"You said something like that during an internal Marine Headquarters meeting. Are you planning to stay at Headquarters anymore?!"
"Tensei, the Celestial Dragons will probably set their sights on you."
"Leave as soon as possible before they make a move against you."
"We're still at the Sabaody Archipelago. Leave with us for the New World."
By the shore, beneath the bright sunlight, Tsugikuni Yoriichi lay on a beach chair beside the ship's rail, basking in the sun. There was not a single scar on his bare upper body; the injuries he had sustained in the previous battle had already healed.
Beside Yoriichi stood a small round table, upon which rested a Den Den Mushi with its hair slicked back. Yoriichi's voice traveled through the Den Den Mushi and reached Tensei's ears.
After the meeting ended, Tensei had returned to his temporary residence and informed Tsugikuni Yoriichi of everything that had happened during the meeting.
Tensei, head of the Marine Headquarters Criminal Investigation Department, had always been Tsugikuni Yoriichi's informant within Headquarters.
However, his actions today had not been instructed by Tsugikuni Yoriichi. Tensei had always known of Yoriichi's intention to separate Marine Headquarters from the Celestial Dragons, and he was one of the few who clearly understood Tsugikuni Yoriichi's goal.
The reason he had suddenly made such remarks during the meeting and exposed himself was because Tensei believed this was an opportunity to accelerate the split within Headquarters.
According to Tsugikuni Yoriichi's plan, he had intended to build up the New Marines' public support, gradually erode the prestige Marine Headquarters possessed, slowly replace Marine Headquarters with the New Marines, and redefine so-called "justice" in order to seize the initiative.
But after this war between Headquarters and the pirates, the Marines at Headquarters were dispirited, while Tsugikuni Yoriichi had revealed his