The three of them were still soaking in the hot spring, but their minds were no longer on the matter at hand.
With the dark thought of "I can't be the only one to suffer," Sakazuki, unwilling to give up, inquired about the unit designations of Kuzan and Borsalino's forces.
He gloomily suggested, "Kuzan is an Ice-Ice Fruit user, so the name Frozen is well-deserved. And the Fish-Man Island Joint Army needs to reflect the equal status of the Ryugu Kingdom's Fish-Man army led by Neptune within the organization, so taking the word 'Throne' is most appropriate."
The legion he was supposed to lead had inexplicably become the number one evil force in the universe. While feeling sad and indignant, Sakazuki still intended to thoughtfully pit his fellow disciple.
Well, a subordinate unit of the Burning Legion was a refined choice.
"Frozen Throne?" Sengoku chewed on the meaning of this. The designation he had previously decided upon with the others was similar to Sakazuki's proposal: "We originally intended to customize the fleet name according to the geographical location of Fish-Man Island and the physiological characteristics of the Fish-Men."
"Oh? May I ask what the name you originally proposed was?" Sakazuki raised an eyebrow.
Sengoku casually rested his head on the stone slab, answering the junior's question in a desultory manner: "It's called [Deep Sea Task Force-Combined Fleet]."
"...."
The new-generation Sakazuki heavily nodded. "As expected of Mr. Sengoku, it is indeed a good name!"
When he discovered that he was not the only victim, Sakazuki's heart suddenly felt much more balanced.
"Although the Expeditionary Force has been put on the agenda, how do you plan to deal with the specific problems mentioned earlier?" Sengoku inquired. Being able to identify problems only qualified one as a competent staff officer, but being able to handle and solve problems made one a qualified leader.
And the Expeditionary Legion needed an excellent leader.
Sakazuki pondered for a moment. Although the Burning Legion hadn't even set up its framework, giving people a feeling that it lacked everything.
But separating and clarifying the overall problems, there was no doubt that the biggest lack was still people.
The reason why a legion could be called a legion was because it was essentially a complex military organization capable of sustained long-term combat far from home.
And it was generally composed of a large-scale army and different specialized branches of service.
Even if Marine Headquarters intended to allocate all the latest warships delivered to the Navy by Water 7 to the Expeditionary Legion, Sakazuki would not dare to accept it, because he simply couldn't organize enough crew members to operate them.
What is the most lacking in troubled times? Talent.
And what the Navy lacked most was also talent.
But fortunately, as the largest military organization in the world, the Navy could select outstanding personnel from the vast foundation of the pyramid.
Before Sakazuki could speak, Sengoku had already anticipated a possibility: "If you intend to use the World Conscription to fill the vacancies and recruit personnel, then I suggest you give up this idea first."
Sakazuki also knew that it was unrealistic. Although the World Conscription was the most convenient solution, this global conscription order could not be launched around a small Vice Admiral like you.
In the original work, it was only after the Summit War, due to Kuzan's resignation, and Sengoku and Garp's retirement to the second line, that there was a serious shortage of high-end combat power in Marine Headquarters. The World Government had no choice but to cooperate with the new Fleet Admiral-led Marine Headquarters to issue the World Conscription order.
"On the one hand, the legion needs veteran soldiers. These experienced elites can form the backbone of this army." Sakazuki understood the arduousness of the task. The New World was not a place for children to play house like the first half of the Grand Line.
The purpose of his Expeditionary Force was to defeat the great pirates entrenched in the New World, not to take a group of rookies and weaklings to their deaths.
"Issue a mobilization order for veterans to the Four Seas and the various branch navies of the seven routes of the Grand Line, and appropriately transfer some talented newcomers for mixed formation." Sakazuki stated his plan.
"Veterans?" Garp and Sengoku exchanged a glance. They actually belonged to this category as well, and they knew deeply how valuable a team of veterans was in the operation of warships and naval battles.
Even if some veterans were not as strong as some Navy rookies, their rich experience allowed them to perform better than those newcomers in complex and changeable situations.
"Yes," Sakazuki nodded. "Not only the veterans scattered in various places, but also the officers who are about to retire from various places."
"Hey, hey?! Do you mean to delay their retirement?" Garp directly complained. His first reaction was that this little brat Sakazuki was courting death again.
Delaying retirement was such a sensitive matter that even Sengoku, as an Admiral, would not dare to touch it, let alone that some of these veterans were troops that had been dispersed in battles with pirates—most of these physically and mentally traumatized veterans chose to avoid the heart-rending pain through retirement. How to re-coagulate them had always been an important issue troubling the Navy.
Unexpectedly, Sakazuki's answer was without hesitation: "Yes."
He turned to look at Sengoku, who remained silent: "But I need the best weapons, the best warships, and the best treatment."
The strategist naturally understood what Sakazuki was referring to. He frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly: "The best welfare benefits for the members of the Expeditionary Legion? You should know what the combat power of an army gathered by benefits and interests will be like, Sakazuki."
Although starting with the contradiction of low income after retirement for Navy soldiers and officers was indeed ingenious, Sengoku was not at ease with an Expeditionary Force that came for benefits.
"Can you guarantee that this requirement can be met?" Sakazuki confirmed again.
"Although I cannot promise that the monthly allowance received by all Navy retirees will be greatly increased, I can still apply for additional supplies of armaments and warships for a legion of 30,000 people per month." Sengoku gritted his teeth and gave Sakazuki a rough reply.
But this was also the limit of what he could help. Within his authority, he could let this Expeditionary Force have the best weapons and warships, and the highest priority of choice.
But the extra monthly allowance for a special legion of 30,000 people was by no means a small sum. This was not a huge amount of money that an Admiral could decide.
"Do you think the Five Elders will pay for it?" Sakazuki asked softly. Sengoku had definitely dealt with the Five Elders for longer than he had, and he was more familiar with their style.
Sengoku shook his head: "You're dreaming. They've already allocated an additional 30% of the usual military expenses every month to expand the armaments of Marine Headquarters. You'll have to think of other ways for this lucrative inducement."
"Armaments and supplies?" Sakazuki's eyes narrowed, as if he had thought of something, "If I can get enough armaments and supplies, can all of this extra 30% of military expenses be allocated to the Burning Legion?"
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