Meeting

The atmosphere at headquarters is heavy, as it has been for some time now.

Today is special; it's the day the navy personnel who caused this incident are returning.

Many naval personnel received word that the group would be returning soon.

No one will pity them, even though so many officers and soldiers have lost more than two-thirds of their ranks; instead, the blame for the sacrifices of the navy falls on them.

In order to slow down Esdeath's advance, wear down Esdeath stamina, and create an opportunity for their attack, nearly 400 of the 500 marines in the support team that Tsuru and her group brought were lost.

The fact that Esdeath could kill so many people with each sword strike is enough to demonstrate her strength; her physical abilities are also terrifying compared to ordinary people.

No one cares about the thoughts of a group of losers. If they succeed, they'll be greeted with praise, since the incident was all about avenging the Navy's Chief Instructor Zephyr.

Unfortunately, they failed, causing such a huge impact and loss, and all of this must be attributed to them.

The navy's rules also require them to be severely punished.

On the naval warships, the morale was low and it took several days to recover.

Kake and Kuzan are doing alright, Gion's situation is rather bad. She looks rather ugly, with countless scars of all sizes on her body, which will take time to heal. Even Tsuru's Wash-Wash Fruit ability cannot easily remove them, and she cannot be seen by anyone for a while.

Each wound represents a portion of Gion's blood being drawn away; if it weren't for Gion's strong willpower, she would have given up long ago.

Her bodily functions declined, and she lost her strength and vitality, urgently needing replenishment. Gion's skin was extremely dry, making her look as if she had aged decades.

He was so exhausted that he fell into a coma as soon as the battle ended. He later woke up, but it will take him quite a while to fully recover.

Kuzan and his men were rather indifferent to these naval personnel. Their initial intentions were good, but that did not change the fact that they had acted without authorization and violated naval rules.

How ridiculous it is to become a stepping stone for the Night Pirates.

Judging from the actions of the Night Pirates, they knew all along who the Navy was sending and how strong they were. Under these circumstances, their attempt to seize power was doomed to fail.

Placing hope in the Night Pirates ignoring them or exploiting a time difference is incredibly foolish.

In short, it was an absurd operation, and even though Kuzan and Smoker had a good relationship, Kuzan didn't give him a friendly look.

The Navy has its own rules, especially after the establishment of the Inspection Department.

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. This is a good thing for the Navy, and the development over the years has demonstrated the necessity of the Inspection Department.

Now, Smoker and his crew are no longer considered regular members of the Navy; they are criminals who have committed grave errors and are not allowed to move around freely, being confined to a room.

They await their return to Marine Headquarters to await its decision and punishment.

This matter has escalated to such a great extent that a reasonable punishment is necessary, not only for our own people but also for outsiders.

The navy's most basic dignity needs to be maintained.

"How are you? Are you ready?" Hina asked softly, looking at Smoker, whose body was wrapped in bandages.

There was a hint of confusion in their eyes; they didn't know what would happen next, or exactly what. They knew it certainly wouldn't be good.

"I'm just a little unwilling; I'm still too weak." Smoker already knew there would be punishment and was prepared.

As Zephyr's student, given the significant losses they had suffered, the Navy couldn't possibly kill them; he could accept either demotion or something else.

More importantly, being easily defeated by Esdeath and witnessing Esdeath power dealt a significant blow to their confidence. Smoker was extremely unwilling to accept this and hoped to become stronger.

Ultimately, it all comes down to them being too weak. If they had been stronger, they could have defeated Esdeath much sooner, and there wouldn't have been so many sacrifices.

They are alive now not because they defeated Esdeath, but because of the mercy shown to them by the Night Pirates.

"Ah! It's good that he hasn't lost his fighting spirit." Seeing Smoker like this, Hina breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to see Smoker become discouraged.

"Clang!"

The door opened.

"Come out, we've arrived at headquarters," a marine said to Smoker and the others inside the room.

Taking a deep breath, they stepped out of the room and immediately saw the familiar port.

