Chapter 69: At A Deadlock, Saint Satan Is Unable To Dismount.

"World Government?"

Sengoku couldn't help but frown.

If someone from the World Government suddenly visits, it must be something important.

As Marine Marshal, he wasn't informed in advance, which was unusual. Regardless, proper etiquette was necessary.

"Tsuru, please go to the port to meet them—"

"No need!"

The door suddenly burst open, and a large group of people entered the conference room. Sengoku's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the visitor. Leading the group was none other than St. Jaygarcia Saturn, one of the Five Elders!

To his left and right stood two tall, middle-aged men. One wore a lavender kimono and held a cane sword, with a cross-shaped scar running through both eyes. The other had messy black curly hair, wore sunglasses, smoked a cigarette, and was shirtless, exuding an unruly air.

Behind Saturn was an old man with his hands behind his back and his tongue sticking out. Although short and thin, his head was almost as long as his body. His position indicated that he was of extraordinary status.

At the very back were ten individuals wearing white uniforms and strange masks. They were members of CP0, the intelligence agency directly under the "World Nobles," the Celestial Dragons.

The imposing presence of this group immediately silenced the conference room. Everyone, including the Admirals who had been in heated discussion moments before, cast surprised glances at the newcomers.

Sengoku quickly walked to the door and respectfully said, "Lord Saturn, Marine was in the middle of an important meeting. I wasn't aware of your visit, so please forgive me for not meeting you at the port."

Surrounded by everyone, Saturn walked onto the stage, scanning the room for a moment before speaking slowly, "I'm here to announce three things."

He pointed to the short, thin old man in the white coat beside him. "This is Dr. Vegapunk. I don't need to introduce him, do I?"

Vegapunk, the chief scientist, was rumored to be 500 years ahead of the world in terms of technology. He had made countless technological breakthroughs, including Marine warships. This was the first time Sengoku and many others had seen the real Vegapunk, and they couldn't help but look at him curiously.

"The first thing: Vegapunk is currently working on a new combat weapon. Charlotte Linlin will serve as valuable research material, so we've handed her over to him for study."

Charlotte Linlin was known for her powerful body, which rivaled that of the giants even at the age of five, not to mention her immense qualifications and talents.

Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged glances, then nodded slowly. "We have no objection to this arrangement."

Although it was regrettable that they couldn't execute the Sea Empress in front of the entire world, the name Vegapunk carried enough weight. If he could develop new combat weapons, it would be beneficial for Marine in future battles against pirates.

Saturn seemed satisfied with their reaction and then turned to the two men beside him. "Let me introduce them: this is Issho, codenamed Fujitora, and this is Aramaki, codenamed Green Bull. They are the strong candidates selected from the recent World Conscription. From now on, they will serve as Marine Admirals."

"As for who should remain among the existing Admirals, that decision will be left to you within Marine."

As soon as Saturn finished speaking, the room could no longer remain calm, and everyone cast shocked looks around. Carlos, too, was a bit surprised.

He recognized these two from the original plot of One Piece. After the Summit War, Sengoku had resigned as Marine Marshal, and Aokiji lost a duel with Akainu, leading him to leave Marine. To fill the combat power gap, the World Government launched a World Conscription, and these two passed the various selections to officially become Marine Admirals.

Unexpectedly, the fall of Impel Down had expedited this development. Although their respective performances were mixed, their strength was undoubtedly at Admiral level.

"Looks like things are getting interesting," Carlos thought, glancing at Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru beside him.

Sengoku took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Lord Saturn, this approach seems inappropriate. As the highest combat power of Marine, Admirals must—"

Before he could finish, Saturn cut him off. "As Marine Admirals, they not only need impeccable strength but also serve as the face of Marine. These two have already proven their strength to us. They are more than capable of holding the position of Admiral. There's no need to say more."

Fujitora held his cane sword in both hands, standing silently with his eyes closed. But Green Bull, on the other hand, frequently glanced down with a cocky and arrogant demeanor, making everyone feel uneasy.

