Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The heavy iron doors swung open, the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the long corridor.
Soldiers passing by wore grave expressions, the intelligence documents in their hands nearly crumpled from their tight grip.
Conference room.
Gathered around the massive round table were the Marine Headquarters' current top combat forces.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku of the Marine Headquarters presided from the head seat, flanked by Marine Hero Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Marine's Chief of Staff.
Further down were the Marine Headquarters' two newly promoted Admirals.
Akainu sat with hands folded, fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, his gloomy face betraying no emotion.
Kizaru had also set aside his usual lazy smile, his expression slightly darkened.
Along with Kuzan and other Vice Admirals of the Marine Headquarters, the air in the conference room felt heavy enough to drip water, unbearably oppressive.
...
"You're all generally aware of the situation."
Sengoku spoke, his voice low: "Celestial Dragon Saint Luo has been killed, the perpetrator is an unknown individual named 'Kari'."
"What's more serious..."
Sengoku's gaze shifted to Kizaru: "He actually dared to wait for you at the crime scene and escaped from your hands, Borsalino!"
At these words, even Akainu furrowed his brow.
Everyone knew Kizaru was the fastest man in the Marine Headquarters, arguably the fastest in the world.
For this man to return empty-handed... just how powerful must that perpetrator be!
Sensing the blame in Sengoku's tone, Kizaru slowly looked up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes beneath his sunglasses.
"I'm certain I destroyed his body, but just as he said... it was an ability to return from death!"
"After launching a fire attack at me, he dove into the sea. In just the brief moment I took to evade, he vanished from my perception range."
"You must have seen the broadcast too, this person like something out of ghost stories..."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, are you expecting me to capture him?"
...
...
"How strong is he?" Akainu asked.
Kizaru shook his head: "Unclear, but I'm certain he's not a Devil Fruit user."
"I saw him swim a distance underwater before disappearing instantly, as if through spatial movement."
Vice Admiral Tsuru, who had been feigning sleep, slightly opened her eyes: "We know the defensive strength around Saint Luo. To breach such defenses requires at least Vice Admiral-level combat power."
"Plus the means to escape from Borsalino's hands... this is truly a major trouble."
"Not necessarily, Tsuru."
Garp directly took the intelligence documents from in front of Sengoku and flipped through them: "The intelligence from above says when that guy was killed, the strongest CP—"
Sengoku promptly covered Garp's mouth—CP0 wasn't something to be discussed publicly!
Even though everyone present were high-ranking Marines, many didn't have clearance for that information.
Pressing Garp down as he stood up, Sengoku took a deep breath: "Anyway... from now on, all forces enter highest alert status. Mobilize all available intelligence networks. We must bring him to justice!"
...
Everyone rose to accept their orders.
In the corridor, Kuzan looked at Garp's indifferent expression. "Mr. Garp, isn't Fleet Admiral Sengoku being a bit too..."
Since participating in the Ohara Buster Call incident, Kuzan—who had grown uncertain about "justice"—had shifted from Burning Justice to Lazy Justice.
He couldn't quite understand why Fleet Admiral Sengoku was making such a grand production of this.
It was just one dead Celestial Dragon. Couldn't this be left to the World Government's intelligence agencies? Wasn't the Navy's duty to protect civilians and fight Pirates?
Garp glanced at him, seeing right through his thoughts.
He chuckled.
"True, one dead Celestial Dragon isn't a big deal—oops, wrong thing to say again!"
He made an exaggerated show of looking around, and the nearby Marines who overheard him hurriedly quickened their pace to distance themselves.
Some things were fine for Garp to say, but those who heard them would suffer.
Garp clasped his hands behind his head and spoke slowly: "One death isn't the issue... but you heard what that guy said, didn't you?"
"He doesn't plan to stop..."
Garp sighed, his tone grave.
"The Navy is the most crucial institution for maintaining balance on the seas. Such a massive organization requires enormous funding to sustain."
