[OP Marine Officer Luffy] Chapter 401- 405

Chapter 401: Ordering Ship and the Diligent Minister of Finance

Olivia naturally gave repeated assurances, showing no hesitation when it came to spending money.

The workers not only enjoyed high base wages and generous benefits but also received overtime pay at ten times their regular salary. If Olivia hadn't enforced a strict rule limiting each worker to 12-hour shifts, the worker from Wano Country would have willingly stayed on the construction site 24 hours a day, working themselves to death.

Seeing that Olivia understood the situation, Luffy didn’t press further.

“Leave the factory matters to my subordinates for now. I have something more urgent to discuss.”

Hearing this, Olivia fell silent, listening attentively as Luffy continued.

“I’ve decided to expand our military and strengthen the Marine forces in the near future. Not only will I increase the army to 10,000 soldiers, but I also plan for the Company to recruit a 2,000-man private guard.

On one hand, as the Company grows, it’s inevitable that it will encounter various challenges. When that time comes, the company will need a powerful force to deter troublemakers and resist external threats.

On the other hand, while the Marines help distribute our goods worldwide, having our own transport channels is essential. At the very least, in the New World, I want you to establish a complete transportation system.”

Olivia diligently took notes as he spoke.

Though Luffy made it sound simple, she knew this meant complex issues with personnel and equipment in the future. The ships required to open new transport routes alone made Olivia feel uneasy.

In the world of pirates, shipbuilding costs were exorbitant. For instance, a medium-sized Marine warship cost over 100 million Berries. Large and super-large ships, not to mention flying warships, had even more outrageous price tags—far beyond Olivia’s financial reach.

To assemble a transport fleet capable of covering the New World, an initial investment of tens of billions of Berries was unavoidable. And the 2,000 armed guards Luffy mentioned? That was just the beginning. Considering the chaos in the New World, they’d need not only guards on board but also security forces stationed at branch offices and shops on the islands.

Before the recruitment plan even began, Olivia was already dreading the continuous financial strain it would bring.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one with a headache.

Even though Luffy spoke confidently about expanding the army by 10,000 soldiers, the practical execution was another matter. He wasn’t interested in playing games with mediocre ships on the seas. He wanted to do things properly and decisively, so he decided to call on an old acquaintance—Iceburg.

Luffy planned to have Iceburg design small- and medium-sized flying ship, with specifications slightly lower than the Stormbreaker, to equip his troops.

He found the contact number Iceburg had left him and dialed, explaining his request.

Faced with Luffy’s proposal, Iceburg readily patted his chest and promised to handle it personally. A domineering client like Luffy wasn’t someone Iceburg could let slip away. He immediately decided to work overtime to produce the design drafts for two spacecraft.

Of course, it was impossible to draft detailed designs in such a short time. After telling Iceburg not to overwork himself and to take care of his health, Luffy hung up the phone.

Lying back on the sofa, Luffy stared at the ceiling, his mind racing with plans for military expansion.

Suddenly energized, he jumped up. It was time to find someone to assist with his grand ambitions.

When it came to military expansion, Luffy’s first stop wasn’t Ain and Hina, who managed military affairs, nor was it Kujaku and Kalifa, who oversaw civilian welfare. Instead, he headed straight to the Finance Department.

Exiting his private living quarters, Luffy made his way to the fourth floor and arrived at the Finance Office.

Knock, knock, knock~

Without waiting for a response, Luffy gently pushed open the door and stepped inside.

There, he saw Nami, diligently working at her computer, meticulously calculating the recent income and expenses line by line.

Luffy immediately adopted a concerned expression.

“Nami, you just got back from sailing. Don’t work yourself so hard. Put this aside for now and give your body some rest.”

He walked up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders and starting to massage them gently.

Nami frowned immediately, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“What do you want? You’re here for money again, aren’t you?

I’m warning you—after you gave away 500 million Berries to curry favor with headquarters, there’s no money left in the Finance Department! Not even a single Berry!”

Nami wasn’t stingy by nature, nor did she intend to withhold funds from him. But the fact that Luffy had casually handed over 500 million Berries in one go had thrown the G66 branch’s financial situation into disarray. Especially since Nami had meticulously planned every single expense down to the last Berry.

