Alone and Infinite.

Chapter 378 Lieutenant General Xia!
Li Xia listened to the two options and fell into thought.

Seeing Li Xia deep in thought, Garp could understand.

These two choices may seem similar, but they are actually two completely different paths, and choosing either one will lead to a different future.

Such a crucial life choice should, of course, be made with great care.

If Li Xia hadn't seen through the mystery, Garp would have been prepared to give him a subtle hint.

But judging from the way this kid looks, he's clearly figured it out.

Karp was naturally relieved and simply jumped onto the hammock where Li Xia had been lying. He lay there in the shade of the tree and waved his hand.

"Kid, you can think it over yourself. I'm going to sleep now."

Before he could finish speaking, heavy snoring began. The speed at which he fell asleep was truly remarkable; one could only say that the Monkey family had a lot of nerve.

In the team chat, Aowu and Heitan had already started a heated discussion.

"Boss, which one should we choose?"

Awoo said with great interest:
"The two are only 100 contribution points apart, which means the replacement general is worth 100 contribution points?"

The position of Admiral candidate is a formal position, and when an Admiral position becomes vacant, priority will be given to promoting candidates from among the Admiral candidates.

As the top of the naval pyramid, the position of successor to the admiral is chosen with utmost care and is rarely offered.

It is necessary to consider multiple factors, including strength, character, and even the faction behind them.

Currently, there are only two admiral candidates in the Navy Headquarters: Momousagi Gion and Chaton Kakei.

If Li Xia is willing to take on this position, then three candidates for admiral will be ready, and the Navy Headquarters will probably stop looking for more.

"If I were chosen as a candidate for general, I could have a higher status, right? And I could also participate in confidential meetings and the like."

After all, apart from the official general position, the general candidate is often treated as a general.

As for the 100 contribution points…

Awoo scratched his chin:
"We can make our money back quickly by getting information about pirates from the Navy."

Black Charcoal nodded in agreement; Teacher Ao's analysis was logical, well-founded, and convincing.

But Li Xia remained silent, finally shaking his head:
"Awoo is right, but we can't choose!"

The two children were taken aback, but they didn't question it. Instead, they waited quietly for the explanation to follow.

“Besides rights and status, being a candidate for general also means obligations and responsibilities.”

Li Xia sat cross-legged on the ground and wrote the three characters 'Celestial Dragon' on the ground with his finger.

"Once a candidate for general is selected, as a strategic force, they will basically have to stay at the Navy Headquarters and it will be difficult for them to go out."

They are also responsible for the safety of the Celestial Dragons.

To be promoted to general, I have to wait until the current three general positions become vacant, which actually restricts my freedom.

Li Xia drew three more circles next to "Celestial Dragon".

In fact, even after Akainu was promoted to Fleet Admiral and Aokiji left the Navy, neither of the two candidates for Admiral were promoted to Admiral.

For reasons unknown, the World Government launched a massive global conscription effort.

It's quite strange that Fujitora and Green Bull were promoted directly from 'amateurs' to generals.

"Moreover, a portion of the contribution points we earn will be deducted from our tuition fees."

Garp's special training is the highest level of training in the Navy and has been conducted outside of the training camp.

This is considered 'traditional training,' which means that veteran naval personnel pass on their unique skills without any barriers.

In other words, anyone within the Navy who wants to learn can learn as long as they have enough contribution points.

Li Xia followed this mechanism. Of course, one could also take the apprenticeship route, but the actual apprenticeship process is extremely long and difficult.

It took Garp several years to finally accept Koby as his disciple.

"My tuition and Heitan's tuition cost 160 contribution points. After deducting those, we still have 140 points left, which is enough to buy a lot of things."

With 140 contribution points, even if you exchange them for Devil Fruits, you can get 7 Logia-type Devil Fruits. Third-tier Devil Fruits are even better than second-tier ones.

You can get at least a million Hall Points, but not much more.

If Li Xia declares that he will only use it for himself and only exchange one, it is very likely that the higher-ups will match him with a relatively powerful Logia-type Devil Fruit based on his fighting style.

But exchanging 7 items is clearly a way to cash out; they'll just use some low-quality natural items as an excuse.

Therefore, even if you want to cash out these contribution points, you have to be very careful.

Aowu and Heitan nodded. From this angle, this reserve general was indeed not so appealing.

After making the decision, Li Xia looked at Garp, who was sleeping soundly, and didn't disturb him. Instead, he found a quiet place, took out a Den Den Mushi, and dialed Sabo.

Let them tow the floating island over after the navy leaves.

The indigenous people here have been oppressed and enslaved by the Golden Lion during this period.

It would be perfect if the revolutionary army took over.

Sigh—that's how simple and unpretentious life is for an undercover agent, having to take care of both sides.

As the sun gradually set, the sailors, who had been busy for a long time, finally had a moment to relax. They took the water handed to them by the natives and drank it down with gusto.

