"Oh no, I've been tricked."
On the way to inspect the East Sea aboard the Dog Head Battleship, Garp received a newspaper sold by the News Bird, along with the latest Navy Wanted Order.
Straw Hat Luffy.
Initial bounty of 30 million Belly.
The wanted poster featured a grinning kid wearing a straw hat, smiling so broadly that his eyes were nearly closed, looking anything but a heinous criminal.
Garp looked at the wanted poster photo of his grinning grandson, a hint of anger flashed in his eyes, yet he broke into a light laugh.
"This boy..."
"Vice Admiral Garp."
"Information about the Straw Hat Pirates."
Garp's adjutant Bogard glanced at his superior and quietly began to outline the intelligence circulating within the Navy: "The East Sea Branch 16 had a fierce battle with the Straw Hat Pirates and the Arlong Pirates entrenched in the East Sea; only one new Navy recruit survived, and that recruit captured the Arlong Pirates, while the Straw Hat Pirates managed to escape under that recruit's hand..."
"Hahaha... It must be Sengoku's handiwork!"
Garp knew his old friend very well, and he could roughly guess what had transpired here: "Then while inspecting the East Sea, let's also take a look at that surviving recruit!"
If the justice in that recruit's heart remained untainted, and they were still willing to preserve their sense of justice, then it might be worthwhile to transfer them to the headquarters for special training.
However...
That Navy recruit was no longer a recruit.
The survivor, Third-class Navy Soldier Lieutenant Akihara Kagura, rapidly leapt seven ranks and was directly promoted from third-class soldier to Branch Lieutenant, gaining a bit of minor power in the process!
"Lieutenant Akihara Kagura, I hope you won't take these matters to heart."
The East Sea Branch Vice Admiral watched the newly promoted Lieutenant Akihara Kagura seem somewhat unhappy, worried that this new Navy soldier might feel ashamed thinking they had stolen the credit for capturing pirates.
"Next time, hopefully, you'll use the power of justice to resolve the pirates threatening the world, living up to the hero's name bestowed upon you by Marshal Sengoku!"
"Yes..."
Akihara Kagura's expression was heavy.
As for what he was thinking inside...
This was all part of his plan.
Akihara Kagura had long known about some customary practices within the Navy; taking credit for capturing pirates was a common occurrence, so he purposely orchestrated a scenario to become the biggest beneficiary this time, dispelling others' suspicions.
The Navy relies on pirates to solve pirate troubles; everyone can do it, but it cannot be disclosed to the public...
"I want to go to Log Town."
Akihara Kagura immediately provided intelligence, actively saying: "Monkey D. Luffy is going to the Grand Line, the Straw Hat Pirates will definitely pass through Log Town, I want to capture Straw Hat Luffy there before they head to the Grand Line!"
"You don't need to worry about that."
The East Sea Branch Vice Admiral chuckled lightly, speaking up: "While Log Town is in the East Sea, it is directly subordinate to the Navy Headquarters, and stationed there is the Navy Headquarters Colonel Smoker..."
Smoker, nicknamed 'White Hunter.'
Navy Headquarters Colonel, internally known as the mad dog of the Navy, he doesn't even obey Navy Headquarters orders, let alone those from the East Sea Branch.
The Navy Headquarters outranks the branches by three levels, with Headquarters Colonels and Four Seas Branch Vice Admirals essentially being at the same level, naturally Smoker wouldn't be willing to listen to orders from the East Sea Branch.
However...
This doesn't mean the East Sea Branch Vice Admiral doesn't acknowledge Smoker's strength.
Since Smoker took charge of Log Town, he has captured countless pirates; no matter how strong Straw Hat Luffy is, he won't be able to escape Smoker's grasp.
Smoker...
Happens to be one of those rare Logia-type Fruit users, wielding the powers of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit.
Seeing that he couldn't be transferred to Log Town, Akihara Kagura could only choose another method, shaking his head and planning to leave the East Sea Branch and return to the Branch 16 Base.
It so happened there were few superiors at the East Sea Branch 16 Base, allowing Akihara Kagura to swiftly use his newfound minor power to immediately recruit Karin into the Navy, appointing her as his adjutant.
Besides that...
Akihara Kagura also conveniently claimed his biggest reward.
From a Navy third-class soldier...
Directly leaping seven ranks to become a Branch Lieutenant!
This period was even less than two months.
[Third-class Soldier → Second-class Soldier → First-class Soldier → Squad Leader (Junior Noncommissioned Officer) → Noncommissioned Officer (Corporal) → Squad Leader (Senior Noncommissioned Officer) → Warrant Officer → Branch Lieutenant]
[System Notification]: [Host has been promoted from Navy Third-class Soldier to Navy Branch Lieutenant, host has jumped seven ranks, awakening new abilities within; unlocking seven traits!]
[System Notification]: Host has acquired the new trait [Great Sword Master]!
[Great Sword Master (Mastery of Kenjutsu reaching an extraordinary level, enables development of one's own style, revealing flaws in the kenjutsu of other sword masters, capable of competing with all the world's sword masters in kenjutsu!)]
Akihara Kagura immediately tried out this trait's ability; his two fingers came together and unexpectedly swung, actually capable of firing a powerful slash of Sword Qi just with his fingers!
[System Notification]: Host has acquired the new trait [Paw-Paw Fruit]!
[Paw-Paw Fruit (One of the Paramecia-type abilities, based on the user's intention and power, can compress air with the palm to unleash shockwaves, capable of bouncing away any object in the world; even fatigue, pain, injury, heat, soul, slashes, etc., all matter or energy can be repelled by the Paw-Paw Fruit!)]