Meeting

A day later.

Marineford, Marine Headquarters.

The largest conference room in Marine Headquarters was packed with people.

After receiving the relevant intelligence yesterday, all officers of the rank of vice admiral and above at Headquarters had been required to attend the meeting.

This was also the first time since the beginning of the Age of Piracy, ushered in by One Piece Roger, that Headquarters had assembled such a complete lineup.

Clearly visible at the very center were the three top figures: Admiral Buddha Sengoku, Black Arm Zephyr, and the Marine hero Iron Fist Garp.

To their left were the three monsters of the Marines' new generation: Akainu, wielder of the Magma-Magma Fruit; Kizaru, wielder of the Glint-Glint Fruit; and Aokiji, wielder of the Ice-Ice Fruit.

To their right were Vice Admiral Tsuru, Vice Admiral Chaton, and Volcanic Burn in the middle.

Behind them sat all the officers of Marine Headquarters ranked rear admiral and above.

A row of giants sat in the very back.

It could be said that the people represented in this conference room constituted the Marines' entire highest echelon of combat power.

However, everyone's expression was grim. Even Garp, who was usually laughing and joking around, was unusually quiet.

Half a month ago, Marine Headquarters had received an order from the World Government.

The Marines were to withdraw their forces from the New World, leaving only the Marines stationed at branches such as G1 and G5 behind. Everyone else was to return to the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Blues to maintain order there.

Although this was indeed a wise decision in many respects, to a certain extent, it represented the Marines' defeat.

The Marines, representatives of justice, had actually lost to the evil pirates of the New World.

No matter how one