As the heated discussions filled the conference hall, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
The room fell silent at once. Ortorun walked in while speaking to Hina, with the Five Elders following closely behind him.
"No matter how long it takes, Tesoro must clean up every single 'chronic ailment' of Mary Geoise for me. I've never fought a war this rich in my life…" Ortoren said as he entered.
Hina nodded and diligently took notes at his side. Behind them, the Five Elders wore extremely awkward expressions.
Chronic ailments? That was the wealth they had accumulated over generations!
But now, none of them dared say a word. Being alive was already a blessing. Just look at Doflamingo, rampaging outside like a mad dog, slaughtering Celestial Dragons. He looked like he wished he could kill them all as well.
Realizing that everyone's attention had turned to him, Ortoren gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Sorry, sorry. There were quite a few things that needed handling over there, so I'm a bit late…"
He had just finished seeing Im off. Of course, it wasn't sending Im away aboard the Heavenly King Uranus to leave this world. The energy issue still hadn't been resolved. According to their agreement, Im would remain in this world for several more years.
That said, it was obvious that Im had lost all interest in Mary Geoise and had no intention of involving himself with the World Government anymore. He left Mary Geoise with remarkable ease.
After the previous battle ended, Ortoren had mentioned that his old mother, Charlotte Linlin, had already touched the limit of that power, though she hadn't fully stepped into it yet. Perhaps in another two or three years, she too would become a powerhouse on their level.
When Imu heard this, he was immediately intrigued. Without hesitation, he said he would visit Totto Land to pay a call on Charlotte Linlin, exchange experiences with her properly, and help her fully step into that realm as soon as possible.
Ortoren strongly approved of Imu's idea. He also reminded him that he would be extremely busy during this period, and that his elderly mother suffered from a "brain ailment." Her mental state was unstable, and she would occasionally go berserk. He asked Imu to help look after her.
At first, Imu was puzzled. Though he had lived for over eight hundred years, he had no particular expertise in medicine. Why ask him to take care of someone?
That was, until Ortoren explained how his mother's condition could be treated. Imu immediately patted his chest and agreed.
Violence really was a miraculous cure.
After seeing Im off, and briefly marveling at how pure his own filial devotion was, remembering his mother's illness even amid such overwhelming chaos, Ortoren hurried straight to the conference hall.
He wondered whether Charlotte Linlin would even remember his kindness.
"Not at all. With your status and authority, being busy is only natural. You've truly worked hard."
"Exactly. Even if we had to wait a few more days, we'd completely understand!"
Inside the conference hall, nobles and Marines alike showered Ortoren with flattery, giving him a graceful way to step down from the awkwardness.
Watching this scene, Fleet Admiral Sengoku felt deeply emotional. Although he had long expected that once this major affair was over, he would have to step aside and make way for the next generation, seeing Ortoren's sheer presence and influence today finally made it certain.
No matter what, he had to relinquish his position. Otherwise, things would become extremely difficult.
Fortunately, Ortoren still held deep respect for Fleet Admiral Sengoku. He politely invited the Fleet Admiral to take the main seat, then sat down beside him. Only after that did the others take their seats one by one according to their nameplates.
"How are the discussions going on the East Blue, the West Blue, and the first half of the Grand Line?" Ortoren asked offhandedly.
Everyone began laying out their own ideas and positions. Ortoren listened while also going back and forth with Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Kuzan, Sakazuki, Garp, Zephyr, Borsalino, and the others.
After a little over half an hour, Ortoren leaned in and murmured something to Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
A moment later, Fleet Admiral Sengoku patted the table.
"The situations in the East Blue and West Blue can't wait. Since we've already reached a unified conclusion, we'll proceed according to the arrangement we just discussed. Borsalino will go to the West Blue, and Sakazuki to the East Blue. Each of you will lead your own forces, suppress the two seas, and then begin replacing the existing order. This will require lightning measures, but we can't be reckless or rush it. If we can steadily eliminate these hidden dangers within three years, that will be enough…"
Sakazuki and Borsalino both agreed.
