In the office of Marine Headquarters, Sengoku listened solemnly to the orders from the World Government.
Only after the Five Elders had finished stating their demands did he nod and say, "Understood. I'll have Kizaru handle it. He's already at Sabaody Archipelago."
Since Kizaru was already waiting for the Straw Hat Pirates at Sabaody Archipelago, having him deal with Moria as well would be convenient. In terms of pursuit capabilities, Kizaru was the most formidable among the three Admirals.
"No, send Akainu," Saint Warcury interjected. "And have Kizaru assist him."
"Akainu?"
Sengoku was taken aback, then frowned. "I'm about to issue the Seven Warlords Summons. At a time like this, you want to send out two Admirals?"
"What if—"
"There are no what-ifs!" Saint Warcury cut him off. "Sengoku, surely with your strength and Aokiji by your side, you can keep the other Warlords in line? Not to mention Garp and the others are still at Marine Headquarters!"
"Moreover, it will take time for the Warlords to assemble at Marine Headquarters, whereas Akainu can reach Sabaody Archipelago much faster. Do I need to spell it out further?"
Gathering those unruly individuals wouldn't be done in a day or two, so Akainu would have plenty of time.
Garp...
Sengoku's expression darkened. The one to be executed this time was his old comrade's grandson. Expecting Garp to cooperate? It'd be a miracle if he didn't outright defect from the Marines! Did these old fools really think Garp would obediently fall in line even as his grandson faced execution?
These bastards... Did they really see them as nothing more than dogs?!
"Is there a problem?" Saint Warcury asked coldly.
That fool Garp had adopted the son of the Pirate King, Roger. The fact that they hadn't pursued the matter was already a huge concession to the Marines. If Garp dared to cause trouble now, they wouldn't hesitate to deal with this dissident who disrespected the World Government!
Veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead, but he forcibly suppressed his rage. "Even so, is it really necessary to deploy two Admirals at once?"
"I want to ensure there are no mistakes this time," Saint Warcury stated. "Sengoku, you know what Moria's defection signifies."
"Yes, I understand."
As a strategic genius, Sengoku could deduce the same implications as the Five Elders. That was why he had agreed to send Kizaru. But... dispatching two Admirals? Was Moria even worth that?
"It's not just Moria," Saint Warcury added. "I also need Akainu to bring back the Blood-Eyed Ninja!"
At those words, Sengoku immediately grasped Warcury's intent. They were clearly after the benefits the ninja could offer! With the ability to control the sea, the World Government's power would grow even stronger. For that... even deploying two Admirals at this critical juncture was justified.
But did these old fools not consider the Marines' situation at all? What if something went wrong—like the Whitebeard Pirates launching a surprise attack on Marine Headquarters? Were they expecting the Warlords to bail them out then?
At this point, it would be a miracle if they didn't kick us while we were down!
Thinking this, Sengoku was furious. They clearly didn't care about the lives of the Marines at all!
Seeing Sengoku remain silent, Saint Warcury frowned and said, "Sengoku?"
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku suppressed his anger and asked, "Why does it have to be Akainu?"
Somewhere in his mind, Sengoku seemed to sense something.
"Last time at Enies Lobby, Aokiji let the Straw Hat Pirates escape. Do you really think we'd send him again?" Saint Warcury said with displeasure.
That bastard had the power to freeze the entire sea, yet he still let the Straw Hat Pirates get away... Something was clearly off.
Although Aokiji and the Marines later submitted reports that left no room for criticism...
...his incompetence was still a fact!
So there was no way they'd let him go after the enemy again. He could just stay at Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku: "..."
"Fine, I understand."
He was only curious about the Five Elders' insistence on sending Akainu. He had no intention of actually letting Aokiji take the mission.
After all... they needed to prevent Whitebeard from reaching Marine Headquarters!
That man's ability to summon tsunamis required Aokiji's power to counter.
Saint Warcury nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Carry out the orders."
Click.
Looking at the disconnected communication, Sengoku slammed his fist onto the table.
BANG!
"Those five old bastards..."
Staring at the hole he'd punched through the desk, Sengoku's face twisted with rage.
