Garp remained his usual irreverent self.
Grinning, he used fingers that had just been picking his nose to slap Jake's shoulder while forcefully pressing him back into the chair with his arm.
Then he plopped his large rear end right on Sengoku's desk, his massive ass obscuring half of Sengoku's face.
Without ceremony, he grabbed a packet of rice crackers from Sengoku's desk, tore it open, and poured the contents directly into his mouth.
Between loud chewing, he offered commentary, spraying crumbs and saliva that landed on Sengoku's desk and uniform.
Garp acted completely oblivious to this, even as Sengoku's face darkened to the shade of a burnt pot bottom.
Seeing Sengoku's expression, Kizaru and the others, including Jake, instinctively moved further away from Garp.
Sure enough, Sengoku completely lost his temper.
He slammed his palm hard on the desk and roared at Garp.
"GARP! You bastard! My desk isn't your damn snack bar!"
But the next moment, a scene that made everyone struggle to hold back their laughter unfolded.
Garp, whose collar was being gripped by Sengoku, had actually fallen asleep on the spot.
An exaggerated snot bubble slowly emerged from his nose, expanding and contracting with each breath.
Even more amusingly, Sengoku's face—red with anger and distorted—could be seen reflected on the surface of the bubble.
This slightly comical sight even caused Sakazuki, usually the most serious among them, to briefly crack a faint smile.
For those like Aokiji and Zephyr, who weren't particularly good at hiding their emotions, they burst into outright laughter.
Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses and remarked in his usual sarcastic tone.
"How terrifying~ Fleet Admiral Sengoku~"
Whether it was Kizaru's sarcasm or Garp's ridiculous antics that pushed him over the edge, Sengoku let out a long sigh, clutched his chest and slowly sank into his chair.
Ignoring Garp, who was now sprawled asleep on his desk, he addressed the others.
"I called you here today to discuss how we should allocate the gold Jake brought back. You've all seen the photos—such an enormous amount could fund many of our future plans. Let's hear your thoughts, starting with you, Zephyr."
"As for that idiot Garp," Sengoku added with a dismissive wave, "he'd probably suggest converting the gold into an equivalent value of rice crackers to serve as the Marines' rations for decades. I don't even want to entertain that idea."
After the jab at Garp, Sengoku turned his gaze to Zephyr, a faint smile on his face.
Even before Zephyr spoke, everyone could guess where he'd want the funds directed.
True to expectations, his proposal drew knowing smiles.
"In my opinion, this money should be invested in the future of Marine education. While Marine Headquarters has an elite training program, none of the branch bases have anything comparable—not even a basic educational framework. With pirates sprouting up like mushrooms after rain, we need to invest more in training the next generation of Marines."
"And it's not just about funding training camps—it's about developing a comprehensive system. Hiring nutritionists, procuring professional training equipment, arranging guidance from high-ranking officers, lowering recruitment standards for civilians… Only by addressing all these aspects can we ensure a steady influx of new talent. This is the only way the Marines can maintain dominance in the future."
Zephyr's proposal was meticulously structured, down to the allocation of funds for each initiative.
Everyone present agreed—especially since the Great Pirate Era had led to a surge in pirates entering the Grand Line from the four seas, far exceeding previous numbers.
Though the Marines had plans to expand recruitment, budget constraints had hindered progress.
Now, with Zephyr's proposal and the newfound wealth, it was the perfect opportunity.
After Zephyr finished, Sengoku added his own remarks and summarized.
"Our naval training system indeed needs some adjustments to keep up with the changing times. I fully support this initiative, but I'll require a more detailed breakdown and list. After you compile that, we'll review it together. If there are no major issues, we can proceed with the reforms."
Upon hearing this, Zephyr's face broke into a radiant smile, the wrinkles on his skin seeming to fade momentarily.
Next to speak was Kizaru, maintaining his characteristic drawl.
"Well now~ As for me~ I'd like to allocate these funds to invest in Dr. Vegapunk of Egghead Island~ Not too much, mind you, but at least enough to free him from the World Government's financial stranglehold. We've all witnessed the value of his inventions firsthand. With substantial funding, our weapons and warships could achieve overwhelming superiority against Pirates."
"Just imagine~ Most Pirates still use those antiquated firearms that require reloading after every shot. If our Marines could achieve absolute firearm superiority, we'd significantly reduce soldier casualties in regular combat. After all, bullets are never as valuable as human lives, aren't they?"
"No matter how skilled our recruits are, they remain vulnerable to Pirates before reaching their full potential. But with superior firearms, we could avoid close-quarters combat entirely, dramatically lowering casualty rates. Warship upgrades would also enhance our response speed, pursuit capabilities..."
Kizaru spoke at unusual length, even dropping his peculiar speech patterns toward the end—a clear sign of his seriousness.
Sengoku visibly agreed with Kizaru's points, nodding with a smile.
"Rare to hear such earnest words from you, Borsalino. Your arguments are sound—no amount of bullets outweighs a marine's life. However, Dr. Vegapunk's situation is complicated. The World Government might object to excessive contact, but I'll see what I can negotiate."