquarters. Sengoku had just handed over Akainu's compromise proposal to the World Government when the order was issued, ordering Alyosha to go to G-1 branch within three days to take over as base commander from Major General Momonga.

Alyosha didn't care. Once his luggage was packed, he took Luffy and the other kids and prepared to set off.

On the day of departure, the port of Marineford was filled with people who came to see Alyosha off: Garp, Zephyr, Aokiji, Smoker, Tina, Dol...

Garp, that old man, was quite open-minded. Rather than saying he was there to see Alyosha off, he was more interested in chatting with Luffy, Sabo, and Ace about some fun things that happened between grandfather and grandson.

Since Smoker and the others had already spoken to Alyosha beforehand, they weren't particularly saddened. They were just unhappy with Akainu's method of expelling Alyosha from headquarters.

After saying goodbye to his old friends, Alyosha finally stood before Zefa and learned what the gift Zefa had promised him was.

In addition to the marines carrying supplies, there was also a unit on the warship that Alyosha was on his way to take up his post at the G-1 branch.

Standing in front of this unit were Binz and Ein, a couple whom Alyosha knew.

When they saw Alyosha looking over, Binz and Ein also stepped off the warship, stood up straight in front of Alyosha, and saluted him.

"Captain Ain, Captain Binz, reporting for duty, Commander Alyosha."

Alyosha was taken aback, returned a military salute, and looked at the hundreds of marines behind Binz and Ein.

Alyosha recognized some of the marines' faces; they were some of the elite trainee marines from headquarters who had been taken by Zephyr to the New World for training.

Having witnessed bloodshed once more, they stood there in unison, exuding an aura of naval justice.

Logically speaking, Alyosha didn't need to bring so many people to the G-1 branch. He could have just taken Monet and Luffy and the other kids. After all, it was only Rear Admiral Momonga and his subordinates who were being transferred, not the Marines of the G-1 branch.

But looking at Zefa standing to the side, Alyosha understood that this was Zefa's way of showing his appreciation.

"Professor Zephyr, is this appropriate?"

Zefa looked at Alyosha's surprised expression with great satisfaction.

"Haha, I am the chief instructor of the Naval Academy. I am very relieved to have these young marines, Binz and Ein, in your care."

"How many are there here?"

"Not many, just eight hundred people, enough for you to barely take over the G-1 branch."

Hmm? Upon hearing Zefa's words, Alyosha raised an eyebrow.

Why did he go to all this trouble? He wanted to find a plausible excuse to distance himself from headquarters and be stationed at a branch. Only in this way could he cultivate his own private army.

Even without Akainu setting a trap for him, Alyosha would have volunteered to transfer himself out of headquarters under a similar pretext.

The position of Rear Admiral in the Marine Headquarters is high, and he can command a portion of the Marines in the Headquarters, but ultimately, it is not Alyosha's own army. Just like Zephyr, who was by Alyosha's side, in the original timeline, when Zephyr learned that the pirate who cut off his arm had been recruited by the World Government to become a new Shichibukai, he chose to betray the Marines and establish his own NEO Marines in the New World.

With his long tenure as the chief instructor at the Naval Academy and the fact that the three admirals, Akagi, and Kobe, were all his prized students, only Binz and Ain followed him when he left the Navy to form a new one. The rest were recruited by Zeff from civilians in the New World who had been harmed by pirates.

That's why Alyosha staged this whole thing, using a fierce battle against the three calamities to make a name for himself.

He could be transferred to the G-1 branch or another branch as a border defense base commander, using the Navy Headquarters' funds to develop his own private army. He wouldn't leave such a golden goose as the Navy Headquarters unused.

Therefore, he was prepared from the beginning to go to the G-1 branch to report without any burden.

After all, it's really difficult to run a private army at headquarters, but it's different to be a base commander in G-1 who is not allowed to return to headquarters without orders.

Alyosha understood the unspoken meaning behind Zefa's words.

"Zeff, is Sakazuki planning to have Momonga transfer all the Marines from the G-1 branch back to headquarters?"

"Sakazuki has gone too far this time! He's taking away most of the G-1 branch marines and leaving you to recruit them yourself. Headquarters will only allocate a 1,000-man squad's worth of military funds to you."

Upon hearing Alyosha expose his unspoken meaning, Zephyr couldn't help but curse Akainu.

Without a doubt, Akainu's little trick was simply a result of his reflection on the previous internal meeting, and he wanted to use this method to force Alyosha to submit.

As for why Marshal Sengoku didn't stop it, it was probably at the behest of the World Government.

That's why Zephyr helped Alyosha in his own way, and Sengoku and the others turned a blind eye, so Akainu couldn't go too far.

After all, it was their own choice to follow Alyosha to the G-1 branch, and Akainu couldn't stop them.

Now that Zephyr has given him such a huge gift—eight hundred elite marines from good families, plus a military allowance for a thousand-man unit—what more could he ask for?

As for what to do after the thousand-man squad runs out of military funds, well, isn't that exactly what he did by bringing Tesoro, the Golden Emperor, under his command? He also has a potential ally, Fishman Island.

Hearing Zefo's opinion of Sakazuki, Alyosha chuckled.

"Sakazuki is really obsessed with the position of Marshal. Eight hundred men it is. Teacher Zeffa, thank you. Thank you for taking care of me all these years."

Alyosha bowed deeply to Zefa.

He felt only respect for Zephyr, the old marine who had experienced a life full of hardships.

It's no exaggeration to say that the reason the navy still enjoys a certain level of public support at sea is entirely due to the support of Zephyr, the chief instructor of the naval academy.

In the first half of his life, he upheld justice and insisted on arresting but not killing pirates, allowing them to be tried. This style of action made the civilians on the sea believe that the Navy was a righteous force.

In the latter half of his life, his wife and children were tragically killed by pirates in retaliation. Although heartbroken, he retired to the second line, but he also trained a number of outstanding naval officers and soldiers.

These naval officers were all influenced by Zephyr to some extent, even Akainu.

This is why the navy is still so large that it is not invincible, remaining a behemoth that suppresses the seas and still enjoys popular support among the people.

Zefa did not avoid Alyosha's bow and accepted it.

With his hand on Alyosha's shoulder, he solemnly said, "Ran, I have faith in you. I believe you will become the future Fleet Admiral, truly upholding the justice the Navy upholds throughout the entire sea!"

"Of course, I will definitely show you a brand new navy, Professor Zeff. If you have time, Professor Zeff, you and Mr. Kuzan can come and visit my G-1 branch."

"So now it's your G-1 branch?"

"That's right, it's my G-1 branch."

After saying this, the old man and the young man burst into laughter at the port.

With the necessary supplies unloaded, Alyosha looked at the eight hundred elite marines waiting for inspection on the deck, as well as Luffy and his gang of little guys standing in the front row.

He slowly walked up to the high platform, looking in the direction of departure. He knew that his departure was like a bird soaring into the sky or a fish entering the sea.

In stark contrast to his usual humble and gentle demeanor at the Naval Headquarters, with a wave of his hand, the Naval Base bearing the words "Justice" shone brightly in the sunlight.

"Soldiers, move out and take up your posts at Branch G-1!"

"Yes, Commander Alyosha!"