There had to be a limit to their recklessness!
But he also knew the World Government's orders had to be followed. This time, Akainu would have to go.
He just wondered if the World Government had other motives...
Soon, he would retire, and his chosen successor for Fleet Admiral was Aokiji.
But the World Government seemed to look down on Aokiji... Did they favor Akainu over him?
Lost in thought, Sengoku ordered a communications officer to summon several key figures for a meeting.
Moments later...
BANG!
The door to Sengoku's office was kicked open by a burly man who stormed in with furious momentum.
"Garp?"
"Sengoku!!"
Garp glared at him, darting forward in an instant and grabbing Sengoku's collar. "What the hell is your problem?!" he roared.
"Why would you do something like that?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me!" Garp snarled. "Don't tell me the public execution wasn't your idea."
Rage burned inside Garp.
If Ace had been captured because he wasn't strong enough, fine. Even if he were killed, Garp wouldn't interfere.
But... this bastard Sengoku planned to make it a public spectacle?
He couldn't tolerate that. What would Luffy do when he found out? What would Dadan do?
Seeing Sengoku remain silent, Garp barked, "Stop pretending you can't speak!"
"It was the World Government's order."
"Tsuru?"
Garp glanced at Vice Admiral Tsuru standing by the door. "What do you mean, the World Government's order?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru didn't answer immediately. Instead, she first closed the door before turning to Garp and saying, "The World Government intends to use this incident to strike a blow against the pirates' arrogance."
"If we can keep Whitebeard at Marine Headquarters, it would hold significant meaning for the entire world."
"But we can't just—"
"Garp, you should understand—none of us can change this order."
Hearing Tsuru's words, Garp fell silent.
He knew she spoke the truth. This decree from the World Government was indeed beyond the Navy's power to alter.
Moreover... from the Navy's perspective, if they could eliminate Whitebeard through this operation, it would boost Marine morale to terrifying heights.
This would bring immense benefits to the Navy, whether in recruitment or maintaining global stability.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Garp's grip on Sengoku gradually loosened.
Seeing Garp's despondent state, a flicker of pity surfaced in Sengoku's eyes—but it was quickly suppressed.
Mercy has no place in war!
As Fleet Admiral, he had to consider matters from the Navy's standpoint!
This operation concerned the lives of a hundred thousand people—he couldn't afford to act on emotion.
With this in mind, Sengoku said, "Garp, remember your posi—"
"I know!" Garp interrupted. "Of course I know I'm a Marine!"
"Do you think I'd come here to say all this if I weren't?!"
If he weren't the Navy's hero, if he didn't uphold Marine justice, he would have stormed Impel Down alone to rescue his grandson long ago.
But he knew he couldn't—mustn't—do that.
Now he wasn't just a Navy Vice Admiral—he was the faith of countless young Marines!
What kind of blow would it deal to the Navy if even he betrayed them?
Besides... having carried the mantle of justice his entire life as a Marine, he could never commit such an act.
Only... at this moment, Garp felt the weight of those two characters on his back—so heavy they nearly crushed his breath.
"Sengoku, what else did the World Government say?"
"Fire Fist Ace, full name Portgas D. Ace. His mother was Portgas D. Rouge, and his father was—"
"Enough. Don't say any more."
Garp closed his eyes in anguish, seeming to age years in that instant.
No wonder the World Government was doing this. It wasn't just about Whitebeard... So Ace's identity had been exposed too.
Their aim was likely to use Ace being Roger's son to demoralize the pirates.
"Fine. Since you all know Ace is Roger's son, arrest me too."
"Garp!!"
"I raised Roger's son. In their eyes, I must be a damned criminal too, no?!"
Facing Garp's fury, Sengoku replied, "There's no such order. They won't issue that command."
"You're the Navy's hero—always have been, always will be."
Crack!
Veins bulged on Garp's forehead as fury threatened to erupt from his eyes.
If he weren't a Marine, he'd storm the Holy Land Mariejois right now and kill all those scumbags!!
"These pieces of trash really..."
"Garp!"
"What's wrong with me cursing them?!" Garp retorted. "I'd say it to your face, and I'd say it to those Five Elders too if they were here! What are they gonna do about it?"
