After pouring a large amount of cold water into the pool, Sengoku and Garp ultimately continued to soak in the hot spring.
The Great Buddha sighed comfortably, the high temperature of the hot spring relieving the soreness and stiffness in his shoulders and back caused by prolonged sitting.
The relaxed master calligrapher even had the leisure to educate Sakazuki on the three benefits of hot springs.
Although Sakazuki knew that hot springs were effective for sports injuries, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, and some nervous system diseases, this was the first time he had heard of these three benefits.
Calligraphy emphasizes state of mind, so the first benefit Sengoku described, counting on his fingers, was "recuperation" to relieve fatigue.
According to his metaphysical explanation, this mind-body liberation can wash and renew the body and soul from the inside out.
As they talked, he and Garp began to untie the belts of their large shorts in the hot spring pit.
Sakazuki felt a little puzzled. Were these two old guys going to bathe naked? This terrifying thought, as soon as it surfaced in his mind, made Sakazuki nervous.
In his mind, doing this with a girl was called being refined, but doing this with two muscular men over fifty was called eye-searing.
However, disaster still struck. Garp, with a look that said "country bumpkin," swiftly pulled down his pants: "Isn't hot spring bathing always done completely naked?"
No, it's not!!!!!
Sakazuki wished he could immediately poke out his eyes, so that he could no longer see the filth of the world.
At least in his hometown, people wore full swimsuits when bathing in hot springs, and not, as Garp and Sengoku said, in order to fully absorb the trace elements and minerals contained in the hot spring water.
[This damn Japanese traditional bathing method!] Someone cursed inwardly.
"In a state of nudity, people are frank with each other and blend into the realm of nature." Sengoku, being a cultured man, explained when he saw Sakazuki's concern.
"Sakazuki, as a Logia-type ability user, you should be the one who can best appreciate the feeling of merging with nature."
Sakazuki had indeed experienced that feeling of blending and unity when he trained inside a volcano.
But, this was a completely different experience from being squeezed into a pool with several naked old men!
The Great Buddha, who emphasized the unity of body and mind, continued to add: "In this way, the body and mind can attain tranquility, which is truly wonderful." Saying this, he placed his large shorts next to the stones on the edge of the hot spring pool.
"...." Sorry, I apologize, goodbye. Sakazuki really didn't experience any of the profundity. Instead, he was thoroughly eye-seared by the two grandpas.
Unable to deal with these two shameless rogues, he decisively changed the subject: "Three benefits, what about the second?"
Sengoku's explanation finally seemed a little more reliable to Sakazuki. This second benefit had the greatest effect and strongest appeal for women.
This "maintenance" brought about by hot springs, which maintained health and prevented disease, could beautify and nourish the skin, combining detoxification, slimming, and anti-aging in one.
And finally, there was the "treatment" that Sakazuki was familiar with, which could treat diseases.
"Speaking of which, do you want to take off your pants and try it? Anyway, it's just the three of us old men here." Garp encouraged him.
[It's precisely because it's just the three of us that I don't dare to take them off!] The corners of Sakazuki's mouth twitched slightly, and he didn't say anything.
His mind was now filled with the smile of Billy Herrington. Although his reason told him that Garp and Sengoku would never be so outrageous, he still didn't intend to go along with it.
"Mr. Sengoku, I think the previous proposal was too rash." Sakazuki looked down at the hot spring water that reached his chest. He had not forgotten his main purpose for coming to the hot springs.
A flash of approval appeared in the eyes of the Marine Admiral, but before Sakazuki raised his head, it returned to a deep and calm expression.
He calmly inquired: "I thought you were one of the most supportive people of this plan. Tell me your thoughts."
Sakazuki's eyes carried a trace of worry: "I fully support the purpose and arrangements of this plan, but it is still too early to talk about it."
He glanced at Sengoku and still stated his first judgment: "I do not support this [Expeditionary Force Plan]."
The strategist was noncommittal about Sakazuki's somewhat blunt refusal, and no change could be seen in his emotions or expression: "Reason?"
"Currently, after a cursory look at the proposal, I have found three problems."
This was the reason why Sakazuki was a little worried. Although the Fish-Man Island plan was successfully completed, there was a high probability that the Navy could keep an eye on this gateway of Fish-Man Island.
But it didn't mean that Marine Headquarters could justifiably organize a large fleet to do things!
The lessons from the original work were simply textbook-level warnings. The Five Elders had tried to organize such a large naval fleet to enter the New World.
In the original work, in order to prevent Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks, two of the Four Emperors of the New World, from meeting, the naval fleet set off from the G1 fortress opposite the Red Line, and then never returned.
