Late at night, New Marineford.
Raleigh, who had long since returned from Dr. Vegapunk's base, was handling documents inside his office.
Knock, knock, knock.
Momonga knocked on the door, then pushed it open and walked in carrying a large stack of documents.
"Raleigh, these are the plans the Staff Office has drafted over the past few days. Take a look."
Every few days, the Staff Office would formulate short-term plans based on the current changes in the situation.
Many of these plans required the Fleet Admiral himself to review and sign off on them.
Even though Raleigh had delegated authority to Momonga and Cleveland, there were still some decisions they could not make on his behalf.
Raleigh raised his head from the mountain of documents and looked at Momonga, who was holding the files.
He sighed.
"Those people always come up with eight extra plans every time."
"Next time, I will make them discuss the results internally first, then send only the final version over for me to sign."
Raleigh shook his head helplessly.
Momonga saw that there was no empty space left on the desk, so he could only place the files on the coffee table in the office.
Raleigh stood from his chair, opened the cabinet, and took out a box of expensive cigars.
With his right hand, he held two cups between his fingers while also gripping a bottle of liquor.
"I'm tired anyway. Let us drink while reading."
Raleigh knew that Momonga had worked hard during the few days he had been away from New Marineford.
In order to reward his good brother, he decided to give Momonga half an hour off and personally keep him company.
Momonga sighed.
"Raleigh, if you want to slack off, do not use my name as an excuse."
But with Raleigh's thick skin, there was no way he would listen to Momonga.
He grabbed Momonga's arm, pulled a cigar from the box, clipped off the end, and stuffed it into Momonga's mouth.
Momonga waved his hand and took a golden lighter from his coat.
Glug, glug.
Amber rum was poured into transparent crystal glasses. Raleigh then took ice from a nearby cabinet and dropped it into the cups.
"Cheers, my good brother."
Raleigh clinked glasses with Momonga, then downed the chilled rum in one breath.
"Haa…"
After slowly exhaling the scent of alcohol, Raleigh lit his cigar and began flipping through the documents beside him.
"Garbage!"
"Who wrote this? Are they not afraid of being sent to Impel Down?"
"This one is a little interesting, but it is not aggressive enough. Too conservative."
"Who wrote this? Not bad. Keep an eye on them. If suitable, send them to Cleveland for some training."
The Staff Office was Tsuru's territory. Most of its intelligence officers and staff officers held neutral positions.
Back when Raleigh carried out his reforms, Tsuru had cooperated with him, so he had not inserted too many of his own people into the Staff Office under her leadership.
That could also be considered Raleigh's respect for Tsuru.
However, as time changed, Raleigh, now holding great power, hoped that the Staff Office could keep up with his thinking and pace instead of continuing to produce the same old ideas as before.
Momonga nodded, then said, "I have already assigned people to observe these new staff officers. Many of them joined only in recent years."
"I have spoken with a few of them. They admire you greatly, so they agreed to go to Cleveland's side for further training."
Raleigh felt greatly comforted.
Sure enough, with Momonga around, he did not need to use his brain too much.
So Raleigh poured Momonga another full glass of rum.
After Momonga finished reading through all the files in his hands, he placed the battle plans he considered garbage to one side and handed the most valuable ones to Raleigh.
Raleigh looked at the titles and authors of the documents, then smiled.
Because the battle plan at the very top had actually been proposed by Tsuru.
He opened the file and began reading carefully.
Only after a long while did Raleigh slowly speak.
"As expected of Vice Admiral Tsuru. Although her thinking is not as aggressive as ours, the details are flawless."
"This battle plan contains many points worth referencing."
In Tsuru's battle plan, there were fewer opinions on how to attack the pirates of the New World, because that part had always been personally arranged by Raleigh.
Since no one knew whether their battle plan would be approved by Raleigh, Tsuru had simply brushed over that section in very few words.
The most detailed part of her plan was how to control the territories occupied by the Marines.
Because as the Marines advanced triumphantly, they had now occupied one-fifth of the New World's territory.
They were also launching fierce attacks on the Big Mom Pirates' sphere of influence, and the third defensive chain would soon be broken through.
If the Marines did not want to fall into a situation where they had to fight both ahead and behind, then they had to absorb and digest the islands they had captured.
