Tatsuki suddenly opened his eyes and slowly raised his right hand.
With a single thought...
Buzz!
A layer of transparent energy, almost invisible to the naked eye and resembling flowing ripples of water, slowly flowed around his palm.
Tatsuki's gaze fell on a special alloy dummy used for testing strength in the corner of the room. That was testing equipment provided by the headquarters for commissioned officers, with a hardness comparable to steel.
He stood up and walked slowly to the dummy.
He didn't build up power or strike an exaggerated pose. He just lightly raised his palm and, from a short distance, pressed it toward the dummy's chest.
Internal Destruction!
Pfft.
The alloy dummy didn't budge, its surface appearing perfectly intact.
But the next second, a clear palm print suddenly bulged out from its back.
Immediately after—
Crack! Crack! Boom!
The entire dummy exploded from within, countless metal fragments flying out and scattering across the floor.
This was a destructive force that completely disintegrated it from the inside out.
"Whew..."
Looking at the mess on the floor, Tatsuki clenched his fist with satisfaction.
The feeling of power in his hand, enough to control everything, made him feel a bit intoxicated.
Now, looking across this sea, he feared no one except for the few monsters standing at the peak of the world.
Even if he faced Roger or Whitebeard, he would have the strength to fight. Even if he couldn't win, if he was determined to leave, no one could keep him there.
He had the power.
Next was to get more money and farm more points.
Tatsuki sat back on the sofa, took a sip of red wine, and his gaze gradually became deep.
The double agent act, though performed flawlessly, had one fatal flaw.
And that was the Gorosei's side.
Those five old guys were shrewd spirits who had lived for an unknown number of years. He could fool them once or twice, but he couldn't keep fooling them forever.
If he always stayed at Marineford and only provided trivial intel like "Vice Admiral Garp stole Admiral Sengoku's senbei again today" every day, they would definitely become suspicious within three months.
Once they felt he had lost his utility value or was playing them... the consequences were not something he wanted to see.
He had to leave the cage of Marineford, where all eyes were on him.
Go to a place far from the central authority where the Gorosei would think he was being "sidelined," and where he could freely amass wealth and frantically farm points.
Tatsuki's finger lightly tapped the table, his gaze falling on the world map on the wall. Finally, his finger crossed the Red Line and pressed heavily on a small red dot at the entrance of the New World.
G-5 Branch.
The Marines' first branch in the New World.
That place was the mandatory path for the vast majority of pirate elites entering the New World, and it was also the branch recognized by the Marines as the most lawless, full of scoundrels.
For righteous Marines, it was hell.
But for Tatsuki, who possessed the Scummiest Justice System, that place was simply a "Violation Points Holy Land" paved with gold.
...
The next morning.
The door to the Fleet Admiral's office was knocked on again.
"Enter."
Kong's voice was as deep as ever, but clearly carried a hint of fatigue.
Clearly, Tatsuki's "loyal and brave" performance last night had moved him so much he suffered from insomnia.
Sengoku and Garp were also there.
As the three saw Tatsuki enter, their gazes instantly softened.
"Tatsuki, how did you sleep?" Kong put down his documents, a kind smile forced onto his face.
"Reporting to Fleet Admiral, I slept very well."
Tatsuki stood at attention and saluted, then a look of resolution appeared on his face.
"Fleet Admiral! Admiral Sengoku! I have a bold request!"
"Oh? Speak." Kong nodded.
"As long as it's not too excessive, I'll approve it."
Tatsuki took a deep breath, his voice pained but firm. "I request... to be transferred to the New World, G-5 Branch."
"What?!"
"Pfft—"
Sengoku, who was drinking tea, spat it out and stared at Tatsuki with wide eyes. "Nonsense! That's a place for exiling officers who have made mistakes! You have a limitless future, why go there?"
"Kyahahaha! Kid, are you still dreaming?" Garp laughed while picking his nose.
"The bastards there are more like pirates than actual pirates. I can't even be bothered to look at them whenever I pass by."
Kong's brow was even more furrowed. "Is it because of the Gorosei? If you're worried about them giving you trouble, I can still protect you here at headquarters, but if you go to G-5..."
"It is precisely because of the Gorosei." Tatsuki suddenly interrupted Kong.
"Fleet Admiral, the Gorosei already have their eyes on me. If I transfer to G-5, in their eyes, it's a signal of being sidelined and exiled. This will make them feel more at ease with me and better protect you, Fleet Admiral, from being implicated by me."
"That is the first reason."
Tatsuki paused, his tone suddenly becoming impassioned, a flame of justice burning in his eyes.
"Secondly, and most importantly, G-5 Branch is a disgrace to the Marines. It's a stain on 'Justice'. It's practically blackening our coat of justice."
"I, Tatsuki, as a Marine officer, cannot just sit by and watch."
"I request to go to G-5. I want to use my own strength to clean up the atmosphere there. I want to forge those pieces of trash back into a sharp blade. I want to transform that landfill into a true steel fortress, becoming the first edge the Marines thrusts into the heart of the New World." His words were powerful and resonant.
The office fell into a dead silence once again.
Kong looked at the young man before him, his deep eyes filled with extremely complex emotions.
Moved, gratified, and... deep guilt.
Look at what noble sentiment this was!
For the sake of the Marines' overall situation, he was willing to bear the infamy of a "greedy petty man."
Now, he was even volunteering to take over a mess that even Kong himself found a headache.
This was the true spirit of sacrifice! This was the future of the Marines! This was the incarnation of justice!
"Good..."
Kong's lips trembled, and he finally squeezed out a single word.
He stepped forward, his hands pressing heavily on Tatsuki's shoulders, tears faintly glinting in his eyes.
"Tatsuki, the Marines owes you too much."
"I approve your application." Kong's voice was resolute.
"As of today, you are appointed as the Base Commander of G-5 Branch. You have the highest command and personnel appointment rights for that branch. I will give you the highest level of resource allocation."
Tatsuki stood at attention and gave an incredibly standard military salute, his voice hoarse with excitement. "Yes! I guarantee the mission will be completed!"