Looking at Lucas’s completely serious expression, everyone present wore bitter smiles.
The moment he casually brought up a 10-million-Berry performance bonus, they realized something.
As an Admiral, Lucas had already thoroughly studied the Marine salary system.
He had clearly been eyeing that top-tier performance bonus for quite some time.
"You brat..." Tsuru sighed helplessly.
"No wonder you call yourself ’Glutton.’"
"An appetite like yours isn’t something ordinary people possess."
"But this surveillance mission involving the Four Emperors will be extremely dangerous."
"If anything goes wrong, you could end up clashing with one of the Emperors."
"So besides you..."
"I’ll have Gion and Chaton accompany you."
"As for the 10-million-Berry performance bonus you requested..."
"I’ll bring it up with Sengoku."
"If you really can determine why Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks are meeting..."
"Getting that reward approved shouldn’t be difficult."
"But remember what I’ve already said."
"Your own safety comes first."
"Garp, Sengoku, and I..."
"None of us want to see someone with your potential come to harm."
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, don’t worry."
Lucas couldn’t help smiling.
"If I’m being given a chance to earn a maximum-tier performance bonus..."
"Then I’ll definitely make sure I come back alive."
After lying low for so long...
He had finally managed to negotiate a reward worth 10 million Berries.
If he let that opportunity slip away now...
Then all those years of being a salaryman in his previous life would have been for nothing.
Now that the performance bonus had been settled...
Lucas already knew exactly what Whitebeard and Shanks were meeting to discuss.
The only question was...
How could he convince Sengoku and Marine Headquarters that his information was genuine?
He couldn’t exactly walk in and say,
"Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks are meeting because Fire Fist Ace is chasing Blackbeard."
Even if he told the truth...
Without convincing evidence, no one would fully believe him.
And if they didn’t believe him...
There went his 10-million-Berry performance bonus.
Looks like I’ll have to take a risk.
Lucas took another sip of strong liquor.
A bold plan gradually formed in his mind.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru..."
"Thank you."
"Today was supposed to be my day off."
"I should’ve been relaxing."
"But the weather’s nice."
"A vacation at sea sounds pretty good too."
"Tell Old Man Sengoku to have my performance bonus ready."
"I’ll send the information back before long."
"And tell him not to think about backing out."
With that, Lucas turned and left.
Everyone stared blankly at his carefree departure.
Only after his figure disappeared completely did Tsuru let out a helpless sigh.
"Garp..."
"I suddenly feel like I’ve boarded a pirate ship."
"That kid keeps calling himself a salaryman..."
"But with how obsessed he is..."
"I’m honestly starting to think that if the performance bonus were high enough..."
"He’d even go after one of the Four Emperors."
"If Sengoku heard that..."
"He’d probably explode from anger."
"Tch."
Garp rolled his eyes.
"I don’t know whether Sengoku will explode or not."
"But I do know one thing."
"If the performance bonus isn’t worth it..."
"That kid values his own life more than anyone when facing a Four Emperor."
"So don’t worry."
"He isn’t going to risk his life over 10 million Berries."
"If you actually wanted him to fight a Four Emperor to the death..."
"You’d probably have to pay him more."
"Instead of worrying about him..."
"You’d better start thinking about how you’re going to explain all of this to Sengoku."
"You handle things here."
"I’ll escort Crocodile to Impel Down."
"You..."
Tsuru was left speechless.
Looking at what had once been Justice Plaza, now reduced to ruins...
She suddenly realized something.
Compared to Lucas...
Cleaning up after Garp had actually been much easier.
Meanwhile, atop the Red Line...
Within the highest chamber of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise...
Five figures stood upon the raised platform, looking down coldly at Sengoku.
Spread across the table before them were newspapers and reports covering everything related to Marine Headquarters’ Fourth Admiral—Admiral Glutton Lucas.
"Sengoku..."
One of the Five Elders, a short, stocky old man with an eight-shaped mustache, dressed in a neatly tailored suit and leaning on a cane, spoke first.
"It’s rare to see you come here."
"Normally, we couldn’t invite you even if we tried."
"And yet..."
"You’ve come all this way for the sake of a newcomer."
"It seems you’ve placed tremendous expectations on this young man."
"But surely you understand..."
"The Celestial Dragons represent the dignity of the World Government."
"Even if that brat didn’t attack them directly..."
"He still embarrassed the World Government."
"And now you’re asking us to simply pretend none of it happened?"
"Do you really think that’s possible?"
"According to CP’s reports..."
"Ever since arriving at Marine Headquarters in Marineford..."
"He has repeatedly challenged his superiors..."
"And even destroyed a large portion of the Marine Headquarters Building."
"While escorting prisoners..."
"He also clashed with CP9 and their commanding officer, Spandam..."
"Leaving them severely injured."
"Then, after arriving at the Gates of Justice..."
"He came into conflict with Boa Hancock..."
"And ultimately gravely wounded members of CP0 and a Celestial Dragon."
"He has only held the title of Admiral for five days..."
"Yet he’s already caused one disaster after another."
"Even the title of Admiral may not be enough to protect someone with such a talent for causing trouble."
"Besides..."
"The Five Elders have yet to officially approve his appointment as Admiral."
The Elder tightened his grip on his cane and looked coldly at Sengoku.
"So tell us..."
"On what grounds do you intend to negotiate with us?"
His voice echoed throughout the grand hall.
Sengoku stood below the platform, his expression growing increasingly awkward.
Listening to that long list of Lucas’s exploits...
Even the muscles in his face twitched.
Still...
Remembering Garp’s earlier words...
He slowly took a deep breath.
"Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro..."
"You don’t want another Dragon to appear... do you?"
"The Celestial Dragons’ privileges have already become rotten."
"Excessive favoritism only breeds more parasites."
"Lucas may have gone too far this time..."
"But that only proves your CP0 agents were too weak to protect anyone."
"Of course..."
"You could also say that Lucas is simply too strong."
"And precisely because of that..."
"As Fleet Admiral..."
"I intend to protect him."
"If you believe my words alone aren’t enough..."
"Then I’ll put my position as Fleet Admiral on the line."
Dragon?
The expressions of the Five Elders changed slightly.
A sharp chill flashed across their eyes.
The incident from more than a decade ago remained vivid in their memories.
It was also...
One of their greatest regrets.
They regretted not using every resource available to eliminate that unprecedented threat before it could fully emerge.
And now...
Sengoku was comparing Lucas to a second Dragon.
Was that meant as a warning...
Or a provocation?
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