[OP Marine Officer Luffy] Chapter 396- 400

Chapter 396: Luffy - "I Have Plenty of Money!"

Bulu…Bulu…Bulu~

“Hello, this is Sengoku speaking. What is it now?”

“Hello, Grandpa Sengoku! It’s me.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Sengoku frowned deeply. He recognized that tone immediately. Only one person would dare to call him with such a carefree attitude.

“I heard the government cut the budget again. Must be tough for you, huh?”

Luffy’s words were casual, but they struck a nerve. Sengoku's expression soured even further, his mood already foul.

Sengoku exhaled sharply. “Luffy,” he said with irritation, “I’m not in the mood for jokes. Get to the point or hang up.”

Luffy chuckled. “Tsk, tsk. Grandpa, you’re too grumpy. I’m actually calling to give you some good news—and maybe some money.”

“Money?” Sengoku’s ears perked up, though he didn’t show it.

Luffy’s playful tone continued, “But if you’re going to be rude, I might as well keep it for myself.”

“Wait!” Sengoku barked, stopping Luffy from hanging up. His mind raced as he remembered an important detail—this brat wasn’t just any Marine Vice Admiral. Luffy had control of the world’s largest seastone mine, and he managed its operations independently.

The realization struck like a lightning bolt. If Luffy was offering financial aid, this could solve their current crisis. Perhaps they could even use him to fund next year’s military budget.

Adjusting his tone, Sengoku forced a smile. “Ah, my dear grandson! How have you been? Everything going well in Wano Country? I heard your business on Onigashima is thriving. You must be doing well financially.”

Luffy smirked on the other end, clearly enjoying Sengoku’s abrupt change in attitude. “Well, it’s alright, I guess. I barely make eight or nine million Berries a day from taxes. That’s not even counting what my woman company brings in.”

“Nani?!” Sengoku’s jaw dropped.

Luffy laughed, clearly savoring the reaction. “You know how it is. Why squeeze money out of ordinary people when I can just target the rich?”

Sengoku’s back straightened as he heard the figures. Eight or nine million a day in taxes alone? Adding his woman’s company profits, that would be over 20 million Berries daily. More than 600 million a month. Over seven billion a year!

“What in the world are you doing, boy?!” Sengoku’s tone turned serious. “Are you oppressing the people? Using your Vice Admiral status to bully others?”

Luffy burst out laughing. “Grandpa, do you think I’m that kind of person? Let me ask you—who has the most money in this world? Ordinary civilians? Or the wealthy elites who abuse their power?”

Sengoku didn’t hesitate. “Of course, it’s the rich and powerful.”

“Exactly!” Luffy exclaimed. “Why bother squeezing the poor when the rich are practically throwing money away? It’s like taking candy from a baby.”

“You little brat!” Sengoku growled.

“Relax, Grandpa. I’m just making an analogy. I don’t actually rob anyone. I’ve built everything legally—well, mostly legally.”

Sengoku pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. This boy was going to give him a heart attack.

“Stop talking in circles and explain yourself!”

“Tsk, no patience at all,” Luffy muttered. “Fine, I’ll tell you. Remember Olivia? My brilliant girlfriend? She invented a thing called a computer.”

“A computer?”

“Yeah. It’s this amazing device, and she even created mini-games to go with it. The thing sells like crazy on Onigashima. Rich merchants and nobles are flocking to Wano just to get their hands on it.

“And that’s not all! She also opened a gaming establishment. It’s packed every day. Just from the hotel alone, we’re pulling in an average of 15 million Berries daily. Add the computer sales and game profits, and we’re looking at 30 million a day.”

“Thirty million?!” Sengoku couldn’t hide his shock.

“Oh, that’s nothing,” Luffy continued nonchalantly. “You’re forgetting the seastone business and the taxes from Wano Country. Want to guess how much all that adds up to? I promise it’ll blow your mind.”

Chapter 397: Army Expansion!

Sengoku gulped, his hands trembling uncontrollably as the enormity of the situation sank in.

