Marines Headquarters G1 Base, New World.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, several high-ranking Marines sat on the sofas, each remaining silent.
Akainu leaned back in his chair, a burning cigar in his mouth. The flame had reached his lips, yet he seemed completely unaware.
Yes, the Marine high command was holding yet another meeting.
And once again, the subject of discussion was Caesar and the Beast God Pirates!
This time, the attendees were only Akainu, Kizaru, Fujitora, Vice Admiral Tsuru, the newly promoted Vice Admiral Brannew, and Black Horse, the director of the World Government's Criminal Investigation Department.
The last person was World, who had escaped from Donut Island.
It could be said that this small office had gathered the entire Marine's top-tier combat power.
Yet at this moment, the silence in the office had persisted for nearly an hour.
Flick.
Black Horse lit another cigarette for himself, his eyes appearing somewhat distracted amidst the swirling smoke.
"Four individuals comparable to Admirals were dispatched, yet they couldn't even capture Katakuri. Four people went, and only you managed to escape. Previous intelligence indicated that their captain had left, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin had gone to Red-Haired Shanks' territory, and that Ganzui's whereabouts were unknown."
Black Horse bit down on his cigarette, glancing sideways at Valdo, who stood there like a wooden statue, and openly mocked:
"Pirates will always be pirates—utterly useless. Even with overwhelming strength, you still managed to fail in the operation.
And then you come to me with excuses, talking about Redfield and Kuzan! Hah, and Doflamingo, Crocodile, and that Gin.
World, have you gone stupid after being frozen for thirty years?"
"You mentioning Redfield is one thing, but Kuzan—isn't he dead? Back then, Kizaru and Garp confirmed it clearly. Garp even lost his life over it! Now you're telling me he's alive and has become Caesar's watchdog? What, did he come back from the dead?"
"And the Seven Warlords—with the likes of Doflamingo and Crocodile, at best they're only at elite Vice Admiral level. Two fools defeated by Straw Hat Luffy—how could they join forces and kill Golden Axe?"
Black Horse grew more agitated as he spoke, and by the end, he flung the cigarette from his mouth directly at World.
Splat.
A burst of sparks erupted on World's face, ashes scattering everywhere.
But he remained motionless, standing expressionless.
"Everything I said is true. Otō died at Redfield's hands, Silver Axe was also taken down by Redfield, and Golden Axe was slain by Doflamingo and Crocodile working together. The target lost an arm and was severely injured—perhaps already dead."
"You're still saying that!"
Black Horse slammed to his feet and threw a punch, striking World in the face and sending him flying through the air to crash heavily against the office wall.
Black Horse glared at World angrily.
"I strongly suspect that you hold a grudge against the World Government and launched a sneak attack from behind, causing this failure. It seems we've been too lenient with your sickly brother."
"It has nothing to do with him! Everything I said is true!" World suddenly roared, his eyes wide and bloodshot.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Black Horse raised his fists and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, raining blows upon World.
"What are you barking about, World? You're nothing but a dog raised by the World Government! Know your place!"
The Marine officers watched the farce unfold before them, none showing any reaction.
"Enough!"
Akainu, seated at the table, suddenly spoke coldly.
Black Horse vented his anger before withdrawing his hand and returning to the sofa.
World, meanwhile, was left with bruises all over his face from Black Horse's beating.
He leaned against the wall, gaze lowered to the ground, not uttering a word.
Akainu rapped the table and said gravely, "Now is not the time to consider whether he betrayed us or not! We should focus on figuring out the reason for this failed surprise operation!"
Kizaru crossed his legs, holding a nail clipper as he trimmed his nails, and remarked casually:
"World said there were two mysterious powerhouses on Donut Island: Count Redfield and Kuzan. Leaving aside whether Kuzan is still alive...
Assuming World's account is true, why would Redfield and Kuzan willingly guard Caesar's territory? Or could there be other fighters with similar abilities?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded and continued Kizaru's line of thought.
"That's possible. After all, Caesar is a top-tier powerhouse from the old era. It wouldn't be surprising if he knew some old-timers and invited them over.
Take that Seven-Star Sword King Ganzui, for example. Or perhaps the one on Donut Island wasn't Kuzan, but another ice-type ability user—like the Snow-Snow Fruit or Low-Temperature Fruit, both could create freezing effects.
From what I know, Caesar himself possesses the power to freeze oceans."
Fujitora opened his scarred eyes, furrowing his brow as he said.
"I don't find it too hard to believe that two Seven Warlords combined could defeat a top-tier combatant.
But everyone, the situation has reached this point. I believe we shouldn't dwell too much on the reasons for the mission's failure, but rather consider the consequences we're about to face."
"Consequences? Hah! What consequences? He's just a mere pirate—does the World Government need to fear moving against him?"
Black Horse snorted, his face full of disdain.
Fujitora turned to "look" at him and said in a slightly hoarse voice:
"Barbarossa Caesar is not someone easy to negotiate with. Moreover, he just established the Pirate Council a few days ago, calling for unity and mutual aid among pirates in the New World.
Now that this has happened, if that 'Katakuri' isn't dead, there might still be a chance for reconciliation. But if this Beast God successor dies..."
"If he dies, he dies! A trash pirate who thinks he's some crown prince? What nonsense Pirate Council—it's just that bastard's delusion. Uniting the pirates of the New World? Hah, I think this Caesar has a few screws loose too."
Black Horse looked completely unconcerned.
It was no wonder he didn't take Caesar seriously.
The World Government had ruled this world for 800 years—what kind of freaks and monsters hadn't they seen?
Non-affiliated nations, the Revolutionary Army, great pirates—no matter how much they stirred, they would eventually vanish into the dust of history.
This wasn't accidental but inevitable.
Sometimes, the lofty World Government didn't even need to deploy its own forces—just whispering to certain factions in this world was enough to make them turn on each other and eliminate any rising threats.
Take the old Rocks Pirates, for instance—were they any weaker than the current Beast God Pirates?
At that time, the World Government merely spouted rhetoric about world balance and how Rocks' ambitions were too grandiose.
These seemingly rebellious and unruly pirates were actually conservatives, advocates of balance.
Without the World Government even needing to exert effort, they would deal with Rocks themselves.
For instance, among the current Yonko of the New World, Shanks of the Red Hair Pirates is also a representative figure of the balance faction on the seas.
Black Horse suddenly thought of a brilliant idea.
"How about we prop up Blackbeard and have him take on the Beast God Pirates?"