A medal of strength

"Truly terrifying. Those youngsters who once served under Admiral Xia Le have all come into their own."

Momonga spoke softly.

The CP9 team stayed hidden at the very back of the group, wearing Marine caps and remaining silent.

Kaku and the others looked somewhat nervous. They were inside Marineford, the World's Strongest Fortress, with a host of flag officers ahead of them who could rightly be called the backbone of the Marines.

This was no ordinary gathering.

Even the Buster Call they had witnessed probably could not compare to the lineup before them.

"Lucci!"

Jabra called out softly, his voice tense.

"Don't be nervous. Don't forget who we are now."

Lucci's voice was low and steady.

He stood there, expressionless.

Jabra took a deep breath. That might be true, but with all those vice admirals watching him, he still could not help feeling nervous.

However bold CP9 might have been before, this was the very center of Navy power, and it was teeming with formidable fighters.

A moment later.

Xia Le took the lead, with the others following behind him toward the Marine Headquarters Building.

"Headquarters is secretly mobilizing troops today, drawing in elite forces from around the world."

"And it's all for the Whitebeard Pirates."

Before long, Bastille spoke in a low voice.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has already begun preparations?"

Xia Le raised his eyebrows slightly.

"The Fleet Admiral has never lacked resolve or the courage to make a decision."

"Now that you've returned, Admiral, he can make his decisions even more decisively!"

Momonga spoke solemnly.

At that, Xia Le nodded, Sengoku's face flashing through his mind.

The man was known as the Tactician, but he had also fought his way through real battlefields. Throughout his years in office, he had lived up to his position as Fleet Admiral.