After ending the call with Tesoro, Ortoren continued reading the reports in his hands.
Below the Rear Admiral level, the casualty numbers spiked immediately. Just as Tesoro had said, the total number of wounded was close to thirty thousand. Of course, the vast majority were minor injuries. On the battlefield, even taking a bullet and coming out more or less fine still counted and had to be recorded.
"Make sure the compensation work is handled properly. At the same time, all merits must be calculated clearly. Those who deserve promotions get promoted. Those who deserve raises get raises," Ortoren said in a low voice, turning to Hina beside him.
"As for this matter, if anyone dares to withhold benefits, deceive their superiors, or cover things up, I don't care who it is. Drag them out. I won't give anyone face. Even if it's Isshō, I'll send him to the chopping block!"
The moment Ortoren finished speaking, he noticed Hina looking past him with an amused expression.
That struck him as odd. He turned around and saw Isshō standing there, staring at him with a completely confused look on his face.
"Wait… why am I the one being sent to the chopping block?" Isshō finally reacted, looking at Ortoren with obvious grievance.
"Hahahahaha, I was just joking. You actually took that seriously?" Ortoren laughed a bit awkwardly, then asked, "So, what's up?"
Isshō didn't dwell on it. He smiled and said,
"I came to ask when the troops will be disbanded. There's still a lot to take care of back at G-5. My side is already fully reorganized. Aside from the seriously wounded who can't move for now, everyone else will be heading back with me."
"Is it roughly the same situation for the other units?" Ortoren asked.
This time, elites from all the New World Navy bases had been assembled. With the war over, disbanding the forces was only natural.
"More or less," Isshō nodded. "Aside from the Yamakaji Division, the rest are in similar shape."
"Then proceed with an orderly disbandment," Ortoren said. "Keeping everyone stationed here for too long isn't ideal."
"Understood," Isshō replied. Then he asked curiously, "By the way, after such a major battle, hasn't headquarters called you back yet?"
Under normal circumstances, once a war of this scale ended, Ortoren, as the Admiral overseeing the New World, would definitely have to return to headquarters to report in. And after that, some form of commendation was inevitable.
A promotion was out of the question. Unless Fleet Admiral Sengoku retired, or Ortoren wrapped himself in yellow and declared independence, his Admiral position was already the ceiling.
Still, aside from rank, there were plenty of other rewards to be had. Medals, bonuses, and various benefits were all standard.
Of course, Ortoren didn't have much personal need for any of that. He already had everything he needed.
"They did," Ortoren said with a shrug. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku contacted me the day after the war ended. He told me to return to headquarters as soon as I finish handling things here to receive my commendation."
"Are you going?" Isshō asked, clearly curious.
Ortoren was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Of course. While I'm at headquarters, all of your divisions should prepare for the next round of warfare. Once I'm back, it'll be time to settle whatever remains in the New World."
As Ortoren was speaking, Momonga walked over from nearby. Hearing this, he hesitated slightly.
"Given the current situation, I don't think things will really escalate into a large-scale or even full-scale war, will they?"
"At most, maybe a localized head-on clash with the Beasts Pirates," Isshō said after thinking it over. "And even that's just a possibility. If Kaidou has any sense, he shouldn't push things to that extreme…"
They were all veterans who had followed Ortoren for many years. Naturally, they understood that the relationship between the New World Navy and the Big Mom Pirates was far more complicated than a simple Navy-versus-pirates dynamic.
Especially in recent years, the Big Mom Pirates were pirates in name only. In reality, they had long since moved beyond the category of pirates. Treating them as a nation was far more appropriate.
After all, what pirate-ruled territory could ever rank near the top of the world in terms of citizen happiness?
Signs of eventual unification had appeared long ago. The only problem was that Charlotte Linlin refused to bow her head to her own son, while Ortoren, the dutiful child, was determined to prove his filial devotion through strength and cure his proud mother's hunger fits once and for all.
On the Navy's side, the stance was rigid. From top to bottom, no one had ever suggested that Ortoren lower himself or submit. That was impossible and unrealistic, and no one would agree to it.
