The award ceremony organized by the Supreme Military Command Council was a resounding success.
This meeting not only had a profound impact on the World Government's armed forces but also reverberated throughout the world. The implementation of a new system of military ranks and decorations ignited the fighting spirit of the troops.
However, the climax came at the end of the ceremony, when V. Nusjuro announced the entry into force of the Ennoblement System through Military Merits. This move left everyone, except a few members of royalty and nobility, in a state of euphoria and awe.
Under this system, any soldier who distinguished himself on the battlefield could not only exchange his Military Merits for titles of nobility but could also do so for various secret treasures.
Although details about the secret treasures have yet to be revealed, the lure of the noble titles has captured everyone's imagination.
Who would have thought that the World Government would put the ladder to nobility within reach of the masses?
Titles represent much more than just rank they mean belonging to the noble class, having the right to one's own territory and offering one's children a privileged education. For most commoners, becoming a noble is synonymous with reaching the pinnacle of success and wealth.
Taking advantage of this strong momentum, the Supreme Military Command Council issued a global announcement: a worldwide recruitment drive with the goal of recruiting two million new soldiers.
This recruitment drive has sparked unprecedented fervor throughout Starfish World.
...
"Bwahaha!"
A loud laugh rang out from the Navy Marshal's office.
Garp, holding a senbei in one hand, looked at the luminous screen projected by a Den-Den Mushi, on which the details of the merits accumulated during his career were displayed.
"Who knew this old man could become an Earl?! This world really never ceases to amaze me."
"Ara ara~ I'm not surprised, Mr. Garp. All my merits together would barely earn me a Viscount title."
Kuzan, sitting on the couch across from Garp, commented with a slight smile.
"That's because he defeated Rocks back in the day, saved several Celestial Dragons, captured Roger a few years ago, and then helped capture Shiki with me. All of that added up is what puts him at the top of the list of merits in the entire Navy," Sengoku explained with resignation, looking at Garp, who couldn't stop laughing.
However, the fact that even Garp's merits were only enough for an Earl title gave an idea of how high the requirements of the new Military Merit System for Noble Titles were.
"So, Garp, what do you decide? Are you going to exchange your merits for the title of Earl?"
Sengoku and Kuzan looked at Garp curiously, waiting for his answer. He stopped laughing and said disdainfully, "I have no interest in being one of those nobles."
Sengoku, with a sly smile, insisted, "Garp, an Earl's territory is a thousand square kilometers! It's almost the size of the Kingdom of Goa. Plus, you'll have special privileges, annual income of tens of millions of berries... Aren't you even a little bit tempted?"
Garp sarcastically replied, "So what? I get the territory and then what? You want me to retire and play noble?"
Sengoku was speechless. It was true. If Garp accepted the title and focused on managing his territory, the Navy would lose one of its most important assets in combat. Of course, he knew Garp was just joking.
Suddenly, something seemed to cross Sengoku's mind. His face changed drastically, and he hurriedly grabbed a nearby Den-Den Mushi. However, just as he was about to use it, the device began to ring on its own.
Immediately, Sengoku became alert and felt a strong sense of unease in his heart.
"Hello?"
Garp and Kuzan looked at him in confusion.
"Sengoku!" From the other side of the microphone, Zephyr's furious voice rang out like thunder. "That damned bastard Borsalino plans to use all his merits to exchange for a Viscount title and then retire to live as a noble!"
Kuzan, Garp and Sengoku were petrified on the spot when they heard this.
...
"Are you serious, Borsalino"
In the Air Force Marshal's office, Zephyr stared with a grim expression at the retirement application form resting on his desk. The veins on his forehead throbbed visibly.
When he looked up at Borsalino, who was standing in front of him, his eyes burned with a fire ignited by anger.
However, Borsalino, with his typical mocking smile, tilted his head without showing the slightest fear in the face of his Zephyr's fury. "Master Zephyr, you look so scary now~"
Then, with his hands in his pockets, he looked up at the ceiling and added lazily, "Think about it, being a noble is much more comfortable. Not only do you have a vast territory, but you are also given enough money to live without worries. Why should I stay here risking my life?"
