292. Changes

Bonus 5

At the Marine Headquarters in Marineford, inside the meeting room, there was a somber atmosphere. The only sound breaking the silence was the occasional rustle of pages turning.

Atlas, a recent addition to the Marines, might not have sensed it, and even Akainu and Aokiji didn't grasp the gravity of the situation as strongly as Sengoku and the other three.

The title World Destroyer alone is sufficient to convey the frightening power of Byrnndi World.

During that period, the three Admirals were relatively new members of the Marines. They hadn't confronted these notorious pirates frequently, and they weren't the primary force in major confrontations.

However—

"Now that the World Government has decided, circulate these bounties among senior Marine officials. Immediate support will be dispatched once any signs of these individuals are detected," Sengoku said calmly, ultimately establishing the course of action.

He was fully aware that Atlas's words held undeniable truth.

Nevertheless, certain tasks needed attention.

"Next, let's discuss the performance evaluation within the Marine this time," Sengoku stated as his facial expression eased, bringing the meeting to its core.

The tension in the room lessened. Vice Admiral Tsuru and Sengoku exchanged glances and spoke with composure:

"Atlas's accomplishments and prowess warrant a promotion to the rank of Admiral. I suggest we approach the Five Elders to secure the fourth Marine Admiral position."

"Seconded! It's long overdue. Having another Admiral will undoubtedly strike fear into the hearts of pirates," Akainu voiced in a deep tone.

"Ahrara, Brother Atlas is incredibly formidable. He personally took down Whitebeard, and the whole world witnessed it. It'd be unjust if he isn't promoted to Admiral," Aokiji chimed in loudly.

And as for Kizaru?

I suppose he's on board with both hands and feet. With an extra Admiral, his workload might significantly decrease, yet he'd still receive the same salary. That sounds fantastic, doesn't it?

"Bwahahaha! Young Atlas, you better consider it. If you become an Admiral, you'll have to directly handle those troublesome Celestial Dragons."

"Try not to lose your temper and chop up that bunch of garbage!!" Garp cautioned with a smile.

Once you're promoted to Admiral, it means dealing directly with the Celestial Dragons.

When the Celestial Dragons are under attack and request Admiral assistance, the Admirals can't decline.

He declined the promotion to Admiral precisely because he wanted to avoid direct dealings with the troublesome Celestial Dragons.

Nevertheless, Garp, being a revered Marine hero, has an abundance of influence and authority.

"Ah, that does make sense. Well then, I'll do my utmost to spare them from any distress. After all, they're 'noble' world nobles..." Atlas feigned distress, playfully slapping his forehead.

"...You cheeky kid, you're becoming quite amusing, Bwahahaha!" Garp exclaimed, then burst into laughter.

"You two, enough of this!!" Veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead.

Garp and Atlas were the only ones audacious enough to openly criticize Celestial Dragons in the Marine conference room.

Even though he harbors deep resentment toward the Celestial Dragons, he refrains from making public comments.

"Gah——!!!" Witnessing Sengoku's anger, Garp and the other promptly ceased their banter.

"Except for Atlas, the performance of the other Marines has been commendable. We need Marine to internally assess combat achievements, and..." Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled faintly, paused, and then resumed:

"Issho brought back by Atlas is undeniably formidable. An ordinary rank is no longer fitting for him. Not only did he display his strength against Whitebeard in this battle, but he also managed to capture Marco, the captain of Whitebeard's first division, alive.

Considering Atlas's wishes, he should be granted at least a position as Candidate Admiral."

"But... wouldn't a direct promotion from a lower rank to Candidate Admiral go against the established rules? It might stir dissatisfaction within the Marine, right?" Sengoku hesitated.

"Have you forgotten what Whitebeard said before he died? We predict more pirates in the seas after Roger's death than before. The situation calls for adapting to the changing times."

Vice Admiral Tsuru shook her head, her thoughts unusually composed.

She had already envisioned that today, many individuals set sail under the pretext of chasing dreams, abandoning families, and raising flags in the perilous seas.

"Moreover, Issho's prowess is evident to all Marines engaged in the war. In exceptional circumstances, the sole hurdle lies with the Five Elders."

"Hmph, Marine doesn't require those five old fellows meddling in our affairs," Atlas snorted, displaying a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Some matters aren't as straightforward as you might assume. Initially, I anticipated a global conscription to commence after the Summit War," Sengoku sighed softly, "However, given the current circumstances, it would be fortunate if the World Government doesn't decrease our Marine's military budget this year."

Although, at first glance, it seems like Marine achieved a significant victory in this battle, the losses incurred are incalculable. The majority of the Whitebeard Pirates who took part in the conflict were essentially expendable.

Yet, considering he's a veteran of the New World, even if labeled as cannon fodder, his strength differs significantly from ordinary bottom-tier opponents.

Marine couldn't emerge from the battle unscathed.

A substantial portion of the mid-level combat force was lost, mitigated to some extent by Jinbei's intervention at Impel Down Level 6 and Atlas's unique healing ability.

"Let's report it promptly. Just dealing with the escaped criminals from Impel Down Level 6 is distressing enough. Moreover, the surge in pirates in the future is inevitable. The Five Elders cannot overlook this."

"The purported balance has already been silently and delicately established," Vice Admiral Tsuru calmly analyzed the current situation and the mindset of the Five Elders.

As the chief adviser of Marine Headquarters, she consistently excelled over Sengoku in strategy and situation analysis. However, in terms of navigating various conspiracies and intrigues, Sengoku surpassed her.

Their dynamic complemented each other, contributing to Marine's current strength.

"Alright, let's proceed as suggested. Regarding the Roger Pirates..."

"Even though we pledged not to pursue them after Roger surrendered, the condition was that they remain low-profile and don't stir up trouble."

"Now that they've made their choice this time, Marine won't be lenient. We're reinstating the bounty order against the Roger Pirates. Once we have leads, we'll pursue them with full force," Sengoku's eyes gleamed with determination.

He was evidently angered by Rayleigh and the others' actions. Letting them go would have been the greatest compromise to justice.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!!" Atlas's voice rang out, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the room to him.

"Huh? Do you have something to report?" Sengoku tilted his head and directed his gaze at Atlas.

With a bit of free time on his hands, he was curious about what this youngster was up to.

"I want to report that Rayleigh is hiding in the Sabaody Archipelago, Shakky's rip-off Bar! I've seen him."

'Although Marine probably had an inkling of Rayleigh's location, who asked him to slash me?'

'The slash was quite significant.'

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