At this moment, inside the conference room of the G-3 Marine Base.
Projected onto the screen was a massive, full map of Aquino Island.
Although construction had yet to be completed, many areas were already clearly planned out. Coastal artillery defense zones, dockyards and naval ports, rest camps, logistics and storage districts, even the execution platform had all been laid out in advance. All of these construction plans had already been sent by Tesoro to Moria.
By the third day of the meeting, Vice Admiral Tesoro had left the G-3 Base to rendezvous with Moria and begin infrastructure development on Aquino Island.
Setting aside the construction plans, the main battlefield itself had also been divided into clear echelons.
Vice Admirals Momonga, Yamakaji, Strawberry, Stainless, and Cancer were each assigned their own sectors and directions on the battlefield.
Sakazuki, Isshō, Gion, and Tokikake were likewise given corresponding combat responsibilities.
Among them, Tokikake was assigned to remain at the execution platform as the final line of defense. If necessary, he would directly carry out the execution of Momonosuke and the retainers of Kozuki Oden.
In other words, as long as the front lines did not collapse, Tokikake would essentially not need to take part in the fighting.
Originally, Ortoren had intended to assign this role to Sakazuki, but Sakazuki firmly opposed it during the meeting.
"I came to the New World to fight," Sakazuki said bluntly. "Not to sit around guarding an execution platform."
"If I don't get to clash with the Whitebeard Pirates and personally kill those damn pirates, then what was the point of coming here at all?"
As a result, Sakazuki formally requested a frontline combat role. Faced with this man whose mind was filled entirely with the desire to slaughter pirates, Ortoren simply couldn't argue him down. Under Sakazuki's intense insistence, he had no choice but to agree.
According to the echelon arrangement, Vice Admirals such as Momonga and Yamakaji would form the first line of defense together with Shichibukai like Slekemind.
They would be deployed directly on the front lines, thrown into the fiercest fighting.
Behind them, elite officers such as Rear Admirals and Commodores under their command would serve as the battlefield's communication and command hubs, responsible for relaying orders from above and adjusting troop deployments as needed.
Their role was to deal with ordinary pirate combatants, not to confront opponents at the level of the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders.
After that came the second line of defense, which had already been agreed upon. Sakazuki and Gion would be stationed there, ready to move at once if the first line ran into trouble, easing the pressure on the front.
Strictly speaking, Sakazuki, as an Admiral, stood on the same level as Ortoren among the Navy's top leadership in this decisive battle. There was no real need for him to place himself so close to the front.
But this was Sakazuki's own insistence. He had no interest in competing with Ortoren for command authority or control of the battlefield. He wanted only one thing: to kill pirates. In the end, Ortoren chose to grant him that simple wish.
Placing him directly on the front line still felt inappropriate, so the final arrangement was for Sakazuki and Gion to hold the second line.
Beyond them were Ortoren and Isshō.
At present, it was still uncertain whether Kuzan would take the initiative to come and assist. In any case, Ortoren had no intention of inviting him. As a result, in plans dealing with threats such as massive waves or similar large-scale environmental attacks, Isshō would bear the main responsibility.
Because of this, despite Isshō's formidable combat strength, he could not be placed on the front lines. He would instead remain in the central sector together with Ortoren.
Yes, Ortoren had no intention of staying in the rear.
Under standard naval combat doctrine, as an Admiral and the overall commander of this war, he should have been stationed at the very back, in the execution platform area, much like Sengoku overseeing the Battle of Marineford as Fleet Admiral in the past.
But Ortoren had his own considerations.
He wanted to personally face Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world. This battle was not only about wiping out the Whitebeard Pirates.
It was also about seizing the title of the strongest for himself.
Therefore, Ortoren would take command of the central sector together with Isshō, directing the war while personally dealing with Whitebeard himself.
Inside the conference room, Ortoren tapped the table lightly and said,
"Alright. The division of combat zones and responsibilities has been finalized. Does anyone have any objections?"
As his words settled, the Marine officers around the table all shook their heads, indicating their agreement.
Seeing this, Ortoren nodded.
