With the executor of the plan in place, a greater problem emerged.
As Smoker, bearing Rowen's name, established the "Marine East Blue Branch Anti-Corruption Act" and the privileged institution "Independent Commission Against Corruption" in Loguetown, Vice Admiral Momonga, seething with anger, immediately paid him a visit.
"Rowen, do you even know what you're doing?!"
"Vice Admiral Momonga, don't be so agitated. Who's got you all worked up?" Rowen wasn't surprised at Vice Admiral Momonga's reaction. He greeted him with a smile, offering tea.
"Hmph! Spare me the smooth talk!" Vice Admiral Momonga took the tea with unabated fury and continued to speak. "Why didn't you consult me on this matter? You know that based on your current actions alone, I can report you to the Fleet Admiral, and you'll be sent to Enies Lobby for trial!"
As the Headquarter Prosecutor responsible for inspecting the East Blue branches, Rowen did wield considerable power, but not to the extent where he could bypass Vice Admiral Momonga and Sengoku to establish a new institution.
This was a blatant power grab!
If it weren't for the trust in Rowen, Vice Admiral Momonga would have surely declared Rowen a traitor without a second thought, even if it meant apprehending him despite the odds.
"It's not as serious as you're making it out to be, Vice Admiral Momonga. This is just an experiment, and it can be canceled at any time if it doesn't work out."
Rowen remained composed, and he was even a little moved.
Making the conservative Vice Admiral Momonga accept this matter immediately was impossible. Right now, he was here to demand an explanation, and it was already a gesture of goodwill based on their past relationship. Otherwise, he could very well do as he said and send Rowen to Enies Lobby for trial.
"I've thought about this for a long time before deciding. Later, I'll personally explain it to the Fleet Admiral. If the Fleet Admiral disagrees, I'm willing to accept the consequences!"
"No! It must be done now!"
Vice Admiral Momonga, his face dark, pulled a specially crafted Den Den Mushi from his pocket and, to Rowen's twitching mouth, directly dialed the Headquarter's number.
This was the "Greater Problem" that had emerged one after another!
The Independent Commission Against Corruption needed time to prove its worth, but it was clear that Vice Admiral Momonga wasn't going to give him that time.
Grand Line, Marineford.
No one expected that during this rare period of peace after their victory over the Hundred Beasts and the Golden Lion Shiki, the top officials of the Marines would be gathered by Sengoku once again.
Aokiji met Garp in the corridor and curiously asked, "Garp San, do you know why Fleet Admiral suddenly called us here?"
The Four Seas inspection work had been underway for over two months and was nearing its end. In the face of the high-level combat power dispatched by Headquarters, neither fierce beasts nor corrupt branches could cause any ripples. The situation was excellent!
Aokiji couldn't fathom what could be so urgent as to require their immediate assembly.
Could something have gone wrong again in the New World?
But there hadn't been any news, had there?!
Garp, feeling equally puzzled, had just returned from Pucci. He had wanted to ask Aokiji, but it seemed Aokiji was just as clueless.
Due to most of the Vice Admirals being dispatched elsewhere, and Kizaru not returning from his mission, there were only four to five people in Sengoku's office.
First was Fleet Admiral Sengoku... Hmm, it would be strange if he wasn't here!
Then, Tsuru, the Marine Headquarter's Great Staff Officer. Everything, big or small, required her.
Akainu and Aokiji, it wasn't surprising that they were called in for matters that required their intervention or stance.
Garp... He was there just for show, and also to show respect for the incident site.
Zephyr...
"Huh?! Old man, what brings you here from the recruit camp?!"
Garp looked at Zephyr in astonishment. The latter was wearing a colorful beach T-shirt today, with a straw hat on his head for shade. He held a small teapot in his hands, inside of which was a mixture of wolfberries, jujubes, and chamomile. He wore flip-flops on his feet.
If it weren't for the open neckline revealing his heavily muscled and scar-covered body, anyone might have mistaken him for a retired old cadre out enjoying the good weather.
With the death of Edward Weevil and the Golden Lion Shiki, Zephyr had fulfilled his lifelong wish. His great revenge had been exacted, and his disciples had grown into outstanding Marines. Now, he was far from the extreme figure he had been in the original story.
The pirate counter-guerrilla team was nowhere to be seen, and he even turned down Vegapunk's proposal to custom-make a prosthetic limb for him. His whole demeanor had become much more amiable.
