Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Inside a hastily built wooden cabin, Sengoku, Steel Bone Kong, and Tsuru sat around a round table piled high with documents. Their eyes were filled with undisguised exhaustion.
After the Summit War ended, one piece of bad news after another came flooding in, leaving Sengoku and the others utterly frazzled.
Holy Land Mariejois had been destroyed, pirates were plundering the nations of the New World, five East Blue nations had risen up under the Revolutionary Army's leadership, and Sephiroth held the Marines' leverage in his hand, intending to take control of the entire organization...
Steel Bone Kong folded his arms and sighed.
"Ah! Just when you want peace, trouble keeps coming... What do you think we should do about Sephiroth's proposal?"
At that, Sengoku raised a hand and adjusted the round glasses on his face, speaking solemnly.
"Commander Kong, the Celestial Dragons have now vanished along with Mary Geoise. We Marines can use this opportunity to make a clean break with the past.
"If we allow Sephiroth to coerce us and hand the Marines over to his control, who can guarantee that the Marines will not return to their old ways...?
"Rather than being controlled by another power, I would prefer for the Marines to become an organization that truly serves the nations of the world and upholds justice.
"After all, the seas are so turbulent right now that the Marines' strength is indispensable. As long as we make the benefits and risks clear to every nation, even if the Marines endure some growing pains in the short term, we can set them upon the path of true justice!"
To be fair, Sengoku admitted that Sephiroth had indeed intimidated him yesterday.
The Marines' leverage, the unknown danger of extraterrestrials, the other man's ambitions toward the endless stars...