Hearing Akainu's question, the atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became deathly silent.
Shamrock said nothing.
He didn't answer.
But the silence itself was an answer.
Akainu let out a cold laugh, stood up, his chair scraping a harsh sound against the floor.
"I'd rather die on the battlefield than accept this contract."
He turned and walked toward the door.
"Akainu!" Sengoku called out.
Akainu didn't stop.
"The mortality rate in this war will be extremely high," Shamrock spoke coldly, his voice echoing in the meeting room. "With Imu-sama's contract, you can gain an undying body, even eternal youth, just like the Five Elders."
At the words 'eternal youth', many officers' eyes lit up.
After all, those words carried great temptation.
Living for hundreds of years, never aging, never dying, forever in peak condition… how many people dreamed of that?
Ryokugyu's thick lips were practically drooling.
However—
Akainu still didn't take the bait.
He had already reached the door and grasped the handle.
"Eternal youth?" He said without looking back. "Wouldn't that just mean being someone's dog for centuries?"
Back when Four Gay Bros had finished with Imu and returned them to the Marine, the person responsible for receiving them was Akainu… though he hadn't yet earned the codename [Akainu] at that time.
Seeing Imu in that state back then had already disenchanted Akainu with this so-called supreme ruler of the World Government.
What the hell was that?
Wasn't that just a living tool?
To be a dog for someone like that, Akainu felt he might as well die.
Click.
The door opened.
Akainu stepped out.
But just as Akainu was walking away—
"I am willing to accept the contract."
A voice rang out in the meeting room.
Everyone's gaze turned to the source of the voice.
Sengoku.
Amidst the bewildered stares of the officers, the current Fleet Admiral of the Marine stood up.
"To oppose the combined forces of the Revolutionary Army and the Red Hair Pirates, this is a necessary sacrifice," His voice was calm, calm as still water. "As the Fleet Admiral, I will be the first to accept the contract."
At these words, Akainu's pace faltered.
The other officers also looked at their Fleet Admiral in shock.
"Sengoku..." Tsuru sighed, then also stood up. "I agree as well."
The two elder leaders of the Marine had both stated their positions.
"The Revolutionary Army plus the Red Hair Pirates… that's a lineup that won't be easy to handle. If the Marine fails, the consequences are unimaginable."
Seeing the two Marine elders state their positions, many officers also expressed their agreement.
Although the price was becoming Imu's dog, to be honest, wasn't joining the Marine itself just being the World Government's dog?
People just hadn't openly acknowledged that unwritten truth before.
Aokiji looked at his colleagues who were expressing their agreement, his heart full of conflict.
He turned to look at Garp.
"Garp-san, what do you intend to do?"
Garp flicked away some nose dirt.
"I refuse."
What Akainu had said earlier wasn't entirely without merit.
To be honest, Garp secretly hoped that the Revolutionary Army and Red Hair Pirates would win.
That way, his grandson would be saved.
As for what price the Marine would pay if it lost, or how many ordinary soldiers would die...
What did that have to do with him, a [Marine Hero]?
Aokiji was silent for a moment, then turned to Kizaru. "What about you?"
Kizaru scratched his head, looking troubled.
"Even though eternal youth is tempting, I'd still prefer to live out my natural lifespan. I'll pass," Kizaru crossed his legs. "I'm already over fifty. I can retire in a few years. Why risk my life?"
Moreover, Kizaru was very clear about the World Government's ways.
Eternal life sounded tempting, but the price was definitely not small.
Life, aging, sickness, and death… that was the path for his 'Monkey D. Kizaru'.
The atmosphere in the room became awkward once more.
It seemed none of the three Admirals would choose to sign the contract.
Shamrock's expression darkened.
He looked toward Sengoku and signaled with his eyes.
That all three Admirals refused to sign… wasn't that disrespecting Imu-sama?
Sengoku was silent for a long time.
Then, he slowly spoke.
"Anyone willing to sign this contract… after this war ends, will become the new Fleet Admiral of the Marine."
At these words, the meeting room erupted again.
'No way? Going that hard?'
Akainu, who had already walked quite far, hesitated at these words.
He stood in the corridor, his back to the meeting room, motionless.
A few seconds later—
He continued walking, leaving.
He wanted the position of Fleet Admiral, of course.
But recalling the sight of Imu being used as a ventilating duct by Four Gay Bros back then, he still couldn't get over that hurdle in his heart.
Working under that kind of person was already his limit. To become his dog?
Damn, he really would rather die.
Kizaru scratched his temple, this time with even less hesitation.
"I'm not interested in the position of Fleet Admiral." His tone was still lazy. "Such a big job, too tiring. I'm very comfortable with things as they are now."
Aokiji was silent for a long time.
He looked at Garp, then at Kizaru, then in the direction Akainu had left.
Finally, he gritted his teeth.
"I'll sign."
Among the three Admirals, only one was willing to sign the contract.
But that was enough.
Just as the God's Knights were preparing to return to Mary Geoise, Sengoku suddenly called them back.
"Wait a moment."
Shamrock turned and looked at him. "Something else?"
Sengoku stepped forward, his eyes deep. "Since signing the contract necessitates serving Imu-sama, why not bring the Seven Warlords into the fold as well?"
At these words, everyone felt it made sense.
After all, if those Warlord bastards joined the fight, ninety-nine percent of them would just go through the motions.
And if merely going through the motions was the best case, what if they turned traitor mid-battle...
Sengoku felt that rather than relying on those pirates' 'professional ethics', it would be better to use the contract to bind them and force them to fight.
Shamrock and the others frowned and looked over.
Sommers shook his head. "I don't think those Warlords will obediently sign the contract."
A sharp, intelligent gleam flashed behind Sengoku's glasses. "I have a way."
Soon, the Marine also put out a message: summon all the Seven Warlords to Marineford to prepare for the all-out war against the Revolutionary Army and the Red Hair Pirates.
At the same time, the Marine contacted Morgans to drum up publicity for the war.
This would be a great battle that would determine the pattern for centuries to come.
The Marine would use Visual Den Den Mushi to broadcast it live to the entire world, showing their determination.
Morgans, in his news reports, named this war… the Summit War.
Upon seeing the words [Summit War], the Yukinoshita sisters, who were busily preparing for battle, felt a jolt.
Wasn't this the mission the Reincarnation System had given them?
So many years had passed... they had almost forgotten.