"Go ahead and arrest me if you dare!"
After saying this, Garp stormed angrily toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to Impel Down to see my grandson," Garp stopped and said. "What? Is that not allowed either?"
"Fleet Admiral!"
"Garp, you..."
"Let him go, Sengoku," Vice Admiral Tsuru interjected.
Sengoku opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing, watching silently as Garp opened the door and left.
After the door closed, Tsuru looked at Sengoku and said, "Why make things so difficult for yourself?"
"If I don't make things clear to him now, he'll definitely go to the Holy Land," Sengoku replied. "At worst, he'll just punch me here. But if he angers the Five Elders, it won't be good for Garp."
"Don't forget, that guy adopted Roger's son!"
Sengoku knew very well that while the World Government might tolerate Garp's willfulness due to his status...
If he crossed the line, even the Marine Hero wouldn't be exempt from punishment.
Sengoku didn't want to see that happen, which was why it was better to make things clear to Garp here.
After sighing quietly, Sengoku glanced out the window and thought to himself: 'Old friend, don't do anything reckless...'
Though he trusted Garp's character... at the end of the day, that was still his grandson.
He could only hope the man wouldn't do anything irrational in his anger.
"I believe Garp won't do anything reckless," Tsuru said as she took her seat.
Sengoku nodded. After all, they'd been comrades for decades—he knew the man well.
But precisely because he knew him, he understood how tormented Garp must be right now.
Yet there was nothing he could do. In his position, certain things had to be done.
A moment later, a knock at the door drew their attention.
Knock knock knock
"Come in."
"Yoohoo~"
Aokiji entered and immediately noticed the hole punched through the desk.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk is...?"
"Ah, the little guy accidentally stepped on it," Sengoku said without batting an eye.
Aokiji: "..."
Aokiji glanced at the goat chewing on newspapers in the corner, his eyelid twitching.
Did they think he was an idiot?
This was probably because of Garp, who'd stormed out earlier. Come to think of it... it was the first time he'd seen the man that furious.
'Is it because of Fire Fist Ace...?' Aokiji mused silently.
Among the Marine higher-ups, it was no longer a secret that Ace was Garp's grandson.
And now the Marines were going to publicly execute Garp's grandson... The fact that he hadn't punched Sengoku already showed remarkable restraint.
But Aokiji didn't point it out. If Sengoku didn't want to talk about it, it wasn't his place to say anything.
'Seems being Fleet Admiral isn't easy either...'
After Aokiji took his seat, Akainu also arrived. However, he didn't say anything, merely glancing at the hole in the wall before looking away.
For people with overwhelming combat abilities like them, smashing furniture when angry was perfectly normal.
With this thought, Akainu sat down in his own seat.
"I wonder what Fleet Admiral Sengoku has summoned us for?"
"Soon we'll be issuing the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea summons, calling those unruly fellows to Marine Headquarters," Sengoku said. "To prevent these troublemakers from causing incidents, we need to strengthen our defenses. At the same time, to guard against Whitebeard launching a surprise tsunami attack... Kuzan, I need you to monitor the situation closely."
"Understood."
Aokiji nodded without hesitation.
Whitebeard's Devil Fruit Ability was extremely powerful, capable of triggering Sea Quakes. If he were to unleash a devastating tsunami, it could potentially destroy Marine Headquarters.
This was where Aokiji's importance came into play.
"What about Borsalino?" Akainu suddenly asked.
"He's still at Sabaody Archipelago and hasn't returned yet."
"That guy..."
Akainu frowned. Hadn't he caught the Straw Hat Pirates yet?
Or perhaps those brats never went to Sabaody Archipelago at all?
That shouldn't be the case. Pirates of their type shouldn't be intimidated by the New World.
Could they have entered the New World through another route?
"We'll discuss Borsalino's matters later," Sengoku said. "Sakazuki, there's something I need you to handle now."
"What is it?"
"Gecko Moria of the Royal Shichibukai has defected. The World Government has designated you to eliminate him."
"Defected?" Akainu was momentarily surprised before snorting coldly. "The Seven Warlords were never reliable to begin with."
