Marineford, Navy Headquarters Building. The Marshal's Office echoed with the sounds of chaos—objects hurled and smashed against walls in rapid succession. Bang! Bang! Bang! Sengoku, his face twisted with frustration, grabbed the desk lamp and hurled it to the ground, shattering it into pieces. He roared, his voice raw with desperation:
"Damn it! How could things turn out like this!"
Beside him, Rosinante—Sengoku's trusted confidant and adopted son—silently activated his Silent-Silent Fruit ability, spreading a soundproofing barrier to contain the noise. Once the room fell quiet and Sengoku slumped heavily into his sofa chair, Rosinante finally spoke, his tone measured:
"Mr. Sengoku, what should we do now? According to the latest reports, Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard—the three Four Emperors—are confirmed to be joining forces to attack Marineford on the day of Ace's execution."
Sengoku sighed, rubbing his forehead as if trying to stave off an impending headache. "The only silver lining here is that Red-Haired Shanks doesn't seem to be joining this war.
Three Four Emperors united... If we're to stand a chance, we'll need to request reinforcements from the World Government and mobilize every elite Marine force we have for an all-out battle."
He hadn't anticipated this. His plan had been simple: use Ace as bait to lure Whitebeard into a trap. But Kaido and Big Mom—those unpredictable wildcards—had thrown themselves into the fray, escalating the situation far beyond his control. Rosinante hesitated, then ventured cautiously:
"Mr. Sengoku, what if we execute Ace ahead of schedule? We could claim he attempted to escape Impel Down and was killed during pursuit."
Sengoku shook his head, his expression grim. "It's no use. Whitebeard's already enraged. Killing Ace early would only make things worse.
Tomorrow's headlines might read: 'Enraged Whitebeard Sinks Red Port with a Single Punch,' or 'Navy Bases in the New World Uprooted One by One.'"
Rosinante paused, then offered another suggestion: "What if we let Ace escape Impel Down? That way, we might avoid the war altogether."
Sengoku's response was immediate and sharp. "Yes, and in doing so, the Marines' reputation would be destroyed. We'd become the laughingstock of the world. Do you think such a Navy could still maintain order across the seas? The number of people turning to piracy would skyrocket, and we'd plunge into an era even more chaotic than the Great Pirate Era Roger unleashed. The World Government would never allow it, and I'd be court-martialed for my incompetence.
No, there's no way out of this. No matter how this unfolds, I'm bound for a military tribunal."
He shook his head with a bitter smile. The announcement of Ace's execution at Marineford had already been broadcast worldwide through Marine channels and the World Economic News for two days. Even if they tried to retract it now, it was far too late.
Rosinante fell silent. After a long pause, Sengoku stood, straightened his collar and glasses, and turned to his subordinate.
"Help me clean up this office. I need to head to Holy Land Mary Geoise immediately to request military support from the Gorosei."
Red Line, Holy Land Mary Geoise. Pangea Castle, Authority Hall.
Sengoku stood before the Gorosei, meticulously detailing the dire situation facing the Marines. As he finished, Topman Warcury Saint—his white mustache bristling—slammed his hand onto the wooden round table with such force that the surface splintered into pieces. His voice thundered through the hall:
"How did you become Fleet Admiral, Sengoku?" Isaac Baron V's voice cut through the air like a whip. "The World Government pours trillions of Berries into the Marines every year to maintain order and stability. And now, you've created this colossal disaster!"
Nasujuro rubbed his temples, his saber dangling loosely at his side. "We weren't thrilled with your plan to use Ace as bait to trap Whitebeard in the first place. But you pushed so hard, we relented. We even issued the Shichibukai summoning order to bolster your forces." His voice turned sharp. "And now? This situation has spiraled out of control. You, as Fleet Admiral, bear full responsibility for this mess."
Marcus Mars Saint stroked his long white beard, his expression dark. "Sengoku, we never expected you to make such an irreversible mistake. It calls your competence into question."
Shepherd Ten Peter sneered, his golden hair gleaming under the light. "Your primary duty is to protect us, the Celestial Dragons—not to suppress pirates. Yet under your command, the Marines can't even fulfill their role as watchdogs. Pathetic."
Sengoku stood rigid, his jaw clenched. The barrage of criticism pressed down on him like a weight. After a long silence, he exhaled sharply, forcing his emotions into submission. His voice came out flat, devoid of feeling. "After this matter concludes, regardless of the outcome, I will resign as Fleet Admiral and face a military tribunal."
He paused, then pressed on. "But right now, the Marines are critically short on mid-to-high-level combatants. I need you to deploy experts from the CP Organization and the God's Knights."
