The hurried footsteps instantly shattered the celebratory atmosphere.
The tension that had only just eased tightened once again.
As someone from the same generation as Sengoku and Garp, Tsuru was more than just a Vice Admiral. She also served as the Chief Staff Officer of the Marines, overseeing the intelligence network of Marine Headquarters.
For someone as composed and experienced as Tsuru to look this serious, it could only mean one thing—
This was no ordinary matter.
Lucas frowned. Countless possibilities flashed through his mind before one stood out above the rest.
"Tsuru, what happened? Even you’ve lost your composure. Did the Five Elders move this quickly to hold us accountable?"
Sengoku’s expression darkened as he spoke.
He had never expected those flimsy excuses from earlier to fool the Five Elders.
He had already prepared himself to shoulder all the responsibility.
The only reason he’d played along was to persuade Zephyr to change his mind and prevent CP0 from exploiting the situation.
For a moment, everyone’s attention turned toward Tsuru.
Looking down at the report in her hand, Tsuru quickly composed herself.
"No. Even if the Five Elders intend to question us, they shouldn’t arrive this quickly."
"A short while ago, Ross received a communication request from Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach. He wants to make a deal with Marine Headquarters."
"He wishes to replace Crocodile as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
A new Seven Warlords member?
Everyone’s expressions changed.
Almost instinctively, they all glanced toward Weevil, who was still lying on a stretcher.
In the past, every candidate for the Seven Warlords would put the Marines on high alert.
But after Weevil’s disastrous example...
They couldn’t help feeling strangely skeptical whenever the subject came up.
If Blackbeard knew there was already a cautionary tale lying here on a stretcher, he might not be so eager to boast about becoming a Warlord.
"Tsuru," Sengoku asked seriously, suppressing his own strange thoughts, "you said Blackbeard wants to make a deal to replace Crocodile as one of the Seven Warlords?"
"Not long ago, he murdered Thatch, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates’ Fourth Division, and has been hunted by the Whitebeard Pirates ever since."
"What gives him the confidence to propose such a deal?"
Many of the Marine officers present had already heard about the shocking incident at sea.
Blackbeard’s ruthlessness had exceeded everyone’s expectations.
But they were equally curious what leverage he possessed.
"Is he planning to use Fire Fist Ace as his bargaining chip?" Lucas said calmly.
The events aboard Whitebeard’s ship half a month ago remained vivid in his memory.
Just as expected...
The gears of fate were still turning along their original course.
"Fire Fist Ace?"
Sengoku’s expression changed drastically.
"You mean the man who rejected an invitation to become one of the Seven Warlords and instead became commander of Whitebeard’s Second Division?"
"He actually lost to Blackbeard?"
"It seems Blackbeard has hidden his true strength far better than any of us realized."
"If he’s truly offering Fire Fist Ace in exchange for a Warlord position, the Five Elders will agree without hesitation."
"Tsuru... has Fire Fist Ace really fallen into Blackbeard’s hands?"
Tsuru gave Lucas a surprised glance before nodding.
"Just as Admiral Lucas predicted."
"The bargaining chip Blackbeard offered is indeed Fire Fist Ace, commander of Whitebeard’s Second Division."
"However, before ending the call, Blackbeard deliberately left us with one more piece of information."
"He claimed that Ace carries a secret capable of shaking the very foundations of this era."
"He believes Marine Headquarters will never be able to resist that secret and will certainly accept his terms."
Her expression grew even more solemn.
"Sengoku, I don’t know what secret Blackbeard is referring to."
"But what began as an internal conflict within the Whitebeard Pirates will become something far greater if we intervene."
"If we accept this deal, we must prepare ourselves for retaliation from the Whitebeard Pirates."
"He requested that our representatives meet him in the Chels Sea five days from now."
Ace...
Among the crowd, Garp’s face turned deathly pale.
His fists clenched tightly, his palms already drenched in sweat.
Ever since Ace and Luffy had set sail as pirates, this was the news Garp had dreaded most.
He would rather they had disappeared somewhere in the vast sea...
Than have them stand before him again as pirates to be judged by his own hands.
That would be a fate even crueler than death.
Yet now that things had come to this...
All Garp could do was remain silent and listen.
Lucas took another sip of liquor, quietly taking in every change in Garp’s expression.
But he wasn’t some self-sacrificing saint.
The warning he’d given aboard Whitebeard’s ship last time was already enough to repay the favor he owed Garp.
As for stepping into this muddy affair himself...
That was another matter entirely.
Feeling everyone’s gaze upon him, Sengoku fell into deep thought.
He couldn’t begin to guess what secret Blackbeard claimed could overturn the age.
But after a long silence, he finally made his decision.
"Tsuru."
"Reply to Blackbeard immediately."
"Marine Headquarters accepts his proposal."
"At the same time, issue orders to every Marine base, both Headquarters and the regional branches."
"Enter full combat readiness and remain on guard against any retaliation from the Whitebeard Pirates."
"This is going to become an incident unlike any we’ve seen in years."
Garp lowered his head without a word.
He had already expected Sengoku’s decision.
Yet hearing it spoken aloud still left him feeling utterly deflated, like the air had been let out of a balloon.
"Understood, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"I’ll handle it immediately," Tsuru replied.
"However, Blackbeard is the sort of man who would kill even his own crewmates."
"I’m concerned he may try to deceive us."
"If we’re sending someone to complete the exchange..."
"We’ll probably need an Admiral to go in person."
An Admiral?
The Marine officers exchanged glances.
No one objected to Tsuru’s suggestion.
But the moment she mentioned handling a Warlord exchange...
Nearly every pair of eyes shifted toward the same person.
Seeing everyone staring at him, Lucas nearly spat out his drink.
Had he become the Marines’ designated Warlord liaison now?
Meeting Sengoku’s gaze, Lucas calmly took another sip before breaking into a grin.
Sengoku’s cheek twitched.
Grinding his teeth, he said,
"Don’t worry."
"I know how the ’pay more’ part works, so you don’t have to say it."
Lucas laughed awkwardly.
"Well, Fleet Admiral, premium service comes with premium pricing."
"But don’t worry."
"This time..."
"I guarantee I’ll bring them back alive."
Although everyone was already familiar with Lucas’s habit of demanding extra pay at every opportunity...
Hearing it again still made Sengoku’s head throb.
After glancing once more at Weevil lying on the stretcher, Sengoku shot Lucas a glare.
"No."
"I don’t mean bring them back alive."
"I mean bring back the living prisoners."
"Otherwise, I won’t have any way to explain this to the Five Elders."
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