Ensuring the integrity of this magnificent building amidst the fierce battle with the Whitebeard Pirates proved difficult.
Their goal extended far beyond defeating Whitebeard.
If their objective were to defeat Whitebeard alone, they might not have needed to exert so much effort.
They had a profound plan.
Their goal involved more than executing Ace, the so-called "sinful bloodline," in front of the world.
As the son of the Pirate King Roger, Ace remained a thorn in the World Government's side.
They believed executing Ace would demonstrate the Marines' resolve to uphold justice and eradicate the influence Roger left behind.
They intended to capture Whitebeard and the entire Whitebeard Pirates.
As one of the most powerful pirate crews on the seas, their existence posed a threat to Marine rule.
Eradicating them would weaken the pirate forces and consolidate the Marines' position.
Achieving this goal while ensuring Marine Headquarters remained intact was an impossible task. Everyone understood the upcoming battle would present an unprecedented challenge.
They racked their brains to devise a perfect battle plan to secure victory.
The atmosphere in the conference room grew oppressive, with everyone deep in thought, searching for solutions.
Outside the window, the sky darkened, as if troubled by the impending battle.
Tap, tap, tap...
As everyone sat around the conference room, the atmosphere heavy with tension, the sound of footsteps echoed like a hammer in the silent corridor.
The footsteps startled everyone present. Those lost in thought were roused.
Whoosh...
Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji turned their gaze toward Sengoku.
In their view, today's gathering consisted only of the Marines' top figures. Aside from the leaders present, no one else had the right to participate.
The sudden appearance of footsteps surprised them and put them on alert.
Akainu's brow furrowed.
The scar on his face twisted with his expression as he muttered, "Who is this? So bold as to come uninvited at such a time."
Kizaru, hands in his pockets and a faint smile on his lips, remarked, "Oh ho, those footsteps sound imposing."
Aokiji crossed his arms, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, though his demeanor remained calm and guarded.
Sengoku raised an eyebrow, the wrinkles on his broad forehead deepening.
He turned his gaze toward the door.
He knew who was coming—Lancelot.
He had instructed Lancelot to attend this crucial meeting.
Sengoku's decision was not based on Lancelot's strength alone.
That strength had gained recognition from everyone present, qualifying him to sit and discuss important matters with these high-ranking Marine officials.
More importantly, Lancelot had demonstrated remarkable strategic insight and political foresight during the major incident in the South Blue.
The situation in the South Blue was complex, with undercurrents of various forces swirling beneath the surface.
Relying on his perception and wisdom, Lancelot navigated among these powers. He resolved the crisis and earned the Marines tremendous prestige in the South Blue region.
Sengoku contemplated that, faced with such a tricky dilemma, Lancelot might offer a different proposal.
This young man could open a new door for solving their problems.
A glimmer of anticipation shone in his eyes as he awaited Lancelot's arrival.
Click.
A crisp sound of a door opening broke the silence as Lancelot pushed the door open. He met the synchronized gazes of everyone in the room.
Those looks contained scrutiny, curiosity, and a trace of surprise, questioning the purpose of this intruder.
Lancelot paused, an astonished expression appearing on his face. In his expectation, Fleet Admiral Sengoku summoning him should have been for a private matter.
When he saw the scene inside the room, he was taken aback.
Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Garp—every single one of them was present!
Lancelot muttered to himself, never expecting such a lineup.
'Judging by this situation, they must be discussing crucial affairs!'
Common sense suggested he was not qualified to sit here.
The minimum standard to enter this door and participate in this meeting was holding a special position like Vice Admiral Tsuru's Chief of Staff role.
Vice Admiral Tsuru was the symbol of wisdom in the Marines, having achieved illustrious military merits for the organization through her outstanding strategies and sharp insight.
Although he was a candidate Admiral and had made a name for himself in the Marines with numerous accomplishments, he fell short of becoming an Admiral.
"Lancelot?" Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji uttered his name in soft voices, wearing surprised expressions.
They had not expected Lancelot to appear here.
However, they realized this was natural. In the entire Marine force, who else had the qualifications to sit with them? Only this man.
Although he ranked below them in military rank, not yet an Admiral, every person present regarded him as their equal.
Prior to this, while Lancelot's earth-shattering battle with Kaido had stirred massive waves in everyone's hearts, many held reservations about it.
Just yesterday, Lancelot repelled Rayleigh in front of CP0, then Garp tested Lancelot himself.
Regarding the former, one could argue that Rayleigh might not have used his full strength.
But who is Garp? He was a legendary figure in the Marines, renowned as "Garp the Fist"—if anyone was above falseness, it was him.
Sengoku's profound gaze swept over the assembled group before he pointed to an empty chair, his tone steady.
"Sit."
"Huh?"
Only then did the others snap to attention, realizing there was an empty seat.
That chair stood out starkly—it had never been there before. All eyes converged on it, minds swirling with confusion.
Earlier, they had been so absorbed by the matter of the Whitebeard Pirates that they had not paid any mind to this unprecedented addition.
Thinking calmly, it seemed Sengoku must have intended this all along.
Lancelot walked forward with steady steps, posture straight, a faint smile gracing his lips. He moved to the prepared chair, pulled it out with a soft scrape, and sat down.
