#340 - Chapter 340 The Aftermath of Two Events

The atmosphere inside the Marine Headquarters command room was unusually relaxed.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, and Chief of Staff Tsuru were gathered, and a long-lost smile appeared on the faces of the three veterans.

Sengoku sat in the main seat, clutching the G5 Branch's battle report he had just received.

His serious face was now split into a wide grin, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening with the laughter.

The pressure that had been building up in his heart due to the tense situation was finally released at this moment.

"Hahaha, what an unexpected ending."

Sengoku said, placing the battle report on the table, unable to hide his smile.

"Those World Government guys thought they could control everything, strictly prohibiting us from participating in the war, but they couldn't completely stop the Marines from joining that war."

Garp was sitting on the sofa next to Sengoku, holding a teacup in one hand and a senbei rice cracker in the other, crunching loudly as he chewed.

He laughed and pointed at Sengoku's battle report with his finger.

"Old man, don't laugh too happily. We have to thank that old geezer Zephyr for going to provide support despite the World Government's orders this time."

"It was only with Zephyr's help that we were able to hold off Charlotte Linlin, otherwise, how could we have seen the results so quickly?"

Tsuru remained seated to the side, her expression as calm as ever, but there was a hint of warmth in her eyes.

She took a sip of tea and said with a hint of teasing:

"Hmph, you two old men are still bickering here."

"Zephyr's actions weren't planned, but you deliberately turned a blind eye, didn't you? Saying you wouldn't participate, but in the end, you all went."

Sengoku laughed even more heartily upon hearing this.

He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, as if trying to hide all his previous worries, but the smile on his face betrayed his true feelings.

"No matter how strictly the World Government forbids it, we can't just sit idly by. The G5 Branch is an important stronghold for our Marines. If it falls into enemy hands, the consequences would be disastrous."

Garp put down his teacup, stretched, and then waved his hand dismissively.

"Who cares what they say? The Marines under us are quite clever, knowing to change their uniforms and disguise themselves to participate in the war."

"Hmph, those guys really thought they could control everything, but we disrupted their plans long ago."

Tsuru smiled slightly and nodded. Although she was usually serious, she couldn't hide the relief in her heart at this moment.

She knew that it was precisely because of these flexible measures that the Marines were able to gain the upper hand in this crucial battle.

"Now that the G5 Branch's battle report has been delivered to us as soon as possible, we can finally put a comma on this matter. Now we should think about how to exonerate Zephyr. After all, he directly led the Marines to provide support."

If this matter wasn't handled well, it would be difficult for Zephyr to get away with it in the World Government.

Sengoku reopened the battle report in his hand, carefully examining it as if confirming something.

His eyes were full of pride, and his tone was tinged with emotion.

"Zephyr had already considered this when he set sail."

"He's no longer a Marine Admiral. He was already a free man when he left Marineford."

Sengoku placed a letter of resignation on his desk, a forgery, of course.

Zephyr had been mentioning his resignation to him for a while, but he had never wanted to let him go. This time, he could be considered fulfilling his wish.

"Ah?" Garp picked up the paper on the table and looked at it. "Why is this guy so impulsive?"

Sengoku ignored Garp's alarm and smiled faintly, "As for Jin, he certainly didn't disappoint our expectations."

Garp then put down the letter and picked up another senbei, crunching it as he chewed and said:

"That's right, this kid is getting more and more outstanding. Look at his performance this time, almost single-handedly turning the tide of the battle, and even capturing Kaido alive."

Tsuru nodded, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

"It seems our choice back then was right. Jin is not only exceptionally strong but also knows how to lead the overall situation. He knows when to advance and when to retreat. This operation has truly done a great service to the Marines."

The three looked at each other and smiled, as if all their worries and concerns had vanished with the arrival of this battle report.

Although they still maintained their usual rigor and composure on the surface, the hope for the future and the trust in Jin deep in their hearts were greatly satisfied at this moment.

"Alright, everyone, don't forget," Sengoku slowly stood up, still holding the battle report in his hand, "This victory is certainly worth celebrating, but the tasks ahead are even more arduous. We must ensure the safety of every soldier and fight for the dignity that the heroes who gave their lives deserve."

Tsuru and Garp also stood up, and the three exchanged a tacit look.

They knew that as the backbone of the Marines, their duty was not only to win battles but, more importantly, to lead everyone toward a brighter future.

......

As the sunlight of a new day shone upon the sea, the air was filled with a sense of calm, but this tranquility was soon shattered by a world-shaking piece of news.

The sea breeze stirred the tide, quickly spreading this unprecedented event to every corner, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

In major ports, taverns, and markets, people were talking, their voices mixed with shock and unease.

Mary Geoise, the sacred land symbolizing supreme power and majesty, had been attacked!

And the target of this attack was actually the towering Pangea Castle.

Some slaves who escaped from Mary Geoise, with the help of pirates or sympathizers, desperately spread this incredible news around the world.

Their terrified faces and trembling voices seemed to immerse the listeners in the scene. Their words emphasized the horror of the event:

"The Celestial Dragons' and World Government's sacred land, Mary Geoise—Pangea Castle, was destroyed by a mysterious person, freeing countless slaves!"

This news resounded through the sea like thunder, stirring up countless waves.

People's eyes were filled with disbelief. How could this symbol, which had always been high above, suffer such a heavy blow?

Even Pangea Castle—that huge symbol that had stood for thousands of years—was split in half by a single slash!

As the news spread, more details gradually emerged.

Rumor has it that the Five Elders and the God's Knights have all been dispatched, vowing to capture the mysterious person.

These beings, representing the world's highest power and military force, seemed so anxious and angry at this moment, which was enough to prove the seriousness of the incident.

...

...