Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Fade Away

The tone of the Sengoku was filled with bitterness and helplessness.

This is only natural.

He believed he had not done anything to wrong the Navy.

It's just a matter of timing and fate.

His expression was tinged with obvious desolation. Sengoku's throat bobbed several times, but he ultimately remained silent, letting out only a long sigh.

He seemed to have aged considerably in an instant.

"..."

On the other side, Garp looked at his old friend's appearance, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

That previous statement was tantamount to entrusting his orphan to someone.

Garp remained silent for a moment, then reluctantly looked away.

"Then... what about the next person?"

For the Sengoku period, this was perhaps a somewhat cruel problem.

But he was, after all, the man known as the Sengoku the Buddha, who led the navy through numerous calamities.

He paused for only a moment, but Sengoku's face quickly regained its composure.

"I will do my best to recommend Kuzan to my superiors, but whether it will be successful is beyond my control."

Sengoku's expression calmed down slightly, and he spoke very calmly.

If he had to choose one of the Three Admirals as his successor, Sengoku would choose Aokiji without hesitation.

Although the Navy outwardly stands on the side of justice, the personalities of its high-ranking officers differ.

Kizaru is too lazy.

It could have been ruled out from the start.

Of the remaining Akainu and Aokiji.

Akainu's personality is too extreme, and he is also too cruel as a person.

There seems to be nothing wrong with adhering to Absolute Justice, but Sengoku has seen what Akainu has done over the years.

It's just that most of the time they turn a blind eye.

To appoint such an overly aggressive and black-and-white person as the Fleet Admiral.

In the eyes of the Sengoku, this was by no means a good thing.

After the battle with the Whitebeard Pirates, the Navy also needed to recuperate.

That leaves only Aokiji as the only option.

Sengoku's lazy and leisurely sense of justice is hard to judge, but compared to Akainu, Aokiji has the advantage of a stable personality, enough to act as a rock to suppress the current Navy.

Given the current state of the navy, he is the most suitable candidate.

"Kuzan... I have no objection."

Listening to Sengoku's words, Garp stroked his chin and pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

As a veteran naval hero, he frankly admitted that he also disapproved of Akainu's overly aggressive style of doing things.

To put it nicely, they are full of a sense of justice and cannot tolerate any injustice.

But to put it bluntly...

That guy was like a mad dog.

"I've almost finished preparing the letter of recommendation, and I'll hand it over to my superiors before my official retirement. I hope I made the right choice."

Sengoku sighed and looked up at his old friend.

They once roamed freely across this vast sea, and had their own golden age.

But now it seems that it's time to end it.

There's a saying that goes like this.

Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away.

Perhaps this is their destiny.

"I'll keep an eye on it for you."

Garp responded somewhat somberly; he knew this was his old friend saying goodbye.

"I feel at ease with you here, but... never mind, this isn't something I should be concerned with right now. When you get old, you should retire."

Sengoku laughed heartily, as if he wanted to say something, but after a moment, he just shook his head and gave a bitter smile.

What's the point of saying it now?

Ultimately, the decision is made by the Five Elders.

Now that I've stepped down, although I still sit in this office, I'm just an old man without any power anymore.

"After I retire, I plan to live in seclusion in the Sabaody Archipelago for a while, and also catch up with some old friends I haven't seen in years. If you have time, you might as well come and have some tea with me."

Sengoku smiled at Garp, then slowly stood up.

"Alright, that's enough rambling. I won't say any more. Next, I'm planning to buy some fishing gear. Thinking about it, enriching my life might not be a bad idea."

With that, Sengoku walked past Garp, casually draped the cloak that represented the Fleet Admiral over the door, and then strolled out.

From beginning to end, there was no looking back, nor any farewell.

Starting today.

He is no longer Fleet Admiral.

He's just a fisherman you'd see anywhere on a beach in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Such a life might still be something to look forward to.

"..."

Garp watched his old friend's departing figure in silence, without offering any sentimental farewells.

They are old.

But he's not dead.

Garp probably knew very well that with Sengoku turning and leaving, this era belonging to the Navy was coming to an end...

It's almost over.

The news of Fleet Admiral Sengoku's resignation and departure from Marineford spread like wildfire throughout the world.

Like a virus spreading, it was placed on the desks of all the important people at lightning speed.

The bystanders were all shocked.

"He's really stepped down; he was Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

"Now, what will the navy do...?"

"We still have Three Admirals, so there shouldn't be any problem, right?"

"The navy has really changed!"

Some were shocked, some were confused, and some were filled with hope.

However, compared to these insignificant bystanders, the reactions of the various major powers were somewhat subtle.

For example, Kaido.

According to insiders, maniacal laughter has been frequently heard coming from Kaido's palace these past two days. Everyone can understand this, given that Kaido and Sengoku have always been at odds.

Taking pleasure in someone's misfortune is an example.

However, in many other major factions, things appeared calm and peaceful.

Everyone is waiting.

Sengoku's resignation signifies a change of power in the navy. As the top power on this vast sea, the new Fleet Admiral will determine the navy's direction for at least the next decade.

Depending on the personality and style of those in positions of authority, they also need to adjust their strategies accordingly.

This is not a joke.

And so, in a short time, such a momentous event occurred, and the New World was surprisingly calm and peaceful.

However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were surging.

Among these forces that are closely monitoring the situation but remain inactive is the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Everyone has read the newspaper, so let's hear your thoughts."

Lin Yan slammed the newly bought newspaper on the table and glanced at everyone present.

"..."

A moment of silence fell over the crowd, everyone wearing calm and serious expressions, before turning their gazes to Lin Yan.

Lin Yan looked helpless.

"Why are you all looking at me when I'm asking you to share your thoughts?"