His posture was proper and relaxed, as if the chair were an extension of his own body.
After seating himself, he did not speak. He looked around, his gaze sweeping over each person present.
His eyes settled on Sengoku. A smile touched his lips as he remarked, "With a gathering like this today, I probably shouldn't be here."
His voice was deep and magnetic, echoing in the quiet room.
Sengoku chuckled at Lancelot's words, the sound like a gentle spring breeze tinged with warmth and a hint of teasing.
"Shouldn't? Perhaps. But you've earned the right."
As he spoke, his eyes swept over Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji, Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru.
His gaze held a touch of amusement, as though he were watching an intriguing performance. At Sengoku's words, the five each reacted differently.
Yet none voiced an objection. Deep down, they all knew: Lancelot had that right.
Lancelot's eyes scanned the surroundings. In this solemn, power-laden conference setting, he felt little reverence.
He was not one to dwell on trivial emotions. He cut straight to the point.
"May I ask why Fleet Admiral Sengoku has made an exception by allowing me to attend such a meeting?"
His voice was clear and resonant, ringing through the silent conference room without a trace of hesitation or fear.
Sengoku sat upright at the head of the table, his posture firm, his expression reflecting the steadiness and resolve forged through countless battles.
Hearing Lancelot's question, he answered without hesitation.
"We've received intelligence that the Whitebeard Pirates will reach Marine Headquarters tomorrow. But despite days of discussion…" Sengoku furrowed his brow, a trace of concern in his eyes. "We still haven't devised an effective strategy to counter Whitebeard."
His tone carried a hint of helplessness; the reputation of the Whitebeard Pirates thundered across the seas.
"Huh?" Lancelot looked astonished, his mouth agape, his eyes filled with disbelief.
In his view, Whitebeard was just one man.
Although his Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability was powerful and he was formidable, he was old. Time had left indelible marks on him.
His body had declined. Issues like his lack of agility compared to his younger days were minor problems.
The biggest issue was his deteriorating health. In the original story, Marco was often seen giving him IV drips.
Lancelot thought to himself that if they picked any two people present to confront him head-on, relying on their youthful stamina and vitality, they could wear him down to death.
Why go to such lengths? They had held meetings for several days over this, which in Lancelot's eyes seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill.
In the meeting room filled with tension and a murderous atmosphere, Sengoku sat at the head of the table, his gaze profound and grave.
His eyes swept over everyone and settled on Lancelot.
He saw Lancelot looking serious, his brows furrowed as if deep in thought.
Seeing Lancelot's expression, Sengoku let out a helpless, bitter smile, tinged with resignation.
He stood up, placed his hands on the table, and leaned forward, saying, "Everyone, to be honest, defeating Whitebeard alone is not difficult. The Whitebeard Pirates are powerful, and Whitebeard possesses the terrifying ability of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, but our Marines are by no means ordinary. We have many strong officers and advanced weaponry, such as the Pacifistas. Even if we were to kill Whitebeard, as long as we go all out and pay a price, it is achievable."
Sengoku paused, a trace of worry in his eyes, and continued. "However, we cannot afford to focus on the Whitebeard Pirates as our only enemy. In these turbulent seas, there are many other forces eyeing us Marines. Those pirates lurking in the shadows, as well as other ill-intentioned factions, are waiting for the moment when we and the Whitebeard Pirates weaken each other so they can profit from it. We cannot risk everything for the sake of the Whitebeard Pirates. If we suffer heavy losses in a battle with the Whitebeard Pirates, other enemies will seize the opportunity to strike, and the Marines' situation would become dangerous."
"Moreover, this war will take place at Marine Headquarters." Sengoku's voice was low and forceful as he paced, his tone carrying a note of caution.
"Although Marine Headquarters gives us the home advantage—we know the terrain, have defense facilities and logistical support, and our soldiers are familiar with the environment, allowing them to perform at their best. We can set up formations and await them in readiness... However, we have many concerns. Marine Headquarters is not just a battlefield for us..."
Sengoku stopped and fixed his intense gaze on Lancelot.
Lancelot grasped the key point upon hearing Sengoku's words.
His eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Marine Headquarters itself!"
When Lancelot said this, Sengoku's worried eyes lit up, and a relieved smile appeared on his face. Talking with a smart person is effortless and efficient.
They understand without the need for unnecessary talk.
Sengoku nodded, casting an approving glance at Lancelot. "That's right. Marine Headquarters itself is our greatest concern... We must not only defeat the Whitebeard Pirates in this battle but also protect the integrity of Marine Headquarters. We cannot let it suffer heavy damage, or it will affect morale. This requires us to devise a comprehensive battle plan that ensures victory while minimizing losses."
Everyone in the conference room fell into silence.
They had been thinking for a long time but had not come up with a feasible solution.
Lancelot could not suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, he knew the answer to this problem!
He said, "Deal a heavy blow to Whitebeard before he makes his move, or before he unleashes his power. That way, his combat effectiveness will be reduced. He is old, after all."
"Deal a heavy blow to Whitebeard before he unleashes his power?" Akainu's eyes widened.
His expression seemed to say: 'Are you even listening to yourself? That's Whitebeard we're talking about!'
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator