Chapter 216

Marine HQ, Marineford

Fleet Admiral Sengoku had a throbbing headache as the most recent news from the New World shook him to his very core. Admiral candidate Aokiji was found close to death after a titanic clash with an unknown assailant.

The entire island had been razed, leaving Kuzan unconscious and the assailant's identity shrouded in mystery. To incapacitate Aokiji, who had been personally trained by Garp, so easily and leave him on the brink of death within hours indicated that the attacker was an absolute powerhouse.

Sengoku doubted whether he could best the current Aokiji in such a short duration. Among the three future pillars, Aokiji is currently the strongest; even Sakazuki pales in comparison. Who could be this monstrous figure that targeted Aokiji, and why? Until Aokiji regained consciousness, these questions would remain unanswered. All Sengoku knew was that a new, formidable player had emerged on the seas, with power capable of shifting the balance.

"How? How did it come to this? Who could have done this to Kuzan?" Sengoku couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with frustration and concern. Only the two admirals and the chief of staff were present, as the matter was too sensitive to be disclosed to the rest of the Marines. Even the Marines, who had found Aokiji close to death, had been given a gag order not to spread the message.

"Could it be Whitebeard?" Admiral Hazard questioned, doubt in his voice. "Only Whitebeard currently has such overwhelming power. I doubt Charlotte Linlin could overpower Kuzan so easily. Even if Kuzan wanted to escape, there's nothing she could do to stop him. Shiki might not have much trouble keeping Aokiji from retreating, but…" He shook his head.

"No, it can't be Shiki, nor can it be Linlin. We already have intel that the Whitebeard Pirates and Big Mom Pirates have crossed into South Blue territory. Shiki surely wouldn't miss the upcoming World Nobles hunt."

Sengoku rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of the chaos. "Tsuru, have you any idea who it was that took down Aokiji and why?" he questioned, looking toward the chief of staff.

Tsuru shook her head, her expression mirroring his concern. "No, Sengoku. We have no solid leads on the identity of the assailant. Whoever it was, they are exceptionally dangerous."

Inwardly, Tsuru was deeply troubled. To do this to Aokiji meant the opponent was indeed formidable. She suspected the attack might be related to the Demons of Ohara. The only logical reason for such aggression could be the pursuit of ancient weapons. She had already relayed this theory to the Elders, but without concrete evidence, it remained speculation.

Sengoku let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "The implications are serious. We must be prepared for the worst. I doubt whoever the assailant was; their target might have been Nico Olivia and her daughter, the only two remnants of Ohara who can revive the ancient weapons. If someone with such power is after the ancient weapons, the balance of the world is at risk."

Tsuru nodded in agreement. "We need to find out more about this assailant. We must gather information from every possible source. Until then, all we can do is strengthen our defenses and be vigilant."

Zephyr couldn't help but sigh. "Easier said than done, Tsuru. Most of our elites have been dispatched to serve the World Nobles' event in South Blue. Even myself and Admiral Hazard will have to depart soon under Fleet Admiral's orders." He added in a sour tone, still feeling resentment for Sengoku blackmailing him into overseeing this so-called hunting event.

"Maybe if Garp-san was here, we could have handled this situation better," Admiral Hazard voiced out, showing admiration for the Marine Hero because of the overwhelming power the man wielded.

"Garp! That bastard," Sengoku growled, his frustration evident.

"Speaking of Garp, I just received intel from the Giant Squadron that Garp's protégé has recruited a new giant to their cause and also stole the giant Marine ship of Vice Admiral John Giant," Tsuru added, her tone calm but her words impactful.

Zephyr couldn't help but smirk as he saw the news bring Sengoku more headaches. He was still feeling resentment for being blackmailed by Sengoku using Vergo's deployment, and he was one of the very few who were opposed to the idea of ambushing Ross back then. They should have handled the matter much more delicately.

Sengoku's headache only worsened. "Ross... That kid has grown too powerful too quickly. If only we hadn't let him go. Now, he's causing chaos that we can't control."