Sengoku suppressed his growing dissatisfaction, his face reddening as he raised his voice slightly. "Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru have no obvious faults, and there's no reason to rashly remove them from their Admiral positions. I apologize, but I cannot agree to this order."

Saturn sneered, mercilessly scolding him. "Marshal Sengoku, I'm not here to discuss this with you. I'm here to announce the World Government's decision. Don't you realize how disastrous the recent events have been? Punk Hazard was compromised before we even began. We sent two Admirals and five Vice Admirals, and what was the outcome? Not long ago, Marine assembled 100,000 troops to intercept the Whitebeard Pirates. What happened? We achieved nothing and suffered heavy losses!"

"If Carlos hadn't turned the tide and eliminated the two Sea Emperors this time, the situation would have been irreversible!"

These words left Sengoku speechless. Despite his dissatisfaction, he had no way to refute the argument.

At that moment, Kizaru, who had been sitting with his legs crossed, suddenly uncrossed them. The usual frivolous look on his face vanished, replaced by a serious and solemn expression.

"If we're adding two more Admirals, that leaves one spot. Which one of our three current Admirals do you plan to keep?"

Before Saturn could respond, Green Bull interrupted, "Of course, it should be Akainu Sakazuki."

Garp crossed his arms and sneered, "That's not necessarily the case. In all aspects, how is Akainu better than Aokiji?"

As a Marshal, Sengoku might be concerned about the identity of the Five Elders, but Garp didn't care at all. Over the decades, he had grown accustomed to contradicting the World Government.

Being contradicted in front of so many people, Saturn didn't seem angry at all. In fact, he didn't seem to care.

"Don't worry, just listen to the last thing I have to say." He cast his gaze on Carlos, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. "Sengoku, if I remember correctly, you're over sixty this year, right? It's time for you to start enjoying retirement. The position of Marine Marshal should go to Carlos!"

"The position of Marine Marshal should go to Carlos!??"

The words of the Five Elders were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending shockwaves through the room.

The Marine generals present were stunned.

Whoosh!

They all rose from their seats simultaneously.

Even Sengoku, usually composed and collected, couldn't contain his surprise. He clenched his fists tightly, and with a deliberate tone, he spoke:

"Did I hear you correctly? Are you asking me to step down as Fleet Admiral and hand the position over to Carlos?"

Saint Saturn nodded, his expression unchanged.

"I was very clear. Don't make me repeat myself."

Garp and Tsuru exchanged glances, concern for Sengoku mixed with anger at the actions of the Five Elders evident in their eyes.

The three of them had joined the Marines together, trained side by side, graduated together, and had fought pirates together.

They had devoted nearly 40 to 50 years of their lives to the Marines.

They had personally captured hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pirates.

And now, Sengoku was being dismissed from his position as Fleet Admiral without any prior notice?

What was this?

To the World Government, were they just tools to be used and discarded at will?

It was disheartening.

For Sengoku, it was nothing short of a humiliation!

Saint Saturn remained calm, indifferent to everyone's reactions.

The Marines? They were just the dogs of the World Government.

Of course, he wouldn't say this out loud, especially not in the Marine headquarters. Sengoku had served diligently for many years, and there was no need to embarrass him further.

"Sengoku, since you joined the Marines, you've made countless contributions. The World Government has seen this. But..."

"Times have changed, and you're getting old. It's time to pass the torch to younger, more capable individuals. From now on, you should lay down your burdens and enjoy your retirement."

Sengoku lowered his head slightly, his expression conflicted.

Garp, Tsuru, and several others had instinctively moved to stand beside him. Though they said nothing, their support was clear.

The atmosphere in the conference room became tense and oppressive.

The Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals present dared not breathe, their eyes darting nervously between the two sides.

At that moment, the current Marine Chief Instructor and former Admiral, Zephyr, stepped forward to break the deadlock.

"Even if Sengoku resigns as Fleet Admiral, his successor should be chosen from among the Marine Admirals.

