"Delve into the sixth sense…"
Garp lowered his head, murmuring to himself as he pondered.
Seeing this, Imu briefly explained the concepts of the sixth sense and the seventh sense.
The more Garp listened, the wider his mouth fell open—especially when he heard that those who attained the seventh sense could move and strike at true light speed, and possess nearly ten thousand different superpowers. His pupils trembled violently in shock.
"Do you understand now? Even with your Colorless Haki, you've only just stepped into the middle tier of the sixth sense. You're still far from the seventh."
Meeting Garp's gaze with an expressionless face, Imu said evenly: "To put it simply, as you are now, you might be considered a master across the Myriad Worlds, but you are far from truly strong. Later, I will teach you the method to train your sixth sense—but you are not to pass it on to anyone else."
Garp had thought that ever since seeing the Dimensional Gate and the other worlds, his vision and understanding had already expanded immensely.
But now he realized he was still a frog at the bottom of a well, thinking that mastering Colorless Haki was the ultimate peak.
"Garp, resign from your post as Marine admiral. Join my direct War God Hall—if you're interested, the position of Hall Master can be yours."
At that moment, Imu spoke words that struck like thunder.
Garp lifted his head in shock, momentarily unable to comprehend.
"Resign as a Marine admiral… that means I'd have to leave the Marines?"
"That's right. With your current strength, you're no longer suited to remain an admiral—unless you're interested in the position of Fleet Admiral?"
At that, Garp quickly waved his hands. "No, no, no—I have no desire to be Fleet Admiral!"
For one thing, he would never compete with Sengoku, and for another, he truly had no interest in it.
It was just that leaving the Marines, after a lifetime of service, was hard to accept.
Imu understood what Garp was thinking, and said, "In truth, even if you don't leave, the Marines won't exist much longer."
"What?!"
Garp was completely stunned, his scalp tingling. He even shot to his feet, shouting in disbelief, "You're going to disband the Marines?!"
"No."
Imu was unbothered by his disrespect and shook his head. "The existence of cosmic pirates, as well as matters concerning the Galactic Empire and the Cosmic Federation—you're aware of them."
"This…" Garp was left speechless.
"That's why I've decided—once the Academy fully masters the technology of the spacefaring vessels, and we can build warships belonging to the World Government—we will merge the Marines and the Air Force into a new Navy, one that will face the cosmic starsea. When that time comes, Marine Headquarters will no longer be on Starfish."
In the vast emptiness of the Empty Hall—
Imu's calm gaze met Garp's stunned eyes.
"The battlefield for the new Navy will no longer be the seas, but the starry seas. The nature of warfare will change drastically. This kind of Navy is no longer the Navy you once cherished."
Facing Garp—a man with a simple, honest, and kind nature, and the first of his subordinates to step into the realm of Colorless Haki—Imu did not mind saying a few more words.
"So the World Government won't need a Navy anymore?"
Garp's mood was heavy and conflicted, his mind clouded with deep uncertainty about the future.
The speed at which the world was changing was a little beyond his imagination.
"If spacecraft technology matures, then yes, there will be no need for traditional sea vessels."
Imu did not hide the truth from Garp.
"However, for spacecraft to be popularized among civilians, it will take at least another ten years. During that time, I will have the Ministry of Public Security take over maritime order, while transferring the Navy's remaining warships, bases, and part of its personnel to them."
This was Imu's plan.
Once the Navy shifted its focus to the starry seas, all security within the Starfish would be entrusted entirely to Dragon.
Even the normally carefree Garp could see how much Imu valued Dragon.
And to be honest, leaving the seas of the Starfish in Dragon's hands put Garp at ease.
Still, there was a tinge of sadness—after all, he had been a Navy man for most of his life.
He had never imagined there would come a day when he would leave the Navy, let alone that the Navy itself would leave the seas.
"So if the Navy and the Air Force merge, there'll be six Admirals?"
Garp composed himself and began asking for more details.
"That's right—six of them: Aokiji, Borsalino, Kaido, Shiki, plus Fujitora, who is about to be promoted to Admiral. And once you step down and your position is vacant, I'm going to give it to Enel."
