A week later, the number of ships docked at Water Seven's harbor began to decline sharply as Marine warships from all over the world started their return journeys.
The Marines did not return as secretly as they had come to Water Seven. After all, they had needed to avoid the Roger Pirates' notice as much as possible on the way there, lest the enemy sense their intentions and hide in advance.
But on the way back, there was no need for any concealment. With Garp and Sengoku escorting them, the Marines' great fleet departed from Water Seven and sailed grandly toward Marine Headquarters.
The Marines did not remain idle on their return trip either. Pirates along the way were conveniently "cleaned up." When they had arrived, the warships' waterlines had only just met the standard; by the time they returned, every vessel sat far lower in the water.
One could imagine that Impel Down would soon be welcoming quite a few new guests after the Marines returned.
At Water Seven's harbor, Kuzan and Tsugikuni Yoriichi, the two leaders of the G-ICE Branch, stood on the pier and watched the warships depart. After the Marine fleet vanished from sight, Kuzan stretched lazily and said with a smile, "Our positions have finally undergone a huge change!"
"Yoriichi, starting today, our lives in the Marines have truly entered a period of growth!"
There were actually quite a lot of officers at Marine Headquarters, but very few had the authority to command a branch. Many Headquarters rear admirals and commodores had no right to lead a fleet out to sea on their own. Many held only rank, with no actual post.
Most of the time, they went to sea alongside vice admirals, or several rear admirals carried out missions together. Not only were their