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Navy Headquarters, Marineford.
The conference hall was packed to capacity, yet despite the crowd, the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.
Just moments ago, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had summoned all high-ranking officers present at headquarters. Gritting his teeth, he announced the news: Garp had been killed by the Thunder Emperor. Since then, the assembled officers had remained silent, many bowing their heads in mourning.
Garp the Hero was a banner of the Navy, the idol of countless officers and recruits alike. Now, that banner had fallen...
Although every person who aspired to be a Marine was prepared to sacrifice their life for the peace of the seas, hearing the news of the death of a comrade they saw day and night—no one could remain untouched by grief.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, regarding Vice Admiral Garp's death... I do not believe we should hold a grand memorial service. Sacrificing one's life to combat pirates is the glory of the Navy!" Akainu spoke with his characteristic coldness.
"When Fleet Admiral Kong and Admiral Kizaru died, the procedures were handled hastily. Furthermore... if news of the Navy Hero's death spreads with fanfare, it will only fuel the arrogance of pirates!"
"Are you saying the Navy dares not admit its own casualties?" Aokiji's small, round sunglasses frosted over with a thick layer of ice. His expression was indifferent, but he squared off against Akainu, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Mr. Garp was a Hero of the Navy. He rendered countless meritorious services. He deserves the honors due to him!"
"Every Marine who gives their life fighting pirates is a hero. Do you want to treat him differently? Or should we hold a memorial service every single day?" Akainu stood up, glaring at Aokiji with a furious expression.
"If we downplay this and deny him his due honors, no one will be willing to be a hero in the future!" Supporters of Garp—the "Dove" faction—stood up in unison, their aggressive stance matching the tension.
"I think Admiral Akainu makes a valid point!" The "Hawk" faction officers refused to yield, speaking plainly. "Every fallen Marine is a hero. Sacrifices happen every day. If we held a memorial for everyone, the Navy would never get any missions done!"
"Sophistry! You are twisting the concept!!"
In the conference hall, from Admirals to Admiral Candidates, down to the Vice Admirals, the dispute ignited instantly, threatening to blow the roof off the building.
BANG!!
"Shut your mouths!"
Sengoku slammed the table heavily and roared. Since receiving the news, his eyes had been bloodshot, his entire demeanor incredibly haggard.
They were brothers who had known each other for decades. Though they bickered daily, their friendship ran deeper than outsiders could possibly imagine.
In terms of inner grief, Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru surpassed everyone else.
"This is the order of the Five Elders... This matter is to be downplayed. A Navy Hero cannot be seen dying at the hands of a pirate! In time, no one will remember!!"
Sengoku spoke through gritted teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, enunciating every word. He was clearly pushed to his limit.
"I do not agree!"
Aokiji, who rarely showed anger and was always the picture of calm, finally revealed his rage. Since joining the Navy, Garp had been his idol and guiding light.
"This does not align with the Justice in my heart!!"
"Sit down!" Sengoku closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to quell the fire in his heart. However, his hatred for Arthur could not be suppressed. He roared in a low, raspy voice, "Orders... are Justice!"
"Orders are Justice... but are we just going to let Mr. Garp's death pass like this?"
"If so, please forgive us for choosing to disobey orders!!"
"SIT DOWN!" Sengoku slammed the table again. After forcing Aokiji to retreat, he scanned the entire council hall. "In this incident, something even more terrifying has occurred!"
"More terrifying than the death of Vice Admiral Garp? Are you joking, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Look at this picture sent by Vice Admiral Tsuru!" Sengoku was losing his patience.
An adjutant took a thick stack of photos from Sengoku and distributed them to every officer present.
In the picture, Arthur's profile was as arrogant and domineering as ever. However, what shocked everyone to the core wasn't the Thunder Emperor himself, but what he was doing... In the photo, Arthur was eating a Devil Fruit!
"This is impossible! It must be fake!!"
"Absolutely fake!!"
Everyone, including Aokiji and Akainu, wore expressions of shock. Some Vice Admirals even cried out in disbelief.
They were actually seeing—The Thunder Emperor, Arthur, eating a second Devil Fruit?
Everyone knew his ability was the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, hailed as the strongest Logia. Was eating a second Devil Fruit a death wish?
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, is this confirmed to be real?"
"Why is this happening?" The Vice Admiral who asked swallowed involuntarily, cold sweat instantly streaming down his face.
It was incomprehensible. It challenged the limits of their knowledge. Never in history had they heard of such a thing happening on the seas.
If the Thunder Emperor could truly eat a second Devil Fruit, how powerful would he become?
"It is true, and absolutely confirmed! The Devil Fruit he ate is the Op-Op Fruit, for which the World Government offered a bounty of 5 billion Berries!"
"That's too exaggerated... He really is a monster!" Many voices trembled as they spoke.
"We must figure out why the Thunder Emperor can eat a second Devil Fruit. Beyond that, we need to know if he can eat a third, or a fourth!"
If the World Government discovered this ability, given their capacity to collect Devil Fruits, they would undoubtedly cultivate countless "monsters."
"CP0 has already begun to act. They are contacting Stussy, the former intelligence agent who now manages the affairs of the Thunder God Pirates. However, progress is not going smoothly... Stussy may have truly defected!"
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North Blue. The Giant Snail Fleet, The War Castle.
Rockwell was displaying god-like might, his expression one of extreme excitement. Arthur observing the battle from the sidelines seemed to give him an invisible buff, elevating his combat power.
Within minutes, he had taken down dozens of Germa soldiers.
With Arthur standing there, he acted as an invisible iron wall. Vinsmoke Judge couldn't even attempt to fight back; he could only command his subordinates to attack from the side, feeling suffocated and humiliated to the extreme.
In this world, having strength truly allowed one to do whatever they pleased. Even a mere name carried terrifying deterrence.
On the seas, anyone with a clear mind knew exactly how strong the "Four Emperors and One Sovereign" who suppressed the New World were. It was a power that simply could not be resisted.
Puru Puru Puru Puru!
"Hmm?" The transponder snail in his coat rang. Arthur took it out and saw it was Stussy. Seeing that the battle was drawing to a close, he casually called out:
"Rockwell, time to go!"
After speaking, he seemed to forget that he was currently in the Vinsmoke Family's territory. He turned around and walked directly toward the main gate. Rockwell gave a savage grin, glanced at Vinsmoke Judge's ashen face, and closely followed Arthur's footsteps.
"This is Arthur. Stussy... is there a decision that requires my attention?"
"Lord Arthur, the World Government is in the Thunder God Sea and wants to meet with me!"
"Oh? You want to go back to them?" Arthur arrived at the railing of the snail fleet, facing the sea, and asked indifferently.
"I do not. However, the reason for their meeting is undoubtedly to find out how you consumed a second Devil Fruit and remained unharmed!!"
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