News of Aatrox's betrayal of the Marines spread before anyone realized it.
Many within the Marines could hardly believe it.
But that was the truth. In the first half of the Grand Line, Marine Rear Admiral Aatrox had become a target hunted by Marine Headquarters.
The few Marines who knew the truth took no action. Even when they received orders from Marine Headquarters, they merely went through the motions, some even deliberately letting Aatrox escape.
It was impossible to cover the matter up completely.
Anyone who reached a certain level could learn the truth.
There were circles of all sizes within the Marines, too.
The members of the first Elite Training Camp class, for instance, still belonged to the same circle even if their ideals differed.
At the very least, the surviving elites could all be considered senior figures within the Marines.
Quite a few of them worked in the General Staff or the Intelligence Department.
It was impossible to suppress the news completely. Keeping it from outsiders might have been feasible, but internally, it could spread with ease.
Even Kyle and Borsalino, far away in the Four Seas, had learned the truth.
They knew what Aatrox had done and what he was now facing.
"Borsalino, would you consider going back to headquarters?"
In the West Blue, Kyle sat in his office and looked at Borsalino, who was reclining in a nearby chair.
"What a troublesome affair. Are you asking me to attack a former colleague?"
Borsalino sounded puzzled, yet a smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.
"You know what I mean, Borsalino."
Kyle turned his calm gaze toward the window, through which he could see the recruits training hard in the square.
At those words, Borsalino straightened in his chair. At some point, the smile had vanished