Imu made no effort to hide his support for Enel.
Now Garp understood.
"So what about the Army?"
The World Government had always valued symmetry. If the number of Navy Admirals was going up to six, shouldn't the Army Admirals also number six?
But Imu replied calmly, "The Army will remain as it is for now."
The reason the Navy needed six Admirals was to be prepared against the threats posed by two extragalactic, universe-level powers.
The Army, however, had no such need for more Generals at present.
For most weaker otherworld realms, there was little difference between a General and a Lieutenant Generals—both were undefeatable forces capable of subjugating an entire world.
Besides, even if they expanded the Army to six Generals, there was simply no one qualified to promote.
And then there were Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama from Umigakure.
Although Umigakure was under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Command and did not belong to either the Army or the Navy, it was clear that the two of them would soon assist the Army in carrying out campaigns against other worlds connected to the Dimensional Gate.
This already meant the Army had two more combatants with General-level power.
Their only shortcoming was stamina, and even that was only a temporary issue.
Madara and Hashirama had already been injected with the Perfect Type-II Cellular Enhancement Serum. As long as they were given some time to grow, honing their taijutsu and physical endurance, they would eventually be able to fight for four or five days straight without a problem.
In addition, among the Army's Lieutenant Generals, there was also Aramaki.
In this way, the Army effectively had six fighters of General caliber!
"I understand. May I ask what the War God Hall is?"
Half-kneeling on the red carpet, Garp shook his head and turned his attention to his own future.
"It is an organization that only Starfish warriors who have stepped into the realm of Colorless Haki can join. Each member is granted the title of Warrior God. They bear no regular duties and may act freely in any world. The only requirement is to constantly grow stronger—and when the World Government faces a powerful enemy, they must strike and eliminate it."
This was the simplified version given by Imu; many details were left unsaid.
Things like salaries, benefits, privileges, ranks, and so on—there was no need for Imu to explain them. When the time came, someone else would tell Garp.
But in any case, the package was certain to be lavish.
As long as they caused no actual harm to the Celestial Dragons, they were essentially free to do as they pleased—a status that, in a sense, even the law could not restrain.
Did that seem unfair?
One only had to remember that these Warrior Gods were the trump cards of both the World Government and Starfish civilization.
Whenever a crisis arose that most people could neither handle nor resolve, the Warrior Gods would be the first to charge into the front lines, staking their lives to put an end to it.
"Other than me, is there anyone else in the War God Hall right now?"
Garp asked curiously.
He wanted to know just how terrifying the true foundations of the World Government really were.
At that moment, he saw Imu vanish from before him in an instant.
And he reappeared above, seated upon the Empty Throne.
Through Haki, Garp immediately sensed the shift in his position.
"Warrior God of War and Military Affairs—Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro."
"Warrior God of Politics and Finance—Saint Topman Warcury."
"Warrior God of Prisons and Justice—Saint Jaygarcia Saturn."
"Warrior God of Intelligence and Special Affairs—Saint Shepherd Ju Peter."
"Warrior God of Science and Defense—Saint Marcus Mars."
"Warrior God of the Underworld and Hell—Queen of the Dead Nerona Enma."
Imu paused here, ignoring the shock frozen on Garp's face, and continued: "The War God Hall currently has six members, but as they oversee different domains, no one holds the position of Hall Master."
Garp was stunned once again, unable to believe what he had just heard.
Besides himself and this man before him, the World Government had six more Warrior Gods!
And aside from Enma, the other five… weren't those the names of the Five Elders?
So they had already reached the realm of Colorless Haki long ago!
At this moment, even Garp, who had always feared nothing, felt a deep, instinctive dread toward the true strength of the World Government.
Because as someone who had mastered Colorless Haki himself, Garp knew exactly how powerful it was.
Even if the entire military joined forces, they still wouldn't stand a chance against the Five Elders!
Five—no, six practitioners of Colorless Haki… what kind of concept was that?
Garp found himself terrified by his own imagination.
Up above, seated upon the Empty Throne, Imu's lips curved into a faint smile.
Garp would never attack the Five Elders, and Imu would never allow the Five Elders to act lightly. In that way, this layer of mystery would never be torn away.
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