With Kaido's death, another major turning point between the Navy and the pirates of the world was officially declared.
From this point onward, pirates could no longer rely on their positional advantage in the New World to recklessly challenge the Navy's authority.
In this battle, the aggressiveness displayed by the Navy shocked the entire world.
No one from any faction could believe that even Kaido, one of the Three Emperors, along with the other two Emperors, had been unable to withstand the Navy's offensive.
In just a few short days, the territories of two Emperors had been pierced through, while the territory of one Emperor had been completely destroyed.
The Navy's deterrent power had been magnified.
Even after the Navy announced its withdrawal from the New World and everyone left Kaido's territory, all the smaller forces still did not dare occupy Kaido's land.
But this was only temporary.
They would be like sharks smelling blood in the water.
Once they confirmed that the Navy had completely left, they would pounce forward and tear into it madly.
However, the ones with the greatest headache in the world right now were not only the pirates, but also the World Government and Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Just as Sengoku released the news to the outside world that the Navy was giving up its territory in the New World, Raleigh and Sakazuki also publicly announced the news of Kaido's death.
The two pieces of news came one after another.
Anyone even slightly intelligent could see the secret hidden within.
That was: Sengoku's announcement had come first.
Raleigh and Sakazuki's announcement had come after.
This made Shanks sense something unusual.
In addition, the Five Elders of the World Government, who had keen political instincts, also noticed the difference.
...
In the Holy Land of the Celestial Dragons, Mary Geoise, an emergency meeting was called.
The Five Elders gathered once again to discuss matters.
Even they themselves felt that something was strange.
In the past, meetings like this might not happen more than a few times in an entire year.
But now, such meetings were happening almost every few days, and every single time, the matter was extremely important.
Pushing aside the doubts in his heart, the long-bearded Elder spoke first.
"It seems that a split has already appeared within the Marine. The relationship between Admiral Raleigh and Sakazuki, and Sengoku, is very tense."
The Five Elders were all veterans of political struggle.
They understood this kind of situation very well.
This was definitely a move made because one side was dissatisfied with the other.
Normally, if an admiral completed a strategic objective, he would immediately report the news to Navy Headquarters.
In that case, Sengoku's announcement should have come later than Raleigh and Sakazuki's.
But now, the situation was different.
The Elder holding the cursed sword pushed up his glasses.
"This is beneficial to us. The Navy has become far too threatening. We can properly stir up internal conflict to weaken its strength."
To the Five Elders, the current situation had indeed become somewhat difficult to control.
The Navy was different from any previous era.
The Navy of this period was unprecedentedly powerful. Even the World Government could no longer control it through forceful methods.
"And Sengoku and the others' attitude toward the Revolutionary Army is far too ambiguous. It's time to replace the Fleet Admiral."
The short, stout Elder opened his mouth and made the proposal.
After this incident happened, his first thought was to split the Navy's forces.
Within the current Navy, Sengoku's faction had countless connections to the Revolutionary Army.
The reason the Revolutionary Army had been able to grow stronger was also because of the relationship involving Sengoku and Garp.
Meanwhile, the obedience and aggressiveness displayed by Raleigh and Sakazuki made them believe that those two could become sharp blades aimed at the Revolutionary Army.
"However, Sengoku has served as an admiral and Fleet Admiral for many years. His hidden cards are not as simple as what appears on the surface."
The long-bearded Elder smiled.
"Sengoku's current behavior is completely opposite to that of most soldiers in the Navy. He, who should have belonged to the hawkish faction, has become a dove and betrayed his original ideals. Now, there is no longer a place for him among the hawks."
The Five Elders were well aware of the reason behind Sengoku's change.
Part of it was due to Sengoku's own weakness.
He valued emotions too heavily and could not face Garp's pleas, so whenever it came to the Revolutionary Army, he could never truly bring himself to act ruthlessly.
The other part of the reason, however, was precisely because of the Five Elders sitting in this room.
It was because they had constantly suppressed the Navy that the Navy had always been at a disadvantage when facing pirates.
As time went on, the Navy had naturally begun to push Sengoku out of the hawkish faction.
"Splitting the Navy is indeed a good idea. The problem is that Raleigh and Sakazuki do not seem like obedient people."
The Elder holding the cursed sword spoke with a cold glint in his eyes.
"As for those two, we do need to support them. At the same time, we must properly beat them down a little and make them remember their place."
"Only by being good servants of the gods will the gods show their generosity to the world."
"Send a few CP0 agents to contact him. Tell him that as long as he listens to us, the position of Fleet Admiral can be his."
...
At this moment, the subject of the Five Elders' discussion was on the return voyage.
Rarely, Raleigh had brought out his sun chair again. He had not done this in a long time.
Sakazuki also came over from his warship and sat beside Raleigh.
After a long while, Sakazuki suddenly spoke.
"Raleigh, don't you think what Sengoku did this time was truly wrong?"
Raleigh was just putting a grape into his mouth.
After hearing Sakazuki's words, he chewed twice, savoring the sweet and sour taste on his tongue before speaking.
"Sengoku has his own considerations. But he has indeed already gone against the direction in which the Navy is developing."
Neither of them addressed Sengoku as Fleet Admiral.
"If I support you, how confident are you?" Sakazuki said seriously.
This matter was extremely important to him. It was even related to his future style of action within the Navy.
Raleigh was not surprised.
Everyone could clearly feel that Sengoku was no longer suited to be Fleet Admiral.
There were only four people qualified to become Fleet Admiral.
The three admirals: Raleigh, Sakazuki, and Borsalino, as well as Chief of Staff Kuzan.
Other than them, no one else had the qualifications.
Raleigh looked into Sakazuki's eyes and said solemnly, "With the support of you, Sakazuki-senpai and my older brother, there is an eighty percent chance."
In truth, Raleigh had not said everything.
That was because he had already guessed the World Government's thoughts.
Since the current Fleet Admiral could not pose a threat to the Revolutionary Army, then they would replace him with an obedient Fleet Admiral capable of destroying the Revolutionary Army.
As for Kuzan, he had been out of the race from the very beginning.
Borsalino had always been responsible for the Navy's scientific forces and coordination with the World Government.
Besides, he himself was unwilling to become Fleet Admiral. He found it troublesome.
The only person who could compete for the Fleet Admiral position was Sakazuki.
But now that Sakazuki had personally offered to support Raleigh, there were no other opponents left.