Hearing that answer, Sengoku's heart sank.
Although he had already expected it, he never thought things would truly end this way.
Looking back on his entire life, he had sacrificed far too much for the construction and growth of the Marines.
It could even be said that the current Marines being able to control every sea outside the New World was largely due to his contributions.
And yet…
Even with achievements like those, he still could not escape the fate of being removed from office.
Although he could understand the Five Elders' decision, that did not mean he felt no sadness.
"Yes."
Sengoku quietly responded.
Then he fully stepped out of the conference room.
Creeeeak.
Clang.
As the sound of the door shutting echoed out, that conference room door also became the symbolic end of Sengoku's political career.
From this moment onward, Sengoku had completely drifted away from the core of the World Government's authority.
"So Sengoku really got removed from office…"
Marine temporary headquarters, Marine base at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Marineford had already been reduced to complete ruins after Whitebeard and Lin'an repeatedly bombarded it.
There was no way anyone could continue living there.
As a result, the Marines temporarily relocated their headquarters to the nearest location, the Sabaody Archipelago.
That single action caused the population of Sabaody to instantly decrease by thirty percent.
And that thirty percent consisted entirely of pirates and people involved in underground businesses.
As one of the main passageways into the New World, the fact that only thirty percent of Sabaody's population belonged to pirates and gray-market industries was already surprising enough.
Inside Sengoku's temporary office Garp looked at Sengoku with a face full of guilt.
"If I had fought seriously, I definitely could have stopped Lin'an."
"At that point, Ace and Whitebeard would've died at Marineford."
"If the original objective had been completed, then even if Marineford was destroyed and the Marines lost prestige, you wouldn't have been implicated."
"It's my fault."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Sengoku looked at Garp as if he were an idiot.
He had never intended to blame Garp for this matter.
And besides the Five Elders clearly had not been angry with him.
This removal from office was more like a normal transfer of authority.
After all…He really had remained in the position of Fleet Admiral for far too long.
"I'm only stepping down because I'm getting old. The Five Elders simply used this opportunity to replace me."
"It's not because they blame me for incompetence."
"Besides, I'm not leaving the Marines. Even after the new Fleet Admiral is chosen, I'll still serve as the Inspector General of the Marines."
"My status hasn't changed much. I've merely moved from the spotlight into the shadows."
That was what Sengoku said.
But how things truly were…
How could Garp possibly not understand?
Still, Garp himself had never cared much for power or authority.
So regarding Sengoku's outcome, he was fairly satisfied.
"Then I won't worry about you anymore."
"You old bastard better remember to come hang out with me once you've got less work to do."
"At your age, you still care about playing around?"
"What do you know? They say old people become like children again. If we don't enjoy ourselves at this age, what are we supposed to do after we die? Go play with the King of Hell?"
"..."
Sengoku was rendered completely speechless by Garp's logic.
In all these years, this old fool was the only person capable of leaving the "Wise General" Sengoku so helpless.
"So Fleet Admiral Sengoku really got removed from office?"
Inside a room at the temporary Marine headquarters.
The three Marine Admirals, Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, were all gathered together.
Each looked toward the others.
Disbelief appeared on Aokiji's face.
Although he had considered the possibility, he never thought the World Government would actually go through with it.
After all, Sengoku had been absolutely vital to the Marines reaching their current scale and influence.
Even someone as lazy and carefree as Aokiji found himself angered by this outcome.
"In military service, rewards and punishments must be clearly distinguished. Isn't that only natural?"
Aokiji was the person Sengoku valued the most, so it was normal for him to feel upset on Sengoku's behalf.
But Akainu was different.
He appeared ruthless and willing to use any means necessary, yet deep down he was extremely rigid in his principles.
Merit deserved reward.
Failure deserved punishment.
Even someone with Sengoku's achievements should be treated the same way.
"I know what you're thinking."
"But you should also understand what would happen if the World Government didn't punish Sengoku for this, right?"
Aokiji looked at Akainu.
Of course he understood.
The most likely result would be Marines across the world becoming completely lax and negligent in their duties.
After suffering such a disastrous defeat, simply surviving was already fortunate enough.
"I really didn't expect you of all people to comfort others."
"Comfort?"
Akainu repeated the word while looking at Aokiji as though he were an idiot.
"No, no. I'm merely stating facts."
"And besides, I fully intend to win the position of Fleet Admiral."
"The pirates have become more and more rampant lately. They even dared to cause chaos inside Impel Down."
"If we don't take a hardline stance against pirates, who knows what kind of disasters they'll create next?"
"So you're aiming for the position of Fleet Admiral?"
Aokiji looked at Akainu as though he were an idiot.
"You do realize how many points you lost during the Summit War, right?"
"If someone like you became Fleet Admiral, the outcome probably wouldn't be much different from Sengoku continuing in the position."
"And so what?"
Akainu directly confronted Aokiji without backing down.
"If not me, then who? You?"
At this moment, both Akainu and Aokiji had already excluded Kizaru from consideration.
Because Kizaru simply was not suited for the position of Fleet Admiral.
Even if both Akainu and Aokiji were rejected, the World Government would sooner choose someone else from within the Marines than hand the position to Kizaru.
On this point alone, Akainu and Aokiji were completely certain.
"Of course it should be me."
Aokiji frowned as he looked at Akainu.
"Before the Summit War, maybe you still had the qualifications to compete with me."
"But now, I'm the only person in the entire Marine force suitable to become Fleet Admiral."
Originally, with Aokiji's personality, he had never wanted to take over such a troublesome position.
However the role of Fleet Admiral affected the future of the entire world.
No matter how unwilling he was, he absolutely could not allow someone like Akainu to become Fleet Admiral.
"Heh."
Seeing Aokiji's confident expression, Akainu merely laughed.
"If that's the case…"
"Then let's wait and see."
After speaking, Akainu turned and walked out of the room, clearly unwilling to continue arguing with Aokiji.
"Yoho!"
Aboard the Moby Dick.
Nearly a week had already passed.
Given the physical constitution of people in this world, aside from those who suffered severe injuries, most had already recovered their energy.
"Everyone, cheer up!"
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