Garp sat in place, eyes closed.

"It was Roger's last request to me."

Sakazuki sat at a distance, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair, silent.

Fleet Admiral Kong sighed inwardly.

"Why did you shelter Roger's orphan?"

Garp opened his eyes and slowly spoke.

"The child was innocent."

Seeing Garp remain unrepentant, Sakazuki let out a cold snort.

"That sinful bloodline is a crime in itself."

Garp turned to glare at Sakazuki.

"But he wasn't even born yet."

"His life hadn't even started. He hadn't committed any crime."

"To be sentenced to death solely because of an inherited bloodline he had no say in..."

"That kind of absolute justice..."

"I will never accept it."

Sakazuki took a few deep breaths.

"I can't believe I'm hearing this from a Vice Admiral."

"From what standpoint do you think you can speak these words so righteously?"

"The Navy? The people? Or the pirates?"

"No crime?"

"If Bullet hadn't stopped Rayleigh that day, how many people would've died because of that unborn child—do you even know?"

Garp clenched his fists.

"If it weren't for the surveillance..."

"Roger wouldn't have called Rayleigh in the first place."

Sakazuki actually laughed in anger.

"So you're saying I was wrong?"

Boom!

The table in front of Sakazuki was smashed to pieces in an instant.

Fleet Admiral Kong roared.

"Enough! Calm down, all of you!"

Nearby, Sengoku, Zephyr, and others rose, ready to intervene.

Sakazuki took another deep breath.

"It's fine."

He turned and began walking away.

"Karol!"

Karol stood up from the back row.

"Here!"

Sakazuki, still walking away, asked.

"Have you tracked down Dragon's whereabouts?"

Karol nodded.

"Yes, we have."

No one else in the meeting room knew what Sakazuki was planning.

He raised his hand slightly and spoke.

"Fleet Admiral Kong, I'm going to apprehend a Navy traitor."

"I'll bring back his head for you."

Everyone was stunned. Garp abruptly stood up.

"Sakazuki!!!"

An eruption of fury and killing intent burst forth.

Sakazuki suddenly turned around, his Conqueror's Haki erupting even more forcefully with murderous rage.

"What are you so angry about?!"

"You'd be angry too when it's your turn!"

"Then tell me! Those five thousand Kegesi Island soldiers slaughtered by Roger—don't their families have the right to be angry?!"

"Didn't they have lives too?!"

"Their lives were forcibly cut short. The future of over five thousand families was completely destroyed!"

"Have you ever thought about whether they were innocent?!"

"Why should they forgive the son of the man who caused it all?!"

"Innocent?"

"You stand on a moral high ground and talk about righteousness?!"

BOOM—

Sakazuki entered Magma mode.

Blazing red light and thick black smoke surged around him, barely contained as he fought the urge to attack Garp.

Garp, too, erupted with killing intent, staring death at Sakazuki and clenching his fists tightly.

Zephyr and Vice Admiral Ward Morris stepped in front of Sakazuki.

"Calm down, Sakazuki."

Sengoku flashed in front of Garp.

"Don't be reckless, Garp."

Fleet Admiral Kong slammed the table and shouted.

"That's enough!!!"

"All of you, stand down!"

A powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki radiated outward.

"Garp is temporarily relieved of duty!"

"Sengoku! Take Garp out of here."

"Sakazuki, retract your powers."

"Zephyr, Morris, get him out."

"This meeting is over. Everyone, cool your heads!"

"Get them both out of here—NOW!!"

The usually cheerful Fleet Admiral Kong had rarely been this furious. The others didn't dare linger.

They split into two groups and dragged the two men away.

Moments later, the meeting room fell silent.

Fleet Admiral Kong collected his anger and sat down.

He massaged his temples, then slammed the table again as he thought of Garp.

"Idiot..."

Then he got up and left.

...

Late at night, the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.

The Elder with the sword tossed a sheet of paper onto the table.

"The successor to the Pluton blueprints has been identified."

The Elder with the cane picked it up and glanced at it.

"The world's number one shipwright, huh."

"Right under our noses."

"He even built ships for Roger."

"Exposed because of the purge, I see."

"Capture him."

He tossed the file back onto the table, clearly unconcerned.

They knew the truth—only the completed weapon could pose a threat.

Even if someone had the blueprints, it was uncertain whether they could replicate it.

The wasted time and materials—only the World Government could afford that.

The capture was more symbolic than anything.

The burly Elder spoke.

"What do you think about Kong's report?"

The tall, thin Elder replied.

"Strip Garp of his title as a hero."

"Trying to shield Roger's offspring—D's truly are all the same."

The Elder with the sword added.

"For now, let's keep it within the upper ranks."

"The full extent of Roger's influence is still unknown. We shouldn't cause too much upheaval right now."

"Let's wait a year or two and see."

"Sakazuki did well this time."

"Find a chance to promote him to Admiral. We'll announce the stripping of Garp's title then."

The Elders all nodded.

"Agreed!" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ nοvelfire.net

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

Orders began spreading to all corners...

...

Late at night, Marineford port.

Garp sat quietly on the stone steps, gazing out at the sea.

Sengoku and Tsuru walked over carrying three bags of donuts and sat beside him, handing him one of the bags.

Garp silently accepted it and tore open the packaging.

He picked up a donut, took a bite, chewed a few times, then stopped.

"Sengoku, Tsuru..."

"Was I really wrong...?"

Sengoku paused for a few seconds before speaking.

"As much as I hate to say it, Sakazuki wasn't wrong this time."

"Roger's cursed bloodline absolutely cannot be allowed to survive in this world."

Vice Admiral Tsuru gently said.

"You were bewitched by Roger."

"This isn't your fault."

Garp suddenly chuckled.

"You're always so kind, Tsuru..."

Then he dazedly stared at the sea.

"Maybe..."

Only the sound of the three of them quietly eating could be heard at the port.

As the noise faded and the sun began to rise, Sengoku stood up.

"Maybe... you should visit Kegesi Island sometime. See the people whose lives Roger destroyed."

Garp looked toward the rising sun.

"Kegesi Island, huh..."

...

The next day.

Another small high-level meeting was convened.

They announced Garp's punishment.

His title as a hero was revoked, though not yet made public.

Garp himself was suspended from duty for six months, pending further review.

Fleet Admiral Kong looked at Garp.

"Any objections?"

Garp shook his head.

"None."

Kong nodded.

"Meeting adjourned."

As the meeting ended, Kong called out to Sakazuki.

Once everyone had left, Kong spoke.

"Sakazuki, have a seat. You handled this matter well."

"Over the years, your contributions haven't gone unnoticed by the top brass, but because of your age, your promotion was delayed."

"Now, the time has come."

"We'll find a chance to promote you to Admiral within the next two years."

Sakazuki chuckled lightly.

"Is that so?"

"Then I'll be looking forward to it."

Kong smiled.

"You're something else."

He hesitated, then added.

"By the way, about Dragon..."

"Well... how should I put this."

"That boy grew up here at headquarters."

"More or less..."

Sakazuki smiled again.

"Don't worry, Fleet Admiral Kong."

"I was just angry in the moment—I didn't really intend to hurt him."

After all... he still had a major role to play...

Kong nodded and let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good."

"You've endured a lot through this ordeal."

Sakazuki shook his head.

"It's nothing."

"All for the sake of justice."

...

Enies Lobby, the island that never sleeps.

The tall, thin Chief Judge stared at the confidential order from the Elders.

"Shipwright Tom, huh..."

"Someone!"

"Prepare to move the court!"