Tsuru's proposal was large-scale population relocation.
Move all the residents of these captured islands to Paradise, then select civilians from Paradise who supported and embraced the Marines, arm them, and have them land on the islands.
This point was crucial.
Because the New World had maintained this situation for nearly several hundred years.
The people on those islands had no respect for the World Government or the Marines.
In fact, on many islands, the dream of many civilians since childhood was to become a pirate under the Charlotte Family.
If the occupied areas were not absorbed, the Marines would fall into the quagmire of fighting both in front and behind.
It had to be said that Tsuru's strategic vision was extremely sharp.
She could easily see the seriousness of the problem.
Raleigh nodded and said, "Vice Admiral Tsuru's battle plan is very worth studying for the frontline Marines. Send a copy to Sakazuki-senpai, my brother and Zephyr-sensei."
This was a great migration involving hundreds of thousands of people.
But Raleigh had no choice but to do it. Even if it meant making those who had never been pirates leave their homes and live far from their birthplace, it still had to be done.
If he did not do it, then with the long front line the Marines had currently stretched out, a few successful sneak attacks would be enough to make it impossible for them to establish themselves in the New World.
The Marines could not act like pirates and use some strategy of killing everyone.
The only method was for the military to take over everything on the island and relocate the original residents to Paradise. Only then could they fight freely.
"Oh, right. The Four Blues do not need to follow this plan completely. The most important thing for them right now is to occupy the Revolutionary Army's industrial production bases in the Four Blues as quickly as possible."
Raleigh knew very well that Sakazuki had long since formulated his own plan.
However, as Fleet Admiral, he still had to give reminders when necessary.
Soon, the bottle of rum had been completely emptied.
"By the way Raleigh, Zephyr-sensei sent a telegram from the New World asking whether more Marine officers need to be dispatched to guarantee Charlotte Linlin's ending."
Raleigh shook his head and said, "We will not send any more Marines to the Big Mom Pirates' side."
"However, I have already sent three Seraphim there."
"Remember to tell Zephyr-sensei and Issho that once Charlotte Linlin appears at the third defensive chain, they must immediately withdraw their forces ten nautical miles."
As for the Shiki Seraphim modified by Vegapunk, even Raleigh was not sure just how powerful one release of its spore bomb would be.
But just in case, it would be better to have Zephyr and Issho withdraw to a safe distance.
"Also, Raleigh, Zephyr mentioned that Garp appeared on the front line. He said he was there to repay a favor he owed you."
Momonga's face carried a trace of disbelief.
Raleigh silently nodded.
"Garp was indeed arranged by me. Zephyr-sensei cannot fight Charlotte Linlin alone, and in order not to affect our plan, I sent Garp over to support him."
The main reason was that after learning the Revolutionary Army had entered the Calm Belt, Raleigh had done this to prevent Dragon from contacting Garp.
With the Marines' current forces in the New World, it could not be said that they could completely suppress Charlotte Linlin, but even without Garp, they would not be unable to fight her.
"All right. As long as you know."
Momonga quietly put down the documents in his hands.
At this moment, it was already one in the morning.
After three bottles of rum were emptied, Raleigh also felt a trace of drowsiness.
"All right, Momonga. Let us stop here for today."
...
In the New World, at the Charlotte Family's third defensive chain.
Katakuri was fighting street battles inside the fortifications that had already been reduced to ruins.
It had to be said that Katakuri possessed a relatively high talent for command among pirates.
Even under these circumstances, he made use of the defensive structures that had already become ruins, as well as the underground tunnels they had dug out.
Even after the surface of the third defensive chain had been occupied, the Marines still had to face the threat posed by Katakuri.
"Still have not caught him?"
Admiral Issho sat inside the military tent and frowned.
Observation Haki was not omnipotent.
Facing these pirates hiding deep underground, even though Issho had acted several times, he still could not completely eliminate them.
Under these circumstances, Zephyr and Garp chose to skip this island and attack the other islands of the third defensive chain in parallel instead.
For now, aside from the island beneath Issho's feet, the pirates on the other islands had basically been completely wiped out.
"Sigh. As expected, he is a troublesome opponent."
Issho somewhat admired the pirate opposite him.
Even under such circumstances, Katakuri still persisted in using his tactics to delay the Marines' advance.
