Marine High Command Meeting

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"Young Demon? That really is fitting."

After glancing at the printed photograph, Sengoku set down the newspaper in his hand, removed his round-framed glasses, and gently rubbed his temples.

The moment his words fell, a somewhat lazy voice rang out nearby, its final syllable drawn out.

"Mr. Sengoku, may I go back now?"

The speaker was a tall man with a head of messy hair. His expression was calm, while his eyes carried an air of casual indifference.

Under Sengoku's gaze, he yawned, casually scratched at the blue sleep mask on his forehead, and put on a somewhat impatient expression.

"No, Kuzan."

Sengoku's tone sank as he decisively rejected Aokiji's request. He knew that this man, lazy to the bone, found such matters unbearably tedious. But as an admiral of the Navy, Aokiji was still willing to obey orders.

"Okay~ okay~ I understand."

Sengoku's words extinguished Aokiji's last shred of hope. He slightly raised both hands as though surrendering.

Pulling out the chair behind him, Aokiji rested his hands behind his head and, heedless of the occasion or etiquette, put both feet on the table. In a more comfortable position, he continued staring blankly with dead-fish eyes, his thoughts wandering.

Sengoku had long grown used to Aokiji's behavior. He had no expectations for a man who believed in "Lazy Justice."

But while Sengoku did not react, a dissatisfied snort came from not far away.

"This is a conference room, Kuzan. You're going too far."

Hearing that voice, Sengoku could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth. Still, the deeply calculating Strategist showed no outward reaction. He knew that even if he did not speak as Fleet Admiral, someone would step in on his behalf.

"My, my~ Still as hot-tempered as ever, Sakazuki."

Borsalino, wearing a lecherous grin, chuckled easily. Known by the codename Kizaru, he was best at reading the room and keeping everyone happy.

In the current situation, with seniors like Mr. Sengoku and Staff Officer Tsuru remaining silent, he was the most suitable person to mediate between the two.

"Hmph!"

Akainu snorted again, showing Kizaru no respect whatsoever. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his resolute face was full of displeasure. Even though everyone seated here was a major figure who could make Marineford tremble with a stomp of their foot, he showed no restraint.

"Tch, what a pain."

Adjusting the sleep mask on his forehead, Aokiji remained as calm as ever, clearly not taking Akainu's words seriously. As a fellow Admiral, he had the confidence not to cater to anyone.

"Enough!"

Sengoku put his glasses back on and finally spoke. As Fleet Admiral, he held the highest rank among everyone present. Even the arrogant Akainu and the carefree Aokiji had to give him some face.

The room instantly quieted, and the conference room fell silent.

Since Sengoku had already stepped in to settle the dispute between Aokiji and Akainu, Kizaru rolled his eyes and smoothly withdrew. Without looking at either of them, he turned his attention to the newspaper before him.

"How frightening~ Young people these days."

Staring at Long Yi's photograph, Kizaru's tone was slightly flippant, with none of the bearing expected of a Navy Admiral.

Hearing Kizaru steer the topic back to the original point, Akainu could no longer sit still.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, slapped the newspaper in front of him, and stared at Sengoku as he spoke word by word.

"Mr. Sengoku, unlike a certain lazy fellow, I still have a great deal of work to do. I don't understand why you gathered the top brass of Headquarters for a meeting over a thirteen-year-old brat."

After a pause, Akainu rose to his feet, adjusted the utterly ordinary Navy cap on his head, and continued.

"If something like this happens again, I won't attend. And please don't notify me, Mr. Sengoku. I'm very busy!"

His domineering presence overflowed, as though none could stand above him!

"A thirteen-year-old who slaughtered an entire pirate crew of around one hundred and fifty people, then personally killed pirates with bounties exceeding thirty million. Sakazuki, do you believe that within ten years, this child's strength will surpass yours?"

Sengoku pushed up his glasses, his tone calm.

Aside from the title of "Strategist," he also bore the name "Sengoku the Buddha." Even when facing the overwhelmingly domineering Akainu, he remained unmoved.

Meeting Akainu's gaze, Sengoku lightly tapped his fingers against the conference table.

