Go attract the attention of that annoying pirate they call Silent Step. With your pretty face, it's the perfect job for you, right?
That was the order my boss gave me—the Chief of CP6—on the day after the Golden Lion pirates attacked and we returned to the Holy Land.
I thought, Have I really fallen this low?
Back then, I didn't realize it, but I had been born into a good family, lived a life with no hardships, studied at one of the East Blue's top universities, worked hard with my friends, and finally became a World Government officer…
And after that, nothing went right.
The boss I followed suddenly lost his position.
In my new post, I was yelled at no matter what I did, and was left doing only simple paperwork.
Then I was sent to a strange place—the "pirate office" set up inside Pangaea Castle itself.
My boss only listened with half an ear, but the one who faced a great pirate alone and then earned the respect of Navy and Government soldiers through his leadership was a very unusual pirate.
This young pirate, who reached out to shake my hand with a gentle manner, was kinder, more polite, and far more capable than my superior—the Government officer I worked under.
Spandine must be losing it if he's taking orders from some pirate brat.
That's what my boss said, but he has probably changed his mind by now, his face pale.
After all, this pirate might become a Celestial Dragon.
No… someone like that doesn't have the sensitivity to go pale over it.
This pirate, who was so skilled and powerful, was doing something like—
"Sorry, Kuro. I didn't expect we could hold a funeral for the fallen soldiers in times like these…"
"Not at all, Special Admiral Zephyr. …If possible, I wanted to take their bodies back to their hometowns and let their families see their faces before the funeral…"
"In this situation, we don't have enough ships. It's hard to move the bodies without damage. The fact that you stitched them and prepared them so well is already enough…"
"Yes… At least we must send their remains and belongings to their families. If not, their families—and the soldiers who remain—will feel pain in their hearts."
"Kuro boy," Special Admiral Zephyr said, placing a hand on the pirate's shoulder. "Thank you for convincing the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons. The soldiers who fought will feel a little peace now."
He had just finished managing the joint funeral of the Navy and Government soldiers who died in the recent battle, working together with the Fleet Admiral, special Admirals, Vice Admirals, and Government officials.
The plaza, which had been the main battlefield, was uneven because they were removing the broken stone tiles. Yet the ceremony was grand enough that no one noticed.
"She wrote the draft letters to convince all the officials," Kuro said, gesturing toward me. "Without her help, and her knowledge of how the Government works, we could not have held this funeral during the reconstruction."
"Oh?" Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing next to Special Admiral Zephyr, turned her gaze to me.
I did write drafts to persuade the Celestial Dragons who wanted the reconstruction done first and didn't care about the funeral… but the fact that it worked was because—
Because Silent Step handled the persuasion and negotiations themselves.
I had no complaints about this pirate boy being my boss.
To be honest, I had never met anyone like him in my entire life.
He had a father's calm strength, a mother's kindness, the softness and warmth of my university friends, the intelligence of my professors, and a deep sense of care that tied it all together.
Like a joke made real.
"This is the girl you said had promise the other day? What's her name?"
"Ah… yes. My name is Jenetta," I stammered.
But please don't casually introduce me to high-ranking people like the Navy Chief Strategist.
I can barely keep up with you already.
"Jenetta, hm. Not only the ceremony, but the repair work and preparing the flowers… thank you. I'm truly grateful."
"No, please, you don't need to bow to me, Special Admiral Zephyr" I panicked, waving my hands. "Captain Kuro ordered me to dig into anything that worried me… I only did that."
"I see… Kuro boy, take good care of her."
"Yes," Kuro said firmly. "I personally chose her and kept her by my side. I will never treat her lightly."
He wasn't lying.
I was being treated so well I could hardly believe it.
Even my fellow female officers who treated me like a tool until yesterday seemed jealous.
Though… he treats me so kindly that I think I'm starting to attract unnecessary jealousy…
"Kuro, are you going back to work now?" Special Admiral Zephyr asked.
"Yes. But first I'll stay until the cremations for the Marines and Government guards are finished."
"…You really are too serious."
"We were in an emergency, and even though I took command midway, they died under my watch. I cannot stay with them until the end, but it's my duty to see them off."
"Even though you're a pirate?"
"Because I am a pirate… no, because I became someone called a pirate, I want to keep my dignity as a person, at least. Admiral."
How many Marines and Government officers who saw this scene would still think this boy was a pirate?
If someone who could calmly talk with the Special Admiral and the Chief Strategist—who should be his mortal enemies—was still called a pirate…
If someone who cared this much about people was called a pirate…
—Then the Celestial Dragons, who hurt people as they please and wield power for their own desire, look far more like villains.
The young pirate gave the Marines the Silent Step salute—a salute used only among that pirate crew—and after watching all the cremations, he returned to his office.
