Water 7. Iceberg's Mansion ruins.
Tonight's sky was a full moon, and the bright Gekko shining on this suddenly quiet battlefield seemed unusually eerie.
Coupled with the misty drizzle falling from the sky, it brought another note to this temporary calm.
Konan leaving with her people was not stopped by Garp. Tsuru, whose injuries were not too severe, was about to pursue but was held back by Garp.
Hancock and Lucci also entered combat mode immediately, and Golden Lion came to Lucci's side, ready for battle.
Garp shook his head at Tsuru. The two had a high level of understanding, and Garp's simple shake of the head made Tsuru understand his meaning and predicament.
Garp's current condition was not very good. Although he could continue fighting, doing so would inevitably cause his efforts to forcibly control the blood from flowing out to fail.
His injuries would also worsen, and he might not even be able to keep the opponent.
Although Tsuru only had two wounds on her body, due to her age, her body's recovery ability was no longer what it used to be, so she was also at the end of her rope.
Kawasaki Hikaru's appearance brought too many surprises to this war. The injuries of Garp and Tsuru were also due to their unfamiliarity with Kawasaki Hikaru's abilities.
Now, neither side could do anything to the other, and letting it go might be the best outcome. Coupled with the fact that Garp and Tsuru both believed they still had a trump card, which was the captured Renault.
Renault had been transferred to a Marine warship with civilians before the battle, so there were no extra people at the Iceberg's Mansion ruins.
Garp believed that as long as Renault was in their hands, the Akatsuki Organization would find a way to rescue him, unless they gave up.
This time, having probed the Akatsuki Organization's true strength, the next time they faced the Akatsuki Organization's rescue attempt, it would be a head-on blow, not giving the Akatsuki Organization a chance to recover.
Pain's and Fujitora's standoff had always existed. After their initial exchange, they both understood that neither could do anything to the other.
Therefore, both focused on containment, and neither made any rash moves.
Pain was well aware of the battle situation of Hancock and the others. When he sensed their danger, Pain had tried to use Naraka Path for rescue.
However, as soon as Naraka Path emerged, it was suppressed by Fujitora's gravity and unable to move, so Pain had to give up the rescue.
It wasn't until Kawasaki Hikaru's outburst and Hancock leaving with her people that Pain and Konan had a telepathic understanding, realizing Konan's intention.
That was, today was destined to be fruitless, and it was time to retreat.
Oden and Sengoku had also stopped fighting and entered a standoff due to Garp's injury. Both sides had fought without using their full strength, always holding back, waiting for their side to gain an advantage before striking hard.
But the situation was now clear. Both sides had suffered losses. Although the Akatsuki Organization's losses were greater, continuing the battle would surely result in mutual destruction.
"Sengoku..."
"Let's end it here tonight..."
Garp came to Sengoku's side and expressed his stance.
Fujitora had already heard Garp's words, sheathing his cane sword, and the gravity suppression on Naraka Path disappeared.
Hancock and the others quickly surrounded Pain and stood with him.
"Everyone from Marineford..."
"Let's end it here tonight..."
After Pain finished speaking, he directly led everyone and turned to leave. He did not use Animal Path to summon everyone. Pain would not expose his trump cards if he didn't have to.
Everyone from the Akatsuki Organization swaggered away under Pain's leadership, and Sengoku and the others did not stop them.
"Pain..."
"Where is my sister Momousagi?"
"What did you do to her?"
Just as Pain turned around, Tsuru called out to him, hoping to know Momousagi's whereabouts and to find out if anything untoward had happened to Momousagi.
Although Tsuru knew from Renault that Momousagi was safe, she was still worried about Momousagi's safety, fearing that the Akatsuki Organization would harm Momousagi.
"Vice Admiral Momousagi is nearby..."
"She should be showing up about now..."
Pain said, his back to Tsuru, and then left with everyone.
Momousagi had indeed been lurking nearby, observing the battle. Momousagi's heart had been in a constant struggle, whether to directly join the battle to help the World Government against the Akatsuki Organization, or to simply watch from the sidelines.
