One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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Garp's warship sailed through the second half of the Grand Line without any obstacles.

Although the bow featured a cheerful dog's head design, for pirates, its presence was anything but pleasant.

"What? A doghead warship?"

"Isn't that the hero Garp's ship? What should we do captain?"

"What else can we do? Run, you idiot!"

...

An unlucky pirate ship in the distance happened to come into view.

But before Garp could do anything, the other ship immediately turned around and fled.

"Am I really that scary?" Garp, holding a cannonball in his hand, scratched his head and asked with a hint of amusement.

He originally intended to greet them after getting closer, but upon seeing him, they didn't even want to fight.

"Tsuru, should we chase them?" Garp called out towards the cabin.

Soon, Tsuru and Gion walked out.

Tsuru glanced at the fleeing pirate ship in the distance, narrowing her eyes slightly.

To be honest, Garp's doghead warship is a special vessel equipped by the World Government for the hero Garp, and it's basically the most advanced warship of its size.

If this ship pursued, the pirates wouldn't stand a chance.

But...

"Forget it, we're almost at the Kingdom of Bertomy Passion."

"The mission assigned by Fleet Admiral Akira is the priority, and it's pointless to chase them."

Tsuru shook her head, deciding to let those unlucky pirates go.

After all, they had important matters to attend to, so there was no need to waste time.

Garp smacked his lips and put the cannonball down.

Gion had no objections and was glad to have such a capable officer by her side.

At that moment...

"My lords, we've spotted the port of the Kingdom of Bertomy Passion."

From the watchtower, a soldier put down his binoculars, knelt, and shouted loudly.

Everyone on deck looked serious as they stood at the bow, watching a small black dot grow larger in their sight.

The two sisters, Cameron and Jaimena, looked conflicted.

Especially as the full view of the Kingdom of Bertomy Passion unfolded before them, their bodies trembled even more.

They couldn't forget, and now the memories were flooding back.

Back then, when they fled in a hurry with their father, it felt like their world was crumbling.

And later, the despair they felt when caught in a storm at sea.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of you," Gion said, gently patting their backs.

After they regained their composure, she asked curiously, "There are countless incidents of kingdoms being overrun by pirates worldwide, but not many where people rebelled because of it."

"Was there something wrong with your father's rule?"

She needed to know so the Marines could decide how to proceed.

Otherwise, if the Marines arrived with the intent of helping Cameron and Jaimena restore their kingdom, only to find the people distrusting or disliking them, it would be problematic.

Tsuru also looked over, gently patting their arms like a concerned neighbor.

"Now's not the time to hold back. Be honest with us."

"You are the women of Fleet Admiral Akira; we won't abandon you, no matter what."

Garp didn't say anything, but his eyes reflected a deep understanding.

He suddenly realized why Akira had Tsuru lead the mission.

With such a careful approach, anyone would feel at ease.

Gion also glanced at them but quickly turned her attention back to the two women.

"I don't know. I was always in the palace and never went out," Jaimena, who had the least experience, said, shaking her head like an innocent child.

In contrast, her sister Cameron seemed much more mature. Hearing this, she took a deep breath, focused her gaze, and pursed her lips before finally speaking:

"Besides the pirates' invasion, my father also made a critical mistake."

Tsuru's eyes narrowed momentarily, but she quickly returned to her calm and gentle demeanor, asking, "What mistake led the people to rebel?"

"A short time before the pirates attacked, my father, the king, collected a significant amount of wealth from the people throughout the kingdom," Cameron began, revealing everything she knew without holding back.

"But please don't misunderstand. My father didn't gather all that money for himself. He wanted to become a member of the World Government by paying the heavenly tribute."

"However, just after sending out the tribute, the pirates arrived."

"The people were left with nothing, and my father had no extra funds for relief, so a rebellion broke out."

As she spoke, Cameron's eyes reddened, clearly distressed by the situation.

Gion sighed and gently embraced her.

"Children, it's not your fault," Tsuru said, withdrawing her hands and moving to stand alongside Garp at the bow of the ship. The two of them silently observed the Kingdom of Bertomy Passion as it grew larger in the distance.

"That's some terrible luck," Garp suddenly remarked.

"Indeed. But even if the kingdom had joined the World Government back then, our Marines wouldn't have been able to respond quickly enough," Tsuru agreed.

Neither Garp nor Tsuru had any objections to Cameron's father wanting the kingdom to become a member nation of the World Government. In this era of rampant piracy, it was a wise decision for any king.

Although all member nations must pay a large amount of heavenly tribute to the Celestial Dragons every year, the benefits are significant.

First and foremost, they enjoy Marine protection. If pirates attack, nearby Marine forces will dispatch warships swiftly.

Don't underestimate this support, even if it might arrive a bit late. 

Though the kingdom might still suffer some looting, the mere fact that Marines respond sends a message to pirates:

"This kingdom is under Marine protection. If you plunder here, be prepared to face us. If we catch you, you're done for."

Of course, powerful pirates might not care and could even sink the Marine ships sent for support. But such powerful pirates are few and far between. 

Most weaker pirates, when faced with the risk of Marine intervention, might hesitate or choose smaller, safer targets, rather than looting everything from the port to the palace.

Additionally, if a member nation demonstrates its value, the Five Elders can order the Marines to establish a base on a nearby island, providing 24-hour protection.

Another significant benefit of joining the World Government is access to the global trade network established for over 100 member countries. This allows kingdoms to sell their goods at reasonable or even high prices and purchase necessary materials at market rates, creating economic opportunities.

Becoming a member nation isn't as bad as some might think. It brings safety, financial opportunities, and a voice in global affairs.

Don't underestimate this voice—it can bring many benefits to the people if used wisely.

Finally, being a member nation means your throne is recognized worldwide, and your people are granted human rights. Anyone who dares to enslave or sell your citizens is committing a recognized crime, and the World Government will seek justice for you.

Whether they follow through on that is another matter, but at least the legal protection is in place.

So, Cameron's father wasn't wrong—just incredibly unlucky.

"How should we handle this situation? The people probably blame these two girls for everything, right?" Garp asked.

At this, Tsuru smiled.

"We don't need to wait for the right moment. We'll go in directly."

"Just tell the people that their queen has returned with the Marines, bringing protection and a promise of safety through the heavenly tribute. The people, who long for peace, will naturally side with us."

The warship docked.

Thousands of soldiers followed Tsuru, Garp, and Gion ashore.

After passing through the ruins and the bodies of many innocent victims, they finally came upon the two forces exchanging fire.

"Let me handle this!" Garp declared, his face stern. Without another word, a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him.

Rumble.

The dark clouds gathered, and the air seemed to freeze.