"I don't deny Carlos's strength. But he's still young. He lacks the experience, qualifications, and management skills that can only come with time.

"If he were to be promoted to Admiral, I'd have no objections. But as Fleet Admiral... I'm afraid he's not yet ready for that responsibility."

Zephyr's words were met with nods of agreement from everyone present.

"That's right. The Four Seas, the Grand Line, all the Marine Bases combined—there are over 100,000 Marines to manage. Keeping everything in order is no easy task," said one Vice Admiral.

"Pirates wreak havoc across the world. Maintaining the current order is already a monumental challenge," added another.

"As Fleet Admiral, a single command can determine the fate of thousands. A wrong decision could have catastrophic consequences," said a third.

Vice Admirals like Momonga, Onigumo, and Doberman voiced their concerns.

In their eyes, Carlos was undoubtedly a formidable fighter against pirates, but he was only in his twenties. His lack of life experience and wisdom was a concern.

Instead of burdening him with the responsibilities of managing the entire Marines, it would be better to let him focus on defeating pirates.

Despite their concerns, many looked at Carlos with envy. The position of Fleet Admiral was the pinnacle of a Marine's career, a goal many strove for their entire lives.

But when they considered Carlos's recent achievements, it seemed almost inevitable. After all, he had taken down two Yonko on his first voyage.

"Quiet!"

Sengoku's face darkened as he barked out the order.

The noisy conference room fell silent once more.

He let out a heavy sigh and looked Saint Satan in the eye.

"If the World Government believes I'm no longer fit to serve as Fleet Admiral..."

"Fine, then I'll retire."

"But I have one request—"

"The position of Fleet Admiral must go to Kuzan."

At Sengoku's words, all eyes immediately turned to Aokiji.

Saint Saturn's face darkened visibly.

"Do you think this is a game? Are you joking?"

"Are you Marines planning to defy the orders of the World Government?"

Garp crossed his arms and sneered.

"We Marines know better than you who is most fit to be Fleet Admiral."

"Instead of meddling in our internal affairs, perhaps you should focus more on the real issues."

"Do you know how many people set sail each year to become pirates?"

Garp had lived long enough to understand the source of the problem.

Many chose to become pirates after hearing the declaration made by the Pirate King, Roger, before his execution.

But more often than not, people became pirates because they were oppressed and could no longer afford to eat!

There were too many for the Marines to catch.

He knew that no matter how hard the Marines tried, they could never eliminate all the pirates.

The real source of evil was the World Government!

And it wasn't just him who knew this; many in the Marines realized it too.

But they could only respond with a bitter smile.

There were always exceptions, though.

In a bid to change the world, Garp's son, Dragon, had left the Marines to form the "Revolutionary Army," openly opposing the World Government!

Every time Garp thought about this, he felt a deep, sincere pride.

He glared at Saint Satan, enunciating each word clearly:

"Compared to what the World Government does, at least we Marines have a clear conscience and uphold justice!"

Garp's words hit like a bomb, instantly igniting the conference room.

The Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals, seemingly inspired by Garp, erupted in cheers, their voices almost shaking the entire building.

As the room reverberated with their cries, Saint Saturn's body trembled with anger, his face dark as coal.

He had never expected things to escalate like this!

Garp, this "Marine Hero," had such a strong influence within the Marines!

This man had defied the World Government time and again, and they had no effective way of dealing with him.

Now, in order to protect Sengoku, he dared to challenge them openly!

Saint Saturn clenched his fists, struggling to contain his fury.

Not only Garp, but Zephyr also sided with Sengoku.

Even the Admirals and Vice Admirals—almost all the high-ranking officers in the Marines—had been trained by these men.

Their influence within the Marines was terrifyingly high.

With the support of these two, it seemed unlikely they could remove Sengoku.

If they pushed too hard, the Marines might even break away from the World Government.

The consequences of that would be catastrophic!

Saint Satan cursed inwardly, feeling trapped.

At that moment, Carlos, who had been quietly observing, suddenly stood up.

"Everyone, I have a proposal."

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