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Chapter 19 Marine Does Not Charge Money, The Public Is Dissatisfied
As Darren clapped his hands, the door to the ornately decorated side hall swung open. Soldiers from the Kingdom of Yadis, dressed in standard military uniforms, filed in, each carrying a large wooden box. In less than a minute, dozens of these boxes had been stacked on the marble floor, resembling a small hill.
"Darren... could this be..." Gion murmured, eyeing the evidently hefty wooden boxes with a sinking feeling in his heart.
Just then, a man resembling a butler stepped inside. He bore a sycophantic grin, nodded, and said, "Admiral Darren, as the Minister of Finance of the Yadis Kingdom..." He gestured toward the wooden boxes on the ground. "This is a modest token from our Yadis Kingdom. Please accept it; don't turn away the North Blue Marine fleet that embodies 'justice'."
His command prompted his soldiers to pry open the boxes. Gion and Kake's eyes bulged, and their mouths formed perfect "O"s. A vibrant light spilled forth as the lids were removed, bathing the entire side hall in a rainbow of hues.
A thunderous clatter filled the room as wealth poured out: heaps of shimmery gold and silver, stacks of colorful banknotes, exotic treasures, premium cigars, and fine wine—all spilling from the brimming boxes like flowing mercury. Greed and corruption seemed to permeate the air with their omnipresent scent.
"This... this... this..." Kake stuttered in disbelief, staring at the mountain of riches before him. He couldn't believe his eyes. Having spent his whole life in Marineford, he'd never witnessed such opulence!
A contented smile spread across Darren's face as he said, "Your Majesty King Yadis is too gracious. It is our solemn duty at the Marine to shield the citizens of the alliance nations from danger."
The finance minister chuckled in response, "Of course. Who in all of North Blue isn't aware that our admiral is a beacon of selflessness, integrity, and unwavering dedication to our people's safety, all without expectation of reward? Having the protection of Lord Darren is truly North Blue's fortune. However, we cannot allow the noble soldiers of North Blue Marine to go unrewarded. Acceptance is a hallmark of Yadis Kingdom's tradition. Please, Lord Darren, don't refuse our gift."
Darren's smile lingered as he prepared to give a nod of acceptance, but suddenly, Gion stepped forward, fury painted on her beautiful face. Through clenched teeth, she declared, "No! We cannot accept this money!"
She turned sharply, shooting Darren a fierce glare, and exclaimed, "The Marine will never take money from outside sources! Darren, this is bribery. If you take this money, I will report you to headquarters myself!"
Kake chimed in, "Yes! I will report you too!" The intensity of his outcry seemed to strain his injured face, and he grimaced in pain, seething with resentment toward Darren. Had it not been for this man, he wouldn't have suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Vinsmoke Judge in Gion's presence.
The finance minister's smile faltered as he regarded Darren warily. He inquired reverently, "Master Darren, may I know who these two are?"
Taking a puff of his cigar, Darren responded casually, "Oh, these two are Major Gion and Major Kake from Naval Headquarters Marineford. Currently, they are serving as my adjutants."
Direct from Naval Headquarters? The minister caught the implication in Darren's tone almost immediately. After all, one doesn't rise to oversee a nation's finances without being incredibly astute.
He quickly turned around with a smile, stood upright before Gion and Kake, and said, "It turned out to be Master Marine who came all the way from headquarters. I'm really stupid. That was a bit rude of me. I'm very sorry."
Gion spoke to the Minister of Finance with a solemn expression, "Hello sir, I need to clarify a fact. Our Marine carries the justice of defending peace. It is our responsibility and obligation to protect civilians, and we don't need anything in return."
She pointed to the glittering gold and silver treasures spread around, her tone resolute. "We cannot accept this money; otherwise, it would be the greatest insult to 'justice'."
"Of course... Major Gion is right," the Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed with deep conviction. "However, since both of you have come from afar and worked so tirelessly, the Yadis Kingdom has prepared an extra gift for you both."
"Major Gion seems like a powerful swordsman. We have some fine iron in the treasure house of our kingdom, which would make a good scabbard for your beloved knife."
"As for Major Kake, we also have a fine selection of cigars."
Gion: ...
Kake: (★ ω ★)
"I already said we can't accept anything!"
Gion yelled angrily.
The Minister of Finance was momentarily taken aback, then smiled again, "Of course, in addition to the gifts I mentioned, we also want to compensate you both for your hard work in this battle."
"We have many excellent swords in the royal treasury for Major Gion to choose from."
"And for Major Kake, our royal song and dance troupe has prepared a wonderful performance for you."
Kake: (☆▽☆)^o^
"Really?"
His eyes sparkled, and he blurted out his excitement.
Boom!
Before he could finish, Gion kicked him away and his head slammed into the wall, leaving his feet dangling in mid-air.
"Your Excellency the minister... I seriously refuse, and I do not intend to make you increase the offer."
Gion was seething with anger. He took a deep breath and clenched his teeth.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer looked stunned and somewhat embarrassed.
Do they keep postponing because they want more money?
Is it not enough?
At this moment, Darren couldn't take it anymore. He sighed and stepped in to smooth things over, "Excuse me, Mr. Minister. We all appreciate these gifts. Please tell Lord Yadis that we, the North Blue Marine, are deeply grateful for his generosity."
The Minister of Finance let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Actually, this is because the people are too enthusiastic and started a fundraiser to thank North Blue Marine for their efforts."
"Furthermore, the royal family has prepared a banquet for you tonight, please do attend."
After these words, he bowed slightly toward Darren and the others and quickly walked away.
Once the gate closed, Gion couldn't hold back her anger and started to scold Darren who had sat down again with legs crossed, "Darren—"
She was interrupted by a wave of his hand before she could finish. "Gion, you've seen the Minister of Finance's embarrassment. If you don't accept the money, he won't have a way to justify it to his people."
"That's how it works in North Blue. In their eyes, if we don't take the money, they can't rest easy. Justice doesn't matter in this sea. In some ways, it's like giving doctors red envelopes for surgery. If the doctor refuses, the family worries. This isn't about profession; it's human nature."
Seeing Gion still eager to argue, Darren shook his head, "Okay, let it be. You all go get ready; we have to attend the dinner later."