Marineford, Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral's Office.
The air inside the room was heavy, but it didn't feel like the typical tension before a massive war. Instead, it was a deep, ringing silence, like the dust settling after a giant mountain had crumbled.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku held a final battle report. It had just arrived through the most secure and encrypted channels from his most trusted scout. He didn't say a word at first. He simply placed the papers on the desk, leaned back into his chair, and closed his eyes. He let out a long, weary sigh, looking as if a massive weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sat across from him. She watched her old friend's subtle movements and heard the complicated mix of relief and exhaustion in that breath. She didn't push him for answers. She simply waited in the quiet.
The only other people in the office were the three Marine Admirals: Akainu Sakazuki, Kizaru Borsalino, and Aokiji Kuzan. Uncharacteristically, none of them showed any signs of impatience or anger.
Akainu's face was as stern as ever, but his lips were pressed together tightly. His chest rose and fell slightly, showing that he was far from calm. Kizaru pushed up his yellow-tinted sunglasses, but for once, he didn't say his usual catchphrase, "How terrifying." Aokiji leaned against the window frame, staring out at the calm waters of the Marineford harbor. His ice-blue eyes were full of deep, messy thoughts.
Finally, Sengoku opened his eyes. Usually, they were sharp with wisdom and authority, but now they looked tired. There was a hint of confusion in them, like a man who had just woken up from a very strange dream.
"The news is confirmed," he said, his voice sounding a bit hoarse. "Mary Geoise has been completely breached. The center of Pangaea Castle is gone—destroyed. Three of the Gorosei are confirmed dead, and the other two are missing. As for Imu, her presence is almost non-existent. She has essentially vanished. The World Government, for all intents and purposes, no longer exists."
There were no gasps. No one shouted in anger. The office only fell into a deeper, heavier silence. After about thirty seconds, Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke up. Her voice was steady and clear.
"The sky that ruled us for eight hundred years has finally fallen," she said.
Those words seemed to break the spell of silence.
"Hmph," Akainu let out a cold, sharp snort. "Those parasites should have been cleaned out a long time ago!"
It was clear his anger wasn't aimed at Takuro, the man who had done the deed. Instead, it was aimed at the corrupt Celestial Dragons and the high-ranking officials who had sat in power for centuries. In his mind, "Absolute Justice" didn't necessarily conflict with getting rid of those "evils." He just never thought it would happen this way, or by the hands of such a group.
"Oh, what an amazing result," Kizaru said slowly. His tone didn't sound happy or sad; it was just his usual drawl. "If that's the case, aren't we Marines just like children who lost their mother?"
Aokiji turned away from the window to look at Sengoku and Tsuru. "More importantly, what does Takuro—or this New Alliance he leads—plan to do now? And where do we Marines fit into all of this?"
His questions got straight to the point. Sengoku sat up straight, his gaze turning sharp again as he looked at the strongest fighters in the room.
"Anger and feeling humiliated won't help us now. The fall of the World Government is a massive challenge for us, but it might also be an opportunity," Sengoku stated firmly.
"An opportunity?" Akainu asked, his brow furrowing.
"Exactly," Tsuru answered, her voice calm and analytical. "We have always been tied down by the World Government, especially by the Celestial Dragons and the nobles they liked. We were often forced to do things that went against true justice. There were many evils we couldn't touch because it would hurt their interests. Now, those chains are gone."
She paused for a second before continuing. "From what we know about Takuro, he cares about personal power and his own goals. He doesn't seem interested in actually running a government. He needs a 'manager' to keep order so he doesn't have to deal with the trouble. And keeping order is exactly what the Marines do best."
"Tsuru is right," Sengoku nodded. "We shouldn't be thinking about revenge or trying to deny what happened. We need to figure out how to keep the Marines strong in this new world. We must continue our duty to protect civilians and keep the seas safe. Now, we can even act according to a purer version of justice in our hearts."
The Admirals looked at each other. They could see the same thought growing in each other's minds. To finally be free from the shadow of the Celestial Dragons and do what was right—wasn't that what many of them had secretly wanted for years?
"Because of that, here is what we must do," Sengoku concluded, his voice strong and determined. "We need to reach out and establish formal contact with Takuro immediately."
"And how do we do that?" Aokiji asked. "Do we go to them as losers who were defeated? Or as partners who want to help keep order?"
"We go as the Marines," Sengoku said seriously. "We are the largest, most organized military force in the world. We need to tell them clearly: the Marines are willing to accept this new situation. We will continue to handle security in the Four Seas and the Grand Line, fight pirates, and protect the people. But in return, we need official authority, resources, and a certain amount of freedom to run ourselves."
Sengoku looked at the two Admirals. "Kuzan, Borsalino, your job is to keep everyone at Headquarters and all the branches calm. Make sure the Marine machine doesn't stop working or fall into chaos during this time."
Aokiji and Kizaru both nodded in agreement.
"Sakazuki," Sengoku said, turning to Akainu with a serious look. "I know you are still angry. But the survival of the Marines is at stake right now. I need your strength to stop any powerful pirates who might try to take advantage of the chaos. We need to show the world that the Marines are still here and still able to keep order. You have to put your personal feelings aside for now."
Akainu was quiet for a moment. A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he finally gave a heavy nod. He knew what was most important for the future.
"Tsuru," Sengoku looked at his strategist. "You are in charge of making contact. Use the secret channels we have with the Golden Group. Get in touch with Takuro or whoever he has in charge as soon as you can. Tell them our position."
"Understood," Tsuru replied calmly.
The meeting ended, and everyone left to start their new assignments. Only Sengoku and Tsuru stayed behind in the office. Sengoku walked over to the window. He looked down at the warships in the harbor, all still flying the seagull flag of the Marines.
"Eight hundred years of history, gone in one day," he whispered to himself. "I never imagined it would end like this."
Tsuru walked up beside him. "The old, rotten part of the world has been cut out. It was a bloody and painful process, but it's better than slowly dying from the inside. Now, it's our job to help the sea heal and build something new."
Sengoku nodded, his eyes looking more determined than before.
"You're right. The Marines must keep going. Only this time, we will be the ones holding the map and making the rules."
Throughout Marine Headquarters, news of the new orders began to spread. Even though people were still worried about the future, the initial shock began to fade. It was replaced by a sense of determination. They were ready to face this new era—an era forced open by Takuro—with a brand new attitude.
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