One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

Normally, Luffy's public rant against the Five Elders would've earned him a stern rebuke from Sengoku. But today, even Sengoku felt the same frustration, silently wishing he could join in. The resentment simmered throughout the room, especially among those who had been in the heat of the Wano battle. They'd fought, bled, and endured hardship, only for the Five Elders to throw their sacrifices away with a single order. Had those five old fools been present, they'd have likely faced a chorus of insults.

For over ten minutes, a wave of creative curses washed over the room as the officers vented. Finally, Luffy took a deep breath, controlling his anger enough to sit back down. He picked up the cup of water on the table, took a sip, and then turned to Sengoku.

"So… what did we actually gain from this whole operation?" he asked, his tone still tinged with irritation. "Don't tell me we went through all of that for absolutely nothing."

At the mention of their one reward, Sengoku's face relaxed slightly. "Actually, there was a significant gain. We've taken control of Wano—the largest exporter of seastone in the world."

"Wano?" Luffy repeated, mumbling the name as his frown deepened.

His mind flashed to Momonosuke, the bratty heir of the country, and then to Wano's traditional culture and customs, which reminded him all too much of certain things he disliked from his previous life. But then, he remembered Wano's immense stores of seastone, the unique craftsmanship of its artisans, and, most importantly, the red Poneglyph and the rumored location of the ancient weapon, Pluton, hidden beneath the island. Perhaps all that effort hadn't been wasted after all.

While Luffy was lost in thought, Sengoku turned toward him, catching his attention. "Luffy, the government plans to establish a new Marine branch in Wano Country. I've decided to recommend you as the base commander for this new branch. What do you think?"

Luffy blinked in surprise, his mind racing. "Wait… me? The base commander?"

Sengoku nodded, elaborating. "Yes. Not only will you oversee the Marine base, but the government also plans to build a seastone processing facility there. You'll be in charge of recruiting local craftsmen to refine and produce seastone weapons and tools, which will be supplied to both the Marine and the government. Furthermore, with the execution of Wano's former leader, Orochi, you'll temporarily handle local governance until a new general is elected."

Luffy's eyes widened as he processed the news. The power to control both the military and civilian aspects of Wano Country was a substantial responsibility, and the opportunities it offered were incredible. Wasting no time, he leaped up from his wheelchair, excitement lighting up his face.

"Thank you, Fleet Admiral! I'll do my utmost to uphold justice and carry out my duties!"

Sengoku was about to nod with approval when something clicked in his mind. He paused, a frown forming on his face as he replayed Luffy's movements. Just a moment ago, Luffy had stood up and even leapt during his tirade. Wasn't he supposed to be seriously injured?

"Luffy… your legs?" Sengoku asked, his suspicion growing.

Luffy froze mid-celebration, his smile instantly vanishing. Realizing his blunder, he plopped back down in his wheelchair, clutching his legs with an exaggerated wince. "Ah! I… I got too excited. My legs! The pain!"

Sengoku's eyes narrowed, but then he shook his head, chalking it up to adrenaline. "Alright, alright. Just try to calm down and take it easy," he said, concern in his voice. "You should head back and rest. If there's anything important, Hina will update you."

He gestured to Hancock, who had been watching Luffy with both admiration and concern. "Empress, would you mind taking him to the infirmary? Make sure he gets a thorough check-up to rule out any complications."

"Of course," Hancock replied, immediately hurrying over to Luffy's side.

Luffy forced a regretful smile, nodding apologetically to Sengoku. "Thank you, Fleet Admiral. I appreciate it."

As Hancock wheeled him out of the meeting room, Luffy caught Aokiji and Kizaru's approving looks, each admiring his quick recovery from his slip-up.

Once they were in the hallway, Hancock's expression softened, and her eyes were filled with worry. "Those cursed Five Elders… if they hadn't upset you so, your injuries wouldn't have flared up from all that excitement."

Feeling the fierce loyalty radiating from her, Luffy chuckled. He reached back, patting her hand reassuringly. "Relax, Hancock. Remember, I'm perfectly fine—I was just putting on an act."

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