58 million Berries were just deposited into the system.
With that, Luo Lan's "Fortress Builder" points saw a significant jump.
As for the remaining assets worth 25 million Berries, they posed a bit of a complication—the system only accepts Berries as currency.
That meant those goods had to be converted into Berries first.
Of course, while slightly troublesome, it wasn't a real issue. After all, the Intelligence Division had handled plenty of similar situations over the past year.
Once everything was broken down, the items would be sold off through various underground black market channels—spread across multiple small transactions to keep things discreet and safe.
Although this method could result in losses of over 30%, the security and secrecy it offered more than made up for it.
Luo Lan left this task to Ian. There was no need for him to concern himself with the details.
Now then…
What should he do about Ace?
Inside his office, Luo Lan tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk, deep in thought.
After a while, a mischievous grin tugged at his lips.
"…Well then."
"It's time to remind you of the days—seven years ago—when you were completely under my thumb!"
---
Somewhere in the vast ocean.
A wooden raft bobbed atop the waves, its small sail fluttering in the wind.
Though it rocked heavily, it hadn't capsized yet and was steadily moving forward.
Lying flat on the raft, a man was suddenly jolted awake, soaked in cold sweat.
"Damn it… why did I dream about that guy…?"
Ace shuddered involuntarily as memories flooded back—seven years ago, he'd come to Windmill Village with Garp and had been mercilessly tormented for three whole months by that same man.
"No… I was just a kid back then. That's why he could overpower me with a single crappy rifle."
"But now, I've grown stronger! I won't be afraid of him anymore. Even if his bullets can bend mid-air, a gun? Hah—guns don't even belong on the battlefield!"
He shouted into the wind, trying to drive away the lingering fear.
And yet…
"Oh? Guns don't belong on the battlefield, huh?"
The voice, though different from seven years ago, was unmistakable.
Like a robot turning at the sound of its command, Ace's head pivoted slowly.
At the rear of the raft, a massive metallic construct loomed—when had that gotten there?
Seated atop a raised platform on the structure was Luo Lan, clad in a Justice coat fluttering behind him. In his left hand, he lazily held a sleek black pistol.
"L-Luo Lan?! What are you doing here?"
"…Fine! Perfect timing. Let's settle everything once and for all—every score from seven years ago!"
Ace immediately took a combat stance—though his legs were visibly trembling, which definitely undermined his confidence.
Luo Lan, still seated casually, raised his left hand—and then, with a sharp flick…
BANG!
…
…
Ace blinked. Then blinked again.
After confirming that nothing hurt and his body was completely intact, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Hah! Looks like your aim's gotten worse since seven years ago!"
"Hmm… Was it really a miss?"
Luo Lan smirked slightly.
That's when Ace noticed something was wrong.
A strange creaking noise behind him made him spin around—only to see the mast holding up his sail had a massive hole blown through it, spiderweb cracks radiating outward like fractures on glass.
Moments later, the entire mast gave out and snapped in half.
The shot had clearly come from behind him…
Damn it. It was that kind of bullet again—one that curves mid-air.
And he had actually thought Luo Lan missed.
Turns out, Luo Lan hadn't even been aiming at him.
He was targeting the raft's sail the entire time!
Damn it! That bastard!
He's not even a Devil Fruit user… so how the hell does he make bullets do that?
And the worst part? That shot was so fast, he didn't even see it coming.
Since when were firearms this deadly?
"If you want to turn yourself in, use this."
Luo Lan casually tossed over a signal flare.
Then, he holstered his pistol, opened a thick metal hatch in the construct, and disappeared inside.
Moments later, the hatch sealed shut, and the entire metallic structure submerged—vanishing into the sea.
Ace stared blankly at the flare in his hand.
He knew exactly what Luo Lan was trying to do.
Without the sail, his raft had lost all propulsion. And to make matters worse, his food had run out days ago. Water? Gone for two days now.
If he kept drifting like this…
He'd be dead within a few days.
"Damn it! I, Portgas D. Ace, would rather die of thirst, hunger, or exhaustion than use this damn flare!"
He shouted to the sea in defiance.
Yet… his right hand very honestly tucked the flare into his waistband.
---
Elsewhere…
"Colonel, are you sure this is going to work?"
"Relax. I know him like the back of my hand. Give it three days—he will use that flare."
"You seem pretty familiar with this Ace guy?"
"Of course. He's one of Garp's grandsons."
"…Wait, what? Vice Admiral Garp's grandson?!"
"Yup."
Ian's eyes bulged as the realization set in.
The legendary Marine Hero's grandson… was a pirate?
Unbelievable.
Then again, that would explain why the Colonel had gone to such lengths.
It made perfect sense now.
Everyone in HQ knew just how close the Colonel and Vice Admiral Garp were—those two practically shared a pair of pants.
"So, Colonel, are you planning to give Ace the full ideological re-education course?"
Ian asked cautiously.
At the 157th Branch, there was a particular building designated for such "re-education."
Oddly enough, while it looked completely ordinary, anyone brought inside and given a lecture would leave utterly transformed.
Not only did it work—it worked exceptionally well.
Of course, Luo Lan never told Ian that the building had a unique feature:
+100% Learning Speed for Courses.
Luo Lan wasn't about to open a school, so he'd repurposed the effect for his own use—developing an entire system of "ideological re-education."
As for what it taught?
The correct worldview, naturally!
The results were amazing.
Otherwise, where did they think all the people at the 157th Branch came from?
Sure, the system provided the 30 or so scientists in the research lab. But the soldiers, logistics staff, and other personnel?
Those were all individuals Ian brought back after every mission.
After three months of ideological training, former slaves and civilians turned into proud Marines—devoted, disciplined, and completely loyal to Luo Lan.
Especially because…
Those re-education courses didn't just instill values—they also taught loyalty to Luo Lan himself.
Three months was all it took to remold someone's values and allegiance.
But Luo Lan shook his head.
"No. As effective as re-education is, it stifles talent and potential. It drastically lowers a person's ceiling."
"So unless absolutely necessary, I have no plans to use it on Ace."