The Fleet Admiral's office fell into silence.
Wait for Cyrus to run into trouble on his own?
They might as well believe the World Government would collapse first.
Sengoku and Garp looked at each other, and both of their bodies seemed to slump slightly.
"Since Whitebeard's defeat was something we already expected, what are you planning to do now, Sengoku? With things as they are, even more people will join the Hunter Guild next."
Garp placed the senbei in his hand to the side and leaned forward slightly.
Although Garp was unreliable at times, even he understood the seriousness of the current situation.
"I can imagine it."
Sengoku sighed, his tone somewhat heavy.
Everyone knew the most direct method to solve the current problem.
But the most direct method was also the most difficult one.
"The World Government has issued orders that the Marines must avoid direct conflict with the Hunter Guild. However, the World Government has sent quite a few people to join the Hunter Guild under hidden identities."
"The Hunter Guild has developed far too quickly. They simply can't carefully distinguish everyone who joins."
Sengoku frowned as he spoke.
"It's the same in East Blue. Many people trust the Hunter Guild more than the Marines," Garp said with a nod.
When he had been in East Blue, he had already noticed that situation.
Paradise was even worse.
Fortunately, the Marines had not been slow to act either.
As the Hunters of the Hunter Guild began moving frequently, the Marines had no choice but to work harder too.
As for pirates, even though people kept coming from the Four Seas into Paradise, they had been suppressed so thoroughly that they could not stir up any major trouble.
From that perspective, it was actually a good thing.
"Tell me. If we gather our top fighting forces now, could we take action again?"
Sengoku suddenly asked.
Garp froze, then looked at Sengoku as though he were staring at an idiot.
"At that level, if he wants to leave, no one can stop him. Besides, Cyrus isn't some brainless fool. He's very smart."
"Yes, you're right, Garp. If only we had forcefully brought him back to Headquarters back then."
Sengoku sighed again, his face full of regret.
"There's no use regretting it. Besides, the current situation isn't necessarily bad."
Garp suddenly said.
Those words made Sengoku's expression stiffen.
His eyes stared straight at Garp, as though trying to determine what kind of mindset had led him to say something like that.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not exactly wrong, Sengoku. Don't you think the sea has become much quieter now? Many people who might have become pirates before have become Pirate Hunters instead."
Garp said this with a smile.
"It seems Cyrus has interrupted the ongoing Great Pirate Era."
Sengoku shook his head slightly and did not respond to Garp's words.
The fact was indeed so.
But Cyrus was someone even more dangerous than the Pirate King, Roger.
He was someone who could truly overturn the order of the sea.
"So, Sengoku, have you ever thought about another path? A path for the Marines."
Garp spoke again.
But the moment those words entered Sengoku's ears, he abruptly stood up and looked at Garp in shock.
"Garp, you bastard, do you know what you're saying?"
Sengoku's eyes widened, but his voice dropped into a low roar.
"Don't get nervous. I was just saying it casually."
Seeing Sengoku like that, Garp waved a hand, looking as though he did not care much.
"Don't say something like that again."
Sengoku sat back down and frowned with a sigh.
His expression shifted several times, as though many things were weighing on his heart.
"Since you have nothing to do, go stay at the training camp. Don't run around recklessly during this period. If something unexpected happens, you need to be ready to move at any time."
"Perfect. This old man hasn't rested enough anyway!"
The moment Garp heard that, he burst into loud laughter, stood up, and left with a loose, carefree stride.
Sengoku watched Garp's back, a trace of worry flashing through his eyes.
What Garp said just now had truly startled him.
Even as an old friend of many years, Sengoku could not tell whether Garp had meant those words sincerely or not.
Another choice for the Marines?
What other choice could there be?
Nothing more than changing their position and standing with the Hunter Guild, or perhaps breaking away and becoming independent.
Right now, only the Marines and the World Government combined could suppress the Hunter Guild's development.
If the Marines changed sides, the World Government would very quickly fall into a disadvantage.
However, the World Government had ruled the world for so many years.
They definitely had plenty of hidden cards.
Sengoku shook his head slightly, forcing those thoughts out of his mind.
"I hope I'm wrong."
Sengoku sighed.
In truth, the World Government's act of inserting personnel into the Marines might also be a precaution against such a situation.
