Navy Headquarters.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku of the Navy, Grand Instructor Zephyr, Vice Admiral Garp, Rear Admirals Aokiji, Akainu, Kizaru, and the well-known Onigumo, were all gathered in the largest conference room at Navy Headquarters.
Besides these individuals, many other Rear Admirals, Vice Admirals, and staff officers who remained at Navy Headquarters were also present.
Seated at the very top was Fleet Admiral Kong, also known as Steel-Bone Kong.
Everyone was gathered here for one reason.
That reason was the Xuanwu Navy.
Navy Headquarters had been closely monitoring the Pirate Alliance's attack on the Xuanwu Navy.
After witnessing the involvement of Kenshiro, Sakata Gintoki, and Benedict, they had no choice but to pay close attention.
Especially when news arrived that Wang Zhi, Gin Fudo, and Yelyusuke, three experts with considerable combat power and potential, had been subdued by the Xuanwu Navy, doubling their overall strength. This was even more shocking.
Consequently, the World Government issued an order, compelling Kong to convene this meeting.
Tsuru, the chief of staff, gestured to those below, and a set of documents was distributed to everyone present.
Upon reviewing the detailed intelligence in the documents, everyone in the room fell silent.
Although they already had some understanding of the Xuanwu Navy, the latest intelligence before them still left them astounded.
The combat power of the Xuanwu Navy now rivaled any Navy branch. While perhaps not equal to the Four Emperors, they were undoubtedly below them, arguably possessing the strongest capabilities.
"What is going on? Why are all the marines in the Xuanwu Navy proficient in the Six Powers?" Akainu slammed his fist on the table, his expression shocked as he stared at the intelligence report, exclaiming loudly, "Over a thousand Xuanwu Navy marines all know the Six Powers. Can someone tell me what's happening?"
The Six Powers were the exclusive techniques of the World Government and Navy Headquarters.
Now, it seemed as if the Six Powers belonged to someone else.
At this time, Akainu was still quite young.
As Zephyr's disciple, Akainu was very familiar with the Six Powers.
However, even he had not completely mastered the Six Powers to this day.
This left Akainu feeling both envious and shocked.
Others were equally astonished, just like Akainu.
"That's right, how do these people all know the Six Powers? Aren't these abilities mastered by our Navy?"
"Heavens, with such numbers, they are already beyond comparison to ordinary forces."
"With an estimated two Admiral-level and three Vice Admiral-level high-ranking combatants, and an average combat power of Rear Admiral level, this would already be considered elite of the elite force within our Headquarters Navy."
"This Xuanwu Navy suddenly appeared on the seas. In the past two months, they have been killing pirates. Could this be a force secretly built by our Headquarters Navy? If so, please grant me a hundred such marine soldiers."
"If I had such a naval unit, I would definitely sweep through the pirates in the New World."
"It's truly unbelievable!"
...
The noisy voices echoed throughout the conference hall. Sengoku and Zephyr wore grim expressions, their brows furrowed.
"Zephyr, these people weren't trained by you?" Sengoku looked at Zephyr beside him and inquired.
Those nearby, upon hearing this, instinctively turned their gazes toward Zephyr.
Although Zephyr was a Navy Admiral, he also often bore the responsibility of training new recruits.
Therefore, many in attendance were students trained by Zephyr.
And the marine soldiers trained by Zephyr graduated having mastered at least two of the Six Powers.
"No!" Zephyr replied flatly, his face darkened.
After a pause, Zephyr added, "With such a massive number, if I had trained them, it would undoubtedly be a matter of pride."
"What a shame."
Hearing Zephyr's denial, Sengoku also fell silent.
"If they weren't trained by Teacher Zephyr, then who else in Navy Headquarters possesses such skill to train so many marines proficient in the Six Powers?" Aokiji pondered aloud.
No one answered Aokiji's question.
As it stood, Zephyr was undoubtedly the one with such capability. As for others, they had at most half the ability.
Garp, not paying attention to their conversation, kept his gaze fixed on the intelligence regarding Benedict.
Although he had heard information about the Xuanwu Navy more than once, and had some understanding of Benedict's existence.
He had even sparred with Benedict.
Though it was a sparring match, the power he displayed was, in Garp's perception, already at the Rear Admiral level.
But now, with suspected Admiral-level combat power, he had one-punched Wang Zhi, who could exert Admiral-level combat power.
This was undeniably Admiral-level combat power.
This brat still had such hidden strength.
Kong, seated at the head of the table, spoke after everyone had reviewed and discussed the information. "This is the purpose of this meeting."
"Do you all have any thoughts on this matter?"
Kong had spoken, but as his words fell, the scene was met with a brief silence.
Thoughts?
From the perspective of justice, the Xuanwu Navy's elimination of pirates and maintenance of local peace was a good thing.
After all, Roger's words had directly ushered in the Great Pirate Era, with countless pirates flooding the seas, causing slaughter and war.
The Xuanwu Navy, in a significant way, was of the same nature as them.
For Navy Headquarters to dispatch troops to attack an organization that upheld justice and protected local peace would undoubtedly be a troublesome matter for Navy Headquarters.
"Although they hunt pirates, protect regional peace, and act with justice, pirates' nature is difficult to change. Once a thief, always a thief."
"The Xuanwu Navy recruiting pirates to serve them precisely exposes their true nature."
"This is a pirate disguised in the skin of a marine."
"I suggest we deploy naval forces to eliminate the Xuanwu Navy completely and preempt any future trouble."
Akainu's gaze swept across everyone. Seeing no one else speak, a surge of indignation, a belief in his own justice, filled him, making him deeply disgusted by the Xuanwu Navy's actions.
Many eyes instinctively turned to Akainu.
His appearance, filled with hatred for evil, made one sigh that he lacked the tempering of society.
The current scale of the Xuanwu Navy was not that of unarmed civilians, but an organization possessing formidable military might.
To suppress an organization of such scale would result in heavy losses.
After all, pirates were numerous on the seas, and various factions were complex. If Navy Headquarters dared to mobilize a large force to quell the Xuanwu Navy, then other pirate ships would attack Navy Headquarters, or even take the opportunity to surround and plunder them, acting with lethal intent.
It was a matter where touching one thread could unravel the entire tapestry!
"Regarding this matter, I propose we observe the situation quietly and monitor it further," Zephyr stated after some contemplation.
"If possible, we could attempt to contact the Xuanwu Navy," Sengoku also said. "They are all upholding justice. If the Xuanwu Navy can become a part of Navy Headquarters, then some troubles can be easily resolved."
Garp glanced at Sengoku and chuckled.
Kong, upon hearing this, looked at Garp and asked, "Garp, do you have any thoughts?"
Garp casually replied, "No thoughts, I just feel that this idea is unlikely to succeed."
Chief of Staff Tsuru agreed, "We can try. At least we can gauge the Xuanwu Navy's attitude."
Kong pondered for a moment and then declared, "Then, Garp will handle this matter."
Upon hearing this, Garp immediately became displeased, saying, "I won't. I prefer to stay here eating senbei and drinking tea."
"You cannot refuse this matter!" Kong's attitude was firm, leaving Garp no room to refuse. "Depart now. I need a satisfactory result in the shortest possible time."