"This meeting is very meaningful. So sit down and behave yourself, Sakazuki."

Under Sengoku's gaze, calm as an ancient well, Akainu's momentum faltered. Instinctively, he wanted to bolster his courage and oppose Sengoku's aura, but his reason stopped him.

After all, he was not Fleet Admiral yet.

Granny Tsuru, her hair silver-white, quietly listened to their exchange without any intention of speaking. Time had taken away her stunning beauty, but it had also left her with precious wisdom.

She knew quite a bit about Long Yi's situation. That youth standing amid thunder and rain was not only the disciple of Navy Hero Karp, but also the key to maintaining the relationship between the Government Navy and the Holy Land of Mary Geoise in the future.

"Mr. Sengoku, you should at least explain what's so special about this child."

Kizaru spread his hands. To be honest, he still did not understand what exactly was so special about Long Yi. Even if he was promising new blood for the Navy, it would take at least a decade for him to climb to their level.

A promising young man was valuable, but not valuable enough to bring Marineford's five most important figures together.

"Fine, then I'll explain."

Sengoku cleared his throat and pointed at Long Yi's photograph. Facing the group's varied expressions, he dropped a bombshell.

"This child is a soldier of Marine Headquarters. He is also the disciple personally accepted by that old fellow Karp, and the next master of Kitetsu chosen by Yatogami Taizo, head of the Yatogami Family. Now that I've said this much, you should understand why I made such a commotion to gather all of you here."

His words were shocking enough to kill. Aside from Granny Tsuru, who knew the inside story and showed no reaction, all three Admirals fell into an eerie silence.

"How frightening~ Young people these days~"

After a long while, Kizaru gave a low chuckle, his expression unchanged from before. But a closer look would reveal something different in the eyes behind his amber sunglasses.

"Oh? He's Mr. Karp's disciple?"

Compared with his identity as the young master of the Yatogami Family, Aokiji was clearly more interested in the fact that Long Yi was Karp's disciple.

Navy Hero Karp had always been someone he admired—calling him an idol would not be an exaggeration. The usually lazy man finally became interested. For the first time, he opened the newspaper before him. Looking at the printed photograph, he gazed at Long Yi, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curling upward as he muttered,

"Those eyes aren't bad."

Akainu frowned deeply, unsure how to speak. Ordinary people did not know what the Yatogami Family represented, but he, a Navy Admiral, certainly did.

If Sengoku's words were true, then the youth who had single-handedly wiped out an entire pirate fleet possessed a status even more illustrious than his own as an Admiral.

"Sakazuki, do you still think this child is unimportant? He is the next master of Kitetsu, the one who holds the 'key.'"

Before Sengoku could finish, Akainu's expression turned serious. No matter how unwilling his pride was to admit it, he had to acknowledge that this meeting was meaningful.

"But why would the Yatogami Family hand the 'key' to an outsider with no blood relation?"

Akainu's brows remained tightly furrowed as he could not make sense of it. He understood those Celestial Dragons who styled themselves as nobles very well. They valued bloodlines above all else.

Sengoku did not conceal this point. He told them everything about Long Yi's secret.

"Because the demon he bears is even more ferocious than the one sealed within the cursed blade, Kitetsu submitted to him. Also, the Yatogami Family bloodline has been cut off."

The "talent" Long Yi had displayed could not be hidden from observant people like Akainu, so Sengoku could not be bothered to conceal it.

"Tch. The 'key' has actually fallen into an outsider's hands. Those Celestial Dragons won't remain idle."

With his arms crossed, Akainu's expression was somewhat grave.

"Whatever fuss those nobles make is their business. Our duty is to capture pirates."

Granny Tsuru gave a light cough, her gaze distant.

Just as she said, the Navy's duty was only to uphold the rule. As for matters involving those nobles and the Celestial Dragons, they had no place interfering.

"This child will become a Celestial Dragon, but he is also one of us in the Navy."

Sengoku pushed up his round-framed glasses, his eyes blazing.

"Don't you think the Navy needs a new hero? A young hero?"