Before the Summit War, the reconnaissance fleet that entered the New World to monitor the movements of the Whitebeard Pirates, had as many as twenty-three warships buried at the bottom of the sea.
These failures, coupled with the key gateway of Fish-Man Island being controlled by the great pirates, and the fact that it was somewhat worrying to defend, made the World Government give up the idea of organizing a large fleet to expedition to the New World.
But now, because of the many changes brought about by Sakazuki, the airflow stirred up by the butterfly was gradually beginning to exert its force.
"First, organizing such a large fleet or even an army cannot be completed overnight by transferring personnel from the grassroots or by recruiting a large number of new recruits." Sakazuki shook his head: "The New World sea area is full of elite pirates who have passed through the first half of the Grand Line, which makes the positioning of the Expeditionary Force must be a large fleet composed of elite navy soldiers and the backbone of Headquarters and various branches."
Sengoku nodded. Sakazuki hit a key point as soon as he opened his mouth. The strength of the Expeditionary Force was positioned very high, so its formation must involve the transfer of a large number of elites from various places, and conduct rigorous training with high intensity.
The manpower was transferred and concentrated on the expedition, resulting in the overall vacancy and decline of the various branches and the Four Seas' naval forces.
Sakazuki paused: "Second, the military expenditure and financial resources cannot be supported to the maximum extent. Even if the World Government allocates an additional 30% of the budget each time, an ordinary fleet is easy to form, but it is still somewhat difficult to form an elite army completely composed of top warships."
If it was really the scale of the army in the proposal, to put it bluntly, the military expenses and the new warships delivered to the Navy this time were only enough for Headquarters to build a basic framework.
"Third, and most importantly, without the successful recruitment of Fish-Man Island, all these expeditionary ideas are castles in the air." The strategist took over Sakazuki's words.
"But the expedition is imperative. We still have four or five years to organize it. Remember, we can't always be passively beaten. We can only take the initiative to attack."
Sakazuki was a little surprised, but also a little relieved. The strategic and tactical vision of the strategist, the key issues that Sakazuki could detect, how could Sengoku not think of them?
The Navy's up-and-coming young general honestly admitted: "Your thoughts are exactly the same as mine. The prerequisite for the expedition is that both Fish-Man Island and the G1 Fortress are under the Navy's control. Only then will Headquarters and the World Government have enough confidence to take the initiative to attack in addition to defense."
The strategist, who had anticipated the enemy, laughed: "Therefore, this is the fundamental reason why we sent Kuzan to be stationed in Fish-Man Island!"
Garp finally found an opportunity to interject. Kuzan could be considered a naval officer who grew up following him and Sengoku.
Therefore, he was very reassured about this subordinate's character and abilities. It was Fleet Admiral Kong's idea to place Kuzan in Fish-Man Island to ease tensions and then further organize conscription, but it was also Garp who strengthened the Fleet Admiral's somewhat wavering determination.
"I believe Kuzan can handle the situation in Fish-Man Island. His ability to handle affairs is best at advancing by retreating and making gradual progress." Garp had his own opinion of this cheap disciple whom he had instructed a couple of times.
Sakazuki and Sengoku did not deny this. Although Kuzan was a bit "slow" in doing things, this slowness was more like constantly starting from every small matter and gradually accumulating momentum.
The strategist added to his old friend's words: "Therefore, we sent Kuzan to Fish-Man Island, on the one hand, to ease and deal with problems, and on the other hand, we hope that he can single-handedly facilitate the formation of a joint army composed of Fish-Men and the Navy."
"Wait," a flash of inspiration appeared in Sakazuki's mind, but was this really possible? He couldn't help but ask himself.
Borsalino seemed to have been sent out recently as well. His junior brother said that he had first gone to Karakuri Island—Future Land to invite the future Chief Scientist of Marine Headquarters, Vegapunk, to join.
Then he rushed to Elbaf in the New World without stopping to expand the Giant Squad.
The actions of the two seemed to have no connection, but combined with the proposal he saw today...
He looked directly at Sengoku: "Admiral, that proposal shouldn't have appeared on my desk by accident, right?"
"No," Admiral Sengoku admitted his previous probing very frankly: "That proposal was originally drafted by me and Big Brother Kong. I just wanted to see your reaction and judgment."
You know, before, Borsalino and Sengoku had joined forces to push the matter of inviting scientists to join the Navy's science unit to Sakazuki.
But why did Borsalino continue to carry out the invitation mission? Did he plan to get it done himself because he couldn't wait for Sakazuki to return? Sakazuki didn't believe it at all.