Still, in Sengoku's eyes, being able to maintain this fragile balance was enough for now.
Because once turmoil truly erupted, it might become a great chaos that swept across the entire world.
…
Amazon Lily.
"Cyrus-sama!"
Boa Hancock held her face in both hands, her cheeks flushed as she looked at the newspaper before her.
Seeing Hancock like this, Elder Nyon off to the side nearly rolled her eyes all the way into the sky.
It seemed the empresses of Amazon Lily would never escape this curse.
Yet another empress had fallen into the terrifying madness of love.
And it was completely one-sided longing at that.
Elder Nyon had gone out to sea before and had some worldly experience.
After learning about Hancock's few encounters with Cyrus, she could clearly tell that Cyrus had no such thoughts at all.
This was entirely Hancock's own delusion.
But right now, she did not dare point that out.
Elder Nyon lowered her head and looked at her bandaged arm, then glanced sideways at Hancock's lovestruck expression.
Still, this Cyrus really was powerful.
Big Mom and Whitebeard had both been defeated by him.
The title of Four Emperors had barely begun to spread, yet it was already about to disappear.
After Red-Hair Shanks fought Big Mom, the title of the Four Emperors had already begun circulating among pirates.
The World Economic News had also reported on it, and quite a few pirates had accepted the term.
In the end, just as that title started to spread, Big Mom was defeated by Cyrus.
Then came Whitebeard.
"Hancock, it looks like the New World may end up being controlled by Cyrus alone."
Elder Nyon suddenly spoke.
Bang!
The moment her voice fell, the sole of a high heel appeared before her eyes. Then Elder Nyon's entire body was sent flying.
"Bastard! Who allowed you to call Cyrus-sama by name?"
Veins pulsed on Hancock's forehead.
She was clearly furious!
Elder Nyon, who had been kicked into a wooden window in the distance, slid down to the floor. She raised her head and looked at Hancock, feeling utterly speechless.
There was no saving her.
Let it all burn!
This woman had truly gone mad!
Although women at this age were indeed sensitive to matters of love, surely it did not have to be this extreme?
"I mean, now is the perfect time to make contact with Cyrus… sama. With him. Perhaps we can secure a place in the New World."
Elder Nyon climbed back up but did not dare approach.
She spoke from where she stood.
"You mean?"
Hancock's eyes suddenly lit up. She stood up at once, looking at Elder Nyon with delight.
"Yes!"
Elder Nyon's heart jumped, and she quickly nodded.
"Yes. I can use this chance to go find Cyrus-sama."
Hancock's face flushed red as she clenched her fists and spoke.
"That won't do."
A voice rang out, making Hancock's face darken instantly. She turned her head and saw Rayleigh walking in with Shakky.
"Rayleigh? Are you trying to stop me from going to find Cyrus-sama?"
Black lightning from Conqueror's Haki erupted around Hancock.
It seemed that Hancock had not been idle during her time back on Amazon Lily.
"Marine warships are roaming near Amazon Lily. They may be waiting for you to leave."
Rayleigh stared at Hancock as he spoke.
Hancock frowned.
"Those bastards! It seems they've forgotten why I became a Warlord in the first place."
"Now isn't the time to clash with the Marines directly."
Elder Nyon quickly tried to persuade her.
She could tell that Hancock seemed to be considering attacking the Marines.
"Those bastards have already come near Amazon Lily. They're the ones asking to die."
Hancock glared.
"Besides, if you hadn't persuaded me back then, I wouldn't have become one of the Seven Warlords."
Hancock's eyes stared straight at Elder Nyon, as though she would kick her again at the slightest disagreement.
Elder Nyon carefully stepped back, putting a little more distance between herself and Hancock.
"I was thinking about Amazon Lily back then. Besides, if not for Cyrus, things were going quite well." Elder Nyon spoke in a low voice.
Then, after a gust of wind, Elder Nyon smashed through the wooden window and was sent flying outside.
"Bastard! You called Cyrus-sama by name again!"
Hancock withdrew her foot with a dark expression, then turned to look at Rayleigh.
"Ahem."
Under Hancock's stare, Rayleigh coughed lightly, then turned his head to look at Shakky.
Shakky sighed helplessly and stepped forward.