Kong's face was covered in dark lines, but as he stared at Tatsuki, the anger he had built up dissipated by more than half the moment he saw this power.
As a commander, he knew all too well what this meant. If Tatsuki was previously just a Taijutsu genius and a troublemaker, then now, possessing a top-tier Logia fruit, he was a true candidate for the Marines' future highest combat power.
"Good... very good." Kong took a deep breath, forcing back the words 'Do you take me for an idiot?'.
"Since it was to rush back, damaging a warship is within reason. But that doesn't explain the second document."
Kong pointed at the complaint letter on the desk, his tone rising again, his eyes sharp.
"As a Marine, looting a member nation's treasury? Tatsuki, do you know where the face of justice will be if this gets out?! How am I supposed to explain this to the World Government?!"
"Fleet Admiral! I've been framed! This is entirely Judge's slander! It's a smear against justice!"
Tatsuki suddenly let out a grief-stricken wail, as if he had suffered a great injustice, his Oscar-level acting skills instantly coming online.
"Oh?"
Kong sneered. "Then where did this fifteen billion come from? Did it fall from the sky?"
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral!"
Tatsuki spoke with an air of righteousness, "At that time, when we recounted the numerous blood-soaked crimes committed by Germa Kingdom in the North Blue, King Judge wept bitterly. He said he had been blinded by greed and cried out that he wanted to donate these ill-gotten gains to the Marines to atone for his sins."
"We originally refused but King Judge was too enthusiastic. He said if we didn't accept it, we were looking down on him. To maintain the face of a World Government member nation, we could only tearfully act as porters."
After speaking, Tatsuki turned his head and looked intently at Sakazuki beside him.
"Warrant Officer Sakazuki, you were also present. You are the most principled person. Tell the Fleet Admiral, is that how it was?"
Whoosh!
Everyone's gaze focused on Sakazuki.
Sakazuki's whole body stiffened. He had never told a lie in his life. At this moment, his face turned red with the effort, his mind flashing to the buried fifty billion 'Justice Reserve Fund,' and then he looked at Kong's face, which looked ready to eat someone.
A long time passed.
Sakazuki took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes beneath the brim of his cap.
"...Yes."
Sakazuki's voice was hoarse yet exceptionally firm. "That money was indeed voluntarily donated by Judge. He was crying very sadly at the time. I believe that rejecting a heart seeking to do good is not the way of justice."
"Pfft—"
Sengoku, who was drinking tea, sprayed it out, looking at him in disbelief.
Even you have defected?
Tatsuki was ecstatic in his heart. He immediately struck while the iron was hot and looked at the other two.
"Borsalino?"
"Yeah, it was indeed a very moving scene." Kizaru pushed up his sunglasses, his tone swaying. "King Judge insisted that we empty it out, we couldn't even stop him. Such terrifying enthusiasm."
"Kuzan?"
"Ah... that..."
Kuzan scratched his fluffy hair and let out a yawn. "Anyway, the money's been brought back. We can't exactly send it back, right? That would be too much trouble."
Kong looked at these four 'future pillars' who were now in cahoots, so angry that the veins on his forehead were throbbing.
But he wasn't stupid.
This fifteen billion in hard cash sitting at the port was a piece of meat that the chronically underfunded Marine Headquarters could not refuse.
"Then what about the rest?" Kong took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly.
"Judge said in his report that he lost sixty-five billion. But you only brought back fifteen billion. Where is the remaining fifty billion?"
The key point had arrived.
An imperceptible curve hooked the corner of Tatsuki's lips.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral, the remaining money was lost due to a shipwreck."
Tatsuki said with a straight face, "Furthermore, to save Germa's face as a World Government member nation and to appease the wrath of the Gorosei, I have an immature suggestion."
"Speak."
"The amount of seized funds we report to the World Government shall be set at five billion Berries."
The office fell into a deathly silence instantly.
Only the wall clock was 'ticking, ticking' away.
Even Garp stopped chewing and leaned his head over with great interest.
Tatsuki's expression was calm, his voice not loud, but every word was piercing, challenging the very bottom line of Marine regulations.
"This five billion will be handed over to Mary Geoise as 'Heavenly Tribute' or 'Special Tax' back-payments from Germa. I think when the Gorosei see the money, they won't care too much about Judge's complaints."
"As for the remaining ten billion or so..."
Tatsuki paused, his gaze sweeping over all the big shots present, finally resting on Kong's slightly worn-out desk.
"This ten billion does not need to enter the World Government's accounts."
"It will be classified as 'Undisclosed Losses' of the Headquarters and transferred directly to the Logistics Department. It will be used to update the Marines' dilapidated warships, increase the pensions for fallen soldiers, and... improve the meals for the officers and soldiers of the Headquarters."
"Fleet Admiral, our justice is priceless, but the soldiers who practice that justice need to eat."
Once these words were spoken, it was a total checkmate.
Kong fell silent.
Zephyr fell silent.
Sengoku looked at Tatsuki, the admiration in his eyes almost impossible to hide.
Too dark.
This kid is really too dark.
Not only did he dare to rob, he even dared to teach the Fleet Admiral how to cook the books, and even wanted to pull the entire Marine high command into sharing the loot.
But it had to be said... this sounded so damn good to the ears.
If they reported it truthfully, at least more than half of this fifteen billion would be snatched away by the greedy officials of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, leaving very little for the Marines.
But according to Tatsuki's plan, five billion would shut the mouths of those above, and ten billion would stay with the Marines for real.
Who could refuse?
Whoever refused would be picking a fight with the stomachs of hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the entire army.