His reckless generosity had only added to her workload, burdening her with problems that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.

Luffy chuckled awkwardly, trying to coax her with a soft voice.

“Come on, it’s just 500 million. We’ll earn it back in no time.

Besides, I only need the money for serious matters—I’d never spend it recklessly.”

Chapter 402: Loans and National Recruitment

Nami still eyed Luffy warily, doubting every word that came out of his mouth.

“So, what do you want this time?

Let me make one thing clear—I’ve already allocated where every Berry at the base should be spent. At most, we can squeeze out another 300 million Berries.”

“That’s enough! It’ll do for now!” Luffy grinned, taking Nami’s hand as he gently guided her to sit on the sofa in the office.

Wrapping his large hands around her shoulders, Luffy began to outline his grand recruitment plan.

But the moment Nami heard he intended to expand the army, she shot up from his arms like a cat with its fur bristling.

“What?! You want to expand the army to 12,000 people?!

Do you have any idea how much that will cost? Do you think I’m some kind of god who can conjure money out of thin air for you?!”

“Hey, hey, hey—it’s just 10,000 people for the Marine. The other 2,000 are Olivia’s responsibility, so we don’t have to pay for them.”

Luffy quickly patted her back, trying to soothe her with a soft voice.

“But even so, we can’t afford that much!

Don’t forget, you only own half of the Company. Dividends are paid quarterly. Without the company, our monthly revenue barely reaches 600 to 700 million Berries, and that’s just from seastone and taxes.

After deducting all the expenses, how much do you think we’ll have left?

How do you plan to feed an extra 6,000 soldiers with that?

Even if headquarters provides weapons, what about housing for the soldiers? What about their clothing, food, and other essentials?

And their wages—you don’t seriously think that once they get enlisted, they’ll work for free, do you?!”

Luffy couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved after hearing Nami list all the financial hurdles.

Good thing he hadn’t mentioned the spaceship construction yet. If he had, this little spitfire would’ve probably fought him to the death.

“Small problems, all small problems~

Haven’t you always had your eyes on the gold mine in Wano Country?

I’m giving you the green light. Go ahead and dig it up. and brought it into the finance department.”

Nami’s eyes sparkled the moment Luffy finally agreed to let her tap into Wano Country’s gold mine, and she immediately felt some of her stress dissipate.

But soon, she frowned again and shook her head.

“No, not since those guys from the Revolutionary Army dumped a ton of gold on the black market.

Gold prices aren’t high right now, so even if we mine it, we can’t sell it off in a rush.

Wait a minute, let me think of a solution…”

Nami, ever the meticulous planner, wasn’t about to sell gold at a loss just because of market fluctuations. The gold could be sold—but not now.

However, gold was still a precious metal and a rare resource, perfect for use as collateral on a loan.

“Yes, that’s it! Some chambers of commerce recently arrived on Onigashima, planning to open banks here to offer deposit and withdrawal services for the nobles passing through.

I’ll go to them now and negotiate an interest-free loan. If they want to do business in our territory, I think they should give me at least that much respect!”

With that, Nami didn’t wait for Luffy’s response. She grabbed the coat of justice from the hanger and strode toward the door.

Before leaving, she paused, turned back, and shot Luffy a fierce glare.

“Next time, don’t you dare gave away money without consulting me first.

I’ll cut that thing off while you’re sleeping.”

As she spoke, she made a scissor gesture with her fingers and leaned forward menacingly toward Luffy.

Luffy, terrified, clamped his legs together instinctively, his whole body trembling slightly.

Seeing her threat had worked, Nami smirked triumphantly and marched out to handle her business.

It wasn’t until her figure disappeared from view that Luffy let out a long sigh of relief and relaxed.

Leaning back on the sofa, he chuckled to himself, thinking about Nami’s fiery attitude.

Even though she always claimed she didn’t want to help and complained about money, whenever Luffy asked, she somehow found a way to get him the funds he needed.

And she wasn’t wasteful either—every Berry was spent wisely and effectively. That’s exactly why Luffy had given her full control over the finances.