"Ross's actions are troubling, but right now, our immediate priority is not identifying and neutralizing the threat that took down Aokiji or the Donquixote brothers; it's the Sorbet Kingdom, and the Native hunting competition,." Tsuru stated, bringing the focus back to the immediate crisis.

Sengoku nodded, his expression grim. "You're right. We'll deal with Ross in due time. For now, we need to gather all possible intelligence on this new threat." He paused, his gaze shifting to the newspaper he slammed onto the table.

"But first, tell me: is there any substance to the rumors that have been spreading? Have we been able to identify who's behind this surge in information? Practically the entire world knows about the native hunting competition, and it's causing an uproar."

He pointed to the latest edition of the World Times, the paper's headline glaring up at them. The Elders were furious, demanding that Sengoku handle the situation swiftly. But with Garp absent due to their recent clash, the task had fallen squarely on Sengoku's shoulders.

"The reactions from the affiliated kingdoms are severe. The prestige of the Marines is being dragged through the mud. Despite our efforts to declare the entire country as now owned by revolutionaries, not everyone is buying the story. Worse, the other newspapers we control are losing traction as more and more people read this new one. If this continues, we could have a major upheaval on our hands."

Sengoku's hand crumpled the World Economic Times newspaper in frustration. It had always been a tool for managing the narrative and keeping unsavory information in check. But now, even that control was slipping away.

Admiral Hazard couldn't resist a wry smile. "As if that wasn't bad enough, there are rumors about the prizes for the competition spreading like wildfire. Some are so exaggerated that even I'm tempted to snatch the prize myself," he joked, but Sengoku's scowl quickly silenced him. The gravity of the situation was no laughing matter.

With a light cough, Hazard returned to his serious demeanor. The folder in his hands felt heavier as the mood in the room remained tense.

"Zephyr," Sengoku continued, turning to the most vetran admiral, "I'm trusting you on this one. It's all but confirmed that Whitebeard and Big Mom have crossed the Calm Belt into the South Blue. I have no idea what's driving them to traverse such a distance, but I do not want a repeat of God Valley."

The ominous tone in Sengoku's voice hung in the air like a storm cloud. Zephyr's frustration was palpable as he responded, "If you were so worried, you should have convinced the Elders of their folly. What madness is even driving them to conduct the event now? Almost the entirety of Rocks' remnants are gathering!"

Hazard raised his eyebrows, intrigued. He wasn't fully aware of the events that transpired at God Valley, but as someone who had operated during Rocks' era, he knew it was significant enough to warrant such a strong reaction from Sengoku.

"Like it or not, Sengoku," Tsuru interjected, her voice calm but firm, "I feel like our current forces are not enough. We don't know how much support the World Government will actually deploy, and if they make a mistake, the blame will fall entirely on us. We really need Garp."

Her words carried weight, and everyone in the room felt it. Sengoku sighed deeply. The Marine Hero was their best hope, yet he was conspicuously absent during one of the most critical times.

"Sengoku, what Tsuru said makes sense," Zephyr added, his tone measured but resolute. "We might be able to handle Big Mom; we might even be able to handle Shiki, but tell me—if it truly came to a fight, can anyone here stop Whitebeard? You, more than anyone, should know the answer to that."

Zephyr's words struck a chord. Having chased Whitebeard for more than a decade during his time as an admiral, no one in the Marines knew the true terror of the world's strongest man better than Sengoku.

"We'd be hard-pressed just to keep Linlin and Shiki in check," Zephyr continued. "And we can be sure that quite a few pirates will want to dip their fingers into these troubled waters. If Whitebeard joins the fray on top of that… unless we get substantial support from the World Government, I'm afraid the worst might happen. Maybe this is what the World Government truly wants—maybe they want the Marines to fail."

Hazard murmured, more to himself than to anyone in particular, "But it would only put the Celestial Dragons in danger… so why?"

Tsuru's eyes narrowed at Hazard's words. The man was sharp, and though he had posed it as a possibility, he had hit dangerously close to the truth. The Elders' goal was indeed to use a borrowed knife—to let the Marines take the fall while teaching the Celestial Dragons, who had stepped out of line, a lesson once and for all.

