Marine Headquarters—Marineford.
Inside a large conference room for senior officers.
Admiral Sengoku sat at the head of the round table, speaking with force.
"Talk of the Pirate Emperors has already started making waves!"
"Don't think this has nothing to do with the Marines just because it concerns pirates..."
"According to the Intelligence Department, quite a few pirates are preparing to go after the Golden Lion, Whitebeard, and the Wrath of Winter. What does that mean? Opportunity!"
"If we seize our chance amid this chaos and take down Shiki or Whitebeard, wouldn't that break open the situation for us Marines in the New World?"
Just then, a Marine Rear Admiral raised his hand. "Admiral Sengoku, why not go after the Viking Pirates? They're the most vulnerable."
The entire conference room fell silent.
Sengoku's face darkened. Seeing this, Borsalino hurriedly said, "Mr. Stella was only promoted to officer recently. He arrived at Headquarters two months ago, so there's a lot he doesn't know..."
Sengoku's expression eased a little. He had thought the man was deliberately trying to embarrass him.
"Transfer him to logistics to clean the living quarters' toilets for three months. He can return to his post once he's read the Viking Pirates' entire file!" Sengoku said, glaring at the Rear Admiral.
It sounded rather like bullying, but none of the other officers in the room spoke up for him.
Chief Strategist Tsuru tapped the table. "Since the Viking Pirates have come up, I'll go over the intelligence our department received last night..."
As she spoke, a young, beautiful female Marine standing behind her began handing out prepared documents.
The woman wore a Commodore's insignia. She was Gion, who had joined the Marine Intelligence Department not long ago.
Since the so-called Great Pirate Era began, Marine Headquarters had been recruiting heavily