"Weapons, fleets, base construction, naval salaries and pensions, imprisonment and execution of criminals... Only the World Government can support these expenses."
"Kuzan, the World Government certainly has many flaws, but it maintains the most fundamental order and peace across the oceans."
"Civilians need the Navy's protection from Pirate raids, and the Navy needs the funding provided by the World Government. This is our interdependent relationship."
Despite his seemingly reckless and scatterbrained appearance, Garp possessed eyes that could see through to the essence of things.
...
The world wasn't simply black and white. Dragon witnessed the despicable aspects of the Celestial Dragons and chose to defect from the Navy to form the Revolutionary Army.
But what Garp saw...
Without the World Government, the world would descend into terrifying chaos.
It would indeed be a world of freedom that the strong would relish, but it would also be hell for civilians and the weak.
His justice was complex. All he could do was maintain the current stability.
...
Garp lowered his gaze and continued: "What are we, the Navy, to the Celestial Dragons?"
"Maintaining peace across the seas is secondary. Our most important duty is protecting them."
"If we can't even accomplish that..."
"You can imagine the economic sanctions the Navy would face from the World Government. A reduced Navy would only encourage Pirates to run rampant."
"That's why that guy Sengoku is so tense."
...
...
"I'm surprised you can say such things. It doesn't quite match your character."
Vice Admiral Tsuru approached, glanced at the contemplative Kuzan, and gently advised: "Are you still troubled by that incident..."
"Kuzan, we all expect you to become the third Admiral. You have the capability for it."
"Find your way out of this confusion soon."
"But..." Kuzan looked at Garp.
"If you want freedom, you shouldn't seek high positions. Didn't you say that, Mr. Garp?"
...
"HAHAHAHA!! You still remember what I said back then!!"
Garp heartily slapped Kuzan's back, roaring with laughter.
"It's different, completely different!"
"This is enough for me, but if you want to determine your own justice, you need to climb higher!"
"Work hard to become an Admiral first, kid Kuzan!!"
The conference room door slowly closed after the last officer departed, leaving Sengoku alone in the empty room.
Buru buru buru...
The Den Den Mushi on the desk began vibrating.
Sengoku picked up the receiver, hearing a cold voice from the other end.
"You understand the severity of this incident..."
"This is the order from the Five Elders."
"Our CP department will share intelligence about this person with you."
"A madman daring to openly challenge the World Government... that bastard must die!"
"At any cost!!"
...
After a moment of silence, Sengoku responded gravely, "First tell me how you plan to handle Colonel Griffin."
In this incident, the Celestial Dragons' guard Barladi had gone missing, while the other guards including Luo were all found as charred remains.
The only survivors were Griffin, who had been ordered to track Ginny, and the Marines under his command.
"Those who fail to protect the Celestial Dragons have no value in existing," the voice remained icy cold.
Sengoku frowned deeply, "He left under Saint Luo's orders! At least dozens of witnesses can prove he wasn't at the scene when it happened!"
...
"Does that matter, Sengoku."
"The Marines are merely hunting dogs for the Celestial Dragons. When the master dies, who cares what the dogs were doing at the time."
...
"I demand that the Marines take temporary custody of Griffin. This is my condition."
Sengoku narrowed his eyes slightly. Rather than refute the rudeness from the other end, he chose to negotiate.
"Rather than venting anger on a few young Marines, isn't catching that bastard the most important thing right now?"
"The Marine organization isn't like your CP department with its complicated internal relationships."
"Smoker treats Griffin like a younger brother. Smoker has good relations with Kuzan, and I don't need to explain Kuzan's relationship with Garp."
"You don't want the Marines distracted, causing the Five Elders' mission to fail, do you?"
...
...
"You make a valid point."
"Sengoku, I trust your loyalty to the Five Elders. If necessary, we can follow your instructions as well."
"Everything for the World Government... Absolute Justice!"