#475 - Chapter 475: Tacit Understanding but Worried
However, the speed of information dissemination was limited. The sea was vast and boundless, with hundreds of miles separating each island.
The news that trickled out of Mary Geoise became fragmented as it traversed the various islands. Some messages were even swept away by storms before they could reach the next port, disappearing without a trace.
Even so, those with a vested interest detected an unsettling undercurrent in these fragmented rumors.
Some merchant guilds and nobles who usually maintained close ties with the World Government sensed that communications with Mary Geoise had suddenly become less smooth. Some messengers responsible for delivering secret letters even disappeared without a trace.
What's more, certain high-ranking officials who were frequently active in the Holy Land were now completely out of contact, as if forgotten by the entire world.
At the same time, major forces were secretly monitoring this quietly spreading storm.
The rulers of countries that had been oppressed, rebels who harbored resentment towards the World Government, and shrewd information brokers all began to inquire about the specific situation in Mary Geoise within their respective spheres of influence.
Some exiled Revolutionary Army members immediately stepped up their intelligence gathering, fearing they would miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"It seems we have to see for ourselves." On a remote island, a man draped in a black cloak said in a deep voice.
His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if he had made an important decision.
While people on the sea were still making vague guesses and discussions, the events in Mary Geoise were like a latent earthquake, gradually gathering strength.
Once the news truly spread, it would surely set off a violent storm that would sweep across the entire world.
......
On the other side.
The atmosphere at the Marine Headquarters was so heavy it was almost suffocating.
An emergency communication had just arrived, and the tragic state of Mary Geoise crashed into the headquarters' conference room like a boulder.
Sengoku slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if he had lost his former majesty and decisiveness.
His always taut nerves finally gave way, and he sighed deeply, "Jin-An... has finally come to this."
As soon as these words fell, the silence that filled the room seemed to deepen even further.
The faces of several high-ranking Marine officers looked ashen, and everyone knew what this meant.
Jin-An had been their colleague, even a comrade-in-arms, but now he had become an enemy that the Holy Land hated to the bone. The problem was that all of this was a choice made by the World Government.
This fact was like a thorn, deeply embedded in everyone's heart.
Tsuru frowned deeply, her face cold, and said, "I didn't expect the World Government to come to this. They've really lost their minds."
Her voice was calm, but it faintly revealed anger and helplessness.
Over the years, she had always believed that although the Marines and the World Government had their darkness, they could still be corrected in the end.
But now, she had to face a cruel fact—in order to maintain their power, the Five Elders were willing to provoke a conflict with someone of Jin-An's level. Their choice was simply digging their own grave.
Garp, on the other hand, didn't care at all. He leaned lazily against the back of his chair, clasped his hands behind his head, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "Hahaha, so he's leaving? Good. I've long disliked those bastards! That kid Jin-An did a great job!"
His unrestrained attitude was as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
But he knew in his heart that this split was not just Jin-An's personal rebellion, it would be a huge upheaval in the world order.
Even so, Garp still had a strange sense of agreement with Jin-An's decision.
The Marine Headquarters was becoming less and less like the justice organization they once knew.
Sakazuki next to him had a deep look in his eyes, and his fingers gently tapped the table, as if he was thinking about something.
Although he did not express any opinion, the frown on his brow revealed the unease in his heart.
Even he could not ignore the impact that this foundation-shaking event would bring.
"How should we respond?" His voice was low, as if talking to himself, and as if asking the entire conference room.
For a time, everyone's eyes focused on Sengoku.
As the current Fleet Admiral, his attitude was undoubtedly crucial to the current situation.
However, Sengoku still maintained his silent posture.
He closed his eyes, as if he was exhausted.
This was not only the fatigue brought about by repeated wars, but also the entanglement of morality and power that had dragged him into the abyss.
He knew very well that if he had been more firm back then, perhaps Jin-An would not have embarked on this path of no return.
"It's meaningless to say this now." He finally opened his eyes, revealing an unprecedented fatigue, "The situation has reached the point of no return. What we have to do is not to blame anyone, but to try to reduce the casualties that will follow."
Just then.
The door of the conference room was suddenly pushed open, and a communications soldier ran in慌乱地跑了进来, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Chief of Staff Tsuru, everyone, the latest news! It is said that several pirate groups are also causing trouble in Mary Geoise. The Five Elders are personally stepping in to quell the rebellion, but Pangea Castle has been severely damaged, and the Celestial Dragons have suffered heavy casualties!"
As soon as these words came out, the suppressed air suddenly burst into a commotion.
Several Marine officers looked at each other, and they understood that the situation was much worse than expected.
Even the Celestial Dragons, who had always looked down on the world with an invincible posture, were no longer so high and mighty.
Just as everyone was in deep confusion and shock, Garp suddenly stood up and strode towards the door.
"I'm leaving, I don't want to waste time here," he waved his hand without looking back, "If you want to do something really useful, don't just sit here and nag. That kid Jin-An can do it, can we only watch from behind?"
Tsuru watched Garp's back gradually disappear, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings.
She knew that Garp had always been casual, but now she had a feeling that her old friends were gradually drifting away.
She didn't know how many people would be swept into this storm.
And all she could do was to minimize the losses of the Marines as much as possible.
The atmosphere at the Marine Headquarters seemed to be shrouded in an invisible haze.
The usual noise from the training grounds and the orders of the officers now seemed a little silent.
The soldiers who were usually busy slowed down their pace, and their low-pitched conversations revealed a faint worry and unease.
Many people noticed a strange sense of tension, as if an unspeakable sense of oppression permeated the air.
The soldiers in the corridor gathered in twos and threes, glancing at each other from time to time.
They could all feel the unspoken doubts, but no one dared to mention them.
Although the news of Jin-An being ambushed had not yet spread, some clues had already begun to reveal some clues.
The movements of the higher-ups were unusually frequent. Several senior officers were going in and out of the conference room all day long, and the usually lively barracks seemed particularly depressing.
A soldier whispered, "Have you noticed that recently the people above have been looking serious, as if something big has happened."
His companion looked around, seemingly afraid of being heard, and responded in a low voice: "You're right. I just saw Chief of Staff Tsuru walking out of the Fleet Admiral's office with a livid face. It looks like the situation is not good."
Before they could finish speaking, a lieutenant commander passed by and glared at them fiercely: "Pay attention to discipline! Don't gossip here!"
The two soldiers straightened their backs and saluted, no longer saying anything.
But after the lieutenant commander's back disappeared, they still exchanged a worried look with each other with a tacit understanding.
