-Real World-
The revelation that a former pirate could ascend to the rank of Marine Admiral sent shockwaves through headquarters. Even the most imaginative strategists among the Marine brass couldn't fathom what circumstances had led to such a radical transformation over the past 5 years. While incorporating pirates into the Marine system wasn't entirely unprecedented, elevating one directly to the pinnacle of military power was unthinkable.
From the Straw Hat Pirates' casual conversation alone, it became apparent that the Marines now boasted more than five Admirals—a massive expansion of their most elite fighting force. Such rapid institutional growth spoke to fundamental changes in the organization's structure and philosophy.
Gin, known in his pirate days as "Man-Demon," had proven his worth by eliminating Karasu, commander of the Revolutionary Army's Northern Forces. This display of overwhelming combat prowess certainly warranted recognition. The brief glimpse of the Marines' assault on Revolutionary Army headquarters, though limited in scope, was enough to boost morale throughout the organization.
5 years in the future, the balance of power had shifted dramatically. Pirates had grown stronger, but the Marines had countered by recruiting multiple Admiral-level fighters. Without such overwhelming strength, how could they hope to maintain dominance over the vast oceans?
Outside the Sky Screen's influence, Marine intelligence officers frantically scribbled notes, hoping to glean valuable insights from the conversation between these two high-ranking officers.
-Broadcast-
"Smoker, your sudden arrival caught me off guard," Gin said, settling into a chair across from his fellow Admiral. "Are you planning to accompany me to Dressrosa?"
"I'm not here to steal your thunder," the white-haired man replied, twin cigars dangling from his lips. He consumed tobacco at an alarming rate, lighting fresh cigars every few minutes in a perpetual cycle of smoke and flame. "I've already briefed you about the G-5 situation through Den Den Mushi. I was concerned you might be underestimating Doflamingo."
[Character Note: Marine Admiral "Shirouma" Smoker, wielder of the Moku Moku no Mi (Smoke-Smoke Fruit)]
"Are the spies from G-5 Base aboard your warship?" Gin inquired, leaning forward with interest.
"I've assigned reliable personnel to oversee them. They may prove useful once we reach Dressrosa," Smoker confirmed, his expression serious despite the casual conversation.
The two Admirals deliberately avoided naming the Marine operatives, much to the frustration of intelligence officers monitoring the Sky Screen broadcast. Every scrap of information about future operations was precious, yet these crucial details remained tantalizingly out of reach.
As their discussion continued, Admiral Smoker reached into his coat pocket and produced a gleaming gold coin, which he flipped casually toward Gin. "This is the second-generation currency newly minted by Marine Headquarters. I was surprised to find that even in a remote outpost like G-5, these private Marine coins have become incredibly popular."
Gin caught the spinning coin effortlessly, examining both sides with careful attention to detail. "The craftsmanship is definitely superior to the first generation. The acting Fleet Admiral really does pay attention to these seemingly minor matters. This is actually my first time seeing the second-generation design after so long at sea."
"Berries are becoming increasingly worthless—practically inflating into useless paper," Smoker continued, lighting another cigar as the previous one burned down to a stub. "These were originally intended as pension payments, but their popularity throughout the Marines has been remarkable. Everyone appreciates the intrinsic value of precious metals."
"I've been hearing rumors that Admiral Kizaru has been negotiating with the acting Fleet Admiral about salary payments," Gin said, still turning the coin over in his palm. "Supposedly, he wants to completely eliminate paper currency like Berries in favor of gold coin salaries. If that actually happens, the Marines will have struck quite the bargain."
Smoker made no move to reclaim the coin, having obtained it from a corrupt officer during his G-5 inspection along with a considerable amount of other seized assets. The gold piece was just one small part of a much larger haul of confiscated wealth.
"These coins aren't just popular within the Marines," Smoker observed, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. "A small portion has found its way into pirate hands, and demand far exceeds supply. Recently, we've seen an uptick in warship raids—pirates specifically targeting our ships to acquire these gold coins. They're significantly more valuable than standard Berries."
As their conversation continued, Admiral Smoker delved into the fascinating economics behind the Marines' new currency system, providing those monitoring the Sky Screen with an unprecedented glimpse into future military operations.
