On that side, Sakazuki was still flipping through the books.
After studying the sand table for a while, Zephyr and Morris were already finding it difficult to hold back. The two exchanged a few glances, and in the end, Morris gave in and looked toward Sakazuki.
"Sakazuki, isn't this battle line pushed in too deep..."
The previous strategic layout had been oval shaped. Although Big Mom and Kaido were the main directions of confrontation, it had never gone as far as it did now, driving straight into their core territory.
This kind of deep strike strategy could indeed catch the enemy off guard and place them under immense pressure. However, Shanks and Knox on the flanks were not decorations.
Most of the Marines' main combat power was concentrated at the front. That meant the pressure on the sides would become extremely high. If those two launched a surprise attack and cut across without regard for losses, the side defensive lines would collapse immediately.
Would Sakazuki make such a low level mistake?
No.
Which meant there had to be some hidden plan. Yet no matter how they thought about it, they could not figure out how the pressure on both flanks would be relieved.
Sakazuki put down the book in his hand and responded, "No. It is just right. The parallel situation of the Four Emperors spreads our forces too thin. Focusing on one point is relatively better. As for how to gather them together, we are still missing an opportunity."
When he mentioned that opportunity, his expression turned strange, as if he were thinking about something else.
Zephyr and Morris were confused. Their doubts only deepened, but neither of them continued to ask. Sakazuki had his own considerations, and it was better not to interfere too much.
* * *
The two returned their attention to the sand table. After a while, Sakazuki had also finished roughly reviewing the books.
"The content is good," he said calmly. "But it still needs to be refined. Leave this one here. Later, I will have Carlo organize the feedback and send it back. Make some further revisions."
Morris frowned slightly. "Uh… we do not need to supervise it personally, do we?"
Sakazuki smiled faintly. "I would not trust anyone else. It is better if you two handle it. Besides, the war has only just begun. The Marines have not reached the point where academy instructors need to take the field."
Zephyr frowned too. "But we are soldiers, Sakazuki..."
Sakazuki thought for a moment before replying, "The importance of these books is far greater than you imagine. Before a victor appears in this war, no one knows how it will end. Once these books are revised and fully distributed, you two can join the battle. How about that?"
There was a trace of helplessness in his tone. This war would have heavy casualties. Even now, several Vice Admirals had already fallen, and this was only the beginning.
Aside from Admirals and above, no one could guarantee their safety. Zephyr and Morris had already been retired in the rear, teaching students for nearly thirty years. A decline in strength was inevitable. At best, they were elite Vice Admirals now, yet many elite Vice Admirals in their prime were already dying on the battlefield.
There was no need to drag them into this. Their impact on the war would be limited, while the chance of death would be extremely high. The Marines had not yet reached the point where it needed them on the front lines.
Zephyr still frowned, clearly wanting to say something, but Morris pulled him slightly and spoke instead.
"Then it is settled, Sakazuki. We will head back first."
He dragged Zephyr out of the Fleet Admiral's office.
Sakazuki shook his head and said nothing. For soldiers, being excluded from such a war would naturally leave them unwilling. As for how long they could be held back, that could be discussed later.
If they insisted on going, he would not stop them forever.
* * *
On the stairs leading out of the fortress, the two men walked down step by step. Morris looked relaxed, while Zephyr remained puzzled.
"Why did you pull me out?" Zephyr asked. "We could have asked more."
Morris sighed softly.."You know Sakazuki's personality. Even if you argued all day, he would not let us go.
"But since he has promised, let us finish the task he gave us quickly. That way, he will not be able to stop us anymore. After all, who would try to hold back someone determined to die. Hahahahaha!"
Zephyr shook his head. "You..."
But he fell silent as well. The intensity of the war far exceeded their expectations. Even before arriving, the battle reports they had asked about made it impossible for them to sit still.
Many of the students who returned to visit them every year had already died in battle, and this was only the beginning.
How could they calmly remain in the rear and enjoy a peaceful life.
'In the end... we are unwilling...'
* * *
New World. Floating Fleet.
Soter was controlling several uprooted mountain peaks, keeping them suspended in the air as they moved toward the rear. The massive fleet he had previously led surrounded the island like escort ships, hovering nearby.
He looked at the peaks and sighed, then increased his output and sped up.
Ain walked over and draped the cloak he had removed during battle back onto his shoulders.
"What's wrong? Why the long face."
He gave a bitter smile. "Ah. It's nothing. I just hope Fleet Admiral Sakazuki does not blame me."
The order had been clear. Take away the residents willing to leave, bury remote controlled Dyna Stones across all the islands, and send the pirate reinforcements into the sky when they arrived later. The calculated amount was enough to make the islands disappear.
Civilians and pirates would be eliminated together.
Soter could not bring himself to do it, so he asked Headquarters again. The reply from Carlo was to execute the order.
After thinking it through, he came up with a compromise.
He uprooted the mountain peaks from the islands, drove all the residents who refused to leave onto them, and took them away directly. At the same time, remote controlled Dyna Stones were buried in the deep pits left behind, as well as in the pirates' original gathering areas.
Those deep pits would attract pirate attention to a great extent. And since the original buildings were not destroyed, the reinforcements would still choose their previous bases to station in when they arrived.
The residents had only been taken away.
The pirates would not care.
Ain did not know how to comfort him, as she had little contact with Sakazuki.
"Um… Fleet Admiral Sakazuki probably will not blame you. The mission has been completed. We only need to wait for the pirates to fall into the net.
"And the disappearance of those mountains will make them even more confused. Perhaps the effect after detonation will be even better."
Soter smiled slightly. "Mm."
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