Zephyr, for his part, could not believe what he was hearing. Although he clenched his fists tightly, he was unable to utter a single word when he tried to speak.
What argument could he give him to convince him to stay?
There was no other way.
With no other options, he took the Den-Den Mushi from his desk and, without saying anything else, dialed a number. As he did so, his gaze remained fixed on Borsalino, who was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"Sengoku!" Zephyr roared. "That damned bastard Borsalino plans to use all his merits to exchange for a Viscount title and then retire to live as a noble!"
Borsalino was also confused when he saw Zephyr's operation.
"What are you saying!?" Sengoku's voice echoed through the Den-Den Mushi, clearly furious. "Borsalino! What the hell is going on in your head?"
"You are one of the top combat powers of the World Government! How could you be seduced by a mere Viscount title?"
"Give up on that absurd idea immediately. Or else... I'll go with Garp to talk to you!"
Borsalino's expression twisted. He never thought that his decision would cause such a stir, let alone that Sengoku would threaten to personally come along with Garp.
At that moment, the Den-Den Mushi abruptly disconnected. It was obvious that Sengoku had ended the call, but... why had he cut it off so suddenly? What was he planning to do now?
Borsalino felt that things were going in a direction he didn't want.
To his surprise, Zephyr began to turn the dial of the Den-Den Mushi again. Borsalino's forehead began to sweat.
"Wait, Master Zephyr!" He tried to stop him, but to no avail.
When the new recipient picked up, Zephyr shouted loudly again, "Hello! Sakazuki? That idiot Borsalino is planning to retire to become a lazy Viscount!"
There was a pause on the other end of the line. A silence that seemed like a calm before the storm.
"I'm on my way," Sakazuki replied, his tone grim. "Tell Borsalino to wait for me."
After saying that, Sakazuki hung up directly, and Borsalino's mouth twitched. After thinking about it, he turned around and was about to leave this terrible office.
"Where do you think you're going?" Zephyr asked with a raised eyebrow. "You know well that a General's request for retirement cannot be approved by me. It has to be sent to the Five Elders."
"Of course, I will not let this application be sent out!"
"Ahem, it's a bit stuffy in here, I'm going out for some fresh air."
"Don't even think about it!" Zephyr snorted coldly. "You know perfectly well that the rules dictate that there must be at least one general in the headquarters. Stay still and, later, talk to them calmly."
Borsalino instantly regretted it. His face filled with panic. He realized that his impulsive idea had caused him great disaster.
...
That night.
Inside Noah's Ark, Imu read with a look of disbelief the report on the incident of Borsalino's retirement application.
Fortunately, in the end, Borsalino, after being patiently persuaded for more than five hours by Sengoku, Garp, Sakazuki and, for some reason, Enel, gave up his immature intention to retire.
Curiously, though, a small floating island near the Air Force headquarters suddenly disappeared. This left the Cipher Pol agents sent to investigate completely perplexed.
In the end, Imu let out a light laugh at this drama caused by Borsalino.
He then took some more documents from his desk and began to read.
"Did they finally manage to cure Shiki's head at medical school?"
Imu read the contents of the report carefully, feeling in a better mood. This meant that he now had another general-level force under his command.
After reading this, Imu put the document aside.
"Hmm?"
A new report caught his attention.
"Was Kuzan able to use Esdeath's Mahapdama without having consumed Guren's Blood yet?"
Imu raised his eyebrows.
This directly raised the limit of the Devil Fruits' abilities.
"So, does this mean that my own devil fruit ability could also replicate capabilities from other worlds that share similar attributes?"
He closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought.
"Although, will it be necessary to come into direct contact with those abilities, or will imagination and practice suffice to achieve them? If possible, perhaps I can also develop the abilities of other Devil Fruits that share attributes."
Imu opened his eyes, staring at the swirling air current that had appeared above his palm at some point. In a low voice, he murmured a word that resonated with an intriguing certainty: "Room."
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