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For the first time, Anos realized the strength of his subordinates, but it was still not enough.
There are as many strong people in this world as there are carp crossing a river. If you're not careful, unexpected situations can happen at any moment.
Seeing so many admirable people, Anos felt an inexplicable sense of pride rising from the bottom of his heart.
----
Meanwhile, in another location, there stood a dense cluster of buildings, particularly one at the forefront, towering at least a hundred meters high, with the prominent word "Marine" displayed on it and the Marine's emblem in the centre.
The logo, a seagull holding scales in its beak, symbolized absolute justice.
Watchtowers dotted the area, and the coastline was lined with massive cannons.
This island, though large and located near the sea, had an interior vastly different from others.
It is home to the Marine Headquarters, soon to be one of the three major forces in the world of One Piece and the strongest single entity.
The Inhabitants here were Marine personnel and their families. Naturally, only high-ranking naval officers' families could live here.
The entire Marine Headquarters was as impenetrable as a fortress. One glance was enough to instil a sense of dread. It was a solemn, formidable place.
At that moment, inside the central building, a group of people sat with serious expressions, discussing something important.
Though it resembled a formal meeting, their behaviours, like picking their noses or eating snacks, were anything but professional.
"Crrckk… crrck… crshh…"
"Garp, you idiot, can you stop eating for a second?"
In the usually silent room, the sharp crunch of Garp munching on crackers cut through the air, starkly out of place in the tense atmosphere.
The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table, with a pigtail and glasses, glared at Garp, his voice filled with irritation.
This man was Sengoku, the current Fleet Admiral of the Marines, and a supremely powerful figure.
A goat stood beside him, and after hearing Sengoku's outburst, it, too, cast a mocking glance at Garp.
"Sengoku, mind your own business. What does my eating have to do with anything?" Garp replied indifferently.
"You still have the nerve to say that? We're discussing something serious. Can you at least pretend to be professional?"
Sengoku was so frustrated that he was momentarily at a loss for words.
In the room, over a dozen people were present, watching the scene unfold, but their faces showed little concern.
"Can we stop bickering over trivial matters? Fleet Admiral Sengoku, please proceed. We all have duties to attend to," one of them spoke up in exasperation.
It was clear to everyone that Garp and Sengoku could argue endlessly.
Sengoku sighed, realizing that further arguing with Garp would be pointless.
Shifting his focus, Sengoku turned to Garp again and said, "Garp, you should accept the position of admiral this time. No one else in the Marines is as suitable for the role as you. Please don't turn it down."
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"Forget it. Being an admiral comes with too much responsibility. I prefer staying a vice admiral. If you need an admiral, let them do it," Garp responded his expression still full of disdain.
Garp's nonchalance was met with a furious outburst from Sengoku, who shouted, "Garp, you old fool! Stop passing the responsibility"
But, Garp added, "Besides, we already have candidates for admiral! Can't these three alternates, Vice Admiral Akainu, Vice Admiral Kizaru, and Vice Admiral Aokiji, meet your expectations?"
All three alternate admirals were present in the room. Only Sakazuki aka Vice Admiral Akainu, seemed focused, while the other two looked indifferent.
"Forget it. We'll discuss the admiral position later. Let's move on to other matters."
Sengoku changed the subject, his expression shifting to one of absolute seriousness.
Behind Sengoku, a wanted poster of Anos was displayed, detailing all his known attributes.
The change in Sengoku's demeanour caused the others to follow suit, becoming more focused. Even Garp now watched with interest.
After glancing around to ensure everyone was paying attention, Sengoku began speaking slowly, "The man you see behind me is Anos Drexus, the New king of the Tru Kingdom in the South Blue. Historically, their kingdom has been impoverished, but in recent years, the king has drastically changed their situation…"
Garp, unamused, interrupted bluntly, "Sengoku, isn't it a good thing that their Kingdom is improving? This little guy seems competent. Why is this relevant?"