Totto Land, however, was a different story.
People like Charlotte Katakuri, who had long seen the bigger picture, didn't actually care whether Charlotte Linlin remained in charge or whether Ortoren became the leader instead.
They were pirates, and they were family. The strong ruled, claimed everything, and became the one who made the decisions. There was nothing unreasonable about that.
So in the eyes of Momonga, Isshō, and the others, as long as Ortoren could settle things with Charlotte Linlin, as long as he could overpower and subdue his mother, there would be no need for a war with the Big Mom Pirates. Before long, both sides would naturally merge into one.
"I hope things turn out that way too," Ortoren said with a sigh. Then his tone hardened. "But that's the best-case scenario. We can't act while clinging to wishful thinking. We have to prepare for the worst."
"So we must be ready at any moment to face a full-scale war in the New World. If I can't resolve this in the way you're hoping for, then we'll use the army. We'll use iron and blood to crush every enemy standing in our way."
"I understand," Momonga and Isshō replied in unison.
...
After finishing that discussion, Ortoren picked up the Den Den Mushi and placed another call.
It didn't take long for the line to connect.
Before Ortoren could speak, a soft, alluring voice came through first.
"The Admiral is truly awe-inspiring. A man destined to stand above all others," Queen Stussy's delicate laughter echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
Ortoren's expression darkened slightly, a trace of embarrassment crossing his face. Back when he had fought Whitebeard, the heat of battle combined with entering his Sulong form had pushed him to act on impulse.
He had ended up delivering a full-blown chuunibyou declaration in front of a worldwide broadcast, talking about standing above the heavens. Thinking about it now was painfully embarrassing.
After adjusting his mood, Ortoren said helplessly,
"Queen-sama, let's skip the teasing. Since you watched the broadcast, you should already know that I've fulfilled my promise. Buckingham Stussy is in my hands, still alive. Do you want to come deal with her personally, or should I take care of it for you?"
After Ortoren finished speaking, the other end of the line fell silent.
More than a minute passed before Queen Stussy finally spoke again.
"Then I'll trouble the Admiral to handle it for me."
Her voice was no different from before, still gentle and composed. Yet for some reason, Ortoren could hear a faint sense of relief in her tone, as if the door of a gilded cage had finally been opened.
Ortoren smiled faintly and turned to Hina.
"Pass the order. Dispose of Buckingham Stussy."
"What about Edward Weevil?" Hina thought for a moment before asking.
Ortoren didn't answer her right away. Instead, he spoke into the Den Den Mushi.
"Do you want that one?"
"Yes," Stussy replied, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Yes. I can control him."
"Understood."
Ortoren then turned back to Hina.
"When Moria leaves, have him take Weevil with him. Send them to Golden City."
Despite everything that had happened in the New World, Queen Stussy was still firmly in control of Golden City. Moria would be returning there to continue his work anyway, so bringing Weevil along was convenient.
Before Ortoren could say anything else, Stussy's voice came through again.
"I imagine it won't be long before you return to headquarters, Admiral?"
"Of course," Ortoren replied casually.
"I have some important information to share with you," Stussy said with a soft laugh. "Consider it my return gift for your help this time."
Her tone then turned serious.
"Mary Geoise believes your display of power this time was… a bit too fierce. In short, the Five Elders are currently discussing how to transfer you out of the New World."
Ortoren paused for a moment, then laughed.
"I see."
Hearing how unconcerned he sounded, Stussy didn't press the matter further.
"Once you've wrapped things up, I'll come visit you in person. After that, we can move on to the second phase of our cooperation."
"I'll be waiting," Ortoren replied, then hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Nearby, Hina asked anxiously,
"Admiral, what should we do? If the Five Elders really try to transfer you out of the New World…"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Ortoren waved his hand dismissively. "Don't think that living in Mary Geoise gives them the right to spout nonsense in front of me."
"If I don't like what someone says, I won't give them any face. Who in the Navy doesn't know the name Ortoren? If they've got the guts, let them issue a forced administrative order."
"I'd like to see whether those five actually have the courage."