“Alright, now that we’ve got the money sorted, the rest can be handed over to Ain and the others.”

With that, he stood up and made his way toward his office.

As expected, Luffy’s unilateral decision to recruit soldiers without consulting anyone drew heavy criticism from Koala, Hina, and the others.

Luffy had to repeatedly assure them that this would definitely be the last time he made such a move without discussing it first. He promised to coordinate with them in the future before taking any further actions.

Though the women were still a bit annoyed, they eventually carried out his plan.

Soon, news of the Marine’s recruitment drive spread throughout Wano Country.

The entire nation, from local residents to tourists visiting Onigashima, buzzed with excitement.

Anyone who wanted to join the Marine could sign up for the selection process.

This announcement caused an uproar across Wano.

After more than half a year of development, Wano Country was no longer the poverty-stricken land plagued with pollution and suffering. Instead, it had transformed into a thriving, prosperous region, drawing attention from all corners of the New World.

Chapter 403: The Orphanage in Amigasa Village

The opening of Onigashima had created a vital trade channel, allowing a flood of Wano Country's handicrafts to be exported. This gave many families a newfound way to earn a living.

Moreover, Luffy redistributed the land that once belonged to the samurai and nobles back to the people. Large-scale construction projects across Wano Country and Onigashima created numerous jobs for farmers and craftsmen alike, providing them with the means to support their families.

In no time, from 80-year-old elders to 3- and 4-year-old children, everyone was filled with gratitude toward Luffy and the Marine. They were seen as the saviors of Wano Country—the benevolent figures who had rescued them from hardship.

Now, with news spreading that they too could join the Marine and serve under Lord Luffy, young people enthusiastically signed up, eager to seize this rare opportunity.

In the quiet village of Amigasa in Kuri, within a modest orphanage run by the Marine, a dozen children, big and small, sat clustered around an elderly woman with white hair and a kind smile. Their eyes gleamed with hope as they stared at the recruitment flyer she held in her wrinkled hands.

The elderly woman was the orphanage director. Known for her kindness and love for children, she had been invited by the local Marine branch to care for these young orphans. Though two other village women helped manage the orphanage, the children adored their "grandma" the most.

That day, when the older children returned from school, they overheard the adults talking about the Marine’s nationwide recruitment. Excitedly, they rushed back to the orphanage to tell their younger siblings.

The news spread like wildfire among the children. They gathered around their grandmother, voices full of excitement, all eager to sign up and join the Marine.

Seeing their enthusiasm, Grandma had no choice but to fetch a recruitment leaflet from town.

“Alright, alright, don’t be so impatient. Let Grandma take a look first,” she said, adjusting the reading glasses gifted to her by a kind Marine girl.

After calming the children, Grandma looked down at the flyer and began reading aloud from the front:

“To all citizens of the Land of Wano:

Out of our duty to defend Wano Country, protect Onigashima, and eliminate pirates,

The Marine G66 Branch has decided to conduct recruitment throughout Wano Country starting today.

This recruitment is entirely voluntary, with no force or coercion involved.

However, we urge all applicants to consider carefully before signing up. Think thoroughly and avoid hasty decisions you may later regret.”

As soon as she finished reading, the orphanage erupted into a flurry of excited chatter.

An older boy, whose once-thin frame had filled out after months of good nutrition, shot his hand into the air and shouted:

“I won’t regret it! My dream is to become a Marine soldier!

I’ll do exactly what the flyer says—beat up the bad guys, catch pirates, and protect Grandma!”

With him taking the lead, the other children quickly followed suit, shouting in agreement. They all wanted to protect their loved ones and fight pirates, just like the Marine brothers and sisters they admired.

Grandma watched these lively children with a satisfied smile, finding their noise endearing rather than bothersome.

“You’re all good kids,” she said gently. “But if you want to join the Marine, I’m afraid you can’t do it just yet.”

As she spoke, Grandma flipped the flyer over and showed them the details on the back.

“Look here—it’s written in the recruitment requirements.

Regardless of gender, you must be at least 16 years old to register.

For now, you should just focus on school and sign up when you’re older.”

“Eh——”

The children’s excited cheers immediately turned into groans of disappointment.