“Sixty million. My highest daily income can reach 60 million Berries, and the lowest doesn’t drop below 50 million,” Luffy said nonchalantly.

Clatter!

The microphone slipped from Sengoku’s hand and hit the table.

As the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, Sengoku thought he had seen it all. He had dealt with criminals, revolutionaries, and even legends like Gol D. Roger. But never in his life had he encountered someone so young who could casually claim such astronomical earnings.

In his mind, only one person could possibly rival Luffy’s wealth: Gild Tesoro, the infamous "Golden Emperor."

And then there was Olivia, Luffy’s girlfriend. Sengoku vividly remembered the day she made a heroic donation of 1 billion Berries to the Marines. He had personally presented her with a medal of honor for her contribution.

He’d done some research afterward and discovered she was a business mogul, monopolizing the market for certain exotic products. But even then, Sengoku hadn’t realized just how capable she was.

Now, as he reflected on Luffy’s words, a thought struck him. Olivia was technically a Marine officer. If he could persuade her to donate more funds, the Marine budget crisis might be solved.

Perhaps he could even offer her a higher rank or additional medals. After all, what harm could a little flattery do in exchange for a fortune?

Just as Sengoku opened his mouth to propose the idea, Luffy interrupted, his tone laced with amusement.

“I’m sorry, Fleet Admiral, but Olivia has decided to leave the Marines. She’s focusing on running her newly established company.”

“What?!” Sengoku’s dream crumbled before it could take shape. His chest felt heavy with disappointment, but a new curiosity gnawed at him.

“Wait a minute,” Sengoku said, narrowing his eyes. “How did you know what I was about to say? Don’t tell me… you’ve awakened the ability to predict the future?”

Luffy smirked on the other end of the line. “Well, you could say that,” he replied vaguely, deflecting the question.

Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Luffy shifted gears. “Anyway, that’s not important. Let’s talk money. I heard the Marines are struggling with the military budget for this year and even next year. So, as a loyal member of the Marines, I’ve decided to help out. I’ll donate 100 million Berries.”

The line went silent.

Sengoku, stunned by the sudden offer, didn’t respond for a full ten seconds. When he finally did, his voice was filled with disbelief. “That’s it? No more than 100 million?”

Luffy chuckled. “Isn’t that enough? I thought 100 million was a generous donation.”

“Generous?!” Sengoku exclaimed, barely able to contain himself. “Can’t you spare a little more? Let’s discuss this—surely you can increase the amount.”

“No can do,” Luffy said firmly. “That’s all I’ve saved over the past six months. Don’t forget, even though I earn a lot, the money belongs to Olivia in the end. I’m just his man, after all. It wouldn’t be right to use her money for the Marines.”

Sengoku groaned. The casual way Luffy admitted his dependence on Olivia was enough to make his blood boil.

Luffy continued, undeterred. “Besides, I’ve got my own expenses. I’m planning to expand my foces soon. Guns, ammunition, warships—it’s going to cost a fortune. I’m already funding it myself without asking headquarters for help. Isn’t that generous enough?”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Sengoku’s voice rose several octaves, echoing through Marineford’s headquarters. “Did you just say you’re expanding your forces?”

The other on the same floor as Sengoku turned their heads in alarm, wondering what could possibly provoke such a reaction from the usually composed Fleet Admiral.

Sengoku’s head spun as he processed the news. While the Marines were struggling to cut costs, Luffy’s branch had enough surplus to consider expansion.

It wasn’t just frustrating—it was infuriating.

Luffy, oblivious to Sengoku’s rising jealousy, continued speaking in a cheerful tone. “Yep, that’s right. My G-66 branch currently has fewer than 4,000 personnel. But with a population of over 300,000 in Wano—and now that Onigashima has become a major hub—we’ve been facing constant attacks from pirates and traffickers. We need more manpower.”

Sengoku gritted his teeth, trying to suppress his envy. Luffy’s reasoning was sound. The Marines didn’t strictly regulate the size of individual branches. Each base commander was free to recruit and train soldiers based on their allocated budget.

