The Marine officers looked at one another.
None of them had expected Admiral Akainu to support Randall so unequivocally.
They had never heard that Admiral Akainu and Randall were particularly close.
Sengoku looked around and sighed inwardly.
Everything they had said was true.
But they had overlooked another, far more important fact.
Sengoku cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention, then said:
"I hope you understand that if Randall hadn't stepped in this time, not only would we have gotten none of that money, but CP0 would have stripped the Marines of every last shred of dignity!
You need to understand that the G-1 Branch might not need that much money.
But that money belongs to Randall, and it must belong to Randall.
What he does with his money is his business. We have absolutely no right to interfere.
Otherwise, Randall might let it slide out of consideration for his fellow Marines.
But CP0 and the World Government might be even more eager than Randall to make trouble for us."
Every officer's expression changed at those words.
That was already a very stern warning.
And a very realistic one.
Only then did they remember how CP0's attitude had changed before and after Randall spoke up.
Put plainly, they had only handed over the money out of respect for Randall.
The Marines?
They didn't carry nearly enough weight for that!
For a moment, all the officers felt a lingering unease.
One or two even found the backs of their shirts soaked with sweat.
After that interruption, no one felt like continuing the meeting.
The officers left one by one.
But more than half of them glanced at Garp, deliberately or otherwise, before leaving.
Soon, only Sengoku and Garp remained in the office.
"Bwahahaha! Those CP0 fellows were downright groveling!
I wonder what