"Those bastards came just to show off?", In the command room, Garp had already started cursing the moment he stepped in.
The battle just now had really been frustrating.
They had taken no small number of losses, but the enemy came, struck once, and left. They truly had no way to deal with it.
"There are many meanings, to make us doubt ourselves, to show their strength, to remind us to watch our step, and also to kill Tokikake." Tsuru sighed.
"Hah?" , Picking his nose, Garp sneered, "Tsuru, you're overthinking it. The first few, fine, but Tokikake was so far gone, was he even worth killing?"
Kuzan leaned against the wall nearby. Though he didn't speak, his expression already said it: he agreed with Garp.
He figured the enemy surely had deeper reasons for coming, but if it was just to kill Tokikake, that was way too overblown.
"You two, still don't like to use your brains," Tsuru shook her head, her gaze shifting to the door, where Sengoku had just entered with a dark, stormy face.
"How's the situation with calming those people?", Tsuru asked.
"Not good. You shouldn't show yourself in front of them for a while. I'm worried someone might stir them up into making trouble," Sengoku's face was black.
If he could go back, he definitely wouldn't have brought along those East Blue Marines.
What kind of people were they?
Their superior died in battle, and they blame their teammates for failing to protect?
The key was, they had already done their best.
Just because the enemy brought fewer people, did that mean victory was guaranteed?
On the seas, there's no such logic.
"I'll just stay on the flagship for now. So, it really is a sowing-dissent ploy, huh…", Tsuru rubbed her forehead. Seeing that Garp and Kuzan still didn't quite get it, she explained in detail, "Right now our ship has two factions. One is the elite we brought from headquarters. The other is a large group of East Blue Marines. Many came because of us, but many also followed Tokikake and the others."
"Some followed for justice, but many for wealth, power, or prospects."
"Tokikake, whatever else, was the East Blue faction's leader. And he had always been helping us ease tensions between the two sides. Now that he's dead, the East Blue group is bound to start thinking other thoughts."
Hearing this, Kuzan frowned tightly.
"With that bunch's strength, they're not fit for any real responsibilities."
Tsuru didn't address that point, but brought up something new, "Not long ago, the Marine released the news: after I left, Sora temporarily took the position of Chief of Staff."
"Sora?", Kuzan thought for a while before remembering the woman they'd met at Fishman Island.
"She's with Rosse, right? From when I saw her, she seemed like management talent?"
In other words, he saw no combat power in her.
"Yes, she's got no strength, but her other skills are outstanding. According to the info I've received, she's now head of the World Government's Science Division, taking Vegapunk's place. As Chief of Staff, it should just be a concurrent post."
"Even if she's a scientist, with her strength she can't manage the Marine. After we left, any random stray dog can hold high office?", Garp snorted.
"Exactly. Everyone thinks she got her post by connections. She hardly even bothers with the Marine, just holds the title. Not only do we know this, the East Blue faction on board knows it too," Tsuru spread her hands.
She didn't know whether Rosse did it deliberately to target them, or simply needed someone to keep the Marine's seat filled.
But as it happened, it trapped them in an awkward spot.
"So you're saying those bastards dare demand posts from us? We brought them to the New World for justice, not to hand out high ranks to weaklings!"
Garp's eyes bulged. He clenched his fists and stood, ready to go pick a fight with those East Blue Marines.
'Damn it!'
If he remembered right, before those men joined, they all praised him endlessly.
They swore they wanted to become men like him, that he was the pride of East Blue.
When they joined, he had vouched for them himself, believing they had potential.
And now, now he was being told they joined the NEO for power struggles?
"Stop!", Sengoku lifted his head, a single word halting Garp.
Of all present, only he, with his old friendship, could call Garp back.
"If you go now, you'll only intensify the conflict and deepen the divide between us."
"Then we should just throw them out! Those bastards didn't come for justice at all," Garp turned, glaring at Sengoku, clearly unhappy.
If the ranks had worms inside and they still hesitated, how could justice be enforced?
"Throwing them out is simple. But what wrong have they done?", Sengoku's voice was calm, "Don't forget the World Government is still watching us. If we discard them now, no one will ever dare join us again. Protecting the weak is also part of our creed, we can't abandon them just for lack of strength. That wouldn't be our vision of justice."
Put plainly, if they wanted to hold up the banner of justice, they couldn't carry any stains.
The Holy Land incident had already made their former Marine colleagues deeply resent the NEO.
If word now spread that they cast aside the East Blue Marines, whatever the reason, once Rosse fanned the story, their reputation would be utterly ruined.
"Then what do you suggest? Can't throw them out, can't control them, you won't seriously give them an Admiral post, right?", Garp grumbled.
The NEO Marine's structure mirrored the World Government's Marine.
One Fleet Admiral, three Admirals, followed by Vice Admirals and so on.
But because of their shortage of men, most positions were vacant.
At present only Sengoku served as Fleet Admiral, with Garp and Kuzan as Admirals, and Tsuru still a Vice Admiral doubling as Chief of Staff.
"Among the East Blue faction, is there anyone outstanding?", Kuzan suddenly asked.
He had basically caught on.
The NEO was beset by internal and external troubles.
The East Blue faction wasn't strong, but thanks to Tokikake's pull, their numbers were the overwhelming majority.
Abandoning them wasn't possible, so the only choice was to find a representative among them, to split and redirect.
Otherwise, once their morale collapsed, they might very well lean toward Rosse.
Kuzan suspected that Gion and the others' attack was partly about this too.
The more the Marine was wracked by internal and external troubles, the more restless those men grew, the easier they were to be swayed by Rosse's people, and the more likely they'd betray.
Tsuru and Sengoku instantly understood Kuzan's thinking. It was also what they had considered.
Since they couldn't discard the East Blue faction, then they had to win them over temporarily. Train the useful ones, and slowly weed out the useless.
"There is one. Name's Vergo," Tsuru spoke slowly, "Originally from North Blue, assigned to East Blue last year as Tokikake's adjutant. His strength and talent aren't weak. He has potential to one day reach my level."
"Then it's him. Give him a Vice Admiral's seat. Kuzan, he's young, when you have time, talk with him, maybe teach him a few things."
Sengoku made the decision on the spot, handing Kuzan a task that was half observation, half mentorship.
The NEO Marine was in deep crisis, this was the only way forward.
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