Zephyr, sensing the gravity of the situation, clenched his fists. "We're being set up to fail, but we can't let that happen. We need to figure out who's pulling the strings and why. We also need to uncover what exactly the Elders are planning so that we can minimize the backlash."

Tsuru, her voice steady but urgent, added, "Sengoku, set aside your ego for now and give Garp what he wants. He doesn't need to get directly involved with the event in the Sorbet Kingdom, but if he intercepts Whitebeard before he reaches there, our remaining forces should be able to manage the situation. Whitebeard must be contained, and Garp is the only one in the Marines who can accomplish that."

Sengoku sighed deeply, the weight of the decision pressing on him. "That stubborn idiot Garp… I don't think I can convince him with mere words. He'll try to blackmail me and push the agenda he's been advocating for since I took office."

Reluctantly, Sengoku pulled out a folder he had kept hidden, a proposal he had outright rejected when it first crossed his desk. He hadn't shown it to anyone, knowing how controversial it would be.

Tsuru's curiosity was piqued. Even she wasn't aware of what Garp had proposed. As the chief of staff, she was responsible for keeping an eye on all high-ranking officers, including Garp. She took the folder from Sengoku and began to flip through its contents, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise as she read.

"Garp wants to establish a separate unit within the Marines called SWORD," Tsuru began, her voice tinged with disbelief. "A secret special forces unit under his direct command. He's asking for complete autonomy—this SWORD unit would answer only to him. Neither the Fleet Admiral, the World Government, nor even the Elders would have any authority over it."

The room fell into a stunned silence as Tsuru's words sank in. Zephyr and Admiral Hazard exchanged uneasy glances, each understanding the magnitude of what Garp was proposing. If Garp were granted such authority, it would be like unleashing a force no one could control. The idea of a Marine unit completely outside the purview of the Fleet Admiral and the World Government was almost unthinkable. Yet, Garp's audacity knew no bounds.

Tsuru frowned deeply as she continued, her mind racing. "If this were allowed, it would be like giving Garp a free pass to act however he pleases. No one would know what he might end up doing. There's no way the Elders would sign off on this. But… the situation is dire. It seems Garp has grown shrewder in recent years. After the incident at Marineford, he's been leveraging his position as the Marine Hero, acting more independently than ever before."

She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Garp had always been a ferocious predator in the open, a force the World Government could at least predict. But now, he was lurking in the shadows, using his clout in ways that unsettled even Tsuru.

Without Garp's support, the balance of power in the world could crumble, especially with Whitebeard's presence. Tsuru hadn't expected him to play such a bold card. No wonder Sengoku had said it would be nearly impossible to convince Garp to move without giving in to his demands. But she had to try. Maybe, just maybe, if they could make a few concessions, they might be able to appease both Garp and the Elders.

"Sengoku," Tsuru said thoughtfully, "perhaps I should bring this matter to the Elders. They may have forgotten just how crucial Garp is to the Marines. This idea… it might be feasible. If we position it correctly, we could even allow some of the Marines who struggle with authority to follow Garp. Having a unit out of the Elders' direct control might actually be beneficial to us in the long run, don't you think?"

Her words were carefully measured, but her true intentions remained veiled. The creation of SWORD could serve multiple purposes, some of which aligned with her own strategic vision for the Marines.

Admiral Hazard, always quick to adapt to the winds of change, nodded in agreement. "The chief of staff is right. Sometimes we need a team that can handle delicate matters without the restrictions we face. A unit like SWORD could operate where we cannot, dealing with the kinds of threats and situations that are beyond our official reach."

Hazard leaned back, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Maybe if SWORD is formed, I should ask Garp-san if he'd allow me to join the special unit. It sounds like the kind of challenge I've been looking for."

Sengoku looked around the room, weighing his options. The situation was spiraling out of control faster than he had anticipated. Tsuru's plan might be the best chance they had to turn the tide.

With a heavy heart, he nodded. "Very well. Tsuru, you'll take this to the Elders. But make no mistake—this is a gamble. If it backfires, it could shatter the very foundation of the Marines."

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