After Akainu submitted his relocation plan to the World Government, the Five Elders argued Room of Authority for an entire afternoon.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter maintains the same stance: the Navy should focus its efforts on dealing with Straw Hat Luffy.
How could someone personally selected by Imu have a lower priority than two abandoned bases?
But Saint Garling doesn't think so.
" The New World is the nest of the Hachinosu."
He stood before the round table, his hands resting on the surface, his cold, law-abiding gaze sweeping over the other Five Elders.
"If the navy has no bases in the New World, it's like closing its eyes and waiting to be attacked."
By the time Roy has fully absorbed Vegapunk's technology and launches his own attack, we won't even be able to track the movements of his fleet.
By then, not only will Straw Hat Luffy, but even Mary Geoise might not be safe.
After a long silence, Saint Warcury finally nodded slowly.
"I agree with Saint Baro's view. Although G-1 and G-2 are just two small pieces, they are the springboard for the Navy's return to the New World."
Without these two bases, the Navy would have trouble even with supplies in the New World.
Saint Mars adjusted his glasses. As the only one of the Five Elders to take over the research department, he understood the consequences of Vegapunk's defection better than the others.
" Vegapunk possesses a complete database of Lineage Factor."
Given enough time, he could very well replicate any Devil Fruit in history.
Time is not on our side.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter gritted his teeth and finally nodded.
Three votes in favor, two votes against.
Akainu's plan was approved—but the Five Elders attached a harsh condition:
The recapture of G-1 must be completed in the shortest possible time and must not trigger a full-scale war with Hachinosu.
Once the main force of Hachinosu is deployed, the navy must withdraw immediately.
The document concluded with the statement. "CP will support the Navy's operations."
To put it bluntly, it's a zero-sum game where you can only win and not lose.
Saint Garling closed the document, his tone indifferent.
"However, Akainu should be well aware of this."
On the very night he received the approval order, Akainu summoned all the officers to the conference room to discuss the specific action plan.
·······
"Operation begins."
Once the war machine is started, the entire rhythm of the Marine Headquarters changes.
The warships began to assemble.
Thirty of the latest warships were lined up in Marineford harbor, their masts adorned with seagull flags that fluttered in the morning breeze.
These warships are the result of a two-year military expansion plan—platoon
The water volume is almost twice that of the old model, and the hull is covered with Seastone armor.
The bow is equipped with a newly developed wind-breaking angle, enabling it to maintain high-speed cruising in the extreme sea conditions of the New World.
At the dock, soldiers boarded the ship in neat rows.
Some people had excitement written all over their faces, some gripped the hilt of their knives tightly, and some bowed their heads and prayed silently.
Most of these new recruits were brought in during the two-year military expansion. Although their training results were good, less than 30% of them had actually seen combat.
A new recruit stood in front of the boarding ladder, his legs trembling.
Next to him was a veteran in his forties with a Scar running from his forehead to his chin, and a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his mouth.
"Senior, have you ever been to the New World?"
The veteran glanced at him and took the cigarette from his lips.
I've been there once.
"What's it like over there?"
The veteran remained silent for a while, then took out a lighter from his pocket and lit the half-smoked cigarette with a click.
Smoke rose slowly in the cold morning air, blurring the hideous Scar on his face.
"What kind?"
He exhaled a puff of smoke.
Have you ever seen someone who could smash an entire island down and use it as a weapon?
Have you ever seen someone who can shatter ocean currents with a single punch?
Have you ever seen a swordsman who can slice a warship in two with a single stroke?
The veteran's words made the new recruits' faces grow paler and paler.
The veteran put the cigarette back in his mouth and patted him on the shoulder:
"Kid, remember this: when you get to the New World, put everything you learned in Training Camp to good use, and always stay vigilant."
"It wasn't as peaceful there as it is now."
The fleet departed from Marineford and headed towards the entrance to the New World under the cover of night.
Thirty warships were arranged in three columns, their stern lights forming a long chain of light in the darkness.
Akainu stood at the bow of the flagship, Vice Admiral Kizaru, Fujitora, Ryokugyu, Sengoku, Garp, and a dozen or so hawkish vice admirals standing behind him.
Akainu gazed at the increasingly close outline of the Red Line in the distance.
The entrance to the New World lies on the other side of that massive cliff.
The navy hadn't set foot in that area of water, which had been under Hachinosu's control for two years.
"How much longer until we enter the New World?" he asked without turning his head.
The adjutant glanced at the nautical chart. "At the current speed, we can cross the Red Line before dawn. We're expected to reach G-1 by tomorrow evening."
Where are the patrol boats from Hachinosu?
"According to intelligence provided by the CP agency, the patrol density around G-1 is not high."
The main fleet of Hachinosu is concentrated near the main Hachinosu, while the surrounding outposts are mostly symbolic garrisons.
Akainu nodded. But he knew in his heart that the accuracy rate of CP's intelligence in the New World never exceeded 70%.
Two years have passed, and no one can say for sure how many troops Hachinosu has deployed in its outer outposts.
Meanwhile, at the training ground on the back mountain of Hachinosu.
Roy was sitting cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed, surrounded by a faint black mist.
When the Dark-Dark Fruit was circulating within his body, even the surrounding air was slightly distorted.
Tiny pebbles and dust were drawn in by the suction of the black mist, slowly swirling around him like planets orbiting a star.
Bullet had been squatting nearby, waiting for almost three hours.
He would glance at Roy, then at the trees at the edge of the training field that had been bent by the sea breeze, and then he would look down and pick at the stones on the ground.
His rugged face was etched with anxiety, like a large feline trapped in a cage.
" Roy." Bullet finally couldn't hold back anymore.
Roy didn't react.
Roy!
Still no response.
"Hey-- Roy --!!!"
Roy opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Can't wait?"
"Nonsense!"
Bullet jumped to his feet, clenching his fists so his knuckles cracked.
I've been waiting for you for three hours!
You said you wanted to test the new techniques of the Dark-Dark Fruit, but you've been sitting here meditating for three hours!
I'm practically growing mushrooms!
"Haha~ You won't grow mushrooms."
Roy stood up and stretched his wrists.
The black mist condensed in his palm into a fist-sized dark sphere, its surface occasionally flashing with a sliver of white light.
That was the result of his attempt to fuse Telekinesis with the Dark-Dark Fruit- Dark-Dark Fruit's gravitational field.
This technique was developed by Roy based on the Planetary Devastation used by Nagato in Naruto.
As for its effectiveness, that still needs to be tested.