Pirate: I was just slacking off, do you really think I'm bad?

But Sakazuki doesn't care about these trivial matters when it comes to better eliminating pirates.

"I agree to your terms, but I think they are too low. I will give you some extra compensation."

Sakazuki nodded, which was considered an agreement to the deal.

Gion, somewhat indignant, said:

"Rayle, why don't you hand over such good stuff to headquarters instead of keeping it for yourself? Aren't you betraying the Navy?"

Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Raleigh exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

Only the angry Gion remained, not knowing what they were laughing about.

Borsalino offered a kind explanation:

"Gion girl, this is a tactic that Raleigh developed himself, and theoretically Raleigh legally owns it."

"Besides, even the generals at headquarters each have their own methods of training troops, and headquarters is aware of these things."

After laughing, Sakazuki seemed to be in a good mood.

He asked Raleigh again:

"Raleigh, I have a question I'd like to hear your thoughts on."

Raleigh found it intriguing because, in his view, Sakazuki should be a very opinionated man, someone who rarely takes other people's opinions into account.

"Brother Sakazuki, tell me about it."

Sakazuki handed a piece of intelligence to Raleigh, who took it and slowly looked at it.

"A few years ago, the Rocks Pirates were defeated at God Valley. I don't know the specifics of what happened, and the Navy has issued a gag order. But Rocks' defeat led to chaos in the New World, did you know that?"

Raleigh nodded.

He knew that Rocks had been defeated and killed in God Valley when he was in military school, and it was precisely because he knew what would happen next that he chose to go to the East Blue.

Because when a dominant leader dies, more ambitious individuals will emerge to challenge for that position.

The Rocks Pirates possessed the most and largest territory and influence in the New World, which attracted hyenas like pieces of fat meat.

(Just like in the original story, after Whitebeard's death, his territory and power were divided up among other pirates.)

Countless bloodthirsty pirates fought day and night for territory, in addition to the remnants of the Rocks Pirates.

For example, Shiki the Golden Lion, Edward the Whitebeard, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido of the Beasts, who was not yet fully grown, recruited troops and made their mark.

Those pirates in the New World, they're practically beating the dog's head off.

Faced with such a major event, the Navy Headquarters, after analysis in a meeting, decided to retreat to the first half of the Grand Line and completely relinquish the second half, the New World.

However, the navy's strength is still somewhat inferior to that of the pirates.

Many pirates who perished in the New World and the Grand Line returned to their home seas, preparing to recruit soldiers and once again invade the Grand Line.

This is why Raleigh encountered Coleridge Roy in the East Blue.

Because the pirates launched a fierce attack, they drove the weak Mist Wolf Pirates back to the East Blue, so Raleigh got his head as a military achievement.

Sakazuki lit another cigar and said:

"My transfer this time is also to deal with the problem of pirates returning to port on the Grand Line."

"If it were you, what would you choose?"

Raleigh thought to himself, "If you ask someone like me who slacks off all day to make a choice, I'd definitely slack off."

"Given your rank, it's unrealistic to transfer you to one of the other three sea areas as an admiral. If it were me, I might apply to be transferred to Reverse Mountain to guard it and keep the defeated pirates at bay."

Sakazuki nodded, took another puff of his cigar, and said:

"If this doesn't work, what else is there?"

Raleigh continued:

"If this doesn't work, then I'll apply to patrol and exterminate pirates on the Grand Line. It's a bit more dangerous than the first one, but with your strength, you should be fine."

Sakassky nodded in agreement again.

"The most dangerous areas are probably the first and second halves of the Grand Line, namely the Sabaody Archipelago and Fish-Man Island. As long as we block those areas, no defeated pirates will be able to get here."

"Fishman Island doesn't welcome humans, and the Navy doesn't have much of a relationship with them. So the only option is to control the Sabaody Archipelago. As long as we station troops there to fight pirates, we can definitely stop them from returning to the four seas."

"Moreover, it's not far from Marineford, and naval reinforcements can arrive quickly. However, it's easy to come into contact with world nobles here, which could cause some unnecessary trouble."

Sakazuki raised an eyebrow, as if recalling something unpleasant.

He pulled out a map, circled the places Raleigh had just mentioned in red, then exhaled a puff of his cigar and said:

"Rayle, your suggestion was very helpful, so I've decided to become the branch manager of G5."

Raleigh was completely bewildered; it turned out that Sakazuki hadn't listened to a single one of his suggestions.

How could he not know about the G5 branch?

It was practically the most advanced naval branch, and it was also an enclave.

It is far from the Naval Headquarters and there are no other naval bases nearby.

In other words, the G5 branch has always been operating in isolation.

In the current situation, anyone going to the G5 branch must write their will in advance, otherwise they will soon be killed by the surging pirates.

"Brother Sakazuki, didn't I give you a lot of advice? What do you mean by this?"

Raleigh was puzzled. If he wasn't going to listen, why did he even ask for his opinion?

Sakazuki laughed heartily:

"Raleigh, you're a very safety-conscious person, so your opinions are often the safest ones."

Sakazuki's expression shifted, revealing a resolute gaze:

"But I, Sakazuki, have never been afraid of any pirates; they are the ones who are afraid of me."

A lot of question marks appeared above Raleigh's head?

"I already had this idea, but since you're here, we can use your options as a reference and eliminate them all. What's left is the most dangerous place."

Although Raleigh didn't understand, he was still awestruck by this spirit.

Perhaps this is Sakazuki's belief as a Marine, and it is this belief that makes him unyielding and always at the forefront of the battle against pirates.

Putting aside factions, this is why Sakazuki has the highest achievements.

With unwavering faith and monstrous talent, as long as he doesn't die, he will surely reach the top.

"Then... I wish Brother Sakazuki good luck in battle."

That's all Raleigh could say.

"Don't worry, I will come back alive to repay your favor and to teach your disciples."

Sakazuki chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned about the G5 branch he was about to visit.

"It's alright, I believe Brother Sakazuki will definitely make something of himself."

Raleigh wasn't worried that Sakazuki would be lost at the G5 branch, even though that was in the New World.

However, given Sakazuki's current strength, unless several powerful individuals join forces, they cannot capture him.

The sound of warship sirens came from outside. Sakazuki got up from his seat, walked over and patted Raleigh on the shoulder.

"Raleigh, I'll be waiting for you at Marine Headquarters."

After exchanging a few words with Borsalino, he left alone without a trace of regret.

Several people stood in front of the office's floor-to-ceiling windows, watching that tall figure, draped in a naval justice cloak, board his warship amidst the attention of thousands.