The news that Shanks had attacked Gion sent shockwaves through Marine Headquarters.
At that mont, every officer at Headquarters with a rank of Vice Admiral or higher was summoned. Although Kizaru had already been dispatched, Sengoku and the others remained deeply uneasy. No one doubted that Kizaru could tangle with Shanks for a while or even manage a clean escape, but forcing an entire Four Emperors crew to retreat?
That was virtually impossible.
In fact, when Sengoku dispatched Kizaru, he had given him a specific secret order: if necessary, he was to abandon everyone else and prioritize bringing Gion back safely.
The critical question remained... could Gion hold out for an hour?
"Pirates are becoming increasingly brazen. If we continue to let this slide, what dignity will the Marines have left?" Akainu slamd the table, his voice laced with aggression. "I propose that regardless of whether Gion is rescued safely, the Marines must mobilize their forces into the New World and deliver a crushing blow to that Red-Haired bastard!"
However, Sengoku shook his head, imdiately rejecting the proposal.
"No. Even if the Marines deployed their full strength, we would gain nothing in the New World. It might even provoke a coalition of the Four Emperors to declare war on us."
"If things escalate to that point, we wouldn't just lose the battle; we might not even be able to protect the G1 and G5 Branches afterward."
The existence of the G1 and G5 Branches was currently a tacit understanding between the Marines and the Four Emperors. Otherwise, if a Four Emperor decided to wipe out the Marines' foothold in the New World, how could a single Admiral possibly hold the line? If they tore off the facade of diplomacy now, the Marines would absolutely lose their presence in the New World.
"Fleet Admiral, you are too weak!"
"Shut up, Sakazuki! War isn't won by recklessly charging in. Even if we are to fight the Four Emperors in the future, we must defeat them one by one and lure them onto our ho turf to fight!"
"In that case," Akainu countered, "once Gion returns, we can use Garp's grandson as bait. Shanks was willing to risk war with the Marines just to save him, which clearly ans the boy is vital to him. We'll announce a public execution and force him to co to Headquarters!"
"You bastard, Sakazuki! What do you think you're doing?"
Garp, who had been watching from the sidelines without intending to intervene, suddenly exploded.
'Publicly execute my grandson? Sakazuki, you little brat, do you have a death wish?'
"Vice Admiral Garp, rember your position. You are a Marine, and Luffy is a pirate. What is the problem with the Marines executing a pirate who screams every day about becoming the Pirate King?"
"A child's nonsense doesn't count! Besides, Luffy has never done anything like burning, killing, or looting!"
"Hmph, that's only because every ti he sets sail, Sean catches him. He simply hasn't had the opportunity!"
"That is a blatant distortion of the facts!"
"You know exactly whether it is or not!"
In all of Marine Headquarters, Akainu was likely the only person who dared to clash with Garp so directly. While Kizaru and Aokiji were also Admirals, they maintained a great deal of respect for Garp.
"Enough! Everyone shut up!"
Sengoku slamd the table heavily and roared. "Sakazuki, I will say this one more ti: now is not the right ti to go to war with the Four Emperors. This subject is closed!"
Akainu was extrely frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. Sengoku was the Fleet Admiral, and most of the high-ranking officials at Headquarters were old-tirs. No matter how much he insisted, he wouldn't get much support.
How stifling!
'One day, when I beco Fleet Admiral, I will transform this increasingly weak Marine into a true iron-blooded army!'
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in the eting room began to ring.
'Purupurupuru...'
"This is Sengoku!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is Gion!"
"What is the situation? Can you still hold out?"
"Uh, Fleet Admiral... the Red Hair Pirates have been forced to retreat. I have set sail and am returning to Headquarters."
...
Inside the eting room, the officers looked at one another in stunned silence. Everyone thought they had misheard.
The Red Hair Pirates were forced to retreat?
How was that possible?
"Gion, did you just say the Red Hair Pirates have been forced to retreat?"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral. Thanks to the support of the 16th Branch, the Red Hair Pirates have been repelled!"
