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### Grand Line, Marine Headquarters
"Oh, this is going to be a hassle."
"Isn't it? But this place used to be the territory of the Assassination Force, so it's just a return to the original owner."
In the underground room of the Headquarters Fortress, where the Marine Black Market Auction used to be held, Dalmatian and Strawberry watched helplessly as a group of soldiers came in to clean up and remove people, their lips twitching.
Hearing their discussion, Vice Admiral Momonga patted Dalmatian's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, the Fleet Admiral has designated a new place. Do you remember the drill site? It's been abandoned for decades, but it's being renovated now."
"Drilling Square... huh? That seems far away."
"Right, isn't there an empty lot behind the villa area? Why not use that?"
Thunk!
Rowen, who had set up a three-man metal rack in the corner, looked up speechlessly at his colleagues giving their opinions nearby and replied, "As Vice Admirals, is it really okay for you to be so lazy? Soldiers are fighting hard in the New World and you have nothing better to do?"
"You don't understand, Rowen. At this time, it's crucial not to go to the New World to take credit."
Vice Admiral Dalmatian, chewing a cigar, said, "Since the invention of the Thunder-Lightning Stimulation Device, these guys have been pent up with nowhere to vent their frustration. They've caused a lot of trouble without accomplishing anything... The New World with them around is a powder keg, anyone who goes there is out of luck."
"Otherwise, do you think the Fleet Admiral would have appointed Admiral Kizaru to sit there? Just because he's lazy."
Meanwhile, far away in the New World, at the naval base on the former Cake Island.
Kizaru: "Achoo!!"
"Ah, is it that I'm not acclimated?"
Scratching his cheek in confusion, Kizaru shook his head, picked up a piece of cake with a dinner knife, and slowly chewed on it.
"Hmm, but with such a delicious cake, I can tolerate any inconvenience."
Aokiji, who had established his reputation as the "Number One Admiral" in the headquarters after a decisive battle, wisely retired and of course didn't want to stay in the New World to clean up.
Garp...
He is not worth mentioning!
After all was said and done, he requested leave directly from Sengoku to return to East Blue to see his grandson.
He used his military merit to request the leave, and Sengoku reluctantly granted it.
Currently, the main focus of the Marines is tracking down remnants of the Revolutionary Army, a meticulous task that doesn't require Kizaru's mobility at the moment. Combined with the reasons Dalmatian mentioned, he was left behind in the New World.
Rowen looked at him strangely.
He thought to himself, finally seeing what it means to "expect nothing reasonable from a dog's mouth".
"Vice Admiral Soryu!"
At that moment, Chaton came over with his hands in his pockets and a cigarette in his mouth: "I just checked inside, the facilities can be used after some cleaning. Would you like to take a look?"
Chaton had already left the original Assassination Force and was now on an equal footing with Rowen as Headquarters Vice Admiral, with no subordinate-superior relationship.
However, for reasons they both knew, Chaton had been very willing to help Rowen in the early stages of the Assassination Force's reorganization by lending a hand in overseeing things.
The place where they had held the auction before, where they were now, was just the "reception room" closest to the surface. There was a larger room underground that was sealed off, which was the actual core of the Assassination Force headquarters.
Like the underground space of the Scientific Force, the upper floors housed less important experimental projects, while the really important things were kept underground, controlling the entrances and exits, making it easy to defend and hard to attack.
"Hmm, it would be good to take a look. If I, as chief, don't even know the terrain, wouldn't that be a joke?"
Rowen said, looking at Dalmatian, Strawberry and Vice Admiral Momonga beside him.
The meaning was clear...
Say goodbye!
The three of them: "..."
"Let's go, let's go. From now on, no one can come in without being permission."
"Yes, the Assassination Force! I remember being invited when I was a colonel, but I didn't pass the test."
"Oh? You didn't pass the strength test?"
"No, he passed all the tests, but as soon as he left, he showed his true face and was easily persuaded to reveal information, so his qualification was revoked."
"Hey! Don't ruin my reputation, Vice Admiral Momonga. We're from the same batch."
The three chatted as they walked out through the twisted maze-like passages. Having served their purpose, it would be inappropriate to linger here any longer.
Vice Admiral Momonga and the other two officers supported Rowen because of their affiliation with Garp, but unlike Garp, they wouldn't mind climbing higher if given the chance.
Even among the Vice Admirals, the rights and resources at their disposal varied greatly.
Garp was out of the picture, so as someone who had once been part of Garp's faction, Rowen naturally caught their attention.
"That's the advantage of being a leader!"
Rowen thought to himself.
Even though the Assassination Force now had only a few members, the news of their reformation still drew the support of three Vice Admirals from Headquarters.
Garp has taken his leave and gone home to avoid the spotlight. Of course, Rowen stubbornly believes that Garp did this to avoid being overshadowed by him and chose to return to East Blue for peace of mind.
---
A few days later.
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's office.
"What does Kizaru say?" Sengoku asked grimly, his gaze stern as he sat at the head of the table.
"Admiral Kizaru believes that the conflict could escalate further. He has already arranged for G-5 Base Chief Vice Admiral Mozambia to lead a support team, while he himself will stay in the rear to maintain the logistical line," The messenger reported promptly, not daring to hesitate.
"Hmm, a wise move," Sengoku sighed in relief.
Kizaru was someone who knew his limits. Without orders, he remained indifferent to most things. He understood the consequences of an Admiral appearing on the front lines, so he preferred to let Mozambia, stationed further away, take action instead, giving Sengoku time to react.
After the messenger left, Tsuru frowned and asked, "What do you think Whitebeard's intentions are, Sengoku?
Even as a Yonko, what could he accomplish? Officially overthrowing a Yonko disrupted its stability. Many pirates active in the New World saw hope in this event and began a new wave of challenges.
Joining forces with the Marines at this time seemed irrational and incomprehensible.
Tsuru believed that Whitebeard had a deeper motive.
"Motive? What else could it be? It's nothing more than a statement," Sengoku said, gathering his documents with a sigh.
"BIG MOM's downfall affected the Yonko the most, and among the Yonko, he, known as the 'World's Strongest,' was the first to be affected."
"Even though the initial cause was just an insignificant Devil Fruit, Whitebeard uses this resolute attitude to tell us and all pirates at sea that the era is not over!"
"There are still those who fight for freedom and dreams!"
"Roger's will...?" Tsuru nodded heavily in understanding.
After Roger's death, Whitebeard was the most likely candidate to become the new pirate king. At that unique time, when the other Yonko were still growing, if Whitebeard had wanted to collect the Road Poneglyphs, no one could have stopped him.
But he had no interest in doing so, and allowed three younger people to rise up and stand beside him.
No one knew what Whitebeard was thinking.
But everything he did was for the pirates, for freedom and dreams.
Perhaps it was his wish to see new pirates rise and pass on the will of freedom.
"Even without Bastille's vengeful actions against his pirate crew, Whitebeard would have risen soon to uphold the spirit of the times," Sengoku began slowly, "In character, he is a respectable guy, but..."
"We are Marines!"
The resolute and sharp determination emanating from Sengoku made Tsuru hold his breath. Behind his frog-like glasses, Sengoku's eyes were determined and fiery as he continued, "Call everyone to a meeting immediately!"
"He wants to ignite the flames of resistance in everyone's hearts, then let us extinguish them with our own hands!"
With the balance upset, Sengoku finally unleashed the haki and confidence befitting the Marine Fleet Admiral.
The Marines fear no challenge, past, present or future.
---
(End of chapter)