There were also many marines standing on the port.

They could feel the doubt and anger in those eyes, and it made them feel terrible, but it was their mistake.

The Navy today is more cohesive than ever before, which also means they have a stronger sense of collective honor. Smoker and his crew, who threaten the Navy's reputation, will not be let off easily.

Someone always has to take responsibility; understanding their actions doesn't mean condoning them.

It wasn't really hatred, but rather an expression of inner dissatisfaction.

"You will remain in the quiet room and await the decision of headquarters."

Upon their return, Kuzan and the others were to attend a meeting, Gion did not. She wore a cloak to cover her body and returned to her residence.

On their way back, a headquarters meeting had already begun, where heated discussions took place.

Regarding the navy's handling of these cases, some believe they should be severely punished, while others hope for lenient treatment.

Some people didn't care and watched the heated discussion among other high-ranking naval officers.

The representatives of this group are the hawks and doves within the Navy, while the neutral parties, such as Novoya and Borsalino, are watching from the sidelines.

But no one had the idea of dismissing Smoker and his team from the military. Although it was a bit rash, it was all for Zephyr's sake. The way things turned out was something that could not have been predicted beforehand.

It's forgivable for young people to make mistakes, but now that things have escalated, the judgment and punishment will be more reasonable. That's what they need to discuss.

Novoya leaned back in his chair, enjoying a massage from the beautiful naval assistant beside him. The others didn't seem to care about Novoya's behavior, or perhaps they were already used to it.

The issue is about conduct, not illegality. Moreover, Novoya is very capable and resourceful. The G8 Branch has developed the fastest and ranks among the top in strength among all Marine Branch.

Novoya's potential influence is also increasing.

Many people, however, focused their attention on Sakazuki and Sengoku, as these two were the ultimate decision-makers.

Sakazuki controls the Inspection Department, which essentially represents the Navy's judicial branch, while Sengoku is the Fleet Admiral, wielding supreme power.

With his arms crossed and a serious expression, it was difficult for others to discern what Sakazuki was truly thinking.

"Remove from your current position and demote to corporal. In addition, you will be placed in solitary confinement for three months and will not be allowed to leave headquarters for the next three years. Reflect on your actions."

"Um?"

Sakazuki's words were surprising; the punishment, while seemingly severe, was actually not that bad.

Given their abilities, they could easily be promoted back to their former positions after being demoted. A three-month confinement is necessary to give them time to reflect.

The three-year restriction on leaving headquarters is for their own good, to avoid public scrutiny, and also for their own benefit, allowing them to use this time to hone their skills and improve their abilities.

The defeat and the reflections during their confinement were enough to make them realize the need for rigorous training to improve their strength.

"I second that!" Sengoku nodded, agreeing with Sakazuki's punishment of Smoker and the other naval officers.

He also had his own ideas, but overall, the meaning was similar to Sakazuki's.

"Let's talk about the Night Pirates next." Sengoku tapped the table lightly twice, and that was the end of it. The punishment for Smoker and the others was ultimately a minor matter and not that important.

In comparison, the Night Pirates are the most important.

Kuzan and his team arrived just as Sakazuki was making his punishment decision.

"Get into position," most of the navy personnel seemed quite serious upon hearing this.

"The Night Pirates have been peaceful for several years. Now, they are taking this opportunity to demonstrate their power and intimidate pirates and various forces in the New World and even the world."

Many people could deduce the Night Pirates' objective.

At this point, Sengoku couldn't help but grit his teeth, after all, this was a direct attack on the navy.

Perhaps the Night Pirates were looking for an opportunity, or even had a target in mind, planning to make their move a few years later. Unfortunately for them, the Navy intervened at the opportune moment, giving the Night Pirates a reason to act.

After all, more than a year ago, when the Demon Pirates were destroyed and the Night Pirates occupied the Demon Pirates' territory, they had already sent out "Emperor Crocodile" Slada, demonstrating their formidable strength.

"Kuzan, what do you think?"

