Strictly speaking, throughout all of Navy Headquarters — including Dorag — there were probably fewer than five people who could sit down and finish a meal with Brian. Tea Dolphin happened to be one of them.
Although Tea Dolphin was quite a bit older than Brian, they shared one thing in common: neither was particularly well-liked among the marines.
Especially Tea Dolphin — slovenly, careless, and when he wasn't in uniform, he looked exactly like a street thug or hoodlum.
Still, Brian didn't dislike him. Tea Dolphin lived freely — he ate when he was hungry, drank when he wanted, chased women without shame even though he was almost always rejected. He was genuine, unpretentious, and that, Brian could appreciate.
Likewise, Tea Dolphin didn't dislike Brian either. In fact, he thought Brian was his kindred spirit — a man who truly understood him.
"Men live for money, power, and women. Without those, what's the point of living?"
A truth divine! It was something Tea Dolphin had always wanted to say but never dared voice aloud.
They were birds of a feather — wherever they went, they found the same mischief: gambling, women, the whole works. If men liked it, they'd done it.
So when Brian muttered that he'd never slept with a female Celestial Dragon before and was curious what it'd be like, Tea Dolphin nearly choked. He slapped a hand over Brian's mouth and darted glances all around. If anyone had overheard that, he'd have to silence them — because once that rumor reached the Celestial Dragons, they'd both be dead men.
Brian pried his hand away lazily. "Old man, you're always scared of this and that — afraid of wolves in front, tigers behind. No wonder you can't win over Peach Rabbit. If you had a bit more guts, she'd have been your wife by now."
Tea Dolphin snorted. "What do you know? That's called romance — pure and unwavering devotion!"
"Yeah, right." Brian smirked. "Fine then. Tonight I'll hit the clubs and saunas alone — you can stay in the dorm and… entertain yourself."
"Come on, man, don't take it so seriously. Alright, alright, no more talk — the race's starting!"
Tea Dolphin hastily changed the subject and turned his attention back to the racetrack, while Brian continued observing the family of Celestial Dragons.
Three days later, in Mary Geoise — the World Government's private garden.
An elderly man with a goat beard watered flowers while asking calmly, "What's Brian been up to lately?"
Dasso, standing nearby, answered, "In the morning he attends the Navy Headquarters' routine meetings. Around noon, he and Tea Dolphin take a marine ship to Sabaody Archipelago for drinks and food. In the afternoon, they gamble on horse races or spend the day at the casino. After dinner, he hits the nightclubs, calls for four or five singers and dancers at once, and by midnight… takes them out for saunas. Then…"
There was no need to finish that last part — any normal man would understand.
The blond elder chuckled and shook his head. "Seems they know how to enjoy themselves."
The white-haired elder with curly locks muttered, "Good thing the rest of the Navy aren't like them — otherwise the World Government's prestige would be in ruins."
The balding elder with glasses and a sword wasn't interested in Brian's debauchery at all. He simply asked, "Has Brian contacted Spandine?"
"No," Dasso replied. "Since he gave Spandine a hundred million Berries, he hasn't reached out again."
In truth, although CP9 was a direct agency of the World Government, the Five Elders didn't trust it completely. They always had someone watching — in case CP9 ever tried to mislead them or falsify information.
So when Spandine accepted a hundred million Berries from Brian, the Five Elders knew that very same day. Yet they didn't punish either man. Their collusion wasn't exactly a threat to the World Government.
"Looks like Brian's feeling confident," one of them said with a faint smile. "He's sure the position of West Blue Governor is already his."
"West Blue's chaos is hurting tax revenue — but that chaos could also be useful. A good excuse to reorganize the Navy."
"In other words, just what Brian wants."
"We can't make it that easy for him," the blond elder said coolly.
"Indeed," another nodded. "Let's keep pressing Kong and Sengoku. Force them to send someone to handle the West Blue — maybe even appoint a new governor candidate."
After a brief discussion, they reached an agreement.
To make Brian impatient — to drive him into acting first and contacting them through Spandine — the Five Elders ordered Dasso to relay new instructions to Kong: Pile more work on Brian. Don't let him be so leisurely.
The reason? Simple — "Disciplinary action for inappropriate behavior with women in nightclubs, bringing shame to naval decorum."
With all the dirt on Brian's record, any excuse would do.
"Brian, Impel Down is short on staff lately. You'll be temporarily reassigned there to assist."
"You're sending me to a prison? You've got to be kidding."
Brian frowned. He knew exactly what kind of place Impel Down was — and it wasn't somewhere he wanted to spend time.
But why send him there?
He'd been back at Headquarters for a while now, and he could guess how bad things in the West Blue had gotten.
With no governor in place and several branch commanders killed, the marines there were demoralized. Forget suppressing the war in Nasia Kingdom — they could barely handle the flood of pirates.
And since the Four Blues were crucial sources of the World Government's tax revenue, any instability in the West Blue would cause serious financial losses.
For that reason alone, the Five Elders would have to intervene soon — and send someone to restore order.
"Could Kong be sending someone else to the West Blue? Or maybe someone's actually willing to take that filthy job?" Brian thought to himself. "No… this smells wrong. The Five Elders must be toying with me — dangling the bait."
His eyes narrowed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He remembered what was coming soon — the Golden Lion's prison break. And perhaps… he could make good use of it.
That sly grin didn't escape Sengoku's sharp gaze.
What is that bastard scheming this time? Sengoku's heart tightened, but he said nothing.
Out loud, Brian only grumbled, "No way. The workload in the Strategy Division's already huge, and I've just come back. I still need time to get up to speed."
Get up to speed? In casinos, nightclubs, and saunas?
Karp nearly spat his tea across the table, barely holding back laughter.
Kong's patience finally snapped. "Your duties will be covered. You leave for Impel Down immediately."
Brian let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Fine. I'll go to Impel Down then!"
He gave an exaggerated snort, turned on his heel, and slammed the door on his way out — looking for all the world like a man full of resentment.
But once he stepped into the corridor, his lips curled into a cold smile.
Golden Lion, aren't you always after Pluton? Then let me tell you exactly where it is. I hope you turn Water 7 upside down. Let the Navy and the World Government have a real headache for once… Sengoku, you'll pay for this.
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