Chapter 140

Three Admirals.

Kizaru was the lucky one.

Aokiji had become lame.

Akainu had become a one-armed warrior.

The sight of these two high-ranking figures in such a state severely damaged the Navy's reputation.

Of course, the Navy had never really cared much about public image. If they did, they wouldn't have allowed some of their more sinister-looking marines to climb the ranks. Image was secondary.

What truly mattered now was this:

In the battle against Kairos Flint, two of the three Navy admirals were seriously injured.

And as if that weren't enough…

Blackbeard himself had brought the Navy a gift.

Portgas D. Ace.

Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. The man known as Fire Fist.

Under normal circumstances, this would've been something the Fleet Admiral Sengoku would've celebrated with a dream and a smile. But right now… things were different.

The Navy had suffered tremendous losses—both among lower ranks and at the highest levels of command. They were severely undermanned. If they attempted to execute Fire Fist Ace now, Whitebeard might march directly out of the New World and attack.

That would push the Navy's already fragile condition over the edge.

If they appeared weak, it would only embolden the rest of the seas. Pirates and warlords hiding in the shadows would be eager to make their moves.

Sengoku had even considered locking Ace away in Impel Down quietly, but then came the real kicker—

Blackbeard had handed over not just Ace… but also the truth of Ace's identity.

The biological son of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King.

Sengoku hadn't known this. But he wasn't a fool. Based on his old comrades' suspicious behavior in the past, he had his suspicions. And now, the truth confirmed what he had only guessed.

Now the World Government had stepped in.

They wanted a public execution of Fire Fist Ace—not just to make an example out of him, but also to provoke Whitebeard into open war. If the Navy could defeat the Whitebeard Pirates, they'd not only eliminate one of the Four Emperors, but they'd send a powerful warning to the rest of the world's outlaws.

At the strategy table, Sengoku spoke calmly to his fellow high-ranking officers. No Commodores or Captains were present. Only top-level brass had been invited. Even though many officers had died or been severely injured during the recent battles involving Kairos Flint, the Navy still had a strong pool of generals and vice admirals.

Upon hearing this, Garp's face darkened.

What troubled him most wasn't just Ace's arrest—it was the fact that Blackbeard hadn't simply betrayed Ace for a seat among the Shichibukai, but that he had revealed Ace's parentage to the World Government. That information couldn't be undone. Too many people knew now.

On the side of the Five Elders, the message was simple:

"Kill them all."

That was the World Government's stance.

So even if Garp had wanted to protect Ace, he had no way to act. Ace was a pirate, the Second Division Commander under Whitebeard—one of the Four Emperors. There was no legitimate reason he could give to intervene. And if he tried, his position as a naval hero would crumble.

It would be seen as treason.

Even though he believed in his own sense of justice, this time… he couldn't act on it.

A Vice Admiral stood and said:

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, declaring war against one of the Four Emperors isn't inherently reckless. After all, we are the Navy—they are pirates. We've always been enemies."

"But the truth is, the Navy has suffered immense losses in recent months. The injuries to our admirals alone will take time to recover from. Our frontline combat strength is in jeopardy."

"We've also lost a shocking number of soldiers. Shouldn't we consider a mass recruitment drive to rebuild our forces before taking any further action?"

She paused for a moment, then added:

"Rushing to start a war with Whitebeard now would be reckless. We must be calm and deliberate."

As the Navy's Chief of Staff, she could easily read Garp's conflicted expression. She had her suspicions about his connection to Ace, but she chose not to dig deeper—out of respect for her old comrade.

Instead, she redirected the discussion.

"What about the public execution of Fire Fist Ace?"

"Let's delay it… just a little."

"We've arranged pensions for the families of the fallen, but no amount of money can replace the lives lost. We urgently need to replenish our ranks."

"I'll report the recruitment plan to the Five Elders."

"As for the injuries to the admirals, vice admirals, and other generals—recovery will take time."

"I propose we postpone the execution by one month. That should give the admirals time to heal and allow us to carry out emergency recruitment."

Sengoku listened carefully.

Then he nodded.

"It's decided."

"One month from now, the Navy will publicly execute Fire Fist Ace at Marineford."

"Let the world watch. Let the Whitebeard Pirates come."

"And when they do… we will destroy them."

"All operational responsibilities leading up to the execution are now assigned to each of you."

His words were decisive.

This one-month delay wasn't just a military strategy. It was a tactical concession. It gave the Navy time to regroup. It gave Garp some emotional leeway. And it gave the world a countdown to what was about to become…

The greatest war the seas had ever seen.

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