As Elio turned and left, only Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Akainu remained in the conference hall.
"Sakazuki, tell me what you really think."
Sengoku, as if he already knew Sakazuki would stay behind, didn't bother to turn around. With his back still facing him, he said in a deep voice, "You need to be clear. What Elio wants isn't just the position of Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral. Are you really planning to walk the same path as him?"
He nodded. "Before stepping in here, I still had a sliver of hesitation. But after hearing about the hidden figure behind the Holy Land, Lord Imu, I'm confident that my choice is the right one."
Sengoku's brows furrowed slightly. "Imu's existence is just Elio's word. It's far too early to be certain!"
But Sakazuki didn't waver for even a second. In a resolute tone, he said, "I believe him."
Having said that, he didn't linger. He turned and strode off with firm steps.
As he reached the doorway of the conference hall, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
"Even if this mysterious Imu doesn't exist, it wouldn't change my decision. Because Elio gave me the chance to fulfill my duty as a son, to serve and care for my mother while she's still alive."
Hearing that, Sengoku sharply turned around and stared directly at him.
"The elderly person Elio has been looking after these past three years… was that your mother?"
Sakazuki didn't answer. He simply stepped away without hesitation.
Watching him disappear beyond the great hall doors, Sengoku shook his head with a bitter smile.
"What a move, Elio. To think you found his one and only weakness."
After a brief pause, Sengoku withdrew his gaze and glanced around the now-empty hall. Then, he slowly walked toward the window, staring down from above at the brightly lit plaza of Marineford.
The plaza was quiet now. All the soldiers and officers stood in well-ordered lines, awaiting the arrival of their new Fleet Admiral, Elio.
Just then, Elio and his group appeared in Sengoku's view, walking through the gates of headquarters.
Seeing the young figure surrounded by Gion and the others as he approached Marineford's center, a faint sense of anticipation welled up in Sengoku's heart.
In that moment, he found himself curious, this young man, whose cunning, skill, and ability to win hearts were already extraordinary, just how far could he go?
If the Holy Land were to compromise and officially acknowledge Elio as Fleet Admiral, perhaps he could use the opportunity to secure more rights for the Marines… maybe even free Marine justice from the shackles that have long bound it.
As the former Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters, how could he not know that today's World Government was no longer what it once was?
The Celestial Dragons living in the Holy Land, those who claimed to be descendants of the gods, had become increasingly arrogant under their absolute privileges.
Arbitrary killings, stealing others' wives… to them, such atrocities were merely expressions of their entitled power as nobles of this world.
Even if such crimes caused a stir, the Marine Admirals had to rush to protect the Celestial Dragons unconditionally. Worse, they weren't allowed to shelter or assist the oppressed civilians.
As Elio said, as long as the Celestial Dragons remain on the mountain, crushing the World Government, the Marines under their command could never uphold true justice.
Sengoku understood all of this, but he lacked the courage to tear it all down.
Because pulling a single thread could unravel the entire system. If someone stood up to reveal the truth, chaos would surely follow.
More importantly, there had to be a reason why the World Government had survived atop the Red Line for eight hundred years. All he could do was carry out his responsibilities and spread Marine justice as far as he could manage.
Watching Elio's group leave the headquarters and vanish into the night, Sengoku finally withdrew his gaze and murmured to himself,
"Glory has always belonged to the youth. Back in my day, I too was burning with ambition."
As his words faded, Sengoku's expression suddenly changed. He quickly turned toward the door.
Standing there, he didn't know when they had arrived, were three figures.
At the front stood none other than the former Marine Admiral known as "Black Arm" Zephyr.
Behind him stood two young Marine officers, one male and one female.
The young man was named Binz, dressed in rather eccentric clothing. He was the user of the Grow-Grow Fruit and deeply trusted by Zephyr.
The young woman was named Ain. She wore sharp black heels, a flowing blue cape, and her eyes carried a deep melancholy, as if she had just endured a parting between life and death.
"Zephyr?"
Sengoku hadn't expected Zephyr to appear at a moment like this. He quickly stepped forward, sounding a bit anxious,
"Why are you here? Your arm..."
As he spoke, Sengoku looked toward Zephyr's right arm.
Zephyr raised his remaining arm and lightly touched the stump, saying calmly,
"Don't worry. It's already been three years. I'm used to it. But you'd better push the science division to hurry up and finish developing the mechanical arm!"
Sengoku looked like he had something to say, but remained silent.
As if he knew exactly what Sengoku was thinking, Zephyr walked straight to the conference table, pulled out a chair, sat down, then looked up at him.
"You've already handed over the power of Fleet Admiral to Elio. But even if you're no longer Fleet Admiral, the science division will still show you some respect."
Huh?
Sengoku's pupils shrank as he stared at Zephyr in shock.
"You're not surprised by what happened at headquarters? Don't tell me, you… You knew all along that Elio was planning a coup?"
Zephyr smiled and nodded.
"He's my student after all."
Hearing that, Sengoku let out a helpless sigh and said with some weariness,
"So, you've truly lost all hope in the Marines."
"No!"
Zephyr glanced at Ain and Binz, who were standing by the door, his tone filled with bitterness and resentment.
"If it weren't for Elio, I might've already established a brand-new Marine force by now."
"After all, all of you have forgotten the incident three years ago, the ambush on the training ship that sent dozens of young lives to the bottom of the sea. That's when I lost all hope in the Marines."
Sengoku's expression shifted slightly, and he hurried to explain,
"I haven't forgotten."
"You haven't?" Zephyr suddenly stood up, emotions surging.
"Dozens of young Marine officers died at sea. As Fleet Admiral, you should've launched a full-scale manhunt until the perpetrators were caught and executed publicly. Only by doing so would the pirates who dare harm Marines feel fear. Only then would those young lives find peace, and those still living be able to carry on the fight for justice!"
"But you didn't. These three years, your inaction has left me utterly disappointed."
As he spoke, Zephyr pointed to Ain and Binz,
"And to them, and to all the young officers like them who shoulder the future of the Marines!"
Realizing his emotions were on the verge of losing control, Zephyr paused briefly, then sat back down, lowering his voice.
"Sengoku, we've gotten old. All of us have."
Sengoku said nothing. He just stood there, his face grim and his heart conflicted.
He hadn't forgotten the attack on Zephyr's training ship three years ago, nor the dozens of young officers who were lost at sea. He'd been quietly sending people to track down the murderer responsible for that slaughter all along.
But he didn't say any of that. Because, as Fleet Admiral, he had to think beyond a single pirate. He couldn't mobilize all three Admirals just for personal vengeance.
Still, Zephyr wasn't wrong.
So many young officers were killed, and their murderer was still roaming the seas. Sengoku bore an undeniable responsibility.
"I know what you're thinking."
Seeing Sengoku remain silent, Zephyr spoke again,
"You think I chose to stand by and watch because Elio promised to bring the pirate who attacked the training ship to justice? Let me tell you the truth, Elio made no such promise to me. But I believe he won't let me down."
Then, Zephyr turned his head and looked at the two students silently standing outside the door.
"Ain, Binz. The situation is settled tonight. From now on, follow Elio. He will be an exceptional leader."