"No." The Gorosei's voices rang out in unison.
Sengoku's fists tightened at his sides, his knuckles whitening. The urge to lash out burned in his chest, but he swallowed it down. Now wasn't the time.
Jaygarcia Saturn Saint struck his staff against the ground twice, the sound echoing sharply. "The safety of Holy Land Mary Geoise is non-negotiable. We can't risk the Four Emperors using Marineford as a diversion while they attack the Holy Land. We must retain enough forces here to respond to any threat. You won't get our experts."
He paused, his tone softening slightly. "But we can offer you mid-level reinforcements. The Marine Science Unit has secretly produced Pacifistas based on the Shichibukai Tyrant Kuma. There are three models: PX-I, PX-II, and PX-III, with two hundred units each. Their strength is sufficient to crush pirates with bounties over 100 million. The PX-III, in particular, boasts exceptional defense and a bubble shield designed to counter Devil Fruit users.
Even seasoned fighters struggle against it."
All six hundred of these units are stationed in Mary Geoise, intended as secret weapons to guard the safety of the Holy Land. However, since you have come to us requesting military support, we cannot just sit idly by. I will give you half of each of these three models, using three hundred Pacifistas to increase the Marines' combat power."
This way, Sengoku, you should have the confidence to win this war, right?" Jaygarcia Saturn Saint gazed at the Fleet Admiral before him with extremely indifferent eyes, yet a hint of boastfulness unconsciously seeped into his tone. A few years ago, due to the Germa Kingdom using combat mechs developed by the Umbrella Corporation, they shone brilliantly during their sweep through the North Blue.
This made the Gorosei see the war potential of robots, so they immediately ordered Vegapunk to secretly develop weapons that could contend with the mechs used by Germa. These were kept secret, intended to guard Mary Geoise. They never expected that the debut of these Pacifistas would be to provide military support for the Marines...
However, this can also serve as an opportunity to test the role of Pacifistas in large-scale warfare. "Whew-! If those Pacifistas really have such strong combat power, then my confidence in winning this battle has indeed increased significantly.
However, the Marines will next face the combined forces of three Four Emperors Pirate Crews, so there is still a deficiency in terms of top-tier combat power..." Hearing this, Issac Baron V. Nasujuro immediately reprimanded in a low voice:
"Sengoku, don't push your luck! Know your place!"
In this situation, to protect the safety of Mary Geoise, besides the Marine which you can deploy freely, every other top-tier combatant is needed to guard the safety of Mary Geoise. I understand! In that case, I will take my leave now, there are still many matters at the Marine that require my attention... Being scolded again so harshly, Sengoku's mood seemed much calmer.
Looking at the five highest authorities of the World Government before him, his heart was filled with indifference and coldness. World Government... Celestial Dragons... Bah! After Sengoku had completely left the hall of power, the Gorosei immediately took out a den den mushi and dialed a number. Why are you suddenly contacting Imu?
Shepherd Ten Peter, who had just been arrogantly scolding Sengoku, immediately spoke in an extremely humble and respectful tone:
Lord Imu, it's like this, regarding the Marine... ... After Shepherd Ten Peter finished recounting the events, the other end of the den den mushi fell into a long silence.
After a long while, the den den mushi finally made a sound again:
If the Marine is defeated, Imu wants to use that... Hearing this, Shepherd Ten Peter's eyes widened, and he said with surprise:
This...? Lord Imu, do you mean... you want to destroy the entire Marineford? Issac Baron V.
Nasujuro pressed his index and middle fingers to his forehead with his right hand and said with a frown:
In this battle, the Marine will gather a force of one hundred thousand soldiers, as well as all their core strength... If Marineford is attacked, the Marine will cease to exist in name only!
Jaygarcia Saturn Saint spoke with a detached tone, in a lofty and indifferent manner, like a god:
Human lives are like ants, no matter how many are eliminated, they will quickly multiply. As long as the basic framework of the World Government remains intact, in just a few decades... No! In just a few years, we can re-establish a new Marine!
Topman Warcury Saint clasped his hands together and nodded, saying:
If the Marine is defeated, its combat power will be greatly reduced, while the Pirates' forces will show explosive growth... If the Marine and the three Four Emperors Pirate Crew are eliminated together, the power of the Marine and the Pirates will be rebalanced, and the Great Pirate Era might even end as a result.
Marcus Mars Saint crossed his arms, turned his head to look towards a certain place in Holy Land Mary Geoise, and said calmly:
Since it is the will of God, mortals only need to accept their fate. ...... Sengoku's figure was slightly stooped, and he walked with a face full of worry along the spacious corridor leading from Pangea Castle to the outside exit. Hey!
