The enormous hall fell into an inexplicable silence.
Yamamoto stared at the Transponder Snail in his hand, the muscles in his cheek twitching uncontrollably.
Only moments ago, he had been hoping that good news would come from Impel Down.
He had never imagined that the answer would be something he couldn’t have come up with even if he had racked his brains.
The entire Sixth Level of Impel Down had been suppressed simply because someone wanted to get off work on time.
Such madness was something no ordinary person could have imagined.
Perhaps only someone like Lucas, who never played by the rules, could actually pull it off.
"Heh heh. Sorry about that, Yamamoto."
Sengoku secretly breathed a sigh of relief before giving an awkward laugh.
"Looks like that brat is a billion times stronger than you expected!"
"As for how we’re going to deal with the two Four Emperors, I’ve already thought of a workable strategy."
"We’ll split the battlefield in two."
"When the time comes, I’ll invoke the Seven Warlords of the Sea system to reinforce our defensive line."
"In this battle, I’ll stake the reputation of the Fleet Admiral."
"If we can’t achieve a decisive victory, then I don’t need this position anymore!"
"You!"
Yamamoto’s expression turned livid.
Is, however, reached out and stopped him once again.
He tightened his grip on his cane before speaking in a deep voice.
"Split the battlefield in two?"
"You’re even willing to stake your position as Fleet Admiral?"
"Sengoku, it seems you’re truly confident."
"Then I’ll see what you’re going to do next."
"If you fail, you won’t merely lose your position as Fleet Admiral."
"Control of Marine Headquarters will also change hands completely."
"I hope you can have the last laugh."
"Just make sure you haven’t placed your bet on the wrong side."
"Don’t worry."
"This battle will exceed both your expectations and mine."
"The old era has already passed."
"This is the New Era!"
Sengoku suddenly raised his head and took one last look at the Five Elders before turning around and striding away.
Those words had indeed been extremely forceful, and Sengoku was genuinely confident.
However, as the Marines’ strategic mastermind, Sengoku knew very well that this was the best plan available to him.
The dangers involved were so great that even he couldn’t predict the outcome.
Watching Sengoku’s figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Yamamoto crushed the Transponder Snail in his hand with a bang.
"How arrogant!"
"Has he really forgotten why Marine Headquarters exists?"
"Don’t forget, they’re merely pieces on the chessboard of the Five Elders."
"It seems we’ve been far too lenient with them, allowing them to completely forget who the true masters are."
"Is, are you really planning to let Marine Headquarters continue slipping beyond our control?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone’s eyes fell upon Is.
Even Spandine was no exception.
Yet when he remembered the figure who had deliberately allowed him to escape, an inexplicable sense of unease surfaced in Spandine’s heart.
Feeling everyone’s gazes upon him, Is tightened his grip on his cane.
His expression remained unchanged.
"Yamamoto, you said it yourself."
"No matter what they do, they’re nothing more than pieces on the chessboard."
"And we are the ones moving the pieces."
"No matter how the board changes, their lives and deaths will always remain within our control."
"Since Sengoku is willing to stake everything on protecting that brat even while facing two Four Emperors, then let him have his way."
"I’d also like to see just how far he can go."
"Spandine, you’re currently a man under punishment."
"Leave immediately for Dressrosa."
"I want you to deliver a few words to Donquixote Doflamingo."
"I believe he’ll be very pleased with my arrangement."
Go to Dressrosa?
Spandine was completely bewildered.
The moment he thought that this matter might somehow be connected to the Marines’ newly appointed Admiral, Admiral Glutton Lucas, an intense sense of unease emerged in his heart.
Especially when he remembered the assessment Lucas had given him.
He was genuinely worried that he might once again become someone else’s unwitting source of wealth.
However, faced with an order from the Five Elders, Spandine was indeed uneasy, but he had no other choice given his current status as a man under punishment.
He could only grit his teeth and accept the order.
After Spandine left, Is glanced once more down the corridor before departing with the support of his cane.
"Let’s go."
"Let’s see how far the SSG project has progressed."
"Once we completely acquire Vegapunk’s scientific military power, Marine Headquarters will no longer be necessary."
"Even Vegapunk himself will have no reason to continue existing."
"All we need are absolutely obedient chess pieces."
The following morning, sunlight as brilliant as scattered gold spilled across the deck.
A warship raced through the waves with the assistance of a Marine-controlled current.
Lucas stood at the bow of the deck and took a swig of liquor.
He raised his head and looked at the Gates of Justice appearing ahead.
Once they passed through those gates, they would arrive at Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In the corner of the deck, Blackbeard, whose face had been deathly pale, finally revealed an expression of overwhelming delight.
Thinking back to everything that had happened the previous day, when Lucas had casually suppressed the entire Sixth Level simply because he was rushing to get off work, Blackbeard still felt a chill running down his spine.
He had genuinely been afraid that before he could complete his grand plan to dominate the sea, he might simply get too close to Lucas a few more times and be casually blasted to death.
However, that wasn’t what Blackbeard cared about most.
What occupied his thoughts above everything else was what he had seen yesterday in the Sixth Level of Impel Down—the place he had dreamed of reaching for so long.
"Admiral Lucas, we’re about to arrive at Marine Headquarters, Marineford."
Tashigi quickly walked over.
After hesitating for a moment, she continued,
"I just received an order from Fleet Admiral Sengoku. As soon as Admiral Lucas arrives at Headquarters, you’re to go directly to the conference hall for a meeting."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku also said that if we arrive at Headquarters before nine, Admiral Lucas should wait until nine o’clock before attending."
"There isn’t any bonus available for you this time."
At that point, even Tashigi couldn’t help giving an awkward smile.
Smoker and the others nearby were no different.
In their eyes, being fortunate enough to participate in the highest-level meeting was a symbol of one’s status and authority.
Normally, whenever such a meeting was called, who wouldn’t rush there immediately?
Looking across the entire Marines, perhaps Lucas was the only person qualified to make Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally keep track of his working hours.
As the warship quickly docked, Blackbeard, who had been hiding in the corner, didn’t have time to worry about anything else.
He immediately leaped onto the nearby warship that had been prepared for his departure.
Only after both his feet were firmly planted on the deck did that long-lost sense of security gradually return.
"Captain, you must have gained a huge harvest from your trip to the Sixth Level of Impel Down, right?"
Burgess was the first to lose his patience.
"The prisoners locked up there must be enough to turn the Blackbeard Pirates into the strongest Emperor crew in the world!"
Lafitte immediately glared at Burgess, signaling him to shut up.
But even he couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked with a smile,
"Captain, did everything go according to plan as usual?"
As the former West Blue security officer, Lafitte had always served as something of a strategist for Blackbeard.
It had been his suggestion to take the risk of entering the Sixth Level of Impel Down and recruit new members.
In his eyes, the plan had been flawless.
However, just as a smile appeared on his face, the words that reached his ears caused his expression to stiffen.
"Well..."
"I feel like the people on the Sixth Level are just average!"
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