Holy Land Mary Geoise.
The Room of Authority.
"I didn't expect it to turn out this way."
"Indeed. I thought that by using this war to eliminate Whitebeard while allowing the Marine to suffer some losses, we could bring the two factions back to a point of equilibrium. But... sigh!"
"Although we eventually forced Sengoku to agree to Red-Haired's demands to dampen the Marine's momentum, the overall balance of power hasn't fundamentally changed."
"Exactly. With the existence of Sean and the 16th Branch, even if three of the Emperors' crews allied, they might not actually put much pressure on the Marine anymore."
"Hmph, three Emperors' crews allying? Those three each have their own agendas; it's impossible!"
The Five Elders were displeased. Their carefully laid plan had developed a significant flaw.
If the Marine continued to grow and completely overwhelmed the pirates, it would not be a good thing. If the pirate forces were totally defeated, the system the World Government used to rule the world would collapse along with them.
"By the way, because of the deal with Red-Haired, Sengoku will certainly have to step down to quell the dissatisfaction of the Affiliated Nations. Who should we put in place as the next Fleet Admiral?"
"Hmm, that is an urgent matter. Why not just put Sean in charge? After all, if our previous assumptions were correct, Sean should be one of us."
"That's a good idea. But speaking of Sean, I suddenly have a better idea that could solve the Marine's current problem!"
"What is it?"
"Split the Marine!"
As these words left the curly-haired Elder's mouth, the other four were momentarily stunned.
Splitting the Marine? What did that mean? They all turned to look at him.
"Are we not worried that the Marine's influence has grown too great and might completely crush the pirates?"
"Then we divide the Marine by region. The original Marine will be responsible for the first half of the Grand Line and the four seas. Then, we establish a new 'New World Marine' specifically to handle the New World region."
"At the same time, we strictly prohibit cross-regional jurisdiction!"
The other four were stunned by the proposal. However, upon further reflection, it seemed like a viable strategy—effectively dismantling the Marine's concentrated power.
The brilliance lay in the prohibition of cross-regional jurisdiction. In other words, the two branches of the Marine would be forbidden from supporting each other, forced to handle their own problems in isolation. This would effectively lower the overall combat effectiveness of the Marine.
"A good idea. But who will lead the New World? If it's just an ordinary Admiral, even sending two of them might not be enough to suppress three Emperors' crews."
"I've already considered that. Let Sean go. With his strength, suppressing those three won't be difficult!"
"And what about the Grand Line? Who takes over there?"
"Aokiji. Akainu is too aggressive. If there were only one Marine facing the threat of the Four Emperors, Akainu would be qualified. But once the Marine is split, the Grand Line and the four seas don't need an aggressive leader—they just need someone to maintain a deterrent against the pirates."
"Hmm, that makes sense. From that perspective, Aokiji is more suitable. However, Akainu probably won't accept such a result..."
"It doesn't matter. Let Akainu follow Sean to the New World. After all, Sean will need some help to keep those three crews in check. Akainu can fill the Admiral slot, and Sean can choose a group of subordinates to go with them."
"Yes, that's a good arrangement. I agree!"
"I agree as well!"
"Seconded!"
'''
Marine Headquarters.
Marineford.
The conference room.
In reality, calling it a conference room was a stretch; it was merely a temporary tent. After all, the entire Headquarters building had collapsed.
"Fleet Admiral, news has arrived from Impel Down. Hawkeye fought alone against the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon, and several officers. After a fierce battle lasting two hours, he forced them to retreat. The crisis at Impel Down has been resolved and cleanup is underway. However..."
"However, what?"
"However, during the cleanup, it was discovered that every cell housing an ability user across all levels had been opened—even those in Infinite Hell!"
"What?! Damn it! How many escaped?"
"That... no one escaped, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Eh? What happened?"
Sengoku looked bewildered. Releasing all those fruit ability users was clearly the work of the intruders. Since Sean had come to Headquarters, only Hawkeye remained at Impel Down, and he had been busy dealing with Dragon and the Revolutionary Army officers.