Momousagi's dilemma was due to a change in her sense of justice, coupled with the Akatsuki Organization's release of 'righteousness,' which made it difficult for Momousagi to actively oppose the Akatsuki Organization again.
It wasn't until Momousagi saw Tsuru get injured that she almost couldn't resist intervening. Fortunately, she saw that Tsuru was fine afterward and managed to suppress her impulse.
Momousagi's every move was within Pain's perception, and Pain's decision to retreat also had this uncertain factor as a reason.
After all, both sides were evenly matched. If Momousagi were to request aid from the World Government and then directly enter the battlefield, the balance would be broken, and it would not be easy for the organization's members to retreat unscathed.
Fortunately, Momousagi was a grateful person and did not make any unnecessary moves, strictly adhering to their agreement at the time not to oppose the Akatsuki Organization again.
Momousagi quickly arrived at Tsuru's side from a distance.
"Sister Tsuru..."
"Are you okay?..."
Although there was a significant age difference between Momousagi and Tsuru, Tsuru had always treated Momousagi like a younger sister, so they addressed each other as sisters.
"It's nothing..."
"Just a few minor scratches..."
"It's good that you're okay."
Tsuru was very happy to see Momousagi appear safely by her side.
"Everyone..."
"Should we head back too?"
Tsuru saw that everyone's gaze was still fixed in the direction the Akatsuki Organization had left, lost in thought, and couldn't help but speak up to rouse everyone from their contemplation.
Bara bara bara... Bara bara bara... Just then, Sengoku's Den Den Mushi rang. After Sengoku answered the Den Den Mushi, the gloomy voice of his subordinate, Vice Admiral Weasel, came from within.
"Grand Inspector..."
"The Akatsuki Organization member we captured..."
"Has disappeared!..."
Upon hearing Weasel's report, Sengoku finally understood why the Akatsuki Organization had chosen to retreat even before rescuing their person.
"Ah ha ha ha..."
"Interesting..."
"How truly interesting..."
Garp saw Sengoku's gloomy expression, as if he had eaten a dead fly, and burst into happy laughter.
"Garp..."
"You quiet down for a bit..."
"Are you that happy that the enemy escaped?"
Sengoku roared at Garp with a gloomy face, venting his inner dissatisfaction.
"Grand Inspector..."
"The Akatsuki Organization's strength is already on par with the Four Emperors. I suggest we need to face them cautiously in the future."
Fujitora had always spoken little in front of them. After tonight's battle, Fujitora had understood that the Akatsuki Organization's overall strength had reached that of a Four Emperors force, and they could no longer be besieged at every turn as before.
Fujitora felt that every engagement between the World Government and the Akatsuki Organization resulted in significant losses, and the Akatsuki Organization's strength constantly redefined the World Government's understanding.
Although the Akatsuki Organization's losses this time were greater than before, the ones who acted were the three Old Generals plus himself. If such strength could not retain the Akatsuki Organization's members, then the Akatsuki Organization could no longer be categorized as a force below the Four Emperors.
The World Government primarily adopted appeasement and cooperation with Four Emperors-level forces, never attempting to arrest anyone at every turn, because the World Government understood that such actions would disrupt world "peace."
But now, the newly emerged Akatsuki Organization had proven its formidable strength. If the World Government still could not view the Akatsuki Organization as an equal, it would continue to wage war with this organization.
The ultimate outcome would likely be a struggle between two parties where a third party benefits. Fujitora had seen through the situation and hoped that conciliatory measures would be adopted for these un-destroyable forces, otherwise, every war could potentially affect civilians.
Tsuru and the other two actually understood everything Fujitora was thinking. Tsuru and Garp were fine, and they strongly agreed with Fujitora's viewpoint.
However, Sengoku and Akainu were the same; they deeply detested these evil forces that dared to embarrass the World Government. Therefore, under Akainu's authority, it was destined that the Akatsuki Organization and the World Government would be in constant conflict in the future.
Coupled with Sengoku's support... To be continued...
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