"The Four Emperors' Pirates are the best choice, especially the Whitebeard Pirates, which have been hailed as the strongest. The threat posed by that Whitebeard guy is too great..."
"The worst choices are the BIG MOM Pirates or the Hundred Beast Pirates, but attacking these two pirate groups would make the world think that we only dare to wage war because the Konoha Pirates defeated Kaido and BIG MOM..."
"This idea..."
Sengoku hesitated, furrowing his brows.
This idea...
Had already been brought up.
When they left Sky Island and returned to Marineford, Sengoku and the two Five Elders had no choice but to bring up how the World Government was defeated by the Konoha Pirates and discuss how to avoid the turmoil looming on the First Half of the Grand Line, as well as the change in the situation on the Second Half of the Grand Line...
If possible...
They should take a decisive measure to declare to the world that the World Government and Navy still possess the power to crush all forces except for the Konoha Pirates...
Even...
The two Five Elders proposed a candidate.
Edward Newgate, Whitebeard.
As long as three Admirals of the Navy Headquarters and a large number of elite Navy forces are assembled to go to the New World, regardless of the cost, to eliminate the Whitebeard Pirates, it could still intimidate the entire world!
However, Sengoku persuaded the Five Elders to abandon this idea, as starting a war with the Whitebeard Pirates at this time would be unwise. Whitebeard is a Paramecia-type Quake-Quake Fruit user and possesses the power to cause tsunamis that can destroy the world!
Merely to showcase the power to intimidate the world, sending the Navy to attack the Whitebeard Sea Region in the New World would lead to unprecedented sacrifices for the Navy and would instead cause the World Government and Navy to lose the little leverage they have left...
Rather.
It's better to stand aside for the moment.
Have the World Government's intelligence agencies closely monitor the whereabouts of the Konoha Pirates, and have the Navy start mass recruitment to accumulate strength, avoiding any trouble with the Konoha Pirates as much as possible...
In doing so...
Given the Konoha Pirates' reckless behavior, they will inevitably venture into the New World and clash with the Whitebeard Pirates sooner or later...
At that time...
The Navy can then reap the benefits.
The remaining two Five Elders approved Sengoku's proposal, and they would advocate for increased funding to support the Navy's scientific department's effort to find the power to defeat the Konoha Pirates through technology.
This thought is undoubtedly the most prudent.
At least it can ensure the basic base of the World Government and Navy is intact.
Compared to the terrifying power of the Konoha Pirates, the terror of the World Government and Navy is reflected in the more than 170 member countries and countless Navy bases. They can fully rely on resources to engage in a long-drawn-out war of attrition.
Clearly.
This idea, once spoken, evidently does not satisfy a certain extreme Navy Admiral in this high-level Navy conference room.
"Give up your idea, Sakazuki."
"Let's talk about reality..."
"For us now, stability outweighs everything."
Sengoku sat in his seat and spoke of the instructions from the two Five Elders: "In the situation of the sacrifice of three Five Elders and the defeat of the Navy, the World Government will inevitably face challenges and withdrawal trends from member states. We now need to continue to accumulate strength while stabilizing the world situation as much as possible, avoiding continuing to engage in large-scale wars and preventing further losses for the Navy..."
"Hmm?"
Akainu glanced at Sengoku, his brows furrowed, speaking in a rough voice: "This doesn't sound like something you'd say, Admiral. Maintaining justice always requires blood and sacrifice. The justice that reigns over the world isn't achieved through mere survival..."
This Admiral of the Navy Headquarters is not without a brain.
In his view, launching a war against Whitebeard at all costs would show that the World Government and Navy can still intimidate the sea...
Only then...
Can member countries continue to submit to the World Government.
Only when member countries still submit can the World Government continue to gather resources from nearly the entire ocean to develop the Navy, conscript more outstanding talents into the Navy, and have hope to confront the terrifying Konoha Pirates...
Admiral Sengoku's method is indeed extremely prudent, but it may lead to more and more member states of the World Government betraying and withdrawing, reducing the resources the World Government can mobilize.
At that time...
The World Government and Navy will only experience a slow death.
The entire ocean will become a haven for pirates.
In Akainu's view, rather than sitting and waiting for a slow death, it is better to mobilize elite Navy forces and fight desperately in the New World, making huge sacrifices to maintain the prestigious face of the Navy!
"Alright, alright..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru interrupted Akainu's words, easing the potential conflict between the two: "Sakazuki, Sengoku is not suggesting weakness. He also hopes that after the Navy's mass recruitment, we can go to war with those powerful pirate groups. Sacrifice is inevitable, but reducing sacrifice is always beneficial..."
"..."
Akainu remained silent.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, seeing Akainu not refuting, slowly clasped her hands together and continued: "Besides, the Navy actually has a lot of untapped potential. Many outstanding figures will emerge among our new generation of Marines, such as Lieutenant Akihara Kagura, who fought alongside us on Sky Island. He is a Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit user..."