"Since that's the case, the battlefield layout is settled. As for mutual support and coordination once the fighting begins, I don't need to spell that out, do I?"
Momonga laughed heartily.
"We've all been Marine commanders for many years. No one here is unfamiliar with that. It's one of the Navy's strongest points."
Coordinated joint combat was an absolute specialty of the Marines.
At the same time, the Navy possessed a mature and highly efficient command system. Even in the chaos and noise of battle, a single signal was enough for these seasoned commanders to immediately understand what needed to be done next, and how to coordinate with the officers around them. This was one of the Marines' greatest advantages.
There were many different types of signals, and memorizing them, knowing exactly what action to take at any given moment, was a basic skill every Marine commander had to master.
Once a war truly began, the battlefield situation would shift constantly, becoming chaotic and unpredictable. Trying to discuss overly detailed tactical plans here would amount to nothing more than armchair theorizing. Everyone present was an elite commander tempered by real combat, and naturally no one would make such a mistake.
As Momonga finished speaking, Yamakaji and the other officers laughed as well, exchanging a few relaxed remarks, their words filled with confidence.
When the brief banter died down, Ortoren turned his gaze toward Hina.
"Alright. Let's move on to the next item."
Hina immediately nodded and switched the slide.
This time, the projection was filled entirely with dense text. At the top, a bold title stood out clearly:
"Proclamation to the World: The New World Navy's Declaration Against the Whitebeard Pirates, Scourge of the Seas"
Standing beside the screen, Hina spoke in a crisp, decisive tone.
"This war concerns a vast scope. It is the largest conflict the New World has seen in recent years, since the Battle of Edd War and the subsequent struggles among pirates for supremacy. Pirates do not concern themselves with public opinion, righteousness, or reputation, but the Navy must."
"For that reason, the Secretariat has drafted multiple proclamations regarding this war. This document was selected as the most appropriate one. This is also the final agenda item. We ask everyone to discuss whether this proclamation can serve as our official declaration of war, to be published through newspapers and public media."
As Hina finished her explanation, the Marine commanders all turned their attention to the text.
"Proclamation to the World: The New World Navy's Declaration Against the Whitebeard Pirates, Scourge of the Seas"
Since the Battle of God Valley, where the former Rocks Pirates were scattered and destroyed, the situation in the New World has steadily deteriorated. Order collapsed, pirates ran rampant. First Shiki, then Roger, brought calamity upon the New World seas, wreaking havoc and cruelty. In the past decade alone, twenty-six kingdoms were overthrown, countless civilians lost their homes, their families torn apart, husbands and wives separated, forced to live in unbearable suffering.
We, the Navy, bearing the banner of justice, have fought the pirate scourge of the New World for many years. Today, with Roger executed and Shiki defeated, order in the New World seas has gradually stabilized. Within areas under Navy jurisdiction, the economy flourishes, peace endures, the lives of the people steadily improve, and old wounds slowly begin to heal.
Yet even now, pirate calamities remain within the New World. After Shiki and Roger, the Whitebeard Pirates now dominate as the greatest pirate scourge, styling themselves the leaders of all pirates.
The Governor Admiral of the New World Navy, Benn Ortoren, recognizes their crimes as the foremost source of the New World's present turmoil. As long as they remain unpunished, justice remains sullied, the seas remain unsafe, and the people cannot live in peace.
The duty of the New World Navy is to safeguard peace and stability across these seas, to eradicate pirate calamities, to protect the lives and security of the people, and to promote the prosperity and development of the New World.
Therefore, against the Whitebeard Pirates, the foremost of all pirate scourges, the New World Navy will show absolutely no leniency!
After unanimous deliberation by Governor Admiral Benn Ortoren of the New World Navy, Admiral Sakazuki of Marine Headquarters, and the assembled commanders of the New World Navy, it is hereby declared:
From this day forth, the New World Navy formally declares war on the Whitebeard Pirates!
This battle is fought for justice, for peace, for development, and for the safety of the people!
So long as the Whitebeard Pirates remain, this war shall not end!
Justice shall prevail!!!
...
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