More orders followed in quick succession. Kuzan would head to the first half of the Grand Line to carry out suppression there as well, and likewise replace the ruling structure, installing their own people as the new nobles.
The South Blue would largely be handled by the Revolutionary Army, with the local Marines providing support.
Isshō would lead the Marines to Skypiea, carrying out a full round of reforms and bringing it under centralized administration.
Judging from the plans settled in this meeting, the overall goal was to restore the grand strategy of "Seven Seas as One" within three years, and within five years, fully stabilize the New Government's ruling order.
"The Revolutionary Army's Kingdom Alliance in the South Blue has been done well," Ortoren said, tapping the table as he spoke, his voice low and firm. "Following the 'Seven Seas as One' grand strategy, every sea will now establish a new alliance in the same way. Once the seven major alliances are formed, we will formally found the Seven Seas Alliance alongside the New Government."
No one dared object. Everyone voiced their agreement.
Ortoren continued, "As for the Five Elders of the former World Government, they have value for united-front work. The World Government has deep roots, and its global network is far too tangled. We can't clean it all out in one shot, and it wouldn't serve our interests either. From here on, the Five Elders will cooperate with us in sorting through the World Government's old root network. His Majesty Cobra will join forces with you nobles on this operation. While untangling those connections, we'll absorb what benefits us and eliminate what no longer fits the progress of the times. This will be jointly commanded by Spandine and Ms. Stussy!"
There was still plenty of useful structure left within the World Government. For example, the surveillance network spread across the world was not something Ortoren would ever simply throw away. And then there were the CP agencies scattered across the seas, serving as eyes, ears, and enforcers. Those too were highly valuable.
You couldn't deny the value of these systems just because the World Government had committed crimes. The task now was to gradually sort out which "roots" were worth keeping, use them to accelerate the building of a new ruling order, and at the same time cut away the rot.
And obviously, that process would require the Five Elders' help, which was exactly why they were useful for united-front work.
It wasn't just the Five Elders, either. Although the World Government had declared unconditional surrender and dissolution, its massive bureaucratic machine still had to be used for the time being. Those guilty of unforgivable crimes would be dealt with, while those whose offenses were not as severe would atone through service by helping establish the New Government. Once order was stable, their next fate would be decided based on performance.
This meeting was never going to be finished in a single day.
Over the next ten-plus days, Mary Geoise saw a constant flow of people coming and going. They were, without exception, members of the new nobility and ruling class, all rushing around with work to do.
The conference itself ran from morning to night for more than ten days straight. The Marine commanders, brimming with energy, held up fine, but the nobles nearly worked themselves to death in that room.
As the sessions continued, progress stayed fast. In truth, before the battle of Mary Geoise had even begun, all sides already had blueprints and rough frameworks for many of these plans and systems. Now they were simply filling in the details.
Disciplinary oversight organizations and formal legal structures began appearing on the agenda one after another.
Then orders from Mary Geoise started spreading in every direction. Elite legal scholars and experts from every nation were summoned to begin preparing a rewritten set of universal laws for the world.
Historians from across the seas were also called to Mary Geoise to work with the Marines' scholarly corps, compiling the official history of the World Government and gradually repairing what had been left blank in the Void Century.
After that came a string of policies aimed at easing the burden on ordinary people: cutting taxes, abolishing the absurd and unreasonable systems of the past, including the Heavenly Tribute.
And among all of it, one initiative stood out as especially important: Sea Train technology. From this point forward, it would be rolled out on a massive scale. Any island that met the conditions for construction would be brought into the project as quickly as possible.
That alone would massively strengthen their ability to govern.
On the seventeenth day of the conference, Ortoren had other matters to handle and didn't attend. After the final agenda item wrapped up, Fleet Admiral Sengoku suddenly spoke.
"Everyone, I have a few words. I'll take up a bit of your time."
The moment he opened his mouth, all eyes in the room turned to him. And everyone here was sharp enough to read the air. In an instant, it was as if they'd already guessed what was coming, and a mix of expressions spread across their faces.
"After these many days of meetings, I've come to realize my ideas, my way of thinking, even my perspective… they can't keep up with the tide of this new era anymore," Sengoku said with a genial smile. "If I'm honest, it's probably the conservatism I've accumulated over decades. To borrow an old saying from the sea… this new age no longer has a ship that can carry me."