"Hiss..." The leader of the hawks took a deep breath. He was really a little scared this time. Kuzan was forming an underwater joint army on Fish-Man Island, and Borsalino was responsible for forming the Navy's science unit and expanding the Giant Squad.
And the Expeditionary Force at hand was obviously handed over to him, Sakazuki, to command.
But the more he clarified the clues, the more confused he became.
What the hell was Marine Headquarters doing?!
The only Admiral with real power in Marine Headquarters currently stroked his braided beard: "It seems that you have already guessed, so I won't beat around the bush. The matter of the Expeditionary Legion is your responsibility."
"Mr. Sengoku?? The rank of Vice Admiral seems to be insufficient to bear the heavy responsibility of commanding a legion, right?! Are you letting me plan it alone??" Sakazuki had been mentally prepared, but he still couldn't believe it. His complexion turned a little green. Forming a new legion was not as easy as commanding an ordinary fleet.
From the planning of the document, the initial review and approval, to the subsequent coordination and arrangement of various departments. This was enough to take a year, not to mention the pile of problems he found in the proposal had now become the problems he had to face!
"Don't worry, whether it's Kuzan's Deep Sea Joint Army, Borsalino's Science Unit and Giant Squad, or your Expeditionary Legion, they are all headed by Fleet Admiral Kong himself, and organized and coordinated by me and Z." The strategist comforted Sakazuki. "Although the three of you are candidates for Admiral, you are still nominally Vice Admirals. These newly established units are all under the names of the Fleet Admiral and Admirals, so outsiders won't gossip about you."
He looked at Sakazuki's hesitant appearance and suddenly remembered an interesting incident, which was perfect for easing the atmosphere at this moment.
"By the way, I, Z, Garp, and Big Brother Kong have given your new legions names based on your respective characteristics and the role of the legions. Are you interested in hearing about your Expeditionary Force?"
Sakazuki's heart suddenly sank, and a bad premonition shrouded him.
"Originally, according to your Devil Fruit ability, Garp suggested calling the Expeditionary Force the Magma Legion." Sengoku said with a smile.
"..." Sakazuki felt his eyelids twitching wildly.
The Great Buddha waved his hand: "But Z and I both think that it is somewhat like factionalism to completely name the entire legion under an individual's name, so we rejected it."
He looked at Sakazuki, who slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and continued to talk about their creative journey: "Z felt sorry for you and suggested that since he and I were jointly responsible for leading the Expeditionary Force, we should simply take half of our nicknames to name it. In this way, outsiders will not be able to gossip about the few of you holding the power to form the legion in vain."
"Black Buddha?" Sakazuki imagined the nicknames of the two, and his expression was a little strange. What was this sense of evil god?
"Wrong, don't you think the Black Buddha Legion sounds like an unjust organization?" Sengoku had a headache about his subordinate's poor imagination.
Garp, soaking in the hot spring, helped Sakazuki out of the predicament: "I'll give you a hint, Sengoku used to have a nickname called [Sengoku the Buddha]." (仙石). The name is very Close to is actual name.
Sakazuki's expression was a little blank: "Black Stone Legion?"
"Correct!"
He raised his arm and looked left and right. He always felt that he seemed to need to put on a layer of medieval plate armor, and then shout: "I am war."
Sengoku said with regret: "But unfortunately, Big Brother Kong said that although the name Black Stone sounds good, it lacks a clear meaning."
Sakazuki's heart was beating wildly. Finally, there was a reliable one! Big Brother Kong, you are my big brother!"
He nodded repeatedly: "I think the Expeditionary Force is already very good, there is no need to trouble everyone to rack their brains."
"You silly child, what are you saying!" Sengoku was a little unhappy. "Besides, Big Brother Kong, as the Fleet Admiral, personally gave your Expeditionary Force a name. This name has been unanimously recognized by us, and we all think it is of extraordinary significance."
The Great Buddha's excellent memory recited Fleet Admiral Kong's words from half a month ago without missing a word: "The Expeditionary Force is a unit that we place high hopes on. It is a shield to protect the weak and a sword hanging over the heads of pirates."
"It will bring endless death to the pirates of the New World. It is the fire of the Navy's new life, and it is the raging flame that pirates will face.
Therefore, I name this Expeditionary Force—the Burning Legion"
Sakazuki was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly dug his ears, leaned in front of his old superior, and asked incredulously: "What did you say the legion is called?"
"The Burning Legion!"
"Fuck"
Sakazuki felt his heart seem to stop beating.
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