"The 16th Branch... Sean?"
"Correct!"
"Tell exactly what happened!"
A few minutes later, everyone in the room began to question their own sanity.
What had they just heard?
The Conqueror's Haki Sean unleashed was actually powerful enough to overpower Shanks? And when Shanks unleashed his full power, out of over two hundred marines from the 16th Branch, only fifty had fallen?
And... in the end, he actually demanded 750 million Belly from Shanks as compensation for emotional distress?
And the man actually paid it?
'Am I listening to a fairy tale?'
It was absolutely fantastical.
"Gion, are the marines of the 16th Branch really that strong?"
"Yes. When I was stationed at the 16th Branch, I watched a graduation exam for the new recruits. Fleet Admiral, do you know what the passing standard is?"
"What is it?"
"A Doriki of 300 or higher, and the ability to successfully execute one of the Six Powers. They must et both requirents to pass; otherwise, they are sent back to the training camp for three months before a re-exam."
Sengoku was speechless.
'Are you sure you're talking about a recruit's exam? And not a promotion exam for Commander and Captains?'
Even after hanging up the phone, Sengoku felt as if it weren't real. Beside him, however, Akainu's eyes were gleaming with excitent.
He had known Sean was a talent. He didn't care how Sean had done it—what mattered was that Sean was a Marine, and a Marine whose temperant aligned perfectly with his own.
That was enough!
"Fleet Admiral, I request once again that Sean be transferred to my command!"
"Only under can Sean reach his full potential. Ending the Great Pirate Era will no longer be a fantasy!"
Sean possessed imnse personal strength, commanded hundreds of marines with a Doriki of at least 300, and had the ability to deploy large-scale forces rapidly.
Keeping him in the East Blue... was a waste!
If Sean were in his hands, Akainu was confident that he could purge the Grand Line within two or three years, let alone the New World.
"No. I have other plans for Sean. Forget about it, Sakazuki."
As expected, Akainu was rejected by Sengoku once again.
"Fine. I'll take a step back. Let my direct subordinate units take turns going to the East Blue to receive training from the 16th Branch. Surely that is acceptable?"
"This... alright. After this eting, I will speak with Sean about it."
Sengoku had initially wanted to refuse, but after a mont of deliberation, he agreed. To refuse even that would have been unreasonable.
"There's no need to go through the trouble. I'll head to the East Blue myself in a few days. I want to see the environnt and the training thods there with my own eyes!"
"When I'm not on an active mission, I have the autonomy to act on my own as an Admiral, right, Fleet Admiral?"
What else could Sengoku say? Ultimately, he simply nodded in agreent.
'''
A few days later.
A warship with a highly unconventional design sailed into Marineford.
A crowd of Marines gathered at the harbor, staring at the vessel with curiosity and pointing incessantly. After all, while the ship flew the Marine flag, its appearance was far too strange—it didn't even have sails.
How on earth did it move?
Not far away, Akainu, who had been preparing to set sail, walked over with his subordinates. However, he froze the mont he saw who was stepping off the ship.
"Gion? Why is it you?"
"You were still in the Calm Belt five days ago. It takes at least eleven or twelve days to get from there to Headquarters. How are you here in only five...?"
Indeed, calculating by the speed of a standard Marine sailing warship, the journey from the Calm Belt—after crossing from the East Blue into the Grand Line—to Marineford Headquarters typically took eleven to twelve days.
But it had only been five days since Gion had been attacked in the Calm Belt, yet she had already arrived at Headquarters.
This was fundantally impossible!
"Admiral Sakazuki, it's because the maximum speed of this new warship is 18 knots, with a cruising speed of 13 knots. It maintains that speed even within the Calm Belt," Gion explained.
Akainu's eyes widened. How was that possible?
Even more absurdly, if he wasn't mistaken, the ship wasn't made of wood—it was constructed entirely of steel. Who in the world had built such a thing?
"Gion, where did you get this ship?"