If so many ability users were trying to flee, how could the guards possibly stop them? Yet, the result was that no one escaped?
"Fleet Admiral, according to the report from Impel Down, all ability users were killed on the spot, and all their bodies have been recovered. Furthermore, the bodies of Blackbeard and several suspected crew members were found within Infinite Hell!"
"What?"
All dead? And Blackbeard's crew was in Infinite Hell?
Could it be...
Sengoku couldn't help but look at Sean, who sat there with a pale face, still pretending to be exhausted.
"Yes, I did it. After dealing with Blackbeard's crew in Infinite Hell, I discovered that people in the lower levels were secretly releasing prisoners. So, before coming to Headquarters, I performed a purge and killed every prisoner who escaped their cell," Sean said with a nod.
Hearing this, Sengoku breathed a sigh of relief. Although having so many Devil Fruits scattered across the world was a hassle, it was far better than the worst-case scenario. If that many ability users had escaped, things would have become catastrophic.
"We are lucky to have you, Sean!"
Sean smiled faintly. He certainly wasn't going to tell Sengoku that he had collected every single Devil Fruit in Impel Down for himself.
The only strange thing was that Sean hadn't found Baron Ryderfield or Douglas Bullet in Infinite Hell. He didn't know why. According to the original story, they should have been in Infinite Hell at this point in time.
But Sean hadn't found them. He even asked Magellan for the prisoner list of Infinite Hell, and the result was interesting...
The two were indeed on the list, but unlike the original story, the record stated that when Golden Lion Shiki escaped years ago, these two had escaped along with him and were currently missing.
Strictly speaking, Shiki's prison break happened before Sean had even transmigrated into this world, so there shouldn't have been any supposed "butterfly effect."
However, the facts were right in front of him. Though he didn't know the cause, Sean decided not to pursue the matter further.
As long as they remained in this world, he knew he would find them eventually.
Half an hour later, just as the high-ranking officers had finished discussing the reconstruction of Headquarters, a Marine rushed into the room.
"Fleet Admiral, an urgent document from the Holy Land!"
"Give it to me!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
With a sharp response, the Marine handed over two documents.
Sengoku opened the first one and skimmed through it, letting out a soft sigh.
'Just as I thought...'
"Everyone, due to the deal made with Red-Haired, the World Government has officially issued a decree removing me from my position as Fleet Admiral. Kuzan will succeed me, and upon my retirement, I will serve as a staff officer at Marine Headquarters."
Sengoku didn't feel the need to explain that the deal with Red-Haired had been ordered by the Five Elders. Many in the room had already guessed the truth, leaving them with a cold, sinking feeling in their chests.
Even someone as high-ranking as Fleet Admiral Sengoku could be discarded by the World Government so effortlessly. Not only were they cast aside, but they were stripped of their honor and branded with a stain on their reputation. For the others in the room, the implication was terrifying.
As for Aokiji succeeding as Fleet Admiral, the vast majority were satisfied. After all, in this era of the Marine, the Doves far outnumbered the Hawks; naturally, they hoped Aokiji would take the helm rather than Akainu.
At that moment, however, Akainu's expression turned sour.
"I don't agree to this!"
"Akainu, shut up! This is a decision made by the Five Elders. If you have an objection, take it up with them. There is no point in arguing here—it's useless!"
"Hmph!!"
Akainu knew Sengoku was right. Raging here would achieve nothing because the successor wasn't chosen by Sengoku, but by the Five Elders. However, he resolved that once this meeting ended, he would have a proper word with those five old men.
How could they let a waste like Aokiji lead the Marine?
Sengoku sighed again and opened the second document. As he read, his expression shifted, becoming incredibly grim.
Splitting the Marine?
The Five Elders had actually stooped to this...
"By order of the World Government, the existing Marine will henceforth be responsible only for the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, known as Paradise. As for the New World..."
"A brand new, independent Marine shall be established. Sean is hereby appointed as the Fleet Admiral of the New World Marine!"
In an instant, nearly everyone in the room stared in wide-eyed disbelief.
This was... simply too absurd!