Meanwhile, in Mary Geoise, within the office of the highest authority of the World Government—the "Five Elders."
"Whitebeard is dead... Although somewhat unexpected, it was inevitable."
"That Blackbeard... I didn't expect him to have such a scheme in mind. Fortunately, he was stopped. But the fact that the Revolutionary Army was involved—this can't possibly be a coincidence."
"So Dragon has finally begun to act... It seems he is dissatisfied with the current pace of change."
"One Emperor and one Warlord have fallen, shattering the balance among the three great powers once again. Is Dragon also playing the game of balance now?"
"If the Revolutionary Army takes action, it will at least give the Marines, whose morale is at an all-time high, something to focus on."
"A mere flea thinks it can stir the tides... How ironic."
"So, what about the new candidate for the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"For now, we should observe the movements in the 'New World.' The pirate forces will be redistributed, and we must select someone with enough influence."
"Many are eyeing the vacant throne of an Emperor, but only through a bloody struggle will a true successor emerge. 'Phoenix' Marco and the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, despite their heavy losses, still have a considerable chance."
"And then there's that 'Straw Hat Luffy'... He attacked a Celestial Dragon, escaped from Admiral Kizaru, though that was partially due to Kuma's interference..."
"But given that he's Garp's grandson, it's not exactly surprising that he managed all this."
"Rayleigh seems to have a deep connection with him as well. However, at this stage, Rayleigh likely won't step back into the limelight."
"He's been silent for a while... Maybe when he resurfaces, things will take an interesting turn."
"Indeed... No matter what, this play is only getting more entertaining."
"Now, regarding Admiral Wright..."
"He is a rare talent—his presence alone shifted the course of the war."
"His eye for potential is exceptional as well. That 'Issho' was quite the unexpected surprise."
"But the fact that he possesses the 'Conqueror's Haki'... He hid it well. I don't believe Sengoku didn't know. Rather, I suspect Sengoku instructed him to keep it concealed until now."
"Hmph! And what of it? Sengoku himself serves us, does he not?"
"That's true. There are plenty of Conqueror's Haki users out there. Even Whitebeard couldn't overturn the tide, let alone someone within the system!"
"Moreover, he is not a 'D'..."
"Even so, his overwhelming strength disrupts the balance more than we'd like."
"Then..."
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Restoration efforts were progressing steadily, but at that moment, a bombshell announcement caught the entire Marine force off guard.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally declared that he would soon step down as Fleet Admiral, taking a backseat role as the Marine Inspector General, focusing on training the next generation of Marines.
At the same time, Vice Admiral Garp would also step down alongside Sengoku, retaining his rank but withdrawing from active command, dedicating himself to mentoring young Marines.
With this, the three great pillars of the previous Marine era would all step away from the frontlines, entrusting the burden of justice to the younger generation.
Naturally, this meant one of the current four admirals would be promoted to Fleet Admiral, leading to a wave of promotions across the ranks of admirals and vice admirals.
Unlike the last transition, where Sengoku was the sole Admiral eligible for promotion, this time, Marine Headquarters had four Admirals, each a potential candidate for the top position.
Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally recommended the most esteemed Admiral within the Marines, the one who shook the battlefield during the Summit War, who personally slew the Emperor Whitebeard, and whose reputation soared across the world—
Admiral Wright, the "Orange Horse!"
Under normal circumstances, such an appointment would be beyond question.
However...
The highest authority of the World Government, the Five Elders, had their own preference.
They favored one of the veteran "Three Admirals"—
Admiral Sakazuki, the "Red Dog!"
And their justification? The one area in which Wright was inferior to Sakazuki—experience.
Sakazuki had joined the Marines at 23, soon becoming a direct disciple of Zephyr alongside Borsalino. He had served for 30 years, holding the rank of Admiral for nearly a decade.
He adhered to "Absolute Justice," his iron-fisted, ruthless methods aiming to annihilate all pirates, earning him a following of staunch loyalists within the Marines.
However, his disregard for collateral damage among his own soldiers had drawn much criticism. Many times, it was Admiral Wright who had to step in, healing the grievously wounded Marines left in the wake of Sakazuki's rampages.
As the wielder of the most offensively destructive Logia-type Devil Fruit, the Magma-Magma Fruit, Sakazuki's sheer offensive power was unparalleled. During the Summit War, his coordinated assault with Admiral Wright inflicted catastrophic injuries upon Whitebeard.
Wright, on the other hand, had joined the Marines at 17, quickly becoming Zephyr's final direct disciple. He had served for 17 years and had only been an Admiral for three.
He practiced "Justice of Hope," a pragmatic yet principled approach. He was compassionate towards his comrades, decisive against pirates, and his contributions to the Marines were immeasurable.
Wright's strategic foresight was unparalleled. His ability to plan ahead and maneuver tactically was so remarkable that he collaborated with Fleet Admiral Sengoku—the "Strategist General"—on multiple major operations.
A handful of high-ranking officials even knew that the Summit War against Whitebeard had largely been orchestrated by Admiral Wright himself!
His combat prowess was equally exceptional. As a Great Swordsman, his swordsmanship rivaled that of the "World's Greatest Swordsman," Dracule Mihawk!
During the Summit War, he personally slew the Emperor, Whitebeard!
And that's not to mention his unrivaled healing abilities, the pinnacle of modern medical prowess.
Wright was fiercely protective of his subordinates. His most common words to the Marines under his command were:
"My mission is to bring you all back alive."
And every single time, he fulfilled that promise.
By all measures except experience, Wright was the ideal candidate for Fleet Admiral over Sakazuki.
However, with the immense influence of the Five Elders, and the undeniable weight of Sakazuki's extensive service record, the "Red Dog" had the qualifications to challenge Wright for the position.
"So, Sakazuki, what do you think?"
Sengoku had not yet officially stepped down, and as Fleet Admiral, he was meeting with both Wright and Sakazuki in his office to discuss the matter.
This was, after all, an internal Marine affair. The decision had to be one that the entire Marine force could accept—and one that the World Government would approve.
"I didn't expect this situation to unfold this way," Sakazuki admitted, arms crossed, his expression as stern as ever.
"The World Government... has an agenda."
Sakazuki was no fool. On the contrary, he was extremely intelligent—and when it came to the Celestial Dragons, he held no fondness for them whatsoever.
What he cared about had always been the Navy. The justice the Navy upheld. To eradicate evil, he was willing to lay down his very life.
During his battle against Whitebeard, even with Wright's support, without an unwavering will to go all out, it would have been impossible to unleash such relentless, ferocious attacks.
Now, Sakazuki had begun to sense the World Government's ulterior motives.
"I, Sakazuki, will never allow myself to be wielded as just another blade in certain people's hands! But I am also not one to simply concede and walk away!"
His gaze burned as he looked at Wright. This junior of his had only recently been promoted to Vice Admiral, solidifying his own path of justice. Back when Wright had come to him for guidance on the meaning of true justice, Sakazuki had told him:
"Temper yourself well in your role as a Vice Admiral! When you and I stand on the same battlefield, only then will you understand—what it truly means to be 'absolute'!"
And now, it was clear—that time had come.
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