Above Mary Geoise, the holy land shrouded in clouds, at the pinnacle of the Red Line Continent.
In a garden of elegant yet not ostentatious decor, with breathtaking scenery.
The five elders, who held the highest power in the World Government, were like retired old cadres: some brewing tea, some reading books, some soaking in hot springs.
"What!?"
"Akainu's fleet, ambushed by Golden Lion? And he himself was killed by Golden Lion?"
"Kong, what kind of joke is this?"
The Five Elder Stars, who had been leisurely relaxing, were suddenly disturbed by Fleet Admiral Kong of the World Government. Upon hearing Kong's report, all of them changed their expressions dramatically, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
What followed was unparalleled fury!
The Marine's strongest combat force killed. This was no small matter.
Such a huge incident, once it spread, would have enormous consequences.
Whether for the World Government or Marine Headquarters, both their prestige and authority would plummet.
The total destruction of a nearly ten-thousand-strong fleet, coupled with the loss of the Marine's strongest combat force, would undoubtedly greatly diminish Marine Headquarters' deterrent power.
If the World Government and Marine Headquarters couldn't make an effective response in time, the situation on the Grand Line, which had just stabilized, would likely escalate and become uncontrollable again. It might even return to the chaos of the Great Pirate Era, but who knows where it would go.
"Sengoku has already prepared to resign!" Faced with the Five Elder Stars' questioning, Kong, who was somewhat prepared, said with a wry smile.
He naturally knew that Sengoku was blameless for such an incident, but who made him the Fleet Admiral?
However, this incident truly was his dereliction of duty. Sarkas-ji's departure time and route were all known by Golden Lion. This must have been an internal spy in Marine Headquarters.
"As for pursuing his responsibility, let's not mention that for now..."
The Five Elder Stars with long white beards looked grim. He tossed away the pruning shears he used to trim bonsai.
He stood up directly from the hot spring, his muscular body exposed. The golden-haired old man said coldly: "Currently, the most important thing to do is to minimize the impact of the incident and maintain the prestige of the World Government and Marine Headquarters!"
The Five Elder Stars' faces were grim.
The sudden bad news caught them off guard, putting them in an extremely bad mood.
"Things have come to this, more words are useless..."
A bald old man with a prominent mustache, his eyes gleaming with cold light, said: "Since this matter cannot be suppressed, then before the news spreads, we must control the world's media and minimize the impact!"
"The Revolutionary Army united with Golden Lion's Flying Pirates, ambushing the fleet sent by the Marine. Marine Headquarters sent an Admiral-led fleet to bravely attack, but ultimately suffered a crushing defeat, unfortunately falling in battle..."
An old man with golden short hair and a ferocious scar on his chest, dressed in his suit, said coldly: "Immediately mobilize the World Government's propaganda force. Before the news officially spreads, release it! At the same time, have Marine Headquarters organize a long-range fleet in the shortest possible time to enter the South Sea and clear out the Revolutionary Army!"
"I agree!"
"Mm, I have no objection!"
"This is already the best solution..."
The Five Elder Stars looked at each other, then exchanged glances and nodded.
"And Golden Lion, that bastard, to actually ambush a Marine Admiral at Headquarters. This is no ordinary crime..."
"Absolutely cannot be allowed to run rampant like this anymore! Strictly order Cipher-Pol 1 to mobilize at all costs to track him down!!!"
"What!?"
"Is this true or false?"
"One of the Three Great Admirals, Akainu, actually got ambushed and killed by that Golden Lion guy...?"
"Has that ambitious, lion-like man finally started to bare his fangs?"
"Haha, the Admiral who represents the highest combat power of Marine Headquarters, actually got ambushed and killed? This is interesting..."
The Marine's strongest combat power, one of the Three Great Admirals, "Akainu" Sarkas-ji, was killed.
The shocking news came abruptly, and before it was officially announced, some minor forces who had moles planted in the Marine had already received the news. They couldn't help but stare blankly, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
The Revolutionary Army, the Four Emperors, and other forces all learned of this shocking news at the first instant.
Far away in the latter half of the New World, in a certain sea area.
Several colossal warships lay horizontally on the sea surface. Like stars supporting the moon, they guarded the central flagship. That flagship, with a crescent-shaped white beard skull banner, waved in the wind.
"Old Man..."
Marco hurriedly ran up, his entire being filled with shock, and reported to Whitebeard, who was sitting there drinking sake. "Just received a message. That Golden Lion guy appeared, and he ambushed Akainu's fleet..."
"What!?"
"That bastard, we've been looking for him for a year, has he finally appeared?"
"He's truly a lawless fellow. To actually proactively ambush a Marine Admiral's fleet?"
Hearing Golden Lion's appearance, the surrounding division commanders all trembled. Some grew agitated.
When Marshall D. Teach was captured by Golden Lion, it nearly caused a major war between them and the World Government.
Later, they directly sent their pirate crew members to search the four seas, but after a year, there was still no news of that Golden Lion bastard. They had almost given up, but then he suddenly appeared again. How could they not be angry?
"Gurgle gurgle gurgle, to ambush a Marine Admiral's fleet, such a thing is nothing to that guy..."
Whitebeard, who usually understood Golden Lion, naturally didn't think ambushing a Marine Admiral's fleet was a big deal. He himself had done similar things.
Not to mention, Golden Lion had even proactively ambushed Marine Headquarters back then. A fleet led by a mere Marine Admiral naturally couldn't deter him.
Whitebeard directly threw down his sake bottle, his face turning grim. He looked directly at Marco and asked, "Marco, is there any other news?"
"Please don't tell me that magma brat died at Golden Lion's hands?"
"Oh, Old Man, you actually guessed it!"
With a look of disbelief, Marco said with a wry smile: "That Akainu guy might actually have fallen at Golden Lion's hands!"
He also somewhat refused to believe it. The Marine's strongest combat force!
"What!?"
"Akainu is dead?"
"This... How is this possible?"
Those captains like "Fire Fist" Ace and "Diamond" Jozu couldn't help but cry out in alarm, some finding it hard to believe.
The Marine's strongest combat force was not just talk!
In recent years, the Marine Headquarters' Admirals might have suffered losses, but he had never heard of any Admiral falling.
Even Whitebeard, sitting there, couldn't help but widen his eyes, looking somewhat startled.
He had merely said it casually, never thinking he would actually guess correctly.
"This news came directly from Morgan. It can't be wrong!" Marco said with a grave expression, then replied in a deep voice.
The World Economic Journal's circulation across the entire sea was arguably the highest. No one would doubt the intelligence power of the World Economic News Agency. And their president, Morgans, had never dared to provoke the Whitebeard Pirates without certainty. Things without certainty simply couldn't be talked about carelessly.
"Gurgle gurgle gurgle, that Golden Lion guy, he truly is a timeless treasure..."
Whitebeard stood up from his throne, gripping his scythe. His entire body surged with a powerful aura. His massive body exuded immense pressure: "But Teach's debt, this old man can't just let it go!"
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