Chapter 577

"I was wrong, I was wrong, stop hitting me, I really was wrong! Spare me!"

"Not running anymore?"

"Really not running anymore! Stop hitting me, any more and you'll beat me to death."

Karl gripped Buggy's neck and threw him to the ground. At this moment, Buggy was covered in wounds, his face swollen like a pig's.

Click~

"Go honestly to Impel Down to spend the rest of your life, Buggy. But you don't need to worry, Doflamingo and Crocodile will be there to keep you company."

A generation of Clown Emperors, fallen just like that...

One hour later.

"Where is Mihawk?"

Kizaru pursed his lips: "Ran away. This wasn't me slacking off, oh. I was fighting him just fine, then Sakazuki arrived, and that guy Mihawk decisively fled."

"Jumped into the sea?"

Kizaru nodded: "That's exactly it!"

"Fine, anyway, having Buggy and Crocodile is enough to report back. The Cross Guild exists in name only. Let's go back!"

The next day.

"Thunder Operation! Cross Guild bankrupt at light speed!"

"Cross Guild President Buggy and executive Crocodile have been arrested and are about to be sent to Impel Down! This is the strength of the Navy!"

Various newspapers were reporting on the Navy's operation from yesterday. The world once again witnessed what is called Navy efficiency and what is called the hegemon of the sea.

The Cross Guild had only put a bounty on the Navy for two days, and their home was gone, and the people were captured. This is the outcome of provoking the Navy.

Marineford, Navy conference room.

"Everyone, the Cross Guild has been annihilated, but the problem is, one Cross Guild has fallen, will another Hundred-Character Guild appear? A Thousand-Character Guild?"

"Of course, you might say that as long as anyone dares to show their head, the Navy dares to crush them all. But the Navy is not omnipotent; we cannot always be on the defensive."

"Therefore, I propose that the Navy Headquarters step forward to establish an officially-backed Cross Guild to absorb idle social personnel and bounty hunter groups to complete a series of tasks the Navy cannot attend to, such as bounties, cargo transport, and escorts. I name it: the Adventurer Guild."

After speaking, Karl returned to his seat, sat down, and held Ain beside him.

Kuzan lowered his head in thought, not expressing an opinion. Other high-ranking Navy officials were also lowering their heads in thought.

Before long, Sakazuki raised his head and looked at Karl: "Admiral Karl, will the existence of the Adventurer Guild squeeze the living space of Navy branches? The tasks you mentioned, like bounties and cargo transport, are important sources of income for Navy branches besides headquarters funding. If these are shared with the Adventurer Guild, what will the Navy branches spread across the four seas do?"

Facing Sakazuki's opposition, Karl smiled slightly: "Admiral Akainu, this problem is actually very easy to solve."

"How to solve it?"

This time Karl did not answer, but let Kuzan act as his mouthpiece.

"It's very simple: reduce the Navy establishment and the number of branches. Only set up Navy branches on key islands and critical hubs in the four seas. This not only reduces financial pressure but also allows the Navy's power to be more concentrated."

Sakazuki stood up with a 'thump', his face dark as he growled: "Kuzan, I absolutely do not agree with this matter. The four seas are the foundation of the Navy. Every person sitting here, which one of us is not a Navy member who came out of the four seas?"

"Reducing the Navy establishment in the four seas, how will the Navy recruit new soldiers? Let them sail their own ships to Navy Headquarters?"

Kuzan was not angry because of Sakazuki's retort; his voice was calm and composed: "Admiral Akainu, don't be anxious. Let me finish before you refute."

After speaking, Kuzan patted the video den den mushi on his left, projecting an image behind him—simply put, a PowerPoint.

Kuzan stood up, turned around, condensed a thin ice stick, and pointed at the projection: "Everyone, please look. After the Summit War, the Navy, with the sponsorship of the Holy Light Group, significantly increased bounties on pirates, thereby enhancing the willingness of bounty hunters and civilian experts to strike at pirates."

"So, how much impact does this move have on the Navy branches in the four seas?"

The video den den mushi projected the next screen, which was two simple and easy-to-understand charts.

"This is the number of pirates captured by Navy branches in the four seas before the Summit War, averaging 9,878.5 pirates per year, with an average bounty of 3.87547 million Berries."

"This is the statistical data for 2 years after the Summit War. In the year 1521 of the Sea Circle Calendar, the number of pirates captured by branches in the four seas fell by 67% year-on-year, while bounties rose by 27% year-on-year. In the year 1522 of the Sea Circle Calendar, the number of pirates captured by branches in the four seas fell by 24% year-on-year, while pirate bounties rose by 8% year-on-year."

"Through the data, we can clearly see the impact of increasing bounties. Now, the number of pirates captured by Navy branches in the four seas is less than one-third of what it was before the bounties were increased."

Subsequently, Kuzan looked at Sakazuki: "Admiral Akainu, what do you think this represents?"

Sakazuki was silent for a long time and did not speak. The data had been thrown in his face; could he still open his eyes and tell lies? Oppose just for the sake of opposing?

Seeing Sakazuki not speaking, Kuzan did not pursue the question but turned to look at the Navy members present, saying sonorously: "Everyone, this means that now we simply do not need so many Navy members. As Fleet Admiral, I am very happy to see this scene appear."

"Because only when there are fewer pirates will there be fewer Navy members!"

"Therefore, I personally strongly agree with Admiral Karl's plan to distribute most of the functions of the four-sea branches to the Adventurer Guild, letting the Adventurer Guild replace the star-like Navy branches, leaving only the most elite parts. This not only reduces the pressure on the Navy but also brings tangible benefits to the people."

"Even, the title of 'Adventurer' will gradually replace 'Pirate'!"

"Let the Great Pirate Era started by Roger become the Adventurer Era."

"The era started by the Navy's own hands!!!" ===== CHAPTER 579 =====