Sengoku turned to look at Kuzan.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Kuzan a little surprised, scratching his head. "Very powerful!"

This answer clearly did not satisfy Sengoku; everyone knew that the Night Pirates very powerful.

Under Sengoku's piercing gaze, Kuzan didn't know what to say. He was preoccupied with Enel and didn't pay much attention to the overall situation. Apart from Enel's immense strength, he couldn't come up with any other words.

Turning his head, he saw Borsalino, who had returned ahead of schedule after confirming their safety.

"Borsalino, didn't you confront the Dark Emperor head-on? Tell me about it."

These words immediately drew everyone's attention to Borsalino hadn't expected Kuzan to push him forward.

Since they were waiting for Kuzan others to return for a meeting, Sengoku didn't ask Borsalino's opinion beforehand.

Putting down the nail clippers, Borsalino thought carefully, Teach's figure seemed to reappear before him.

"How should I put it? He's unfathomable. Compared to many years ago, the Dark Emperor's strength is even more terrifying. I feel a lot of pressure facing him. If I were to fight Kaido, Big Mom, or Whitebeard, it would be fine, but facing the Dark Emperor, my life might be in danger."

Borsalino considered his words, his own strength, his own speed. Perhaps he couldn't defeat his opponent, but he could guarantee his own safety.

He didn't have that much confidence in Teach.

The sense of crisis was so intense that he dared not make a move during the standoff.

These words silenced the entire conference room. Everyone was shocked. Although Borsalino appeared carefree, his strength was unquestionable; he was extremely powerful and currently the Navy's top combat force.

He is currently the world's top fighter, possessing the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, and he will not panic when facing any enemy.

Now, he's actually saying that he'll be in mortal danger if he encounters the Dark Emperor.

"In other words, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Dark Emperor is currently the World's Strongest. Whitebeard is aging, but the Dark Emperor is still rising in power. The title of the World's Strongest has changed hands."

At this moment, Novoya was connected via video link, couldn't help but laugh and glanced at Vice Admiral Garp, who was also in the conference room.

"Admiral Kizaru, who do you think is stronger Mr. Garp or the Dark Emperor?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Novoya shook his head, denying his own words.

"Sorry, I misspoke. Mr. Garp shouldn't pose a threat to you, making it difficult to compare the two."

The reason for comparing him to Garp is that Garp is the strongest member of the Navy, and although he is now a veteran, that fact remains unchanged.

Based on past performance, everyone agrees with this conclusion.

A battle isn't about comparing strength, so it's difficult to make an accurate comparison. In the case of Garp versus Borsalino, it's very likely that the fight will end in a draw.

As Novoya said, Garp is no match for Borsalino; his speed and explosiveness offer no advantage against Borsalino.

Because Borsalino is too fast.

But this was somewhat unsettling, especially for the Navy members who idolized Garp, even though they knew that what Novoya said was true.

Borsalino was a little embarrassed, but secretly pleased; this was Novoya's recognition of his speed.

The claim that the Dark Emperor World's Strongest has put considerable pressure on them, as no one knows just how strong the Dark Emperor is now.

After all, there was a significant difference in strength between the Dark Emperor during the Kendo Tournament and the Dark Emperor during his battle with Whitebeard.

Now, it has been about four years since the battle with Whitebeard, roughly the same time difference as before.

Frankly speaking, compared to Whitebeard, who had already reached his peak, Dark Lord, who was still getting stronger, was the most terrifying, and unlike Whitebeard, he didn't have any obvious weaknesses.

"It's hard to judge, but I feel that the Dark Emperor, with his powerful abilities and numerous methods, might be even stronger." Based on his intuition, Borsalino still came to a conclusion.

Garp has always gotten by this way, relying on his physical skills and iron fists.

Compared to the Dark Emperor, he appears to be weaker on the surface.

Even relying solely on the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, the Dark Emperor's strength is terrifying.