Inside the office, the now-familiar Marine girl and the CP9 Chief formed an odd pair, chatting while working.
A Marine, a Government assassin, and a pirate.
In normal times they should all be enemies, yet now they greeted him casually with "Welcome back" and "Oh, you're back."
I had already grown used to this strange sight.
"Watching all the cremations must have been tough, right?" Hina asked as we walked in.
"Thanks to Jenetta's calculations, Spandine helped arrange the manpower and supplies, so it didn't take too long. Anyway—Hina, sorry I didn't let you attend the ceremony and gave you all the small jobs instead."
"It can't be helped," Hina shrugged. "Not all officers or guards could attend anyway, and this office is basically the core of the reconstruction plans. We can't let the paperwork pile up."
"…It's strange hearing that much trust put into a pirate's office," Spandine muttered.
It really couldn't be helped.
Maybe there was some political meaning behind it, but this office was in charge of critical tasks for the Holy Land's restoration.
One mistake could delay the whole reconstruction.
Even a simple attendant like me felt sick from the responsibility, yet this pirate handled everything perfectly.
Mistakes still happened.
Some information was limited, and sometimes supplies didn't move as planned.
Even so… he was amazingly good at fixing every mistake.
The moment a problem appeared, he built a plan to solve it within minutes.
He used his strong Navy connections, a few CP agents, and even friendly Government officers he had personally gained the trust of.
Then he quickly gave instructions to the women who had become his subordinates.
He understood each person's strengths and character, and gave simple, clear orders.
He never decorated his words.
His instructions were direct and easy to follow.
I was sure the other women assigned here all realized the same thing—that this pirate was extremely capable.
Many of them were probably experiencing, for the first time, what it felt like to be given work in a way that felt so rewarding.
For me, it definitely was the first time.
And yesterday… for many reasons, the number of people working under him basically grew again…
The more time I spent near him, the less I believed he was a pirate at all.
A man who could win people over not with strength or threats, but with his words and his work—How many Government officers could do that?
—Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble!
Ah.
Someone was running toward the door.
Kuro clearly recognized who it was from the sound alone.
He sighed with a wry smile.
Hina and CP9 Chief Spandine made the same face.
Since this office was set up for him, many kinds of officers and Marines visited.
But almost no one ran here full-speed.
Vice Admiral Garp had suddenly remembered something and gone on a trip to the South Blue.
The Fleet Admiral and Vice Admirals visited often, but none ran in panic.
The only people who did were people like Spandine—
"YOU IDIOT!! Which pirate submitted this complaint!? Who dared do this!?"
"I'm the only pirate here, Deputy Director of the Health Division."
For some reason, only the Government big shots who often visited this pirate's office acted like this.
--
"You bastard! Don't you dare tell me how to move medicines, you pirate scum!!"
First off, is it rude for a top government official to come right into a pirate's office like this? Probably.
The Five Elders also came by themselves.
The leaders who carry out the Five Elders' decisions have been coming here almost every day—no, truly every day. How is that normal?
"Of course, I don't think this will become final as-is," I tried to reason with him. "But given wounded soldiers still lack care, we needed to secure at least some medicines. With more injuries likely during reconstruction—"
"You idiot, medical supplies are delicate! You can't judge this from a few papers!!"
Still, I can't help but like him.
Especially the Deputy Director for Health Division—Kimrick Pinsher.
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand fully. But it's true the field is short on medicines."
"I understand! But we must prioritize the West and the North—the West took the worst damage, and the North is so full of war damage we don't know where to start!"
"…And the front half of the Grand Line, where new pirates are causing havoc?"
"Exactly! Countries already hoard food and supplies, and ships able to safely carry medicines are very few! Yet people keep bringing wounded and begging for drugs… What am I supposed to do? Help me, pirate—please help!!!"
"Um… well…"
He suddenly grabbed my shoulder and started crying, and I couldn't say no.
"If we gather the amount they ask for, the local doctors will still say it's not enough," he sobbed, shaking me. "They'll say the situation is worsening and demand more. They don't understand supply control!!"
"…You mean medical supplies were moved by local decisions, the records are patchy, and the managers lost sight of the true situation?"
"You understand!!! Yes!! That's it!!!"
If someone grabs you and cries like that… please don't shake me. Even though I'm getting more sleep, I'm not fully well.
Yesterday I stayed up late fixing reconstruction plans and today's ceremony details and—ugh.
"Those doctors! Saving lives is top priority, sure, but they don't get how important inventory control is! If supplies are moved without records and numbers don't match later, we must suspect theft! And the doctors act like the government is the villain!"
"My heart goes out to you," I said, genuinely meaning it.
"When the field is unclear, the Five Elders scold us to take control. If we tighten supply and money control, the people below complain 'the leaders don't understand the field'… it's endless."