Of course, most branches operated within strict financial constraints. But Luffy’s branch was an anomaly, with a seemingly bottomless treasury funded by taxes, seastone sales, and Olivia’s inventions.

In the end, Sengoku couldn’t fault him. Luffy’s recruitment efforts would ultimately strengthen the Marines as a whole. The personnel records would be submitted to headquarters, and the new soldiers would fall under Marine jurisdiction.

“So… how many people are you planning to recruit?” Sengoku asked hesitantly.

Luffy thought for a moment before responding. “Not too many. I’ll probably cap it at 8,000.”

“Eight… thousand?!” Sengoku felt a pang of disbelief.

He could hardly fathom the sheer wealth it would take to fund such an expansion. And yet, Luffy spoke as though it were no big deal.

Sengoku slumped back in his chair, his envy reaching its peak. If Luffy weren’t a Marine, Sengoku might have been tempted to send the three admirals to rob him blind.

Chapter 398: New Transport Company - Marine

The Marines weren’t cheap to maintain. Just feeding 8,000 soldiers every day was a challenge in itself.

And it didn’t stop there. Military uniforms, equipment, weapons, and other necessities added up to an astronomical expense. Arming 8,000 men was no small feat, and the thought made Sengoku’s head spin.

As he considered the situation, an idea popped into his mind. His eyes glinted with cunning, and he put on a concerned tone as he spoke into the Den Den Mushi.

“Little Luffy, with such a large army, their equipment must be giving you a headache, huh?”

Luffy, who immediately saw through Sengoku’s ploy, decided to play along. “Ah, you’re right, Grandpa. Food and clothing are easy—I can source those locally. But guns and artillery? That’s a problem. Wano doesn’t produce those kinds of weapons.”

Feigning hesitation, Luffy asked tentatively, “What do you say, Grandpa? Could you help me out?”

Sengoku, already annoyed at Luffy’s audacity, cursed inwardly. You little brat! I’m trying to figure out how to squeeze money out of you, and now you’re trying to get free equipment out of me!

Outwardly, however, Sengoku adopted a look of mock difficulty. “Well, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but you know how things are at headquarters. Resources are stretched thin. Just recently, pirate groups in the South Blue formed an alliance, and the local branches have been begging for reinforcements.”

Sengoku sighed dramatically before continuing. “And don’t get me started on the West Blue. The mafia there has been causing chaos, and even sending Momonga to handle it hasn’t helped. With all these crises, the Marine’s inventory is running low.”

Luffy rolled his eyes, suppressing a laugh. Are you the Fleet Admiral or am I? You’re trying to play the victim to a branch commander? How shameless can you get?

Deciding to ignore Sengoku’s act, Luffy stayed silent.

Seeing Luffy wasn’t responding, Sengoku knew his theatrics had failed. He coughed awkwardly before cutting to the chase.

“Hehe, alright, boy, let me be honest with you. There’s a batch of surplus munitions in the Marine warehouse. They’re not new, but they’re in excellent condition—enough to arm 10,000 men.”

Luffy immediately retorted, “What? A Vice Admiral like me has to buy equipment from headquarters? Why don’t I just go to an arms dealer? Their weapons are cheaper and brand-new. Why would I settle for your outdated leftovers?”

Sengoku bristled. “What are you talking about?! Our equipment is practically brand-new—99% of it! And it’s far more reliable than the shoddy weapons arms dealers produce.”

He softened his tone and added, “Look, I’m not selling them to you. I’m just… lending them to you temporarily. Of course, as a formality, you’d need to provide some collateral—say, a few hundred million Berries.”

Luffy nearly choked on his laughter. Collateral?! For Marine-issued equipment that should already be free for branch commanders? You’ve got to be kidding me.

What followed was a heated exchange. Luffy and Sengoku launched verbal attacks, each trying to outmaneuver the other. Sengoku wanted to squeeze as much money out of Luffy as possible, while Luffy had no intention of giving up a single Berries unnecessarily.