What troubled them most was how to transport so many pirates from the sky islands to the sea.

There was no other way, so in the end, Awoo had to step in, and this time it couldn't be said that it was the World Government's evil human experimentation.

"That's right, it's the Golden Lion! He used those bizarre drugs to conduct inhumane human experiments and even tried to extract the power of his own Devil Fruit."

It is said that he stole the technology from within the Navy.

"Those terrifying monsters scattered across the various islands are all failed products abandoned by the Golden Lion!" Li Xia, without changing his expression, once again pinned the blame on the Golden Lion.

He's an old man; he probably wouldn't care if he took the blame for a few more things.

Whether He Xin believed it or not, Li Xia didn't know, but as long as the Navy was willing to believe it, that was fine, as a newly appointed vice admiral.

They still had some face to save, and it wasn't a big deal, so the navy didn't bother to dig deeper.

"You're now the Navy's transport captain, Lieutenant Commander Awoo."

He looked at Xiaolong and nodded gently, casually remarking that this was the ultimate goal that many marines strive for their entire lives.

Hei Tan also received an award and was promoted to colonel.

"Transportation team leader?"

Aowu felt like the sky had fallen; no one expected that in the end, he still couldn't escape.

Feeling wronged, Garp helped the navy transport goods, and finally stretched and walked over.

"That was a really good night's sleep—so, have you made up your mind, Xia?"

"Hmm, I choose the second option: Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters plus 300 contribution points."

"Oh? Are you sure? It's very rare to be a candidate for general. If this opportunity weren't so rare, it wouldn't be so easy to become a candidate for general."

Before Garp could speak, Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing beside him, smiled faintly and said:

"It was actually me, the old woman, who made the suggestion first."

"Thank you, Lieutenant General Tsuru—"

Li Xia nodded to the crane and said calmly:
“While gaining power and status, the alternate generals and generals also lose something else.”

Lieutenant General Tsuru, you once asked me, "Every general is practicing their own sense of justice, what is my sense of justice?"

He was stunned for a moment, but his thoughts seemed to be suddenly pulled back to the room from that day.

She looked at the young man she admired and, unusually, asked him a few more questions.

A smile suddenly bloomed on Li Xia's face:
"My answer is—justice for ordinary people. In my view, as long as one practices justice, it doesn't matter what position one holds."

But I don't want to become a protector of trash like the Celestial Dragons.

After all, those scumbags never considered themselves ordinary people.

"Hahahaha! Great!"

Garp laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face. He slapped Li Xia's shoulder hard, and the force of his rough hands hitting Li Xia's shoulder was like hammering nails, forcing Li Xia's feet into the mud, all the way down to his calves.

The marines who witnessed this scene swallowed hard in fear.

That's terrifying. If it were me, I'd probably be smashed into a meat pie.
"As expected of my disciple, you think exactly the same as me."

What kind of general are you? You have no freedom at all, and you have to protect that bunch of trash—"

"Garp!"

Lieutenant General Tsuru, who had been silent until now, suddenly let out a low shout.

Garp suddenly froze, scratched his head, and then chuckled:

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said that!"

Lieutenant General Tsuru ignored the ever-outspoken Garp and lowered his voice to look at Li Xia:
"I know you hate the Celestial Dragons, and many people in the Navy hate them too."

But never show it or say it out loud.

Garp is strong enough that even if he talks nonsense, no one will do anything to him.

And don't be fooled by Garp's usual carefree and unserious demeanor.

But he was the totem and flag of the navy, and countless people in the navy, from top to bottom, worshipped this old man.

Therefore, the World Government will not touch Garp, nor dare to touch him.

Understand? "

Garp opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end it turned into a powerless sigh.

Even though he hated the Celestial Dragons so much, all he could do was verbally curse them.

But nothing can be changed, so what about the heroes of the navy?
"Let's go—we should head back to headquarters."

Garp turned around, and his muscular figure looked rather lonely.

Lieutenant General Tsuru also took a deep breath and raised his hand:
"Everyone—return!"

The return journey was exceptionally smooth, except for a small escort ship that had been in disrepair for a long time and suddenly started leaking, which allowed the Straw Hat crew, who were being held captive on board, to escape once again.

No further incidents occurred, and the naval leadership tacitly ignored this 'minor' accident.

Only Akainu Sakazuki muttered "absolute justice" twice, but Sengoku glared at him and shut him up.

The entire naval leadership was celebrating this 'victory'.

Inside the cabin, Li Xia draped a brand-new cloak with two gold dots on its epaulets over his shoulders and then sat down with the two little ones around the table.

The thick roster for redeeming naval contribution points was neatly arranged on the table.

The exciting moment to redeem your rewards has begun!

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1. Monthly pass 2. Recommendation vote

(End of this chapter)