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"Let's get back to the point! All the high-ranking officials of the World Government have been eliminated by us!"
"All that's left are scattered remnant forces still wandering around outside!"
"As for the Marines, the World Government's largest military arm, I think you all know how to make your choice."
Kagaya said this gently to the high-ranking officers assembled before him.
"I only have one question."
Akainu spoke with a grave expression.
"Please go ahead, Admiral Akainu."
"How does the Jura-Tempest Federation intend to handle the trash currently on the seas?"
Kaito thought for a moment, then replied with a serious expression.
"Regarding Sakazuki's question, I can give you a clear answer."
"For pirates who have committed heinous crimes, our stance is to eliminate them without exception."
"Pirates who have not committed major crimes will undergo rehabilitation after capture."
"As for those who sail under a pirate flag but have not actually done any evil, they will all be reorganised into adventurer groups."
"At the same time, an Adventurer's Guild will be established, and this organisation will be supervised by the Marines."
"Any crew heading out to sea for treasure hunting or adventure must register with the Adventurer's Guild. Those who do not will be treated as pirates."
"What do you think of that arrangement, Sakazuki?"
Hearing this, Sakazuki's expression shifted into something more contemplative.
The answer was not that every last pirate would be wiped out without exception.
Even so, compared to the World Government's hands-off approach, it was infinitely better.
As for the Adventurer's Guild, Sakazuki had no objections.
As long as they were not pirates, he had no interest in dealing with such things.
"No objections. I fully accept Kaito-sama's proposal. I agree to join the Jura-Tempest Federation."
The other Marine officers were caught off guard watching Akainu agree so readily, and exchanged glances of disbelief.
In everyone's mind, this man would not rest until every last pirate was destroyed.
None of them had expected him to actually go along with the Jura-Tempest Federation's terms.
If Sakazuki knew what they were thinking, he would have sent a [Hellhound] straight at them.
He was stubborn, not stupid. The World Government was gone. Without a new patron, what exactly would he use to keep fighting pirates in the future?
"Ahem... May I ask who will be leading us after we join the Jura-Tempest Federation?"
Sengoku cleared his throat twice, drawing attention away from Akainu.
"This... uh... well... that is to say... hmm..."
Sengoku watched Kaito mumble under his breath for a long stretch without actually saying anything.
A suspicion began to form in his mind, and he asked with a look of disbelief.
"You haven't actually thought about it yet, have you?"
"Heh heh, of course we have! Haha! Hahahaha!"
Kaito laughed in a way that convinced absolutely no one.
The same thought surfaced in every mind around the table.
They haven't thought about it at all, have they. Is the Jura-Tempest Federation actually reliable? This man is the Regent, isn't he? Surely his word carries some weight?
Every gaze in the room drifted to Rimuru, the Queen.
Rimuru, noticing everyone staring, gave an equally awkward laugh.
"Hehe! Uh... I don't really handle day-to-day affairs. You can just think of me as a mascot!"
"Ha!!! *n"
"Hold on, does the highest level of your Jura-Tempest Federation have anyone who actually runs things?"
Sengoku stared at them in complete disbelief.
"Hmph hmph! No!!!"
Kaito puffed out his chest and declared this proudly, with no apparent shame.
"Hey, hey, hey! He can actually be proud of that! Is my thinking completely outdated?"
Chaton turned his head and asked Gion, who was seated beside him.
"Your thinking has always been outdated! But even so..."
Gion pressed her lips together, and then couldn't hold it.
"Pfft! Hahahaha! I'm sorry, I genuinely couldn't hold that in!"
"I never expected the leadership of a country that could casually destroy the World Government to be like this!"
"I don't know why, but I suddenly feel completely at ease!"
"I agree to join the Jura-Tempest Federation. With superiors like this, it sounds like it might actually be fun."
Hearing Gion's words, everyone present took another careful look at Kaito and Rimuru.
They suddenly realised Gion might have a point. This kind of leader is a million times better than those idiots on the Gorosei!
"Ahem, Gion, that was rather discourteous. Kaito-sama, Rimuru-sama, please do not take offence."
Tsuru cleared her throat twice and offered an apology to the two.
"It's fine! Everyone in the Jura-Tempest Federation already knows what we're like."
Hearing Rimuru's words, Izayoi Sakuya, seated nearby, pressed a hand to her forehead with an expression of profound suffering.
"I do hope the two of you will conduct yourselves in a manner more befitting your positions."
The moment Sakuya said it, Kaito and Rimuru both deflated at once, their eyes going distant, and they started whistling softly to no one in particular.
"Uh, regarding the actual arrangements for the Marines after joining the Jura-Tempest Federation, I do have a plan prepared."
Benimaru, noticing that things were sliding dangerously off course, stood up and spoke.
"Oh? Benimaru, you have something worked out? Go ahead!"
Kaito straightened up immediately.
"Yes, Kaito-sama."
Benimaru gave Kaito a nod, then addressed the room.
"Because the Jura-Tempest Federation's military is currently quite varied, we plan to reorganise it into three branches: the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force."
"The Jura-Tempest Federation's original six legions will be folded into the Army, and four new legions will be formed by drawing personnel from the Navy."
"The remaining Navy, apart from those stationed at their current bases, will be reorganised into ten legions, matching the strength of the Army."
"As for the Air Force, we plan to begin with one legion and expand as the situation requires."
"At the same time, a Royal Military Academy will be established to train officers across all three branches."
"I would like to propose that Zephyr serve as its first dean."
Zephyr, hearing his name, got to his feet and looked at Benimaru with clear surprise.
"Me? You actually intend to give me a position like that?"
"Is there a reason you couldn't? I think you are more than capable of it."
Kaito added his own affirmation.
"This..."
"If you are willing to serve as dean, Zephyr, how about I resurrect your wife and child?"
Kaito said it plainly, and the room erupted.
"What!!!"
"Resurrecting people? How is that even possible!"
"Impossible! That is absolutely impossible!"
The shock rippled through everyone present.
"It seems you are not quite clear on where we come from."
Kaito reached into his pocket, produced something that looked like a laser pointer, and swept it lightly across everyone in the room.
"Good heavens! You're not originally from this world!"
Chaton stared at Kaito and the others in disbelief.
"So the Jura-Tempest Federation is actually a country from another world entirely!"
"That explains everything. No wonder you appeared out of nowhere."
Sengoku felt the last piece finally click into place.
"So then, do you have any more questions?"
"If you can truly bring my wife and children back, I will serve as dean of the Royal Military Academy."
Zephyr spoke loudly and bowed deeply to Kaito and the others, his expression overwhelmed with feeling.
"Uh... I also have someone I would like to resurrect... if it would be possible..."
Sengoku got to his feet as well and made his request.
And Sakazuki, perhaps thinking of someone, wore a rare expression on his face.
Something soft, for just a moment, beneath the usual iron.