One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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Um?

Sure enough, the Marine wouldn't hand it over so easily.

A cold light flashed in Graeme's eyes.

The members of the CP0 tightened their expressions and tensed their muscles subconsciously.

In the Fleet Admiral's office, the atmosphere became tense.

Akira looked at them with a smile: "What? Are you planning to attack me, the Marine Fleet Admiral, in Marineford?"

That one question immediately snapped the CP0 agents out of it.

Good grief, attacking the Fleet Admiral inside the Marine headquarters? That would be a death sentence.

The CP0 agents quickly shook their heads.

Graeme said solemnly, "Can you explain why it's not possible? I need to report back to the Five Elders."

It was necessary to have a clear answer.

Otherwise, when they return to Mary Geoise and tell the Five Elders that the Marines refused to hand over the bank, how could they explain it? If the Five Elders ask why, what could they say?

It would be reckless to suggest that the Marines are planning to rebel just based on Graeme's words. Such a claim would need to come directly from the Marines themselves.

"There are two reasons why Marine Bank can't be handed over for the time being."

Akira stretched out two fingers and explained calmly:

"First, we were short on money a while ago. At that time, to encourage the officers to earn money independently, I set up a dividend system. You should be aware of that, right?"

Graeme's eyes widened as he recalled.

Before the official start of the Big Mom operation, when the Marines intervened in the Bertomy Passion Kingdom , they did indeed have that information.

At that time, Marine Bank was short on funds. To fill the financial gap, Akira implemented a dividend system to motivate officers to bring in money.

And it worked, though the effect wasn't huge.

"Alright, what's the second reason?" Graeme asked.

"The officers and soldiers have been working day and night because of this system, and they're just waiting for the year-end dividends."

"If Marine Bank is taken over by you right now, what will happen to the dividends I promised?"

"Are you prepared to take responsibility for that?"

"Furthermore, if the CP0 uses the hard-earned money of the Marines to pay dividends to Marine personnel, do you think that's fair?"

Akira shook his head and clarified.

The CP0 members exchanged glances. For a moment, they couldn't help but nod in agreement.

If CP0 had made as much money as the Marines but was taken over by them, and then Marine was asked to share those funds, they would definitely object as well. 

Let's not even consider other factors—just trusting that the Marines would manage the funds fairly and not pocket the profits was already a big concern.

Graeme thought for a moment and realized this was indeed an issue.

"If the dividends are paid out, will Marine Bank go into debt again?" he asked.

"No," Akira replied confidently. "I promised the Five Elders that after the dividends are paid, Marine Bank will still operate without liabilities. I have no intention of breaking that promise."

"Alright, what's the second point?" Graeme asked.

"Let's not even talk about Akatsuki, let's focus on Rehabilitation. The Five Elders explicitly mentioned that it should be shut down."

Akira pointed to the document and said seriously, "If we close the factory, do we still need to pay the salaries of the skilled workers?"

"Once Marine Bank is taken over by you, where do we get the funds to pay these people?"

"Akatsuki's operation is the same. The kings and nobles paid upfront for their properties, and we've used that money to pay soldiers, keep factories running, buy food supplies, and source wood from Water 7 for shipbuilders. 

"Basically, there's no surplus left, but construction is still going on, and we need fixed funds to keep it going."

"If Marine Bank is taken away, where will the profits come from?"

Akira leaned forward, shaking his head as he spoke. "Graeme, I'm looking out for everyone here. You have to take things one step at a time."

"Do you really believe that everything Marine has done over the past year can be absorbed in just a few days without consequences?"

"If you insist on taking it over immediately, I won't stop you, but any fallout from that decision will be on you. I won't be held responsible."

Graeme stood silently, his eyes shifting as he processed Akira's words.

Akira didn't push, calmly lighting a new cigar, waiting patiently.

Not long after, Graeme spoke.

"The instructions from the Five Elders are clear: the CP0 is to take full responsibility and complete the handover as soon as possible."

Graeme's voice was steady. "But what you've said makes sense. It's impossible to hand everything over within a few days."

"I'll report this back to the Five Elders, but you should be prepared on your end."

"My CP may send many people to connect with the Marine Staff as soon as possible."

Graeme had been persuaded.

Having worked within the system for decades, he understood that many things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface. Sure, they could push ahead recklessly for the sake of completing the task. But if it all blew up in their faces, who would bear the consequences?

Certainly not Graeme or his CP department!

So whether it was to protect the Marines or simply cover his own back, Graeme knew he had to be cautious. In fact, he had already made up his mind to say something favorable for the Marines when he reported back to the Holy Land.

"Yes, I'll have Tsuru fully cooperate with you when the time comes."

"In that case, I'll take my leave."

"See you next time."

As Graeme disappeared from view, Akira's smile faded quickly. 

He stroked his chin, and the cold light in his eyes began to flicker with intensity.

"CP is too much of an obstacle. As long as it exists, can the Marines have any real secrets?"

"It seems Graeme has to go."

"We need to deactivate these 'eyes' of the Five Elders."

Akira thought to himself.

Today, he had truly grasped the extent of CP's intelligence network. Even if the Five Elders never left Mary Geoise, they could still keep tabs on everything happening around the world, including within the Marines.

"Mission Two isn't like the third one," Akira muttered as he got up and walked to the window. He gazed down at Graeme, who was making his way toward the port. "Rebellion isn't just idle talk—sometimes, it means bloodshed."

Um?

As Graeme walked along, he suddenly froze in place.

"Captain, what's wrong?" one of his team members asked, puzzled.

"I don't know. Just now, I felt a sudden chill down my back." Graeme turned and glanced around.

All he saw were ordinary Marines training and patrolling, nothing out of the ordinary. He looked back at his team members.

"Did any of you blow on my back?"

The agents shook their heads.

"No, Captain, why would we do something like that?"

"Maybe it was just the sea breeze," another suggested.

"Yeah, that's what I think too," Graeme replied. "After all, we are on a sea fortress."

Graeme frowned, but in the end, he could only chalk it up to being overly sensitive. That strange feeling had passed as quickly as it came.

"Let's head back to the Holy Land."

"Fleet Admiral-sama, I'm here for work. Please let me know if there's anything you need."

As Marineford was bustling with activity, most people had already started their day. Among them, Mermaid Shyarly entered the office, carrying her crystal ball. 

After bowing and greeting Akira, she walked over to the secretary's desk and sat down.

"Shyarly, come here!" Akira called out, suddenly struck by a thought.

"My lord, what is it?" she asked, standing up and moving toward him.

"I want you to predict the future of the Marines. Can you do that?"

"I'll try, but Fleet Admiral-sama, I can only predict what might happen. I can't tell you exactly when it will happen."

"That's fine, go ahead."

Akira stood up from his seat, locked the door behind him, and moved closer to Shyarly. She took a deep breath to focus, then placed her delicate hands on the crystal ball, turning it in a specific pattern while softly chanting a unique incantation.

As time passed, the once calm crystal ball began to ripple.

Suddenly, an image of a battlefield covered in blood and flames appeared. The exact location of the war couldn't be identified—it had been utterly devastated by the violence.

"Huh? Isn't that the scary and serious Uncle Admiral?"

Shyarly's eyes widened in surprise as she saw a dead body lying on the ground. Her mouth opened slightly in shock as she let out an involuntary gasp.

"He looks... dead in the future."

She quickly turned to look at Akira for his reaction.

Akira's expression was grim, his brows tightly furrowed. His face showed deep concern.

"Sakazuki...?" he muttered under his breath, recognizing the fallen figure in the vision.