"Garp, will you shut up and let me finish?" Sengoku snapped, furious.
"Yes, Garp, if the Fleet Admiral is bringing it up, there must be more to the story," Tsuru chimed in.
"Can we all stop interrupting and let the Fleet Admiral finish? I've got work to do," said a man in his thirties wearing a yellow suit, Kizaru, tilting his mouth in his usual careless manner.
The attention In the room shifted instantly.
Sengoku, standing up and looking frustrated, addressed everyone sternly. "What concerns us now is not their economic strength, but their capabilities in other areas."
Sengoku pulled out a Den Den Mushi. Its eyes glowed, projecting a scene onto the wall. The footage displayed a battle between the Royal Guards and pirates in Logue Town, revealing Anos and his allies.
This Den Den Mushi was a projector type, rare and typically reserved for powerful figures in major Kingdoms.
When the projection appeared, even the previously indifferent Garp began paying close attention. No one could believe what they were seeing.
The most shocking part was that the Royal Guards of the Tru Kingdom were using the Rokushiki!
For the Marines, the Rokushiki had only started becoming widespread two years ago, yet there was a foreign military using it. This was enough to alarm everyone.
"Was this a traitor's doing?" Garp asked Sengoku, his expression serious. The Six Powers were one of the Marine's trump cards, and if this knowledge spread, it could have significant consequences.
Sengoku sat down thoughtfully, then replied, "It's unlikely to be a traitor. These techniques have only been popularized in the Marines for two years, but it's clear the other side has been using them for much longer. That's why we're having this emergency meeting to decide who will investigate the situation."
"From their techniques, it's clear they're using the Rokushiki, whether it's Shigan or Geppo. They're identical to our skills. We must investigate thoroughly," said Tsuru
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, no matter how they acquired these techniques, I suggest we eliminate them immediately. If we allow them to continue, they'll become a major threat," Akainu said fiercely.
"We should investigate first. We don't know the full situation yet. The Tru Kingdom has developed rapidly in recent years. Who will take the mission to assess what's happening?" Sengoku asked, scanning the room.
There was silence for a moment. Garp, recalling his past encounter with Anos, felt uneasy.
"Garp, you know the South Blue better than anyone. Why don't you go check it out?" Sengoku suggested.
But Garp stood up abruptly, shouting, "No way! I'm taking time off next week. I need to look after my adorable grandson. Let someone else handle this!"
His refusal didn't surprise anyone. After all, this task involved dealing with a nation, not pirates. It required a delicate approach.
Seeing no better options, Sengoku's eyes landed on Aokiji, who was leaning back in his chair, seemingly indifferent to the entire conversation.
"Aokiji, since everyone else is occupied, I'll leave this matter to you. But remember, don't act rashly. Your mission is to gather intelligence," Sengoku ordered.
"Hey, hey, hey… Fleet Admiral, I've got things to do too, you know? Don't push this boring job on me," Aokiji responded lazily.
But Sengoku was firm. "This matter is settled. You're the best candidate."
With Garp no longer an option, Aokiji was the Marine's most promising candidate for admiral. This assignment would push him further toward that promotion.
Sighing, Aokiji reluctantly agreed. "Alright, fine. For the sake of the Marines, I'll handle it."
Akainu, however, was visibly displeased. He, too, was a candidate for admiral, and it bothered him that such a minor task could determine Aokiji's promotion.
Nevertheless, the decision was final.
"Aokiji, the Tru Kingdom reported that the neighbouring Roya Kingdom has begun an invasion. No matter what happens, do not get involved in their war. Your mission is solely to gather information," Sengoku emphasized.
"We've seen that the Tru Kingdom already possesses the Rokushiki. What if they also have someone with Haki? What am I supposed to do then? I'm not signing up to get killed!" Aokiji joked in his usual laid-back tone, though everyone knew he could handle the situation.
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