The Summit Opens

Plop.

Kizaru landed beside Akainu and cast a sidelong glance at him. "Such a high-profile return. Doesn't really seem like your style."

"Hmph. Fleet Admiral Sengoku must have had you do that, too, didn't he?"

"Ah, yeah. What a drag. I was actually planning on taking a warship in with that kid Sentomaru," Kizaru grumbled.

Akainu's tone remained indifferent. "But it was effective, wasn't it? Look at how everyone's morale has been stirred up. We are Admirals; we should be the ones stepping up to set the example."

"That's you, Sakazuki," Kizaru shrugged, pulling an orange from somewhere. "I'm afraid I can't hold a candle to your loyalty to the Navy!"

"We are soldiers!" Akainu's tone was cold and rigid. He despised Borsalino's lazy, lackadaisical attitude more than anything.

If this guy and Kuzan could just be a bit more proactive, they could easily push the Navy's influence further into the New World and wipe out far more pirates!

Instead, they remained stuck at the gates of the New World, only able to dispatch small, scattered forces, leaving them unable to protect most regions.

"Look at you, getting all worked up again," Kizaru said unhurriedly, splitting the orange in his hand and offering half. "Want some?"

"No!" Akainu snorted and quickened his pace toward the Fleet Admiral's office.

He still had to get to the bottom of why he had been urgently recalled yesterday, only to be told later that it was no longer necessary.

What had happened at Marine Headquarters?

Seeing this, Kizaru had no choice but to follow.

Before long, the two learned of Zhu Mang's existence from Sengoku, and their expressions turned rather colorful.

"This is a true monster. Absolutely terrifying," Kizaru remarked.

Akainu looked toward Aokiji. Aside from Tsuru, he was the only one present who had truly experienced that man's power firsthand.

While Tsuru was highly respected, she was slightly lacking in raw combat strength.

By comparison, he trusted Aokiji's judgment more.

Although they held opposing political views, he fully acknowledged the man's strength.

Aokiji commented, "If his strength is as terrifying as his presence, killing me probably wouldn't be any harder than us dealing with an ordinary pirate."

Akainu and Kizaru's expressions grew increasingly heavy.

That statement said it all.

When they killed an ordinary pirate, it was a one-shot affair.

Therefore, if they were to be killed by this "Gebinz," it would also be a one-shot affair!

"What about his origins?" Akainu asked in a low voice.

"No trace to be found," Sengoku replied. "Commander-in-Chief Kong has already dispatched all intelligence departments to analyze and track Doflamingo's movements. Perhaps we'll have results in a while."

"How does the Fleet Admiral intend to handle him? He couldn't possibly join the Navy, could he?" Akainu asked.

"Is Sakazuki worried that if he joins, he'll steal your seat?" Kizaru teased.

Because Sengoku was already seventy-seven, he didn't have many years left before retirement.

Even though nothing had been explicitly stated, ripples were already forming within the Navy.

The fact that Akainu intended to succeed him as Fleet Admiral was hardly a secret.

"Hmph!" Akainu glared at him and scoffed. "If he really joined the Navy, what would it matter if I gave him my seat? But you know what's above us. If he saw those things, could he accept it?"

Sengoku and the others fell silent.

Those present were the Fleet Admiral, the Chief Staff Officer, and the Admirals; they were arguably the people in the Navy most aware of the filth surrounding the Celestial Dragons.

Yet, for the sake of the Navy's budget and maintaining basic stability across the seas, what could they do?

"He doesn't look like the type who'd want to join the Navy to me," Kizaru said after scanning the documents on the table at light speed, then flopping onto the sofa. "Just look at his spending habits. With the pittance the Navy pays, how could he possibly be interested?"

"What, complaining about the low pay? Looking for a raise?"

"Heh heh, if I could get a raise, that'd be great, of course," Kizaru chuckled.

"Borsalino!" Akainu roared. "Drop that lazy act! You are an Admiral; set an example for the entire military!"

"Yes, yes, Admiral Akainu, Admiral Sakazuki~~"

Akainu's face darkened like a raging volcano on the verge of eruption.

"Enough, both of you!" Sengoku used his authority as Fleet Admiral to suppress the tension between them. He naturally admired the hyper-disciplined Sakazuki—that was how a soldier ought to be.

But every powerhouse had their own personality.

Borsalino and Kuzan were just like that; if Sakazuki interfered too much, it would only be counterproductive.

Thus, he worried that if he stepped down and the Navy were taken over by a radical like Sakazuki, it might fall apart.

By comparison, he hoped the more level-headed Aokiji Kuzan would succeed him as Fleet Admiral. That way, he could balance out Sakazuki's explosive temper while tolerating Borsalino's laziness—after all, he was a bit laid back himself.

Only through such a stable transition could the Navy reach new heights after this war, rather than falling into a period of decline due to a power struggle and losing the golden opportunity brought about by the annihilation of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Of course, all of this depended on completely wiping out the Whitebeard Pirates and crushing the spirit of all pirates.

"Let's put the matter of Gebinz aside for now. I have already made a deal with him, and he has promised to assist us once during tomorrow's battle. What we need to do now is discuss making some adjustments to our original plan to ensure that every single pirate is left behind!" Sengoku said decisively.

Upon hearing Sengoku's words, a sharp glint flashed in Akainu's eyes.

Sengoku's words had struck exactly where he wanted them to.

To leave every single pirate behind!

That was exactly the kind of thing he loved to do!

Following this, the group walked out of the Fleet Admiral's office and arrived at the Marine conference room.

The conference room was already filled with Vice Admirals, all waiting for the arrival of these top-tier combatants.

"Meeting start!" Sengoku's gaze fell upon an empty chair, and after a brief pause, he raised his eyes and roared.

The next day.

Early morning.

While the giant granite tiles of the Marineford plaza were still exuding a trace of salty dampness, one hundred thousand Marine soldiers stood at attention, fully armed.

The white mist from their breath gathered together, faintly forming clouds above Marineford.

At this moment, they were gathered together just like the water vapor in those clouds.

United as one!

A Rear Admiral from the New World gripped his sword hilt tightly, the sharkskin wrapping darkening with spots of nervous cold sweat.

Sharpshooters transferred from the four seas were repeatedly wiping down their flintlock rifles and adjusting the positions of their ammunition pouches.

In the very center of the plaza, a tall Execution Platform had been erected. In the shadow beneath it, three towering figures draped in coats of justice sat with imposing, wide-legged postures.

"What a damn show-off," Doflamingo, standing to the side like a mere lackey, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth upon hearing the assessment from Lord Gebinz beside him.