"I understand. I'll take care of him."
From the very beginning, he had never thought highly of these pirates, believing they would eventually cause trouble.
After all... thieves will always be thieves!!
Now it seemed his prediction was correct—the Seven Warlords were indeed causing trouble again!
Aokiji, however, showed a puzzled expression. Why would that guy suddenly defect?
Had he grown tired of living?
Perhaps noticing Aokiji's confusion, Sengoku explained: "Moria was defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates. The World Government then invited the Straw Hat Pirates to become the new Warlord, but they refused."
"After regaining consciousness and learning of this, Moria decisively abandoned his Warlord title and engaged in a fierce battle with Kuma."
"Later, after sinking the Devil's Triangle Ship Graveyard, Moria disappeared without a trace."
"Now, your mission is to search the area near Sabaody Archipelago for Moria and eliminate him!"
These last words were directed at Akainu.
In response, Akainu said nothing, merely nodding to indicate his understanding.
A mere Moria posed no threat in his eyes.
"Sabaody Archipelago..." Aokiji remarked. "Isn't Borsalino already there?"
"That leads to another matter," Sengoku said. "The World Government places great importance on the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"Therefore, after eliminating Moria, Sakazuki will need to cooperate with Borsalino to trap the Straw Hat Pirates at Sabaody Archipelago."
"After defeating Moria, those guys will definitely head to Sabaody Archipelago."
"The World Government's orders are to kill the others and bring back the Blood-Eyed Ninja, Meiser, alive."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone immediately understood the World Government's intentions—they clearly coveted that power to manipulate seawater!
Especially Aokiji, who had personally witnessed the opponent's Water Release, knew full well just how terrifying that power was.
However... deploying two Admirals at once was truly extravagant.
"Capture him...?"
Akainu's expression darkened. A Marine Admiral like him was actually being ordered to do such a thing?
Having to capture a damn pirate alive was bad enough... but he also had to work alongside Borsalino?
All for the sake of a measly Straw Hat Pirates crew?
Did the World Government have so little respect for Marine Admirals?
"Execute the orders."
"Yes," Akainu replied with a grimace.
"If we can uncover the secrets of his ninja techniques, it would greatly benefit the Marines," Vice Admiral Tsuru suddenly interjected.
The World Government only demanded that he be brought back alive—they never said the Marines couldn't extract something from the pirate in the process.
She believed Akainu wouldn't refuse something that could enhance the Marines' strength.
After all... this way, they could eliminate even more pirates!
Sengoku didn't object, tacitly approving the matter.
If the World Government wanted them to do the work, it was only fair they took some benefits for themselves. Even if the Five Elders found out, they couldn't fault them for it.
Who told them not to specify otherwise?
Besides, a stronger Marine force would only benefit the World Government, wouldn't it?
"I understand, but I'll say it again," Akainu stated. "Don't get your hopes up too high."
If the opponent's abilities truly stemmed from bloodline, the Marines wouldn't gain anything.
"Do what you can," Vice Admiral Tsuru said. "It's better than doing nothing."
Akainu nodded, saying nothing more.
"You don't have much time," Sengoku reminded him. "You must return to Marine Headquarters with Borsalino before the execution officially begins."
Recalling the scheduled time for the execution, Akainu nodded. "Fine, I got it."
Thinking about it carefully, the time he had to capture Moria was indeed extremely tight.
But it didn't matter. As long as he could locate that bastard, it wouldn't take him more than an hour to finish him off.
Akainu had absolute confidence in his own strength.
"Move out," Sengoku ordered. "The faster, the better."
Without another word, Akainu stood and left.
Watching him go, Sengoku murmured inwardly, 'I hope this war proceeds smoothly.'
This time, they had to ensure Whitebeard, that old monster, stayed at Marine Headquarters—permanently.
"Now, let's discuss the details," Vice Admiral Tsuru said.
"Wasn't the strategy already decided?"
"It doesn't hurt to refine it further," Sengoku said gravely. "Kuzan, this concerns the lives of a hundred thousand people."
"You need to think more carefully."
Kuzan fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I understand."