Their argument dragged on for what felt like an eternity, with neither willing to back down. After half an hour, both parties were thoroughly exhausted.

Sengoku, his throat dry and his patience wearing thin, leaned back in his chair and gulped down a cup of tea. Five minutes passed as he regained his composure, preparing for the next round.

Just as Sengoku was about to resume their battle, Luffy spoke up.

“Fleet Admiral, there’s no point in us fighting like this. I have a better idea. Hear me out.”

Sengoku narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Alright, I’m listening.”

Clearing his throat, Luffy revealed his plan.

“Here’s what I propose. In light of my contributions to the Marine, you lend me the batch of surplus arms. In return, I’ll involve the Marine in a lucrative business opportunity.”

Sengoku raised an eyebrow. “Go on…”

Luffy continued, “Olivia’s company is planning to expand its market for the new machines. To do that, we need reliable transportation channels. If the Marine handles the transport of these machines to the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Blues, I’ll give you 10% of the profits as a shipping fee.”

Sengoku’s face turned beet red. Slamming his fist on the table, he roared into the microphone, “What the hell are you talking about?! Do you think the Marine is some kind of transport company?!”

Luffy, unfazed by Sengoku’s outburst, smiled calmly. “Fleet Admiral, calm down. Think about it. This isn’t just about helping me—it’s an opportunity for the Marine to generate steady income.”

“Steady income?!” Sengoku fumed. “We’re soldiers, not deliverymen! Don’t even think about it!”

Luffy chuckled. “You’re looking at this the wrong way, Grandpa. By working with me, the Marine can establish a new revenue stream. That money could be used to fund your operations, strengthen your forces, and even improve the lives of your soldiers.”

“Enough!” Sengoku snapped. “I’ve heard enough of your nonsense. The Marine will not stoop to being a courier service for your business!”

Chapter 399: Cooperation is Reached, Let the Five Elders Have Fun!

If that brat had been standing in front of him right now, Sengoku would’ve sent a shockwave his way without a second thought.

As Sengoku seethed, Luffy’s voice echoed from the Den Den Mushi.

“Hey, Grandpa Sengoku, calm down! Why don’t you ask about the profit margin for these machines first? It’s not too late to scold me afterward.”

Sengoku’s face turned red, both from anger and curiosity. He didn’t want to engage with the boy any longer, but the temptation was undeniable. After a few moments of silence, he caved.

“How much?” he asked impatiently.

Luffy’s voice carried a sly chuckle, the kind that made Sengoku want to smash something.

“One machine costs me 100,000 Berries to produce, and I sell it for 300,000. After deducting miscellaneous expenses, the profit on each unit is at least 100,000 Berries.

Now, let’s talk scale. A medium-sized warship can transport between 300 and 400 units in a single trip. That’s a potential profit of 3 to 4 million Berries per shipment.

With consistent deliveries of thousands of units, the Marine wouldn’t just cover its military expenses—you could make enough to fund expansions and upgrades on your own!”

The words hung in the air like a tantalizing promise. Sengoku’s mind raced as he crunched the numbers. If Luffy’s claims were true, transporting tens of thousands of these machines could generate profits in the hundreds of millions.

Transporting the goods wouldn’t even be an issue. Marines were already traveling across the seas as part of their regular duties. Adding a few extra items to their cargo wouldn’t disrupt operations.

For the first time in a long while, Sengoku allowed himself to dream. He envisioned new recruits flooding the Marines, fully equipped with state-of-the-art weapons. The Marines would dominate the seas like never before.

Unconsciously, Sengoku swallowed hard, his mouth dry as he imagined the possibilities. After a moment, he coughed to regain his composure.

“What’s your production capacity? And are you sure these machines will sell?” he asked cautiously.

Luffy responded confidently. “Right now, production is stable at 500 units a day, but we’re building new production lines. In the near future, daily production will exceed several thousand units.

As for demand, let me put it this way: on the black market, one computer can fetch up to 2 million Berries. Even at that price, demand far outweighs supply.

Every day, nobles are practically fighting to get their hands on these machines. If you’re not royalty or aristocracy, you don’t even qualify to purchase one right now.”

Sengoku sucked in a sharp breath. The Marine Fleet Admiral was rarely caught off guard, but the popularity of these “computers” left him stunned.

“What kind of machine is this? And why haven’t I heard of it before?” he muttered, more to himself than to Luffy.

He found himself torn between two opposing forces. On one hand, the potential profits were staggering, offering a solution to the Marine’s financial struggles. On the other hand, Marines had strict rules and principles that couldn’t easily be bent.

Sengoku wrestled with the dilemma in silence, while Luffy smirked on the other end of the line. He knew the Fleet Admiral was hooked. All he had to do was wait for the bait to be taken.

Sure enough, after what felt like an eternity, Sengoku let out a heavy sigh. His voice was resolute as he asked, “What do you need me to do?”

“Gotcha!” Luffy thought triumphantly, though his tone remained composed.

“It’s simple, Fleet Admiral. Whenever Marine warships pass by Onigashima, have them stop and pick up a shipment of goods.

Olivia Company will provide a detailed list of destinations for their branches. When Marines are on missions, they can make a slight detour to deliver the goods.

Payment will be settled on the spot by the company representatives, so your men won’t have to worry about sales. It’s a win-win arrangement.”

Luffy’s tone became lighthearted as he added, “You know, Grandpa, the Marines shouldn’t normally have to handle this sort of thing. It’s only because of Olivia’s relentless arguments—and my own selflessness—that we’re offering this opportunity to you. Really, you should thank me.”

“Bah! You devil of a child!” Sengoku cursed silently, though outwardly he praised Luffy for his “dedication” and “loyalty” to the Marines.

“You’re truly the pillar of the Marines,” Sengoku said through gritted teeth. “You’ve upheld the teachings of your grandfather Garp and the wisdom of your mentor Zephyr.”

Luffy graciously accepted the praise, his voice dripping with mock humility.

The two exchanged meaningless pleasantries, both knowing it was all part of the game.

In the end, Luffy pledged to deliver the promised 500 million Berries along with at least 5,000 computers to a Vice Admiral, who would oversee the logistics.

They agreed on a timeline of one month. By then, Marine Headquarters would prepare enough ammunition to equip 10,000 soldiers and deliver it to the Sabaody Archipelago.

The Sabaody Archipelago’s proximity to Marine Headquarters made it the perfect hub for the exchange. The slight detour required to deliver the goods was negligible, and the Marine would earn a substantial 50 million Berries in shipping fees.

As the call ended, Sengoku leaned back in his chair with a rare smile. For the first time in months, he felt optimistic about the Marine’s financial future.

“Hahaha! No more worrying about expenses! Let those Five Elders play their political games—I’ve got the Marines covered!”

Sengoku’s booming laughter echoed through the Fleet Admiral’s office, causing the generals outside to exchange uneasy glances.

Covering their ears, they silently vowed not to overhear too much. After all, knowing too much in Marineford could be a dangerous thing.

Chapter 400: You May Make a Lot of Money, but I Will Never Lose Money!

As soon as the call ended, Luffy leapt from the sofa, his face lit up with joy. Waving his arms enthusiastically, he ran around the living room like a child, completely ignoring any sense of composure.

Like Sengoku, Luffy felt like he’d struck gold.

Although the current production capacity for the computers wasn’t immense, it was more than enough to meet the demands of Wano Country and the New World.

From the very beginning, Luffy and Olivia had dreamed of promoting their computers worldwide, expanding their market far beyond Wano. But in the chaotic world of pirates, global shipping posed an immense challenge.

The Grand Line alone was divided by the Red Line, and the two Calm Belts flanked the seas, swarming with Sea Kings. Transporting the Company’s products across such terrain was a logistical nightmare.

Luffy and the girls had spent countless hours discussing the issue, and only one name came up as a viable solution: the King of Shipping, Umit.