The oldest child there was only 12, still four years shy of meeting the recruitment age. The others, especially the little ones aged 5 or 6, were even further off.

Upon hearing the age requirement, some of the younger children began counting on their fingers, trying to figure out how long they’d have to wait.

When they realized it would be nearly 10 more years before they could join the Marine, their faces scrunched up in frustration. One by one, their pouts turned into full-blown tears.

As the first child began to wail, the others quickly followed suit, their sobs filling the orphanage. Soon, the entire place echoed with crying, except for a few of the older kids who managed to hold back their tears.

Grandma rushed forward, trying to soothe the children, while the two village aunts, who had been cleaning nearby, hurried in to help calm the chaos.

But the disappointment of not being able to join the Marine was a heavy blow to the young hearts, and no amount of comforting seemed to work.

Just as things seemed hopeless, the oldest boy grabbed the flyer, his eyes scanning the fine print. Suddenly, he gasped and shouted excitedly:

“Everyone, stop crying! Look here—the flyer says that if you’re a Devil Fruit user, the age requirements can be ignored!”

His words worked like magic. The children’s crying stopped almost instantly, replaced by wide, hopeful eyes. A few soft sobs lingered, but the despair had lifted, and curiosity took its place.

“Brother Yuta, what’s a Devil Fruit user?” one of the younger children asked, raising a hand timidly.

The boy, Yuta, scratched his head, holding the flyer in one hand as he tried to come up with an answer.

“Uh… Devil Fruits are… strange fruits from the sea… and if you eat them, you get special powers… um… yeah, all kinds of abilities…”

As an orphan, Yuta had only begun learning to read over the past six months. He had a vague idea of what Devil Fruits were from the flyer, but the details were still fuzzy in his mind.

Chapter 404: The Devil Fruit User Tama

As the excitement in the orphanage settled, Grandma walked forward, her curiosity piqued. Seeing her approach, Yuta quickly handed her the recruitment flyer before stepping back obediently.

It wasn’t just Yuta—the older children, the two village aunts, and Grandma herself all turned their attention to a little girl quietly wiping her tears in the corner.

It’s embarrassing, Yuta thought to himself, that as the eldest brother to all my younger siblings, I can’t even read properly. No, I have to study harder when I get back to school.

While Yuta silently made this promise, Grandma adjusted her glasses and began to read the flyer aloud.

“Devil Fruits are magical fruits born from the sea, each granting the eater unique and incredible abilities. Those who consume these fruits are known as ability users, blessed with powers beyond ordinary imagination.

However, the side effect is that ability users become unable to swim, and they are vulnerable to Sea-Prism Stone.”

As Grandma continued reading, Yuta’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Why does this description sound so familiar? he wondered. Superpowers… unable to swim… Seastone…

Then it hit him.

Yuta turned his head slowly, his gaze landing on the little girl with dark purple, shoulder-length hair who was still wiping her eyes.

The girl didn’t seem to notice the sudden attention. She was too busy crying over the fact that she couldn’t join the Marine.

Her name was Tama, and she was only three years old.

A year ago, Tama’s parents had died in an accident while working in one of Kaido’s factories. Left all alone, Tama survived by selling bamboo hats in the streets, accompanied only by her loyal pet, Komachiyo.

This difficult life continued until Luffy came to power and established orphanages across Wano Country. It was a kind Marine sister who found Tama and brought her to the orphanage, where she finally had enough to eat and a warm place to stay. She met Grandma and all the other children, quickly becoming part of their family.

Because of this, Tama admired the Marines deeply and longed to join them one day.

But when she found out she’d have to wait more than ten years before she could enlist, Tama couldn’t hold back her tears and began crying uncontrollably.

Just as she was wiping her eyes, Tama noticed something strange—everything around her had gone quiet.

Sniffling, she looked up, only to find that everyone in the room was staring at her.

Tama’s face turned red with embarrassment. She thought they were all watching because she’d been crying like a baby.

Yuta, swallowing nervously, stepped forward with an expectant look in his eyes.

“Tama,” he said gently, “you’re a Devil Fruit user, aren’t you?

What the flyer says—it matches your situation perfectly!”

“Huh?” Tama tilted her head in confusion. She’d been too upset to listen to what Grandma had read earlier and had no idea what Yuta was talking about.

Seeing her confusion, Yuta grew anxious. He started waving his hands, trying to explain.

“You know—the thing you do when you pinch your face and that ball comes out!”

Yuta mimicked Tama’s peculiar habit, his face turning red from the effort.

Suddenly understanding, Tama’s eyes lit up. She reached up with her small hand and pinched her rosy cheek, pulling out a glutinous rice dumpling about the size of a ping-pong ball.

Holding the dumpling in her tiny palm, she showed it to Yuta, still confused.

“Brother Yuta, is this what you mean?”

“Yes! That’s it!!” Yuta exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He turned to Grandma, his voice full of urgency.

“Grandma, this has to be the power of a Devil Fruit, right?

And Tama can’t swim no matter how hard she tries—that must mean she’s an ability user!

So… does that mean Tama can join the Marine?”

“Eh? Really?! Can I?!”

Tama’s face lit up with excitement. She didn’t fully understand what was happening, but the thought of becoming a Marine thrilled her. She jumped up and looked at Grandma with hopeful eyes.

The other children crowded around, all eager to hear Grandma’s answer.

But Grandma looked conflicted. She’d never heard of Devil Fruits before. Sure, she knew about Tama’s strange ability, but she hadn’t thought much of it—it never seemed dangerous, and Tama was just a child.

Now, though, it seemed that Tama’s unusual talent might indeed be the Devil Fruit power mentioned in the flyer. And according to the recruitment notice, Devil Fruit users could bypass the age requirement.

Tama was technically eligible to join the Marine.

But…

Grandma’s heart ached as she looked at the little girl. Even if Tama was qualified, could she really send such a young child into the army?

The Marines had been nothing but kind to them, always looking after the orphanage and protecting the people. But the military was still the military—full of hardship, discipline, and danger.

Tama was only three years old. It was far too soon for her to face such a life.

“Grandma… why aren’t you saying anything?”

Tama tugged at her grandmother’s sleeve, her voice filled with worry. “Just tell me! I really, really want to join the Marine!”

Grandma sighed deeply, looking down at Tama’s bright, hopeful face. She gently stroked the little girl’s soft hair, feeling torn between pride and concern.

“Tama,” she said softly, “Grandma doesn’t know for sure.

But how about this—let me go ask the Marine brothers and sisters, okay?

They’ll know what to do.”

Tama’s face lit up, and she threw her arms around her grandmother.

“Okay! Thank you, Grandma!” she chirped happily, her earlier tears completely forgotten.

The other children cheered along with her, their excitement filling the orphanage once more. Even if Tama wasn’t able to join right away, the hope in their hearts burned brighter than ever.

Chapter 405: The Enthusiastic Marines and Good News!

Tama was a sensible and obedient child. The moment she heard her grandmother’s words, she let go of her hand without complaint.

After giving a few more instructions to the two aunts helping in the orphanage, Grandma headed out to find the Marine unit stationed in Biankasa Village.

Luckily, the Marines were already worried about the children in the orphanage being bullied. When the orphanage was first established, the Marines had strategically placed it right next to their military camp to ensure the children’s safety.

Because of this close proximity, the children frequently interacted with the sailors and naturally aspired to become part of the Marine.

Grandma stepped outside, turned right, and soon arrived at the Marine barracks.

As she approached, two Marines standing guard at the gate immediately recognized her. One of them hurried forward with a bright smile.

“Grandma! What brings you here today? Is there anything we can help you with?

You came at the perfect time—everyone just finished training and is resting in the barracks.

Tell me what’s going on, and I’ll call someone for you.”

Seeing the enthusiastic young Marine in front of her, Grandma’s face blossomed into a warm smile. She waved her hands modestly, trying to ease his concern.

“No, no, I’m just an old lady. There’s nothing wrong. You’ve already helped me and the children enough.

I only came to ask a quick question. I’ll leave right after so I don’t interrupt your work.”

The Marine scratched his head, a little embarrassed by her kind words. But when he realized Grandma had a problem, he immediately perked up, listening intently to see if there was anything he could do to assist.

Not wanting to trouble them more than necessary, Grandma pulled out the recruitment flyer from her pocket and pointed to the section at the bottom about people with special abilities.

“Tama is a little… special,” Grandma began cautiously. “Her situation seems to match the description of the people with special abilities mentioned here.

But I’ve never left this village in my whole life. I don’t know much about these things, and I’m worried I might have misunderstood.”

The young Marine’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. He took the flyer and scanned it quickly. The moment he saw the part about Devil Fruits, his eyes widened in shock.

“Devil… Devil Fruit?! You’re saying Tama is a Devil Fruit user?!”

His loud exclamation immediately caught the attention of the other guard, who had been quietly watching their conversation.

Hearing the words Devil Fruit, the second Marine rushed over, his face filled with surprise.

Before he could even open his mouth to ask questions, the first Marine waved him off, shouting excitedly:

“Quick! Go inform the Major! Tell him we’ve found a Devil Fruit user!”

“Ah! Oh, oh—right away!”

For a moment, the second guard stood frozen in shock. But he quickly snapped out of it, his face lighting up with joy as he turned and sprinted into the military camp.

Even from outside, Grandma could hear his excited shouts echoing through the camp as he delivered the news.

Watching the commotion unfold, Grandma—who had never seen anything like this in her quiet life—felt a wave of unease. She looked at the young Marine beside her, her eyes full of concern.

But the young man’s face was beaming with excitement, his joy spilling over. Without waiting for Grandma to speak, he quickly explained:

“This is amazing! I can’t believe we’ve actually found a Devil Fruit user!

Grandma, why didn’t you tell us sooner?

If we had known, we could have sent Tama to the school in the Flower Capital. That school is headed by Vice Admiral Luffy himself!”

At first, Grandma had been worried about all this attention. But the moment she heard that Tama could be sent to a school personally overseen by Shogun Luffy, all her fears melted away.

There was no one in Wano Country she trusted more than the man who had transformed their lives for the better.

Feeling more at ease, Grandma gently asked the young Marine more about Devil Fruits.

The Marine launched into an excited explanation, talking about secret treasures from the sea, abilities worth a fortune, and even the dangers of being targeted by bandits. But most of it flew right over Grandma’s head.

The only thing she really absorbed was one simple sentence:

“Vice Admiral Luffy is also a Devil Fruit user.”

Hearing that, Grandma smiled warmly and nodded.

“Well, if the Shogun is a Devil Fruit user too, then I have nothing to worry about.

It’s wonderful that Tama can become someone like him.”

The young Marine blinked at her in disbelief.

“…So everything else I said didn’t matter, huh?”

While the two were still chatting, the Major stationed in Biankasa Village came out of the barracks. The young Marine immediately snapped to attention and saluted, while Grandma, grateful and respectful, prepared to bow.

But before she could, the Major rushed forward, waving his hands.

“No, no, no! You’re an elder—you shouldn’t bow to a junior like me!” he said earnestly, stopping her in her tracks.

“Now, about Tama. Is it true she’s a Devil Fruit user?”

The Major’s respectful demeanor was exactly why Grandma trusted the Marines so deeply. Feeling reassured, she smiled and invited him to the orphanage to meet Tama.

Curious about the Devil Fruit user, several Marines from the barracks decided to follow along. The Major didn’t stop them; instead, he instructed them to bring gifts for the children.

“Don’t show up empty-handed,” he added with a grin.

Meanwhile, back at the orphanage, the children had been eagerly waiting for their grandmother’s return. They’d been buzzing with excitement, hoping she’d bring back good news.

When they finally saw her approaching with the Marine brothers and sisters, they rushed out of the orphanage, cheering with joy.

Yuta led the charge, holding Tama’s hand tightly. The moment he spotted the Marine Lieutenant at the front of the group, he couldn’t contain his excitement.

He didn’t even greet his grandmother—his focus was entirely on the Marines.

“Brother Connie!” Yuta shouted, his voice full of hope. “Is what the flyer says true?

Can Devil Fruit users really join the Marine? Tell me!”