Marineford, Marine Headquarters
After more than fifty Generals stationed at Marine Headquarters had gathered, Kong, Sengoku, Tsuru, Akainu, and Zefa stepped onto the podium in the conference room and took their seats.
Kong sat in the center, while Zefa and Sengoku sat on either side of him. Tsuru and Akainu occupied the leftmost and rightmost seats.
The Marine Fleet Admiral, two Admirals, the Chief of Staff of the General Headquarters, and an acting Admiral—these five figures represented the pinnacle of power within Marine Headquarters.
Kong's eyes first swept across the entire assembly, then he cleared his throat, leaned into the microphone, and said, "I have convened this meeting today primarily to convey two matters."
"The first matter, for all reasons, combined with the current situation of our Navy..." Kong's face was serious, his gaze fixed on every officer before him. "I have decided, starting today, to let Admiral Sengoku act as interim Fleet Admiral."
"As for the second matter... Let Fleet Admiral Sengoku tell you about it!"
When it was Sengoku's turn to speak, he was in no hurry. He simply gazed at the more than fifty Generals below him, remaining silent.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Sephiroth felt that Sengoku seemed to have glanced at him twice, and there was a hint of indescribable hostility in that gaze...
After a moment, Sengoku on the podium raised his sturdy right hand and slammed it hard on the table.
Bang!
"You, as well as the Generals witnessing this meeting via live Den Den Mushi!" Sengoku's voice boomed, full of authority.
"Our Marine's duty is to uphold justice and order, but..." he paused briefly, his gaze sharpening. "Some of us have used our positions and power to commit all sorts of illegal acts!"
"Corruption, bribery, money and power transactions... These shocking occurrences break my heart..."
Below the podium in the conference room, in the back seat, Sephiroth leaned back, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Listening to Sengoku's seemingly noble words, it was clear the other party wanted to launch a major internal investigation within the Marine to eradicate corrupt elements and find scapegoats.
In response, Sephiroth sneered inwardly!
"This Sengoku has done a lot of dirty work for the World Government, and he himself isn't clean. If he truly followed his grand words!"
"Sengoku could be dragged out to the execution grounds to be shot, using a Gatling gun 'da da da!' for ten minutes!"
Therefore, what was Sengoku's plan for taking the risk of offending so many people?
Was it "preparing to pretend to conduct an internal Marine purge, or what?"
Wait, why would Sengoku need to offend people? Is there a reason why he has to offend them!?
As if he had thought of something, Sephiroth looked at Kong.
If this man developed according to the original plot, he would be promoted from Marine Fleet Admiral to Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's entire military.
Perhaps the time was now, Sengoku should officially take over as Fleet Admiral.
So the problem was, not a few corrupt Marine high-ranking officials had connections with World Government higher-ups, and they even came from those bureaucratic families themselves.
Moving "those corrupt Marine senior officials" meant offending the World Government senior officials.
If Kong still wanted to sit in the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Entire Forces, he shouldn't be too irrational!
Unless, what benefit could the other party gain from this plan to help him get into that position?
Hmm!...
Anyway, these corrupt elements were people who sought profit. If you wanted them to be used for yourself, instead of trying to win them over, you might as well just grab their leverage and let them be used for yourself?
With the support of the bureaucratic families behind those corrupt elements, plus Kong's own connections, the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Entire Army was basically stable!
In other words, Kong's purpose this time was to gain political capital for himself and let those corrupt elements support him, so that he could go further and become the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's Entire Army. In this incident, Sengoku played the role of a scapegoat...
"Sengoku" on the podium, he said, looking at his speech:
"So I will appoint Sakazuki as the leader of the inventory operation team, directly responsible to me."
"I hope those corrupt individuals can surrender themselves in time."
Hearing this, below the podium, the Generals who had been somewhat unimpressed suddenly showed a hint of panic in their eyes.
Akainu's iron-blooded style was well-known throughout Marine Headquarters!
Could it be... This inventory operation was not as simple as a passing breeze?
When he heard about Sengoku's appointment arrangement, Sephiroth was also slightly stunned. The other party was so bold as to use Akainu?
Were they not afraid Akainu would directly turn on random killing mode?
No! Although Akainu had a harsh style, this man was a military example of absolute obedience.
It must have been Sengoku who had discussed it with Akainu beforehand and had a plan worked out before he was so casually appointed.
Otherwise, with Akainu's character, all those corrupt elements would be killed, thereby offending the bureaucratic families behind them.
The next inventory operation should just be a feint.
It wasn't about dealing with those corrupt people, it was about gaining them!
Of course, this operation also had to take out one or two people with little background and insufficient strength as conspicuous sacrifices.
Huh!? Small background. Not strong enough!?
Sephiroth recalled Akainu's inexplicable disgust, and Sengoku's hostility when they saw him.
Damn it! A trap.
Could these two people be ready to perform a "purge" on me?
My official position wasn't big or small, and I was someone who had suddenly appeared recently. I didn't have a big background and no great power. If I got caught, even if I killed him, no one would help me...
Perfectly using me to be the sacrificed chicken!
With this thought, Sephiroth felt a little uneasy in his heart. If things truly developed to that point, the Umbrella Corporation might also be implicated. Its operations for many years might go to waste under the Marine's assault.
What to do?
If they had already decided to deal with me, even if I stopped now, or if the Marine judged me, the Umbrella Corporation might still get involved.
Damn it!
If I had known, I wouldn't have taken the initiative to expand the Marine business!
It was extremely complicated to want to preserve the Umbrella Corporation now.
"Okay! I will conclude here today, and we should all take this as a warning."
"If those who are already involved can surrender, we will be lenient."
Sengoku pushed his glasses up, his gaze first unconsciously sweeping over Sephiroth, and then turning to look at Kong.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, I wonder if you have anything else you'd like to say?..."
"I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY, SO BE IT! MEETING ADJOURNED!"
With that said, Kong stood up first with an expressionless face, walked from the podium, and left the conference room.