The worldwide military recruitment campaign was in full swing, with media outlets across the globe joining in coverage of this grand event.
Particularly Morgans' World Economic Journal, which collaborated with the Marine Headquarters Press Office to distribute newspapers reporting on this unprecedented recruitment drive to every corner of the world.
While global attention focused on this major Marine event, officers overseeing the recruitment at Headquarters found themselves overwhelmed with work—especially the finance department, which watched funds flow out like water daily.
The current tally of new recruits from Headquarters and major branch offices had already exceeded one million.
For such a massive force, setting aside other considerations, just feeding and housing each soldier represented an enormous expense.
Most importantly, since Fleet Admiral Orion took office, he'd strictly implemented a 'salaries first' policy.
Moreover, once training concluded, these million new recruits would need deployment for field training.
The required training ships and branch office vessels fell far short of demand.
Finally, Marine branch bases required expansion—especially barracks and training grounds, the two most critical facilities.
All these demands required massive financial support.
Though Orion had acquired astronomical funds by purging the Holy Land's Shepherd and Marcus families, these reserves would soon be exhausted at this rate.
*****
Fleet Admiral's Office.
Hina led a temporary assistant team working day and night to process mountains of paperwork for Orion.
Though his workload had lightened considerably, Orion had practically moved into his office.
"Fleet Admiral, branch reports indicate registered recruits have surpassed 1.2 million!" Hina approached his desk with updated documents.
"Though recruitment is nearing completion, branches continue submitting new enlistee records. At this rate, we're looking not at expanding to 1.5 million, but adding 1.5 million new personnel. The required funding far exceeds our budget for such numbers!"
"No need for concern," Orion waved dismissively with a smile. "We still have tribute funds from the so-called Underworld Emperors. Even with two million additional recruits—combined with the Celestial Dragon families' assets from the Holy Land—our funding remains more than adequate."
Hina frowned delicately. "While funds are sufficient now, long-term projections show the Marines facing financial crisis soon."
"That is indeed a problem!" Orion nodded, "Although the Rosward family's businesses are now managed by the Marine and the shipping in the Grand Line has been fully delegated to Stussy, as long as the shipping company's ships start moving, we can begin generating revenue. But we indeed need a longer-term plan!"
"Fleet Admiral, what about the Celestial Tribute from the affiliated nations?"
At that moment, Noah, another member of the assistant team, suddenly stood up with a serious expression and said.
"The Celestial Tribute used to be collected by the Celestial Dragons from the affiliated nations. However, this year, due to the Reverie, the kings of the major affiliated nations should bring the Celestial Tribute themselves to the Holy Land!"
Hearing this, Orion surprisingly didn't get excited at the mention of the Celestial Tribute.
Instead, he fell silent.
It was true that affiliated nations had to pay a certain amount of Celestial Tribute to the Holy Land every year.
But before that, many nations imposed various taxes on their citizens to meet this obligation—some even collected taxes decades in advance.
Because of this, even when he proposed taking half of the Celestial Tribute annually as Marines funding, he never obsessed over it.
For the royalty and nobility of the affiliated nations, this tribute was a stepping stone to curry favor with the Celestial Dragons and a foundation to maintain their rule.
But for the citizens of these nations, it was a bloodless blade.
Just then, Gion walked in.
Seeing her, Orion broke his silence and said decisively, "Gion, you're just in time. I have a task for you!"
"Understood!" Gion quickly approached the desk, standing beside Hina.
"Go to Sabaody Archipelago immediately and arrange a hotel. Then contact Doflamingo and have him invite all the Celestial Dragons who participated in the Pangaea Plaza protest to Sabaody. Tell them I'm hosting a banquet in their honor."
"Also, notify Fujitora and Ryokugyu—they don't need to attend officer training. Have them report to my office immediately!"
"Understood." Gion noted everything down and turned to leave.
Watching this, Hina blinked in confusion and cautiously asked.
"Fleet Admiral, we were just discussing funding issues. Why did you suddenly change the subject? Hina doesn't understand!"
"Don't understand?"
Orion tidied the documents Hina had placed on the desk and set them aside before continuing.
"From now on, you'll serve as my accompanying secretary. Soon, you won't be confused or curious anymore!"
"Now, your first task!"
Orion pulled a new file from the drawer and handed it to Hina.
"Contact Galley-La Company in Water 7 immediately and order a batch of warships—large, medium, and small. The quantities and specifications are all in this document. My only requirement is that money is no problem, but they must prioritize quality while speeding up production!"
"Yes!"
The moment work was mentioned, Hina snapped into action, taking the file and getting to work.
Meanwhile, Fujitora and Ryokugyu, having received Gion's notice, entered the office.
"Fleet Admiral!"
The two saluted almost simultaneously as they reached the desk, standing at attention while awaiting Orion's orders.
Orion didn't mince words and got straight to the point.
"Fujitora, you won't be participating in officer training anymore. As Fleet Admiral, I need you to undertake a mission—immediately set sail with warships under your authority as a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral. Before the Reverie convenes, you must investigate the taxation situations of all member nations! Any country that has collected taxes more than a year in advance must be recorded in your notebook."
Fujitora was completely stunned and weakly protested.
"Investigating all member nations before the Reverie? Fleet Admiral Orion, that's an utterly impossible task. With the Reverie coming soon, visiting all member nations in such a short time—"
"Don't worry," Orion cut him off decisively.
"I grant you the Fleet Admiral's decree. All branch bases across the four seas and the Grand Line will assist you.
Remember, this is crucial.
In the past, the World Government only cared about collecting the Celestial Tribute while ignoring the lives of member nations' citizens, making it harder for the Marines to maintain order and peace at sea. From now on, the Marines will no longer stand by and let this continue."
"What the World Government can't or won't handle, I will!"
--------------------------------
Read 60 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator