"Kwahahahaha…"
"Good for you, Aokiji boy, you've got some fire driving you now!"
Garp burst into laughter from his seat beside Sengoku, genuinely pleased with Kuzan's recent performance. The kid finally didn't look like he was on the verge of dying anymore.
He casually shoveled a handful of rice crackers into his mouth, crunching away as if no one else existed.
Just as Sengoku widened his eyes, ready to scold him, Garp suddenly continued speaking.
"The Warlords of the Sea… I opposed that nonsense from the very beginning!"
"I really don't know what those five old fossils were thinking…"
"That's enough, Garp. Stop rambling nonsense here!"
Seeing him get more and more excited, Vice Admiral Tsuru quickly cut him off. She didn't care if he complained in private, but in this kind of meeting? Absolutely not.
If these words spread to the wrong ears, people would start suspecting that the Marines had opinions about the World Government.
After shooting him a glare, Tsuru flipped through the reports in her hand and raised her head.
"The cause of this incident was Crocodile's attempt to seize Adventurer Nico Robin and his sudden attack. That was what prompted Leno's intervention."
"What we didn't expect was that Crocodile's ambition went as far as plotting to overthrow a kingdom—and he'd been planning it for nearly two years."
"If Adventurer Leno hadn't intervened, I think everyone here can guess what fate awaited the Alabasta Kingdom."
Once she finished summarizing the situation, a lazy but affected voice slowly rose.
Of course—it was the 'actor' Kizaru. He set down his nail clippers, puckered his lips, and spoke in a tone halfway between surprise and boredom.
"Whoa now~~ killing a Warlord just like that… how bold~"
"And I heard the Thunder God made some kind of deal with the World Government not long ago. So… are they going to care about this or not? So hard to guess~~"
Hearing that infuriating tone, Sengoku's mouth twitched. Why did this bastard always speak in a way that made others want to punch him?
But his words did remind Sengoku of something—he still didn't know how to handle the issue of Leno. The man's relationship with the World Government was ambiguous at best.
He'd have to raise the matter while visiting the Holy Land. See what attitude they had, then decide.
"Criminals are criminals. They must be eliminated completely."
Akainu's eyes flared with killing intent. He had never forgotten how the Marineford incident nailed the Marines to the pillar of shame.
If he ever had the chance, he would drag that bastard to hell himself. He definitely would.
Seeing Akainu's body glow red with heat, the 'actor' Kizaru quietly shifted his chair farther away.
"Whoa now~~"
It had taken quite a bit of effort to heal his last injuries. He absolutely did not want to get hit again for no reason.
Every other battle, he got away with nothing worse than dirtying the corner of his coat. But against Leno? He'd been injured—and the worst out of everyone.
He especially didn't want to face Leno now. Not only did he lose in speed, but Leno had some terrifying method that bypassed his Observation Haki entirely.
Kizaru still didn't know what that trick was.
And every time he remembered Leno saying, "Kizaru, your speed is too fast. I must restrict you," he felt nothing but pain.
Who was fast? WHO was fast, damn it?!
Just because I'm fast, you beat ME up? What kind of logic is that?! I still have a scar on my stomach from that fight!
Maybe he was sick. Why else would he instinctively prepare to flee the moment someone said Leno's name?
"Alright. What we are discussing now is the Warlord system. If no one has objections, I will report to the Holy Land accordingly."
After glaring once more at the 'actor,' Sengoku dragged the meeting back on track.
None of these people made his life easy. Being Fleet Admiral was a nightmare.
Speaking of the Warlords reminded him of an old friend.
A man who gave everything for the Marines… yet was eventually forced to leave. A tragedy.
When Weevil was appointed as a Warlord recently, Sengoku protested furiously—but it accomplished nothing.
For a moment, he even considered quitting, just like his old friend, and devoting himself to hunting pirates. But he couldn't bring himself to abandon the Marines.
At the time, he'd even felt a bit relieved. Good thing his old friend left early. If he were still here to hear such news…
Vice Admiral Tsuru noticed Sengoku drifting off, which was rare. She cleared her throat.
"Sengoku, anything else to assign?"
"Hmm? Oh. No. Then today's meeting ends here."
And so, a gathering of the Navy's highest authorities dissolved under an odd atmosphere.
The remaining task fell upon Sengoku—preparing for the trip to the Holy Land.
Meanwhile, somewhere else… someone had already received the news of Crocodile's death through his own channels.
Dressrosa, King's Plateau, Royal Palace.
"Fufufufufu…"
"You stupid crocodile… didn't I tell you? I invited you, but no—you just had to play hero. And look how that turned out for you~"
"But I guess it's a good thing you didn't accept. Otherwise, I might've been dragged down with you."
Doflamingo, draped in his pink feather coat, leaned against the balcony. He set down the secret letter in his hand and looked toward the distant horizon.
That monster really did hold grudges. Doffy had avoided provoking him precisely to avoid payback.
And seeing Crocodile's fate… he couldn't help but admire his own cleverness.
Then he remembered he might have some minor grudge with that monster as well. And if he recalled correctly… wasn't he the one who started it?
He stole something from the man. Surely that didn't mean the guy would come after him, right?
Well, either way—he'd better prepare in advance.
It's just women, after all. He had plenty…