"Fleet Admiral, you're the one they call the Wise General. How could you think that?"
"Exactly, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Several major issues only found a direction because of your guidance. You can't say something like that."
"The Marines can't function without your leadership!"
Whatever they truly thought, everyone could see that Benn-sama held Fleet Admiral Sengoku in genuine respect. That meant nobody could afford to be careless in how they responded.
So even with Sengoku making his position clear, they still had to pile on the compliments and say all the right things. They couldn't let the Fleet Admiral lose face.
If the Fleet Admiral lost face, would the Admiral feel good? If the Admiral didn't feel good, how were they supposed to "advance"?
And honestly, the flattery did make Sengoku feel a fair bit better. Being forced out and being respectfully asked to step down were two completely different things.
He could feel Ortoren's respect plainly enough. In fact, he was certain that if he didn't bring it up himself, Ortoren would never pressure him. He could have stayed on as Fleet Admiral for a few more years without issue.
But Sengoku also knew that wouldn't be right.
If he could leave with dignity, even honor, why wait a few years only to stumble out in embarrassment?
"I'm old," Fleet Admiral Sengoku said, still shaking his head firmly. "And during the time I was confined in Mary Geoise, I suffered quite a bit. The old wounds and chronic problems I picked up from years of fighting at sea have been pressing down on me so hard I can barely breathe. My energy fades by the day. Right now the world is in chaos, and this is the moment for grand rebuilding. We need a central pillar, and it has to be a pillar full of vigor. I can't carry that burden anymore, so please stop trying to persuade me."
Hearing that, the Five Elders nearby went numb all over.
Suffered in Mary Geoise?
Yes, they had placed Sengoku and the others under house arrest here, but because of all sorts of constraints, it had been impossible to treat them harshly, let alone torture them. If anything, it had been closer to keeping them in comfort at Mary Geoise.
How was that "suffering"?
They'd even let him keep his little goat with him, and fed it herbal medicine every day. How was that mistreatment?
But the times had changed, and power spoke louder than anything else. Sengoku could slam the table, scold them, even smear them, and these five relics of the old era still wouldn't dare treat Fleet Admiral Sengoku the way they once had.
If Sengoku said you were wrong, then you were wrong. Take it and shut up. Argue back? Were you tired of living?
After Sengoku's speech, the others immediately began pleading again, looking as if they simply couldn't bear to part with him.
In other words: loyalty.
Yet Fleet Admiral Sengoku remained "stubborn" to the end, unwavering in his decision to retire. He continued:
"Admiral Benn Ortoren has distinguished merits, a sharp mind, and outstanding ability. He's young, full of energy, and possesses enough strength and prestige that there isn't a single person in the Marines who won't accept him. At a moment like this, I believe only he can shoulder this responsibility, rebuild the world's order, and drive its development. Therefore, I have decided to step down from the position of Fleet Admiral tomorrow and recommend Ortoren as the next Fleet Admiral. Do any of you have objections?"
If it was only about stepping down, of course they'd try to keep him. Plenty of "objections" there.
But stepping down while putting Admiral Benn in the seat at the same time? Who would dare object to that?
Objection? So you don't want the Admiral to take the position?
Sounds like you don't want to live.
The entire hall fell silent in an instant. Even Sakazuki couldn't oppose it. Given how things stood, only Ortoren could truly carry that weight. Sakazuki… simply wasn't qualified.
After that came a low ripple of whispers, people murmuring as if they were seriously discussing whether it was feasible, as if their opinions could actually change the outcome.
But that was how it always went. Everyone knew the result, yet the procedure still had to be followed.
Before long, the senior Marine officers began a show of hands. As for everyone else, no matter how loudly they'd spoken earlier, they had no authority to interfere with a change of power inside the Marines.
With Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuzan, Isshō, Momonga, and the rest raising their hands in approval, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's proposal passed unanimously.
And that meant that tomorrow, with Ortoren not even present today, Ortoren would officially take up the position of Fleet Admiral.