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"What's the matter?" Kaito asked, looking puzzled.
"The first batch of intern students will be coming back soon, won't they? So I'm planning to go observe them during the final stage of their internship. I want to see whether this kind of program has any issues."
Kaito looked at Shizu's serious expression and couldn't help groaning inwardly.
Any issues? There are plenty of issues. Those little rascals have practically turned into tiny demons. They've stirred up trouble all across the world, and on top of that, the Security Force members who went along with them have been egging them on, making everything even more chaotic.
He had even heard that Fleet Admiral Sengoku's calls had reached Kagaya's office.
"Ahem... there shouldn't be any problems... probably..." Kaito said, with noticeably little conviction.
"Alright, since you say so, I'll go take a look at how their internships are going. They are still just children, after all." Shizu nodded calmly.
"Uh... Shizu, is that all? If it's just this, you don't need to tell me. You could go directly."
Shizu looked at Kaito's "why are you telling me this" expression and shook her head.
"Of course it isn't just this," she said, sounding faintly exasperated. "One of the student intern ships went to the New World for their placement. We haven't received their internship report yet. I thought, since you have nothing to do anyway, you might as well go check whether something has happened."
Kaito didn't look particularly worried. "Isn't that guy with that ship? Nothing should happen."
"I know. I'm just asking you to go nudge them along so they don't get too carried away out there."
Hearing that, Kaito finally understood what Shizu was actually after. She thought he was too idle and was simply finding him something to do.
"Alright, I'm bored anyway. A little stroll sounds fine." He shrugged and glanced at Chito and Yuuri, still sound asleep on the sofa. "I'll leave these two here. I'm off."
"Mhm, I'll leave it to you then, Regent-sama." As she said it, an uncharacteristic hint of playfulness crossed her face.
Kaito's heart did something odd when he saw it. He had never seen Shizu look quite like that before.
"Cough... alright..." He turned and walked out quickly. Shizu watched him go with a bright smile on her face, looking very much like someone who knew exactly what she had just done.
After leaving the office, Kaito remembered what Shuna had told him and headed straight for the military camp.
"This time, the First Legion will be fully deployed. Once the fighting begins, we annihilate all enemies as fast as possible!"
"Yes!" Benimaru picked up the chess piece representing the First Legion and placed it on the map of the Jura-Tempest Federation's territory in the Pirate World.
The unit commanders gathered around the table voiced their agreement.
"Hey, is there going to be a war? Who are you fighting?" Kaito strolled into the war room, took in the scene, and asked with a grin.
"Kaito-sama!"
"Kaito-sama, you're back!" Everyone in the room saluted.
"At ease, no need for all that. Benimaru, I heard you talking about a war?"
"Kaito-sama, it's like this..." Benimaru laid out the full analysis that Kagaya and the others had put together regarding the Pirate World.
Kaito listened, then stroked his chin.
"So right now, only the First Legion can be mobilized?"
"Yes. The other units all have ongoing missions."
Kaito thought for a moment, then said directly, "In that case, let's expand. Three more legions. Including the First Legion, four legions go in this time."
"One legion on its own doesn't look like enough. We need overwhelming numbers. We'll frighten them before we even fight."
In truth, Kaito had been planning to expand the army for some time. The Jura-Tempest Federation's regular forces currently stood at fifty thousand soldiers. Set against the One Piece World, where engagements routinely involved tens of thousands on each side, that number felt thin.
Even if one soldier could hold off ten, or a hundred, sheer presence mattered. An army that looked small simply did not carry the same weight as one that filled the horizon.
As far as Kaito was concerned, from today onward, he would be setting the terms in the One Piece World. Anyone who disagreed was welcome to line up their forces and see whose side had more bodies to throw forward.
"Yes!" A detailed discussion followed on the organization of the new legions, and the resulting list was as follows:
Fourth Legion Commander: Rigur (transferred from the First Legion); Deputy: Gobta (transferred from the City Wolf Rider Patrol); Total Strength: Fifteen thousand
Fifth Legion Commander: Gabil; Deputy: To be determined; Total Strength: Fifteen thousand
Sixth Legion Commander: Ultima (also currently serving as Chief Inspector); Deputy: Veyron (direct demon subordinate); Total Strength: Fifteen thousand
With these additions on top of the original three legions, the Jura-Tempest Federation's regular army now totaled ninety thousand soldiers. Counting special units such as the Imperial Guard Corps, the overall force exceeded one hundred thousand.
As a side note, Gobta's former position as Deputy of the City Wolf Rider Patrol was filled by Gobza.
Kaito looked over the list and nodded in satisfaction.
"We'll go with this. I'll handle talking to Ultima myself. That girl has quite a temper."
"Oh, and since I'm already here, let me help everyone get a bit stronger today."
"Being Grand General of the entire army with only S+ strength really is a little thin." Everyone in the room lit up when they heard that, though no one said a word.
They all understood their place well enough. Their lives were pledged in loyalty to Kaito-sama and Rimuru. Whatever level of strength they might reach, that would never change.
One by one, the souls in Kaito's small banner dimmed, and the strength of everyone present rose by a level.
"Alright, I'm heading out. Others are still waiting." Everyone in the room brought their right fist to their chest and saluted.
"We humbly bid farewell to Kaito-sama!" Kaito didn't answer. He simply raised a hand over his shoulder as he walked away and left the conference room.
Jura-Tempest Federation · Government Affairs Building · Chief Inspector's Office
"Hmph! Someone go and arrest that man for me! How dare he make trouble in our country!" Ultima's sharp voice rang out, and a young butler in a steward's uniform stepped in through the door.
He placed his right hand gently against his chest and bowed. "Yes, my master. I will bring him to you intact."
"Good. Go." Ultima nodded with great severity.
Veyron had just turned to leave when a teasing voice drifted in and reached both of them.
"My, my. What an impressive display of authority, Ultima-sama..."