The Star of Ruin, an invincible move with both wide range and destructive power, is the nightmare of countless people. Whitebeard had to hide in a spatial interlayer to avoid it.

No one believed Garp could withstand that attack; the only option was to dodge it. But in a real fight, dodging wouldn't be so easy.

Now, even the Navy doesn't dare to easily provoke the Night Pirates; the Dark Emperor's intimidation power is even more terrifying than that of Golden Lion Shiki.

Shiki's islands can be defended by strong individuals.

A Star of Ruin is unavoidable, which is why many powerful forces dare not offend the Night Pirates.

This is one of the reasons why the Night Pirates have developed so smoothly over the years.

Could Garp survive this attack? Even if he did, how much fighting power would he have left?

The Dark Emperor World's Strongest; with Whitebeard's aging, this is already a fact.

Four years ago, Whitebeard was in his prime, with a head of beautiful blond hair.

In just a few years, the Whitebeard turned into a bald head.

"Forget it, let's not worry about that for now." Sengoku shook his head, feeling a headache coming on. The Navy was simply not ready to become active again in the New World, let alone deal with the Night Pirates.

"What did you mainly talk about with the Dark Lord, Borsalino?"

"Well, the Dark Emperor has a very clear understanding of the Navy's situation." Borsalino thought to himself, repeating Teach's explanation of the Navy's situation.

"That's all." Borsalino glanced briefly across the entire conference room.

"The Night Pirates are very knowledgeable about the Navy, and there are likely spies within their Night Pirates. Their strong intelligence analysis capabilities cannot be ruled out, given that the Navy's internal reforms are difficult to conceal."

The meeting lasted for three hours before finally ending, and the high-ranking naval officers dispersed one by one.

Only Sengoku, Garp, and the Three Admirals remained—these six were truly the top figures in the Navy.

"Borsalino, you must have something else to say, but you're hesitant to speak because there are too many people around." Sengoku possessed keen observation skills and even the wisdom to guess people's inner thoughts.

Therefore, noticing the potential underhanded tactics at the previous Borsalino meeting, they called upon these top naval officials again.

"Yes, the Dark Emperor also said these things..." Borsalino completely repeated Teach's words to the World Government and the Navy.

"That's right. It's detrimental to the World Government and will trigger a break between the World Government and the Navy, but it's very beneficial to the Navy in the long run. Without the suppression of the World Government, they don't have to worry about the Celestial Dragons or the Revolutionary Army. They can directly obtain military funding from the Affiliated Nation, which is like a different kind of Heavenly Gold. These Affiliated Nation themselves also rely on the Navy's protection."

"But what is the Dark Emperor's purpose?"

After Borsalino finished speaking, there was a moment of silence.

Garp was somewhat tempted.

A light shone in the crane's eyes.

The Sengoku was in deep thought.

Kuzan's eyes widened in surprise.

Sakazuki clenched his fists, itching to strike.

"A military government, what an interesting proposal! It would allow the Navy to directly strip the World Government of its ruling foundation, and with a high success rate."

Tsuru did not hide her thoughts; she could see how promising the plan was and how beneficial it would be to the Navy, essentially replacing the World Government.

Those present were all key figures in the Navy and were trustworthy.

Gaining the crane's approval demonstrates the feasibility of the plan.

On the surface, they all seem to support the plan.

As for Dark Emperor Teach's scheme? They didn't care. It was an open conspiracy, a scheme aimed at the World Government, trying to make the Navy hostile to the World Government. It was easy to see.

My gaze fell upon Sengoku; he was the Fleet Admiral.

After a long while, Sengoku raised his head and glanced at everyone present.

"This matter must absolutely not be revealed to anyone else."

Upon hearing Sengoku's words, Sakazuki's lips curled into a smile. Sengoku's subtext was clear: if they didn't act now, they would do it later.

The current navy still needs to rely on the power of the World Government.

With the World Government losing its legitimacy over the World Government, people no longer revere it. Moreover, several of the World Government's decisions have dealt unimaginable blows to the Navy.

Times are changing!