"That decision wasn't made by the Navy. In fact, the Navy was dragged into it without a say. The World Government made the decision."
Leonard's voice was somber. If Barn could see, he would surely have caught a trace of pain beneath Leonard's tightly knitted brows.
"Hm?"
"Mr. Barn, as you know, Bandy Waldo had already seriously upset the balance between the pirates and the Navy back then. And ten years ago, he had killed Celestial Dragons."
"Yes. Go on."
Barn spoke up to show he understood and prompt Leonard to continue. Come to think of it, Barn had killed Celestial Dragons too, but that had happened when he and Fisher Tiger stormed Mary Geoise. Everything had been so chaotic that he wasn't sure whether the Navy knew.
"Back then, after several days of pursuit, the enormous joint force of marines and pirates finally surrounded Bandy Waldo and his crew in a stretch of sea in the New World. But neither side could break the stalemate..."
Leonard continued recounting the events he had buried deep in his memory. He was a gifted storyteller, drawing Barn back to that night ten years ago.
"Sengoku! Garp!"
Bandy Waldo, who looked much the same age as he did now, stood at the bow of his enormous ship, the World, shouting those two names through the pouring rain.
Kong was still Fleet Admiral then, while Garp and Sengoku were only Admirals, so they too had been ordered to take part in this "annihilation campaign."
World's massive figure continued to roar.
"Even you two are doing this! What the hell are you trying to do? I really misjudged you!"
On a warship opposite him, Garp and Sengoku stood side by side. Garp's fists were clenched tight, and a bead of cold sweat slid down the