It had to be said that he was a talented man.
Unfortunately, an opponent Katakuri had not anticipated had arrived.
"Who goes there?"
The Marine soldiers on duty at the port raised the rifles in their hands and questioned the newcomer sternly.
"Do not be nervous. I am one of us."
A black warship without any markings stopped very close to the port.
Cleveland walked out from the warship and took out his identification.
In truth, the moment Cleveland walked out of the cabin, the Marine soldiers at the port already believed him.
But out of respect for Marine duty, they still carefully checked Cleveland's proof of identity before letting him pass.
"Instructor, what brings you here?"
A very elite-looking Marine lieutenant commander asked.
Cleveland froze briefly, then smiled and said, "I came this time to deliver a great gift to the pirates."
After hearing the word "Instructor," he carefully looked at the lieutenant commander again and smiled.
This was one of the new Marines who had come out of the North Blue and had been personally trained by him.
However, Cleveland had no intention of reminiscing right now.
He merely patted the lieutenant commander on the shoulder, then led three Seraphim with strange movements into the depths of the island.
"Sir Cleveland, in other words, Fleet Admiral Raleigh sent me these Seraphim combat puppets."
Issho's hesitation was understandable, because the existence of the Seraphim had already exceeded his imagination.
Pacifista could still be understood.
After all, those things were machines, merely built to resemble humans.
But the Seraphim were completely real people, and all of them had once been famous powerhouses in this world.
With one glance, he saw Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, Dracule Mihawk, and Dark King Rayleigh.
"I know Mr. Issho will find this unbelievable. In fact, the first time I saw them, I was no less shocked than you."
"But Marine technology has indeed developed to this stage."
"Although they were made from the corpses of powerful people who have already died, they can move freely, possess a higher degree of autonomous awareness, and even retain part of the abilities they had while alive."
While Cleveland was introducing the Seraphim, Zephyr lifted the curtain of the military tent and walked in.
"I heard your voice from outside. What, can these Seraphim use the abilities they had while alive?"
"And how much of their strength can they bring out?"
Zephyr was very curious about this question, because it would directly affect his subsequent battle plans.
"Zephyr-sensei, long time no see! You are still as impressive as ever."
Cleveland spoke respectfully.
The corners of Zephyr's mouth rose, but he still retorted, "Enough flattery. Hurry up and explain."
Seeing this, Cleveland pointed at the Seraphim of Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, and began introducing him.
"This Whitebeard Seraphim, because the technology at the time was not advanced enough, can only display seventy percent of his Devil Fruit ability from when he was alive, and eighty percent of his close-combat power and physical strength."
"Dracule Mihawk can display ninety percent of his abilities from when he was alive."
"Dark King Rayleigh—"
After Cleveland finished introducing them, Zephyr grabbed Cleveland's hand.
"How about letting Mihawk and Rayleigh enter the underground tunnels and slaughter their way through?"
"And Whitebeard too. Have him use his Devil Fruit ability and simply collapse the tunnels deep under the island."
Before seeing the Seraphim, Zephyr had already tried using fire and flooding, but the results had been average.
Now, however, Whitebeard's appearance made the battle much simpler.
They could directly collapse the tunnels. There was no need to enter the underground and fight them there.
They only had to take full advantage of the Marines' manpower and firepower, firmly controlling their current advantage on the surface.
The impatient Zephyr directly dragged the Whitebeard Seraphim outside.
Issho activated his Observation Haki and carefully searched for the tunnels beneath their feet.
"Found it. Over there."
Issho pointed toward a flat patch of ground not far away.
"Then let the Whitebeard Seraphim try it."
Cleveland directly issued the order to the Whitebeard Seraphim.
Rumble.
As the Seraphim exerted itself, ripples spread through the air around it.
Its palm, broad as a fan, pressed against the ground.
"Break!"
An extremely powerful vibration was transmitted into the tunnels underground.
The tremendous force destroyed the supports inside the tunnels, and soil began falling from the ceiling.
Finally, accompanied by a loud shout from Whitebeard, a muffled boom came from underground.
Several nearby tunnels all suffered varying degrees of destruction.
Zephyr looked at the sunken ground and revealed a satisfied smile.
As long as they used this several more times, the pirates would suffocate underground.