Umit was one of the underworld emperors of the pirate world, reigning over the global transportation industry. He famously boasted that there was no place in the world his ships couldn’t reach.

Of course, that claim was an exaggeration—if he were that capable, he would’ve already reached Raftel and claimed the One Piece. Still, his dominance in the shipping world was undeniable.

When Olivia reached out to him to discuss transporting their computers, Umit initially expressed interest. But as soon as he learned the goods in question were the wildly popular computers, his tone changed drastically.

Umit demanded a staggering 70% of the profits from every sale. Not content with that, he also wanted a stake in the Company, positioning himself as a co-owner.

Naturally, Olivia refused.

“There’s no way I’d agree to something so outrageous!” she raged at Luffy later. “If I accepted, we’d be left with nothing but scraps. We’d be beggars in our own company!”

Umit, however, remained confident. He claimed that without his transportation network, no one else could deliver the products on a global scale. And for the most part, he was right—his infrastructure was unparalleled.

Still, Olivia wouldn’t budge. Frustrated and insulted, she hung up on Umit, storming into Luffy’s office to vent her anger.

Luffy, equally incensed, vowed to “deal with that bastard” someday. But despite their indignation, the problem remained: without a reliable solution, the company global expansion plans were at a standstill.

Determined to find an alternative, Luffy gathered the girls for another brainstorming session.

It was Robin who provided the breakthrough idea.

“There’s no place in the world the Marines can’t go,” she pointed out simply.

Her words struck Luffy like a bolt of lightning. Of course! The Marines had bases scattered across the Grand Line and the Four Blues, with warships capable of navigating even the most treacherous waters.

Equipped with seastone-lined hulls, Marine ships could traverse the Calm Belts, neutralizing the threat of Sea Kings. Furthermore, as a government-affiliated organization, the Marines enjoyed passage rights in restricted areas.

If the Marines ever shifted their focus to commercial shipping, they could easily monopolize the industry and bankrupt rivals like Umit.

Fueled by this realization, Luffy immediately began plotting his next move.

As luck would have it, the Five Elders had recently slashed the Marine’s military budget, leaving Sengoku in dire straits. It was the perfect opportunity for Luffy to strike a deal.

Compared to Umit’s extortionate demands, the modest shipping fees Luffy offered Sengoku were practically a gift.

Of course, the numbers Luffy had quoted Sengoku earlier weren’t entirely accurate.

The “100,000 Berries production cost” he mentioned was a deliberate exaggeration. Thanks to fully automated production lines, the company actual manufacturing cost for a first-generation computer was less than 30,000 Berries.

Even after accounting for shipping, wages for sales staff, and other expenses, the total cost per unit didn’t exceed 50,000 Berries.

By selling each computer for 300,000 Berries, Tenglei netted a jaw-dropping profit of 250,000 Berries per unit. And that was just from the hardware—each game sold separately represented another massive revenue stream.

With these figures in mind, Luffy couldn’t help but feel triumphant.

His grin widened as he stood in the middle of the room, fists clenched.

“Expand the army,” he declared. “Expand it now!”

He paced back and forth, his mind racing with plans. “The Marine force here will grow to 10,000 soldiers. And I’ll add another 2,000 just to serve as the Company’s private security.”

A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes as he added, “From now on, I’ll be the true overlord of this place!”

His excitement was contagious. Picking up the Den Den Mushi, he called Olivia to share the good news.

“Olivia! We did it!” Luffy exclaimed. “The deal with Sengoku is finalized. Start preparing for full-scale production!”

On the other end, Olivia’s voice was brimming with excitement. “That’s amazing, Luffy! I’ll start working on plans for a new factory immediately. We’ll double production in no time!”

Luffy smiled but quickly added, “One thing, Olivia—make sure the workers are well compensated. Pay them plenty of overtime. We’re not hurting for money anymore, so there’s no need to cut corners.”

Olivia chuckled. “Got it. No stinginess here.”

Hanging up, Luffy flopped onto the sofa, letting out a contented sigh.