As the 157th Branch entered a period of rapid development, Luo Lan realized a serious problem.
Personnel.
Given that he couldn't reveal the true nature of the branch just yet, openly recruiting people was off the table. While he could rely on the system to bring in manpower, there was a big limitation...
While a batch of D-grade bio-engineered recruits could serve as temporary trainees, trying to bring in more advanced personnel would quickly drain his available points.
Why? Because all D-grade bio-soldiers summoned through the system—whether they were marines, workers, or researchers—had their talent levels locked in.
Mediocre talents, at best. The kind that could work an entire lifetime and still only amount to a junior officer.
In other words, while they could improve, their growth was sluggish, and the appearance of geniuses was impossible.
The worst part?
Just yesterday, the system notified him that it had "fixed" a certain bug...
From now on, except for S-grade bio-soldiers, all others—across four different tiers—would no longer benefit from building-based enhancements.
What did this mean?
For instance, even if Sea King meat was processed in the Marine Mess Hall, when these soldiers consumed it, it would no longer grant the two-level energy boost. It would just be ordinary Sea King meat.
Likewise, in the Training Center, they would no longer receive gravity-enhanced training. Everything would remain at normal gravity levels.
Any enhancement related to building traits? They were now excluded.
Just yesterday, Luo Lan had fantasized about recruiting 100,000 apprentice marines, feeding them daily with Sea King meat, and after a year…
He'd have 100,000 Luccis!
But now?
This inhuman system had shattered that beautiful dream.
Luo Lan couldn't help but suspect that the system had somehow been spying on his thoughts. The timing was way too suspicious.
And that—was why Luo Lan needed to solve the troop shortage issue as soon as possible.
He couldn't keep depending on system summons forever...
---
Port Command Tower – Small Conference Room
"So... any thoughts on recruitment?" Luo Lan asked.
"Recruitment? You're actually worried about that?" Smoker looked utterly shocked.
"With the conditions of the 157th Branch? If you even hint at a recruitment drive, people across the world would be trampling each other to sign up!"
Clearly, Smoker had forgotten one small detail... None of this could be made public.
Hina gave him a look like he was an idiot.
"Uh... did I say something wrong?" Smoker still hadn't caught on.
Luo Lan sighed deeply.
"Smoker, if I made all this public, what do you think would happen next?"
"Well, obviously... uh..."
Smoker froze mid-sentence as the realization dawned.
"Exactly. First, the 157th Branch would be confiscated. Then I'd be arrested and shipped off to Impel Down, Level Six."
"There, I'd be tortured daily until every last secret of mine was wrung out—and once I was no longer useful…"
"Gone."
"So tell me—do you really think I can advertise our facilities and start a public recruitment drive?"
"Even if I didn't reveal anything specific, just setting up an external recruitment center would raise eyebrows and lead investigators right to our doorstep."
"Need I remind you, the 157th Branch has a reputation—'The Navy's Retirement Home.'"
Smoker slapped his forehead, clearly embarrassed.
He wasn't dumb, just still a little high on adrenaline and excitement from everything they'd been through. He hadn't fully adjusted.
"Luo Lan," Hina asked, "Do you have any specific requirements for recruits? Physical strength? Talent baseline?"
"None. Absolutely none."
Luo Lan shook his head.
As long as they weren't bio-engineered, even total trash...
He could raise them into Vice Admiral-level powerhouses in a year.
Don't underestimate the power of daily Sea King meat. That alone could raise someone's Dao Force by 3,650 points in a year.
And that's without even factoring in training boosts.
Creating a Lucci in a year? Completely doable.
Sure, their combat techniques might fall short—but what about ten of them? A hundred? Thousands?
At this rate, the original story would never even get off the ground. He'd wipe out the World Government before Luffy ever got to set sail!
Ding!
"New bug detected. System is repairing..."
Ding!
"Bug repaired. Energy tier enhancement effects have been nerfed. Please check details."
Luo Lan was stunned.
Yesterday, he had dreamed of raising 100,000 D-grade marines into 100,000 Luccis with Sea King meat...
The system patched it.
Fine, he tolerated it.
Today, he figured: If bio-soldiers didn't work, what about regular humans? Same strategy, same goal.
And the damn system patched that too.
"You're going too far, system!" Luo Lan shouted mentally. "I demand compensation! Or unbind me right now!!"
The system went quiet.
Then—
Ding!
"We apologize for the inconvenience. As compensation, a special S-grade gift pack has been granted."
"Hah! Who wants—wait... Did you say S-grade?"
Ding!
"Correct. The gift pack has been delivered to your personal space."
"Ahem... well, bugs do affect the user experience. You're doing great, system."
With an awkward cough, Luo Lan immediately backtracked with a classic "it's actually not that bad" attitude.
As for the nerf?
He'd already reviewed it.
The short version was:
First-time effects remained unchanged.
But with repeated use, the enhancements would start to decay over time.
Initially, maybe the user gained +10 Dao Force.
After a while, it would drop to +9, then +8...
Eventually?
Zero. No more gain from that energy tier.
Could it be reset by switching to a different Sea King?
It depends.
If the new Sea King had meat with the same energy tier—say, Tier 5—and that's already what you've become immune to?
No effect.
Only if the Sea King's meat contained Tier 6 energy or higher would it work again.
Which meant: you'd have to hunt stronger and stronger Sea Kings.
Maybe 500 meters long. Maybe a kilometer.
The only way to find out... was to try.
---
As for that S-grade compensation pack...
"System, open the gift pack immediately!"
Ding!
"Gift pack opened. You've received the following items:"
Super Naval Academy (S-grade) ×1
Island-Class Propulsion Engine (S-grade) ×1
C-grade Instructors ×20
B-grade Instructor ×1
Hiss...
Luo Lan inhaled sharply.
---
A/N: If you want an early updates, you can visit my Ko-Fi as I update there much early.
Currently at Chapter 60 for free chapters on my Ko-Fi and at Chapter 165 for advance chapters.
https:// ko-fi.com/sami27