In the past, if Garp provoked him, Zephyr would have taken action without hesitation. But now, he just gave Garp a fleeting glance and took a sip of tea.
And then, he ignored him!
Garp: "..."
Am I being ignored?
I'm being ignored, aren't I?!
I can't believe I'm being ignored by Zephyr?!!!
A mouthful of doughnuts choked in Garp's mouth, his expression contorted as if he had eaten something utterly disgusting.
"Cough, Cough. Now that everyone's here, I'll keep it short and sweet!"
At this moment, Sengoku coughed to draw everyone's attention.
"There's nothing else for today. Rowen has established an Independent Commission Against Corruption in East Blue. Take a look at the information and share your thoughts."
Independent Commission Against Corruption???
The group of people received the documents, quickly scanning through them with puzzled expressions.
Zephyr wasn't surprised. Rowen had discussed the issue of corruption in the Four Seas branches with him a long time ago. Back then, it was just a discussion, but now that he held actual power, putting the plan into action was only natural.
So, Zephyr wasn't surprised. Instead, he felt that Rowen had seized a golden opportunity.
It was worth noting that the one who originally proposed a thorough investigation of the Four Seas branches was Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Rowen simply took it and added a few details to serve his own purpose.
This kind of cunning style, dripping with shrewdness, was consistent with Rowen's usual approach, and it left Zephyr very satisfied.
Having both strength and intelligence, where else could you find a disciple like this?!
However, the others were not as composed. Garp's face was twisted, and Aokiji frowned.
The documents clearly stated that Marine Headquarters and the Four Seas were quite far apart, allowing the branches to maintain their own little empires, which led to the persistence of corruption.
So, Rowen believed that a supervisory institution representing the Headquarters should be established in each of the Four Seas to deter the corrupt elements within the Marine and root out the problem at its source.
It seemed like a great idea on the surface, but the Marine had long had supervisory institutions responsible for their branches, and even the World Government had a hand in it. All parties coordinated and supervised. The emergence of the Independent Commission Against Corruption was seen as diluting their authority!
"I agree to the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption!"
Surprisingly, the first person to speak up was Akainu.
This was both unexpected and expected. The War Faction officers could be said to be the most resolute hardliners within the Marines, and they were unsparing due to their "Extreme Justice." Consequently, they were even less tolerant of anything that tarnished Justice.
Akainu had long been dissatisfied with the existing supervisory institutions in Marine, so Rowen's establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption was right up his alley.
Furthermore...
Although the Independent Commission Against Corruption didn't have any direct management authority over the branches, it held a higher level of oversight. The integrity of those in charge was of paramount importance.
In light of this, when considering who would be best suited to oversee the Independent Commission Against Corruption, aside from Akainu's faction, who else could it be?!
He was the one destined to become Fleet Admiral!
Akainu wouldn't miss this legitimate opportunity to extend his influence over the Four Seas in the pursuit of "absolute Justice"!
So, Akainu's support for this plan didn't come as a surprise to the others. They quickly realized that it made perfect sense.
"But, won't this render the existing institutions unnecessary?"
Aokiji looked concerned. "As you all know, our authority at Enies Lobby is on par with Marine Headquarters. Once the Independent Commission Against Corruption is established, we can't be sure how the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) will react, but it's certain that various officials won't be pleased."
In the eyes of the World Government, or many government officials, the Marine was like a watchdog with lower authority.
They weren't unwilling to oversee, but they simply didn't have the power to do so. The authority at Enies Lobby was equal to that of Marine Headquarters. In the past, when a Marine made a mistake, they would be judged at Enies Lobby.
With just an arrest warrant from the government, they could even pursue and apprehend the Fleet Admiral of Marines.
"You must have a decision in mind, Sengoku?"
At this moment, Tsuru lifted her head quietly, her eyes gleaming with an insight that seemed to pierce through everything. The others turned to Sengoku, their faces showing some surprise.
"Hmph, naturally!"
Sengoku's lips curled upwards, and he directed his gaze at Zephyr behind his frog-shaped glasses. He said in a calm tone, "You've truly trained an exceptional disciple, Zephyr!"
"In a few more years, he might just be the true Resourceful General of Marine!"
Zephyr: "Huh?!"
(End of this chapter)