Dimensional Chat Group: Speed-o'-Light

Chapter 248 - 248: 249: Merit System

"Improving Marine pay, huh? That's actually not a bad direction… This year's budget is already triple last year's, and on top of that, Borsalino demanded another seventy percent more."Vice Admiral Tsuru, seemingly guessing Zephyr's concern, explained with a mix of exasperation and amusement.

In past years, every Marine budget submission had been picked apart by the World Government, so the Finance Department had always adopted a conservative approach.o be worth dozens or even hundreds of First-Class Merits.

Ten Third-Class Merits could be exchanged for one Second-Class Merit, and likewise, ten Second-Class Merits could be exchanged for one First-Class Merit.

For officers below the rank of ensign, earning a Third-Class Merit meant an unconditional promotion by one rank. For those below field officer rank, promotion required a Second-Class Merit. For those below flag officer rank, promotion required a First-Class Merit.

This system was designed not only to encourage the Navy to eliminate pirates, but also to break the ingrained habit of relying solely on seniority for promotion.

As soon as Kizaru announced the new merit system from the podium, marines in the plaza couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, many of them beaming with joy.

Compared to a pay raise, the new merit system was an even greater source of excitement for them.

In the past, no matter how much credit they earned, if they didn't curry favor with their direct superiors, they could forget about getting promoted.

This was one of the main reasons Navy factions were so rampant. Joining a faction meant you might be targeted by rival groups, but it was still better than being stuck at the bottom forever with no one to pull you up.

Now, with the new merit system, even if superiors wanted to suppress them, they couldn't stop someone from earning merits and getting promoted directly.

Such a system clearly favored the Navy's strongest elites. Barring any surprises, the Navy's strength would see an unprecedented boost in the coming years.

"…Truly unexpected… No, I should say, truly impressive…"

Kuzan couldn't help glancing at Kizaru. If increasing Navy benefits was still within his expectations, then this merit system was, in his eyes, a stroke of genius.

At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than opening a new path of promotion for mid- and low-level officers, but in reality, it was a powerful step toward ending the Navy's factional disputes.

As long as there was enough room for promotion, the divide between the hawks and doves in the Navy would be reduced to a pure difference in ideology.

"…At least it's not bad news…"

Sakazuki first furrowed his brows, then slowly relaxed them.

He didn't care about the Navy's factional disputes—or rather, in his view, factions were a good thing. Only competition could keep the Navy vibrant.

And in that sense, the new merit system could effectively motivate the mid- and lower-level marines, encouraging them to take the initiative in eliminating pirates.

Any system that could wipe out pirates was a good system!

Having just dropped such a major announcement, Kizaru didn't rush to move further. At the end of the day, the Navy—like the World Government—was an ancient institution that had existed for eight hundred years.

It was impossible to completely rejuvenate the Navy in a single step. Even with full control over the situation, reform had to be carried out gradually.

Increasing benefits and creating new promotion pathways were just steps Kizaru used to win hearts.

As his speech gradually moved into its conclusion, the marines in the plaza could barely contain their excitement.

Although the content of Kizaru's address only directly mentioned improving benefits and the new merit system, it was already enough to convey a strong, forward-driving momentum.

Meanwhile, the members of the chat group who had watched Kizaru's speech via live broadcast finally got to see what kind of presence the often somewhat unserious Kizaru in the group chat actually had in real life.

°°°

If you want to read ahead and access 20 advanced chapters, check the patreon

Link: Patreon/Moziel

Subscription should be made thru the web and never the ios app, it helps you and me.