"Bang!"
In the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford, Sengoku slammed his hands down on the table.
"What are we still waiting for? Are we waiting for them to finish fighting and divide up the territory peacefully?"
Fleet Admiral Kong Gangkotsu sat in his chair, silent, taking a deep drag from his cigar before slowly exhaling.
"Now is the best time, and it's the last chance! While those pirates are fighting each other to a standstill, the Marine must at least gain sufficient influence in the New World!"
Sengoku was still spouting, "Even taking this opportunity to capture one or two of those pirates would effectively curb this Great Pirate Era!!!"
"Since Roger's death, the pirate growth rate has increased by 570% in just two or three years, and this number is still growing! How can the Marine continue to do nothing?"
A puff of smoke, like a sigh, escaped Kong Gangkotsu's mouth. He didn't answer Sengoku's question, but instead asked,
"Sengoku, I remember your justice is…"
"Justice that rules the world! The sea needs a more perfect order. The threat from those pirates is growing, and we must take appropriate measures! Right now is…"
"Sengoku!!"
Kong Gangkotsu's voice grew louder. He finally looked up into Sengoku's eyes, which burned with a firm, unwavering flame.
His voice softened: "Sengoku! The World Government is already preparing to leave the New World for those pirates to control."
"Nani?" As if he had heard something incredible, Sengoku's eyes behind his sunglasses widened to their fullest.
"The future main force of the Marine will primarily focus on maintaining order in the Four Seas. The New World…" Kong Gangkotsu closed his eyes: "The New World will be used by those pirates as a natural defense line for reaching the Final Island, ONE PIECE."
"What a joke! Are we just going to let those scums of the sea run wild?"
Sengoku's eye twitched. As one of the rare Haoshoku users in the Marine, he had enough ambition.
Justice that rules the world wasn't just talk, so at this moment, hearing that the World Government was actually going to back down on such a matter, he couldn't accept it at all.
"Sengoku!!!" Kong Gangkotsu sharply stopped him again, extinguishing the cigar in his mouth, and spoke earnestly: "I am about to be promoted."
"So? Are you going to start seeking stability?"
At this time, Sengoku, compared to him twenty years later, had much more sharpness and drive. Even with the reputation of a strategist, his mind was still more focused on striking down pirates.
Black and white, only by sending more criminals to Impel Down would the sea be more peaceful.
"Ah… Indeed, what I am seeking now is stability." Unexpectedly, Kong Gangkotsu did not deny Sengoku's words, but instead nodded in agreement.
He lit another cigar: "The purpose of the Marine's existence is to uphold justice, not to strike down pirates. Compared to the harsh environment of the New World, the vast Four Seas have more people who need our help."
"So, we're giving up on the New World?"
"Well, listen to me first." Kong Gangkotsu's expression was calm, and the room was already filled with smoke.
"The most direct problem is manpower! You know the situation of the Marine. Who would you take with you to gain the upper hand against those monsters?"
"Taking the Marine's entire force to fight those pirates is not a small skirmish; it will be a war. Even if we miraculously defeat them, will the remaining people truly be enough to protect the sea?"
"It would just be a matter of time before new villains rise to take their place."
Sengoku fell silent. He wasn't completely unaware, but such an opportunity, though risky, also offered immense rewards.
If successful, the sea would at least enjoy peace for a decade, no, even several decades.
The impact of eliminating the legends among these pirates would not only boost Marine morale but also serve as an effective deterrent for those who ventured out to sea as brigands.
"Kishishishi!!!" Sengoku punched Kong Gangkotsu's desk, leaving a deep indentation.
"In any case, this is already a foregone conclusion. Stop acting like a child!" Frowning, Kong Gangkotsu pretended to lower his head and review documents, clearly signaling his desire for Sengoku to leave.
Sengoku was silent for a moment, saying nothing more. But as he turned to leave, Kong Gangkotsu's words, seemingly with a sigh, came from behind him.
"How can I… rest assured to entrust the Marine to you like this?"
His hand on the doorknob paused, but Sengoku ultimately said nothing, opened the door, and walked out with heavy steps.
Kong Gangkotsu was left alone in the office, extinguishing the half-smoked cigar in his mouth once more.
Even the most unreasonable order is still order, and no matter how reasonable the excuse, chaos is ultimately chaos. The most important thing is balance. Only by understanding this can one become a qualified Fleet Admiral.
Walking to the window behind him, Kong Gangkotsu's expression also carried a hint of solemnity. He murmured to himself, "Sengoku! You don't have much time left. Hurry and make your resolve!"
…After ten days and ten nights, the commotion on the island finally subsided a little.
Morgans, emboldened, flew towards it, attempting to get firsthand information.
But the closer he got, the more his feathers bristled. The sea was littered with the mangled corpses of various fish, staining the ocean red. They had all been killed by the aftermath of the battle.
On the island, it was even more astonishing. The several mountain peaks that had once stood there were gone, and the entire island had been reduced to ruins.
It was as if the entire island had been plowed, with hardly any large rocks to be found. Hot liquid seemed to still flow in the cracks of the stones.
Morgans felt his mouth dry, wanting to swallow saliva to relieve the dryness in his throat, but his mouth couldn't produce a single drop of spit.
The ground was still shaking, proving that the battle in the distance was still ongoing.
The commotion was much smaller than before, but Morgans was still hesitant to move forward.
He wasn't skilled in combat, and if he were accidentally hit by these monsters, he wasn't even sure if his death would make it to the front page of the newspaper.
But the deep-seated curiosity within him urged him to continue. Gritting his teeth, he cautiously pressed on, exploring.
Suddenly, he saw an incredible sight. What was that ahead, crushed beneath the ruins???
Kaido of the Beasts!!!
Had Kaido, reputed as the strongest creature on land, sea, and air, also fallen?
He was clearly still breathing, and the dense network of wounds on his body was healing at a visible rate, but it was clear he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.
Morgans raised his camera and snapped a flurry of photos, then continued to explore.
Even bigger news awaited him ahead. If his predictions were correct, if even Kaido had been eliminated, then the battle must have reached its final stage.
Ahead, it should be a free-for-all between two? Or perhaps three people?
After feeling the ground tremors cease, Morgans looked up at the sky, which was still flashing with lightning and rumbling with thunder, and decided he had to fly up and see.
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