"Sengoku, you look half-dead. What's wrong with you?" A familiar voice called out from behind. Sengoku turned to see Kong, his towering frame as solid as an iron tower. He sighed and greeted him.
"Kong."
"Going to war with your old rival Whitebeard putting that much pressure on you?" Kong asked, a teasing edge to his voice.
"No! It's not just the Whitebeard Pirates anymore. The Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates have gotten involved too."
Kong's eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious. "Tell me quickly. What exactly is going on?"
"It's like this..." Sengoku began recounting the events.
When Sengoku finished, Kong rubbed his temples, visibly pained. "In this battle, how confident are you of winning?"
"I don't know."
Kong sighed and clapped Sengoku on the shoulder. "You brat. You're usually so steady in your work. I didn't expect you to cause such a major incident now. Forget it! This time, I'll risk my old bones and fight alongside you."
"Commander-in-Chief Kong, you...! The Gorosei—"
"The Gorosei? Let those old guys go eat shit! At worst, I won't be the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's armed forces anymore. If I have to stand by and watch the subordinates I raised fight to their deaths in a war with such a huge disparity in strength, I absolutely can't do that!"
Sengoku's mouth fell open, and his eyes stung unexpectedly. "But..."
For so long, Sengoku had endured insults and ridicule from the Gorosei, his anger and frustration bottled up with nowhere to go. Now, Kong was extending a hand without hesitation, offering him comfort and support.
"What? You think I'm too old and my fists can't hit anymore?" Kong laughed, swearing under his breath before punching Sengoku lightly in the chest.
Faced with his superior's genuine kindness, Sengoku couldn't refuse. "Thank you, Commander-in-Chief Kong! I'll give it my all to win this war!"
By the time Sengoku returned to the Marshal Office from Holy Land Mary Geoise, Rosinante had already tidied the room, replacing all the broken items with new ones. Sengoku slumped exhaustedly into his chair, closing his eyes as he began to ponder the world-class war looming on the horizon.
With three hundred Pacifista and Kong's support, the Marines' combat power had indeed increased significantly. But... truthfully, he still wasn't confident of victory. Kong's strength was formidable—decades ago, he'd fought "Red the Aloof" Byrnndi World, a pirate as notorious as Roger himself, in a one-on-one battle.
The two had clashed fiercely until both were utterly exhausted, and Kong had been defeated by a single move. Yet Red Count, though victorious, had been too drained to escape the Marines' pursuit. He hadn't gotten far before running into Garp, who'd arrived after hearing the news, and was promptly knocked out with a single punch before being thrown into Impel Down.
Logically, with a powerhouse like Kong joining the fight, Sengoku should feel reassured. But... time spares no one, and Sengoku understood this all too well. He could feel his own strength dwindling day by day. The gap between his younger self and his current self was stark—the former could easily overpower the latter.
Considering Kong was significantly older than him, Sengoku estimated the man might retain only seventy percent of his former strength. A Kong in that state would likely struggle against the likes of Kaido and Whitebeard. The thought weighed heavily on him as he leaned back in his chair, the enormity of the coming war pressing down on his shoulders.
When Sengoku received the three hundred Pacifista units, he couldn't help but feel a pang of helplessness. These war robots, impressive as they looked, crumbled like paper against Armament Haki. A single strike from his Great Buddha Shockwave obliterated one without breaking a sweat.
The Pacifista were effective against run-of-the-mill pirates with bounties over a hundred million, but against masters of Armament Haki? They might as well have been handing them over as scrap metal. Their glaring weakness ruled them out as frontline forces in clashes with such opponents.
Their best use was mid-battle, clearing out the cannon fodder or holding their own against the regular officers of the Four Emperors' crews. Against the Calamity-level officers? Forget it. They'd be dismantled in two or three moves. It was a losing proposition from the start.
Kong's arrival and the Pacifista fleet did bolster the Marines' overall strength, but it wasn't the game-changer Sengoku had hoped for. The Marines still lacked the top-tier combatants needed to tip the scales. Sengoku rubbed his brow, his expression heavy with worry.
"The Gorosei are content to sit back and do nothing," he muttered. "Where else can I find high-end combat power?"
Then it hit him. Sephiroth. The man had a personal vendetta against Kaido. There was a good chance he'd join the war just to settle that score. If he did, the Marines would gain a crucial edge in top-tier combatants, potentially turning the tide of the entire conflict.
But how to persuade him? Sengoku frowned, his mind racing. Then it clicked. Sephiroth's weakness—women.
"In that case, if I can't convince him myself, why not let his woman try?" Sengoku reached for the den den mushi on his desk and dialed a number, a plan already forming in his mind.