The gold coin initiative had originated with the acting Fleet Admiral as a pension system designed to support families of Marines who had fallen gloriously during the Marineford War. The intention was simple: ensure that heroes didn't die in vain, and that their sacrifices would be properly honored through concrete support for their survivors.
Senior Marine leadership had taken the program extremely seriously. To prevent any possibility of embezzlement or corruption, Admiral Sakazuki had personally overseen every pension distribution, witnessing each payment being placed directly into the hands of bereaved families.
What the World Government had intended as a temporary stopgap measure quickly evolved beyond the acting Fleet Admiral's expectations, driven by the Marines' overwhelming enthusiasm for this special currency.
In practical daily usage, merchants consistently preferred gold coins over Berries of equivalent value. The precious metal carried inherent trust and stability that paper currency simply couldn't match.
The success of the pension program led the acting Fleet Admiral to expand gold coin usage to quarterly bonuses. Eventually, the entire Marine hierarchy—from the lowest-ranking seamen to the highest Admirals—would recognize only these coins as legitimate currency. The precious metal earned the designation "Marshal's Gold," cementing its status within the organization.
Through this casual conversation, observers gained remarkable insight into the future Marines' compensation structure. In terms of benefits and welfare, the improvements completely overshadowed current standards.
Base salaries had increased by 100% across all ranks, while Admiral pay had tripled. Beyond the substantial raises, even the lowest-ranking Marines now received a full week of vacation annually, with Admirals enjoying an entire month of leave.
Multiple new bonus categories had been implemented, with attendance-based rewards generating substantial gold coin payments. The reforms had proven so effective that even Admiral Kizaru—notorious for his lackadaisical attitude—had become remarkably diligent. As it turned out, proper financial incentives could indeed drive exceptional performance.
Within 5 years of assuming office, the acting Fleet Admiral had paid off all outstanding Marine wages, including more than 20% interest on delayed payments.
Under the new system, even a basic Seaman's salary was sufficient to support a family comfortably. Promotions brought corresponding increases in pay and benefits, while the advancement system itself had become transparent and merit-based.
The newly appointed acting Fleet Admiral had ruthlessly eliminated the parasitic practices of corrupt officers who had been bleeding lower ranks dry through embezzlement and phantom payroll schemes. Numerous corrupt officials had been purged from the organization, while previously suppressed Marines had been promoted to positions matching their true capabilities.
"If the acting Fleet Admiral hadn't guided the Marines through this ideological transformation," Smoker said, offering a cigar to Gin, "we probably would never have become colleagues."
Gin accepted the tobacco, allowing his deputy Helmeppo to light it for him. He inhaled deeply, savoring the rich aroma before speaking. "Establish the broadest united front and unite all forces that can be united," he quoted thoughtfully. "Looking back, that philosophy really was powerful. The acting Fleet Admiral managed to get the entire Marine organization working in harmony. Without that leader's recruitment efforts, a former pirate like me would never have joined the Marines."
For Gin, this represented something profound. Like Ace, he had suffered from a lack of paternal guidance, but his affliction had been the absence of a worthy leader to serve. When faced with a commander possessing genuine charisma, the acting Fleet Admiral's invitation had been impossible to refuse—finally giving his directionless life the backbone it had always lacked.
"After former Fleet Admiral Sengoku died in the war at Marineford, the friction between Akainu and Aokiji became irreconcilable," Smoker reflected, his expression growing thoughtful. "If Artoria hadn't reversed the tide of that battle, the Marines would have been completely destroyed that day. When she was elected as acting Fleet Admiral, many people assumed it was just a transitional arrangement. Nobody expected her performance to exceed all expectations. The World Government's supposedly clever political maneuvering really backfired spectacularly."
The memory of this institutional embarrassment brought genuine amusement to the middle-aged Admiral's weathered features. The sight of Smoker's uncharacteristic laughter proved contagious—other Marine officers on the warship couldn't help but join in when they witnessed their normally stoic commander's mirth.
After all, the World Government's future humiliation was indeed something worth celebrating.
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