"I got it from Sean. After all, back when he was at Headquarters, I was the one who took care of him!" Gion puffed out her chest, speaking with pride.
"Sean... where did he get it from?"
"I heard he had it custom-made by the Galley-La Company. Currently, there's only one of these in the entire world, and I managed to get it for myself, hehe!"
Akainu nodded, silently making a ntal note.
The Galley-La Company, huh? He would have to order one for himself as well. A maximum speed of 18 knots, a cruising speed of 13 knots, and a full steel hull—no man could possibly turn down a machine like that.
In this world, ships were the primary mode of transport for n, much like cars were in Sean's previous life. Akainu was practically salivating at the sight of such a powerhouse of a vessel.
"Admiral Sakazuki, are you heading out on a mission?" Gion asked curiously, glancing at the massive warship preparing for departure nearby.
As far as Gion knew, Akainu had just finished his rotation at the G1 Branch and wasn't scheduled to return there until next year. Had sothing happened at the G1 Branch?
"No. I'm going to the East Blue. I'm going to the 16th Branch to see Sean."
"Uh, you're looking for Sean?"
"Correct. I intend to have him help train a batch of powerful Marines!"
Hearing this, Gion's expression soured.
'Are you kidding ? If Sean trains your Marines, then what about ? I have the sa plan! If you beat to it, I'll be stuck waiting in line!'
"Admiral Sakazuki, traveling to the East Blue is very ti-consuming. It takes over a month to return," Gion noted.
"Hmm? Are you trying to stop ?" Akainu's temper flared instantly.
While he didn't particularly dislike Gion, she was still part of a certain circle. Was she trying to hold him back like the others?
"No, no! Admiral Sakazuki, you've misunderstood. I ant... why don't you take my ship? It would save a lot of ti!"
"Besides, you seem very interested in this vessel. You could get a better feel for the performance of this new type of warship along the way, couldn't you?"
Akainu paused. So that's what she ant?
He was imdiately tempted. "Hmph, a reasonable suggestion. It's decided then!"
"Great, Admiral Sakazuki. I'll deliver Luffy to Vice Admiral Garp first, then I'll make up an excuse—I an, file a report—and then we set sail!"
Only then did Akainu notice the Commodore behind Gion, who was escorting a boy of about fifteen.
"This is Vice Admiral Garp's grandson, Monkey D. Luffy?"
"Yes!"
"Hmph!"
After Gion confird it, Akainu let out a cold snort.
"Not a single descendant of Garp's is any good! His son went off to start the Revolutionary Army and spends his days creating chaos, and now his grandson goes to sea as a pirate, dreaming of becoming the Pirate King?"
"Garp no longer deserves to be called the Hero of the Marines!"
Akainu didn't lower his voice; if anything, he raised it. He spoke loud enough that every Marine in the harbor heard him clearly.
'The Revolutionary Army was founded by Vice Admiral Garp's son? His grandson is a pirate who wants to be the Pirate King?'
'Gulp... is this the kind of secret we're supposed to hear?'
Gion gave a wry smile, offering no contradiction. Truthfully, while Garp had a good relationship with Tsuru and herself, there was simply no way to defend the actions of his son and grandson.
It was only because Garp himself was incredibly powerful and had an ironclad relationship with the Fleet Admiral that he remained untouched. If any other Marine officer's family had done this, they would have been lucky to just be stripped of their rank.
'''
Two hours later.
The steel warship set sail again, accelerating to its cruising speed of 13 knots in a very short ti, leaving the onlookers in absolute shock.
To those used to sailing ships, the acceleration of a sail-powered vessel was a tedious process. Standing on the bow deck and feeling the rush, Akainu was now completely in love with this ship. He made a firm resolution: he absolutely had to get one.
With a ship like this, no pirate on the open sea would ever be able to escape him.
'Speaking of which, these cannons are a bit strange,' he thought. 'Not only is the caliber massive, but the barrels are exceptionally long.'
He reached out to touch the base of a massive triple-mounted naval gun beside him, his expression filled with curiosity once more.
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