"We were wrong, gravely wrong. We underestimated the strength of the Chris Pirates… especially Golden Ring Aeridar."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face was dark with tension, his clenched fists trembling slightly. "Syrons clashed head-on with Golden Ring Aeridar… and it ended in mutual injury. We don't know the extent of Aeridar's wounds, but judging by Syrons' condition, it can't have been any better for him."
"Hsss…"
Vice Admiral Momonga and Vice Admiral Vargos both drew sharp breaths. Their gazes locked, mutual understanding and unease etched in their expressions.
A one-on-one duel that ended in a draw… The implication was obvious: if either of them were to face Golden Ring Aeridar in single combat, the outcome would be a resounding defeat.
Sengoku's words had only confirmed their fears. Vice Admiral Momonga furrowed his brow. "With Vice Admiral Syrons gravely injured, our entire plan falls apart. There's no longer a high-ranking officer guarding Route One, it's bound to descend into chaos. And without a fleet commander, our punitive expedition against the Demon Mask Pirates has no leadership. We'll have no way to explain this to the World Government."
"That's the lesser concern," Vargos replied with a scowl, stroking the full beard along his jaw. "The real issue is the Demon Mask Pirates. That crew must be eradicated. But now that Syrons is incapacitated, we've lost our last capable commander."
"Our naval forces are stretched to the limit already," sighed Tsuru, the Chief Strategist, her voice weary with resignation. "Damn it all… is the mighty Navy truly powerless to crush just two pirate crews, the Demon Mask Pirates and the Chris Pirates?"
Sengoku rubbed his temples in frustration. The balance of the seas was slipping through the Navy's fingers. The New World was already a festering mess. Continuing to fight there brought diminishing returns. And yet, after all the effort the World Government had invested, the Five Elders included, retreating was unthinkable.
Now even Marineford, the heart of the Navy, stood vulnerable.
"Should we… call a High Command meeting?" Vargos asked hesitantly.
"No." The answer came before Sengoku or Tsuru could speak. Vice Admiral Momonga shook his head firmly. "Not until we know how to frame the situation. If word gets out now, it'll cause widespread panic."
Syrons wasn't just any Vice Admiral, he was a respected veteran, and his loss would shake the Navy to its core. Too many owed him favors or followed his lead. If those people stirred unrest, the consequences could rattle the entire institution.
"Wait a moment…" Tsuru spoke up suddenly, eyes narrowing with clarity. "There's one person who could lead the expedition against the Demon Mask Pirates."
"Who?" All three men leaned in, their voices almost overlapping.
"Zephyr."
"Zephyr-sensei!"
"Chief Instructor Zephyr?"
"If it's Zephyr… that could work." The trio nodded in unison.
Zephyr, the former Admiral, now Chief Instructor known as Black Arm Zephyr. Appointing someone of his stature to lead the fleet would be a bold and fitting move.
"But will he agree?" Momonga asked, concerned. "He's still tasked with defending headquarters."
After losing his family to pirates, Zephyr had grown disillusioned and resigned from his admiralty. Though persuaded to stay on as an instructor, he'd kept his distance from frontline duties, mostly taking students or cadets on practical exercises against small-time pirates.
Since the launch of Operation Weedkiller, Zephyr had been juggling dual responsibilities: training recruits and serving as a deterrent near HQ. The pirates spilling out of the New World had dared not strike Marine territory directly, knowing that both Fleet Admiral Sengoku and former Admiral Zephyr were stationed nearby. Though not at Marineford itself, Zephyr was stationed on a nearby island, half a day's sail away, no more than a day at worst.
His presence kept the headquarters safe.
If he were to be redeployed… that delicate balance would shatter. Bold pirates might unite and launch an assault on Marineford. Even if they failed to breach the stronghold, the damage could be catastrophic.
And once news of a successful attack on headquarters spread, even if only partially, the repercussions would be seismic. Frontline Marines, the World Government, and the global populace would all reel from the shock. The entire balance of the seas could collapse.
"…Then let's recall the Grand Expeditionary Fleet."
Sengoku's voice landed like a thunderclap.
Momonga and Vargos froze, eyes wide in disbelief as they stared at their commanding officer.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, surely you're not serious?"
"You can't mean to give up the New World?!"
Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
"What's your intention?" Tsuru asked quietly, her expression calm. As though she had foreseen Sengoku's words.
"The Grand Expeditionary Fleet has been fighting in the New World for six months," Sengoku began, his tone resolute. "But against the Emperors and their forces, we've suffered more defeats than victories. We're trapped in their territory, our numbers thinning with every battle. Meanwhile, the pirates grow stronger, more numerous."
He paused, then declared, "Continuing this war of attrition is pointless. Worse, it risks spreading chaos into the first half of the Grand Line. Better to pull back. Reclaim order here. Without our pressure, the pirates in the New World will no longer unite, they'll turn on each other to seize the position of Emperor."
"And how will we explain this to the Five Elders? What about the New World bases?" Tsuru asked, sipping a steaming cup of tea without breaking her gaze.
"We abandon most of them," Sengoku answered without hesitation. "We hold the G-1 Fortress at the New World's entry point, and the G-5 Fortress embedded deep within. Those two we defend at all costs. I'll explain the rest to the Five Elders myself."
"That's not entirely unreasonable," Momonga admitted. "We've poured too much into the New World—troops, resources, everything—just to end up locked in attrition. The returns aren't worth it."
"Every failure brings the Government's wrath," Tsuru added, nodding. "Better to make one decisive retreat, let the major pirate factions slaughter each other, and reestablish balance using the Navy and the Seven Warlords."
"Sakazuki's Second Fleet will fall back to G-1. Garp and Kuzan will pull the First and Third Fleets back to G-5. We send Borsalino to lead the offensive against the Demon Mask Pirates." Sengoku tapped the table once for emphasis. "As for the Chris Pirates… leave them for now. They're not fully matured. Let them try their luck in the New World… and see how long they last against the Four Emperors."
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