I get it. I know this hell too well. I had coworkers who broke down from this kind of pressure and quit.
I wish I could have quit back then…
Spandine is used to this, but Hina looks troubled.
Yeah, you don't see people like this often inside the government.
They're nothing like the CP people who stormed in yesterday to complain.
"Are medical supplies short everywhere now?" Hina asked tentatively.
"These past years the Grand Line and North saw many rescue requests because wars worsened. Add pirate attacks—rookie pirates take food, but seasoned pirates go for medicines. Countries rumored to have good medical care get targeted, and the world loses a lot! Like locusts at sea! You should crush those pirates!! Even if they are pirates, do it!!"
I can't follow the rant after the middle, and what can I say?
"Ha, I'm sorry."
All I can do is bow and apologize.
Still, that makes sense. Blackbeard hit Drum too.
I didn't see his reasons, so maybe he had other aims.
Bege, who handles our buying, says medicines are priced higher and short even in the West.
If needed, medicines can be sold for good money. They're a fine treasure.
We can make some basic medicines ourselves—Perona's witch foster-mother taught her herbalism and basic medicine, and Mihawk grows fast-healing herbs in the fields.
We can make fever medicine, wound salves, burn ointments.
Also, Mihawk said he wanted to try making alcohol when farm work calms down—maybe we can distill disinfectant from that.
Mihawk is amazing. A master swordsman who's become a farmer.
"I understand the situation. I truly understand," I told him, trying to soothe the man. "But wearing out battle-trained Marines here will be a big loss for the government in the long run."
"I know what you mean! But—"
"We have stabilized as much as possible under military medical control. I inspected the field with doctors and calculated the minimum needed amount."
"Hmm… you checked personally?"
"Yes."
I get why he's hesitant. In this job, precedents can be dangerous. You have to be careful.
Under the Five Elders, you risk two kinds of trouble. You need courage to act.
"Treating battle-experienced Marines quickly and returning them fully fit may be a month or two burden, but it will reduce future costs."
"…Your numbers are correct, then?" he asked, eyeing the paperwork.
"Yes. I rechecked the field with my team just in case."
Jenetta has been working to organize others now that she has a role. She's pulling in trustworthy helpers.
"…Normally this would take at least half a month to check," Kimrick muttered, wiping his face. "But Drum Kingdom replied this morning—they can send staff and medical personnel. If these numbers are right, they can provide it."
"Deputy Director…"
"This passed because you asked and the situation is acceptable!!" he snapped, though his face was red.
"Yes, sir."
"This isn't normally this easy—understand!?"
"Yes. I apologize and will remember this."
"If you have more medical supply requests, bring the documents to my office or call me. I'll keep a direct line open."
"Thank you very much for your consideration."
Hearing a gruff man speak like a tsundere at this age was unexpected.
…Well, it's not strange? I don't know.
Also, Jenetta—when you see him off, quietly give him a handkerchief. His face was a little messy from crying and sniffles.
"Governor, Lord Kimrick Pinsher has left. He sends his regards," Jenetta said, returning from the door.
"Thanks. Hina, tell Sengoku we have a lead on medical supplies."
"Understood," Hina replied.
"Jenetta, what's next?"
"At two this afternoon there's a meeting with the Five Elders, then lunch, then a field inspection."
Good. Today will be easier.
The Five Elders meeting is about the apology statement. I left the schedule open just in case it runs long, but we should be able to check the workers before dark.
"In two weeks to a month, I should finish everything I need to do, but—"
"Hey Kuro," Spandine interrupted, "aren't you getting tons more work?"
Spandine, zip it.
"Well, some increase is unavoidable. Reconstruction always needs repeated fine adjustments."
"Even the medical resupply request?"
"It can't be helped."
"Requests to stoneworker guilds and adjusting their pay?"
"Can't be helped."
"Drafting thank-you letters for the royals of countries that offered aid?"
"…Can't be helped."
"Negotiating future supply buying and selling with trade groups and chambers of commerce?"
"…"
"Lately, several minor department assistants come to you for orders instead of their bosses—"
"I said it can't be helped!!" I snapped.
Hey, I did add some helpers, but Daz, Robin, Tesoro, and Bege aren't here!! If they were, work would be less. Bege could handle secret procurement, but he's not here!!
Some departments are basically under my command now. What a mess.
"Actually, the schedule is not off track," I insisted.
I'm handling everything somehow. I know I'm using Spandine's network fully, but that also gives Spandine many wins—so it's fine, right!?
"Luckily, with this many people available, we can speed up the second transport plan and lighten the burden on craftsmen and workers."
…
Hina, Spandine—
What's with that look? And why are they elbowing each other?
"Captain Kuro."
"Hm? Yes, Jenetta?"
"They seemed hesitant, so I will say it."
"That's it."
"What?"