The division of Marine military power across the world's seas is very clear; the Grand Line has Marineford and eight fortress bases.
The four seas are maintained by hundreds of Marine branches, large and small.
These Marine branches are divided into three Ranks. Branches numbered 1-20 are equivalent to Grade A branches, and their commanders mostly hold the Rank of Branch Major General.
Like Colonel Nezumi, whom Taro had dealt with before; his East Blue Branch 16 belongs to this level.
After that are the Grade B branches numbered 21-99. As subordinates to Grade A branches, their commanders are generally at the Commodore level.
For example, Commodore Pudding-Pudding, who was defeated by Arlong in the East Blue ten years ago, was the commander of Branch 77.
Finally, there are the Grade C branches numbered beyond 100.
The military force at this level is more focused on maintaining public order.
Most commanders hold the Rank of Colonel, and their jurisdictions are pitifully small, often consisting of just a single island or even a single town.
Additionally, branch Ranks are three levels inflated compared to Marineford Ranks, and their strength is even weaker; they can't be relied upon when something happens.
To put it bluntly, branch Ranks are watered down and inflated, mostly to give confidence to the unsuspecting civilians.
It's just to fool people!
The reason for this operation is also easy to understand.
First, Marineford doesn't have that many high-level combatants to scatter all over the world.
Furthermore, any pirate with even a bit of strength won't stay in the four seas forever; the Grand Line is their goal.
The positioning of the four sea branches is just for show, gathering intelligence and maintaining order—what more could you ask for?
When the sky was completely dark, Taro landed at North Blue Marine Branch 101.
A Branch Major General came forward and gave a respectful military salute.
"I am the commander of North Blue Branch 9, Major General Peji. Greetings, Great Staff Officer Lord!"
Taro returned the salute, looking strangely at the burly man with a face full of flesh in front of him.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't connect him to the "Peppa" in his memory.
"Uh, Major General Peji, why are you here?"
As he spoke, his mouth twitched, and he asked again,
"Also, I have someone named George under my command. Do you... have any relationship?"
Taro had just asked casually, but to his surprise, Peji first looked shocked.
Then, he gave another solemn salute.
"Yes, Great Staff Officer Lord, George is my younger brother!"
"He sent word that you would be coming to my jurisdiction, so I was ordered to stand by here!"
Holy crap! This is just...!
Taro almost spat out, his cheeks twitching frantically.
However, this habit of saluting at the drop of a hat was exactly the same as George's!
Peji was also taking the opportunity to observe Taro. He had heard his brother George mention this Marine legend countless times.
Now that they were meeting for the first time, Taro had actually seen through his relationship with George immediately.
The Great Staff Officer's wisdom was truly to this extent!
Peji couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
Taro was only shocked for a moment before snapping out of it, his expression becoming more serious.
"Major General Peji, since George contacted you, I presume you understand the purpose of my trip. Is there any new intelligence regarding that matter?"
Hearing this, Peji raised his hand to salute again, but Taro quickly waved to stop him.
"No need to salute, speak plainly!"
Peji and George had very similar personalities; it felt wrong not to give a military salute, so he ended up saluting anyway.
"Great Staff Officer, Ze—um... he had a conflict with the Germa Kingdom this afternoon..."
Taro's heart tightened. "What was the result? How is Teacher Zephyr?"
Peji was struggling with how to address Zephyr, but seeing Taro call him teacher, he thought for a moment.
"It was a small-scale probe. Head Instructor Zefa's fleet seems to have some damage, but he himself should be uninjured!"
"'Seems'?'Should'?" Taro's gaze turned cold.
Peji felt a chill in his heart, feeling the temperature around him drop.
"Uh, no, not'should', he definitely isn't!"
You're changing your story now and expect me to believe you?
Taro glanced sideways at Peji and said in a deep voice:
"Where is Teacher Zephyr now? And what is the location of the Germa Kingdom?"
Peji was prepared and pulled a map from his chest. Spreading it out, he pointed to the markings on the map.
"Head Instructor Zefa is currently resting at Hien Island. The Germa Kingdom is roughly... no, it's definitely 30 kilometers northeast of Hien Island!"
Taro took the map, looked at it carefully for a while, and nodded.
"I'll take the map. Thanks, Major General Peji!"
After saying that, he tucked the map into his chest and prepared to leave!
Peji hesitated.
"Great Staff Officer, in this incident, our Marine s—seems to have no standing..."
Taro suddenly looked up, staring straight at Peji. After a long while, he withdrew his gaze.
"I know what I'm doing!"
After saying that, he soared into the clouds again.
Peji was not his direct subordinate, so he didn't need to explain much to him.
After Taro left, Peji took out a den den mushi.
"George, it's me!"
On the other end of the den den mushi, George heard that Peji's voice was a bit down and fell silent for a moment.
"You still said it?"
"Didn't I warn you not to question whatever my Vice Admiral wants to do?"
Peji's expression darkened slightly, and he stiffened his neck.
"He is the Navy Grand Staff Officer, and the Germa Kingdom is a member of the World Government. Even if the Marine is to intervene, it shouldn't..."
George cut him off sharply, "Enough! Peji, if you understand it, would my Vice Admiral not be aware?"
...Late at night, in the castle of the Germa Kingdom.
Judge was hosting Miss. Bakkin. As representatives of Blackbeard's faction, "Barrel of Wine" Vasco Shot and "Fighting Champion" Abbas Burgess were also allowed to attend.
Although the cooperation had been finalized, the atmosphere of the banquet was not very warm; all three parties had their own hidden agendas!
Their faces were full of smiles, but their hearts were full of schemes!
Only "Barrel of Wine" Vasco Shot was drinking recklessly, his neck and everything above it turning completely red, especially his fat, protruding nose, which was as red as a grilled sausage.
Just then, a soldier ran in quickly and knelt in the middle of the hall.
Judge's mustache twitched as he roared,
"Bastard! Who let you in!"
The soldier seemed to feel no fear, his expression not changing at all as he pressed himself closer to the ground.
"Fleet Admiral, there is someone outside blocking the fleet's path!"
Judge was stunned for a moment, not taking it seriously.
"Is that old fellow Zephyr back again?"
Saying that, he waved his hand at his children.
"You few, go and deal with that old fellow. Hmph, this time you can give him a bit of a lesson!"
The four children stood up without hesitation, ready to leave.
The soldier's head was pressed against the floor.
"It's not Zephyr. There's only one person. He calls himself..."
"He calls himself 'Ocean Warrior—Sora'!"
Judge almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
Sora was a character in the comic strip serialized in the World Economic Journal!
This comic strip told the legendary story of the hero Sora fighting against an evil organization.
Throughout the world, especially in the North Blue, it was extremely popular!
And in that comic strip, the name of the evil organization was Germa 66!
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