The Three Admirals' Predicament
Leo was an old master of layered schemes; attacking Enies Lobby had many levels to it.
Even sending Smoker and Hina in as the vanguard had plenty of reasons behind it.
There was a practical need for Hina and Smoker to serve as the vanguard: if they wanted to ensure the Revolutionary Army did not suffer massive casualties during the assault on Enies Lobby, they had no choice but to lead from the front themselves.
And Leo's plan for them to serve as the vanguard also carried far-reaching political significance.
Neither of them was a lone wolf. Even the most solitary hero had three people to lend a hand. No matter how much Smoker despised the atmosphere within the Marines, he still had friends like Aokiji and Hina.
And how many friends did Aokiji have? Did the frozen Vice Admiral Sauro count?
And how many friends did Hina have? Could there be even more than anyone imagined?
Their simultaneous appearance was not merely a heavy blow against the dissenters within the Marines. It also forced the Navy's upper ranks to confront a more practical question: now that Hina and Smoker had both been infiltrated and turned, how many people within the Marines could still be trusted?
Everyone who had been close to Smoker and Hina, or had even spoken with them, needed to undergo a political review.
But Sengoku was, after all, a veteran Fleet Admiral. He immediately suppressed that idiotic move and began convening meetings for all Marine officers ranked colonel and above. Make a grand show of it, let them off lightly—scold them, make them stand in the sun, let them get rained on, and the matter would pass.
But Aokiji was genuinely, unmistakably embarrassed. Because of his Fruit ability, he had been too