The moment Hammond spoke, the three CP0 fighters beside him froze. So did their opponents—Kuma, Granny Nyon, Ivankov, and Judge. They wondered if they had heard him right!
The other three CP0 agents were panting, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Hey, Hammond, what are you saying? Sengoku hasn't given the order yet!"
Hammond answered without looking back.
"Can't you see it? The Marines have already lost this war. Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku can't beat Fire Dragon Ye Mu, and then there are those monsters. Do you want to bury Cipher Pol along with the Marines?"
He gritted his teeth, speaking as though venting his anger.
"This is all Sengoku's fault. If he hadn't botched his strategy, the war would never have reached this point... Once the fighting over there ends, do you think we'll still be able to escape? CP0's duty is to protect the Celestial Dragons. That's all..."
The other three CP0 agents suddenly understood.
That was right. However they looked at it, the Marines were the main force in this war. CP0 was only there to help. Cipher Pol had no reason to go down with the Marines.
Besides, the Marines and Cipher Pol had always been separate, competing organizations. If the Marines took the blame for losing this war, Cipher Pol could rise in their place.
As for any consequences of retreating, Hammond had a point. Other Cipher Pol agents might have cause to worry, but the four of them served the Celestial Dragons directly. They had nothing to fear.
And Cipher Pol, which answered directly to the World Government, mattered far more to the Five Elders than the Marines did.
With that, they made up their minds.
"I understand!"
"Everyone, board the ships!"
This CP0 agent was clever. He had ordered them to board, not to