Chapter 046: Hancock Sets the Seas Boiling!

Five days later.

Marine Headquarters – Marineford.

Inside a spacious conference room, numerous high-ranking officers were seated.

"Let's begin the meeting!"

Sengoku sat upright, expression stern. He turned to Brandnew.

"Distribute the reports."

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

Brandnew, ever the efficient assistant, quickly handed out the materials. He was sharp and professional, and had everything organized in no time.

Then Sengoku looked around at the assembled officers and spoke in a heavy tone:

"The seas have been unstable lately. A lot has been happening."

"The Four Emperors ruling the New World are expanding rapidly, recruiting soldiers and seizing territory, completely disregarding the Marines."

"And the Warlords—those sea rats—have also been causing trouble."

Sengoku knocked on his desk, his tone even more serious.

"Dracule Mihawk doing as he pleases… Doflamingo involved in underground dealings…"

"But the most critical issue… is the queen of Amazon Lily—Boa Hancock!"

"Brandnew, report on Boa Hancock's recent activities."

Brandnew nodded respectfully.

"Yes, Fleet Admiral."

He turned toward the other officers and began his report:

"Three days ago, Boa Hancock led the citizens of Amazon Lily into the Grand Line."

"Immediately afterward, a series of battles broke out."

"The 83 million bounty demon—Railjun. The 37 million bounty Black Iron. The 11 million bounty…"

He went on to list several names, clearly well-prepared.

"We contacted her and asked why she was doing this."

"After all, she's never left the Calm Belt before—not for such a long voyage."

Brandnew looked around the room, voice steady:

"She responded that she is heading for the New World. As for the reason… she did not disclose it."

Sengoku took over again, expression grave.

"She's not only a Warlord… she's also the most beautiful woman in the world."

"If this woman truly enters the New World, the sea will be in an uproar. And that's something we do not want."

"She's a Warlord, claiming to be hunting pirates. We don't really have the grounds to intervene."

"Alright, now let's discuss—why is Boa Hancock acting so strangely?"

Akainu (Sakazuki), ever hardline, spoke with a sharp, resolute gaze.

"Is it really necessary for so many of us to sit here just for someone like Boa Hancock?"

"Warlords? They're just damned pirates. The most disgusting trash in the sea!"

Kizaru (Borsalino) lounged back in his chair, legs crossed, lazily clipping his nails.

"The Warlords these days… really terrifying~ yo~~"

Sengoku glanced at the two and completely ignored them.

He did not like either of them.

Sakazuki was too extreme, obsessed with twisted "absolute justice."

Borsalino was lazy beyond belief, as idle as a stray dog.

"Hahaha! Sengoku, enough about that—want a donut?"

Garp laughed loudly, chomping down on snacks with a huge grin.

This serious meeting was instantly thrown off course by his antics.

"Damn it, Garp!!"

Sengoku glared furiously.

"Who said you could eat donuts in here?!"

Doberman, another admiral, looked around coldly.

"Admiral Sakazuki is right. The Warlords are nothing but filth."

"They're not worth discussing at all."

"If they step out of line—then we enact absolute justice and throw them into Impel Down."

A die-hard follower of Sakazuki, Doberman was a classic hawk—aggressive and powerful.

He was the only vice admiral who dared to scold a Yonko during the Marineford War.

"Exactly! The Warlords are all trash. Why should we waste time talking about them?"

Onigumo puffed on a cigarette, voice firm.

"The Marines are the strongest force at sea. These pests should be wiped out completely."

"I fully support Admiral Sakazuki. No need to waste time on them."

He too was a hawkish, hardline officer—just like Doberman.

"Agreed. Admiral Sakazuki is right. Let's not waste time discussing them."

The other hawkish officers chimed in, showing how much influence Sakazuki wielded.

He was truly a rallying figure for their faction.

Meanwhile, the more moderate "dove" officers turned their eyes to Aokiji (Kuzan), silently urging him to speak up.

After all, they didn't dare oppose Sakazuki directly.

Only Admiral Aokiji, the leading figure of the dove faction, could speak now.

Aokiji lazily twisted his neck and yawned.

"Why are you all looking at me? Didn't Fleet Admiral Sengoku just say to discuss it?"

"Anyway, I stayed up late yesterday. So tired… I'm gonna nap first."

He removed his eye mask and leaned back, falling asleep right there.

Seeing this, the doves exchanged helpless glances.

They were used to their leader's attitude—laid-back to the extreme.

No one even felt surprised anymore.

Sengoku gave Aokiji a look but didn't bother scolding him.

Among the three admirals, Aokiji was the one Sengoku had the highest hopes for.

But his personality—lazy and indifferent—was a constant source of frustration.

Honestly, all three admirals had serious flaws. Not a single one was truly "normal."

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T/N:

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