Hearing the seriousness in Sengoku's voice, Ezra D. Vale frowned.
"Who exactly was released?"
Sengoku shook his head. "We are still confirming the list, but one name is certain. Redfield, the Lone Red."
Ezra raised a brow. "The Red Count… him, huh."
He rubbed his temples. "Luffy really knows how to cause trouble."
Sengoku sighed just as helplessly. "Yeah. After the war, the seas should have settled down for a while. But now that all these old monsters are back out, stability is a dream. We can only hope they do not start tearing things apart the moment they reappear."
Just then Kizaru and Akainu entered the meeting room. Not long after, Zephyr arrived as well.
The meeting officially began.
Sengoku first repeated everything he had just discussed with Ezra. No one looked pleased. Marines rarely got proper rest days, but this was pushing it.
"Akainu, you will head to Impel Down next. Assist Magellan in confirming the identities of every prisoner who escaped."
Akainu nodded.
Sengoku turned to Kizaru. "Kizaru, no slacking lately. Have Sentomaru take the PX-1 units to guard Vegapunk. You free up your schedule and focus on capturing the Red Count."
Kizaru sighed but agreed.
Finally, Sengoku looked at Ezra and thought for a moment. "You should take a trip to Windmill Village. Bring Garp back."
Ezra lifted a brow. "You do not need me hunting pirates?"
"The war just ended," Sengoku said. "Your reputation is at its peak. Even the Supernovas will think twice before provoking you right now."
Ezra shrugged and reluctantly accepted the reasoning.
After assigning all the tasks, Sengoku pulled out one last document.
"I believe you all know what this is. My resignation letter."
Everyone froze.
"Fleet Admiral, there is no need to resign so soon," Kizaru said.
Sengoku smiled and waved him off. "Relax. Even after I submit it, it will take at least a year before the next Fleet Admiral officially takes over."
As he spoke, Sengoku looked directly at Ezra.
"What do you think, next Fleet Admiral?"
Ezra's mouth twitched. "Can we not pick someone else?"
He glanced at Akainu. "For example, him. Or Aokiji."
He very deliberately did not mention Kizaru. The reason was obvious.
Far too laid back.
Kizaru gave him a sideways look.
Sengoku chuckled. "I told you before. Akainu fully supports you taking the position."
"As for Aokiji, he is still a Vice Admiral. After you become Fleet Admiral, you can promote him to Admiral. Then he can be your successor one day."
Ezra turned to Akainu. "Did you not say you wanted to duel me?"
Akainu adjusted his cap. "Did I? I do not remember."
That was some truly terrible acting.
With the matter basically settled, Ezra stopped resisting. Still, he had an idea in mind. To make it happen, he would need to find Fujitora and Ryokugyu first.
The meeting ended with Ezra lost in thought.
Akainu and Kizaru left to handle their assignments. Zephyr greeted Ezra briefly before returning to the training camp. These days Zephyr was gradually fading from the front lines of the Marines.
Ezra, preoccupied with thoughts of Fujitora and Ryokugyu, completely forgot to remind Zephyr not to set out to sea again.
Meanwhile, on an island along the Grand Line, Blackbeard and his newly formed crew had gathered.
He had watched yesterday's footage. Right now, he felt very lucky he had not done anything reckless like trying to seize Whitebeard's Tremor Tremor Fruit back then.
"Captain, what is our next move?" Jesus Burgess asked.
Blackbeard grinned. "Zehahaha! Next? We take over Whitebeard's territories!"
A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. Since they could not provoke the Marines for now, they would become one of the Four Emperors first.
"Captain, we are really going after territory?" Doc Q asked.
Blackbeard nodded. "Legendary pirates are moving again. The seas are about to grow even more chaotic. We have to seize this opportunity."
He raised his arms dramatically. "We become the new Emperor of the Sea!"
Of course, there was one thing Blackbeard did not say out loud. He also intended to search for the Tremor Tremor Fruit. Now that Whitebeard was dead, that power had to have reappeared somewhere in the world.
No matter where it was, Blackbeard would take it.
He was not the only one lying low and planning for the future. Almost all of the top great pirates had seemingly vanished from sight.
While many rookie pirates were emerging, even more young people were joining the Marines.
Because what Ezra brought to ordinary citizens was not just confidence, but admiration.
And that admiration translated into action. Marine recruitment numbers were skyrocketing.
The new recruits wandered around bases hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Some even trained hard in the middle of the night.
All just to meet Ezra D. Vale once.
Even once would be worth it.
But Ezra himself had already departed early on a Marine warship.
His destination was Windmill Village.
Outside Windmill Village's harbor, Garp had ordered his ship to remain anchored there for a long time.
He still had not set foot ashore.
Bogard stepped forward. "Vice Admiral Garp, shall we dock?"
Silence answered him.
Garp stared at the distant village. Truth be told, he did not know how to face Dadan and the others.
But he knew that no matter what, he had to go back.
"Dock the ship," Garp said with a sigh.
Bogard looked at him with concern. "Vice Admiral, what happened is already in the past. Please take care of your health."
Garp waved a hand without replying.
The warship soon reached the port. Garp stepped off with Bogard and the others.
"GARP!"
A furious roar drew everyone's attention.
Dadan shoved people aside, rushed forward, and slammed Garp to the ground. Her fists rained down on his face.
"Why?! Why did you not stop Ezra?!"
"Why did you just watch that kid go to his death?!"
"Aren't you his grandfather?!"
"How could you do nothing?!"