Akainu's fists had already transformed into molten magma. Suppressing the fury raging within his chest, he forced the words out through clenched teeth.
"Who did this?"
The moment he spoke, a terrifying killing intent spread throughout the conference room.
Sengoku's fists tightened until his knuckles cracked loudly. At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to tear the murderer apart with his own hands.
Lloyd narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Based on the evidence currently available, Vice Admiral Garp appears to have encountered the Revolutionary Army in the East Blue."
Akainu frowned.
"The Revolutionary Army? They went to the East Blue?"
"That's right." Lloyd nodded. "According to intelligence gathered by CP0, the Revolutionary Army abandoned Baltigo and completely withdrew from the Grand Line. It seems they intend to hide within the Four Blues."
A sharp glint flashed through Lloyd's eyes.
"As for why they appeared in the East Blue, and specifically in Foosha Village while Vice Admiral Garp was there on vacation, I believe it is connected to Straw Hat Luffy."
Lloyd still remembered his last encounter with Luffy.
At the time, Lindbergh, Commander of the Revolutionary Army's South Army, had been accompanying him.
That alone proved that the Straw Hat Pirates and the Revolutionary Army had been acting together for quite some time.
After all, in this timeline, Luffy had grown up under Dragon's influence. The Revolutionary Army could practically be considered family to him.
Now both the Straw Hat Pirates and the Revolutionary Army had suffered major losses at the hands of the Marines. It was only natural for them to cooperate and rely on one another.
Furthermore, the power of Joy Boy had already awakened within Luffy.
Someone carrying such a power would inevitably seek to gather allies and challenge the World Government.
This time, there was a high probability that Luffy and the Revolutionary Army had entered the East Blue in search of a new base of operations.
Foosha Village, being Dragon's hometown, would naturally be one of their first destinations.
Unfortunately, they had encountered Garp, who had returned there for a rare vacation.
The result had been a battle.
And Garp had fallen.
What Lloyd had not anticipated was Garp's decision to fight to the very end.
Based on Lloyd's previous understanding of him, if Garp had encountered Luffy, there was every possibility he would have pretended not to see him and allowed him to leave.
Perhaps Garp's destiny as a bearer of the Will of D. had already changed the moment he chose to let Dragon escape all those years ago.
Perhaps he had long since broken free from those invisible chains.
Regardless, Garp's final actions were worthy of the decades he had devoted to the Marines.
More importantly, they were worthy of the justice he had upheld throughout his life.
The moment everyone heard that Garp's death was connected to Luffy, veins bulged across Sengoku's forehead.
"It was Monkey D. Luffy?!"
His voice trembled with rage.
"Does that bastard not realize Garp is his own grandfather?!"
Not only Sengoku, but even Tsuru, who was usually far gentler in temperament, was consumed by anger.
Wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes, she said coldly,
"He's a beast. Just like his father, Dragon. Neither of them deserve to live in this world."
Zephyr slammed his fist onto the table.
The conference room shook violently.
"That bastard should be executed immediately! I'll kill him myself!"
Sengoku gritted his teeth.
"No. Death is too merciful. His limbs should be broken and he should spend the rest of his life rotting in Impel Down."
Tsuru's expression became ice-cold.
"Since they've fled to the East Blue, they're obviously trying to conceal their movements. Tracking them won't be easy."
She paused briefly.
"I propose that Marine Headquarters launch a large-scale operation throughout the East Blue. Every pirate force and every suspicious anti-government organization should be thoroughly investigated and eliminated."
Normally, such words would never come from people like Sengoku and Tsuru.
Compared to many hardline officers, they were often regarded as moderates within the Marines.
Yet even they were speaking with murderous determination.
It was enough to reveal the depth of their grief and anger.
Lloyd nodded.
"Our military strength has always been concentrated within the Grand Line. The forces stationed throughout the Four Blues are indeed insufficient."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Very well. We will use this opportunity to completely reorganize the Four Blues."
His voice became firm.
"The operation will begin immediately after Vice Admiral Garp's remains are returned to Marine Headquarters."
The officers instantly straightened.
"Yes, sir!"
...
That same day, the harbor of Marineford was packed with Marines.
Rows upon rows of soldiers stood in silence.
Every face carried a solemn expression as they watched a warship slowly approach the docks.
Lloyd stood at the front.
Behind him were Akainu, Sengoku, Tsuru, Zephyr, and the other senior officers of Marine Headquarters.
As the warship docked, the Marines from the East Blue branch disembarked.
At the center of the formation, several soldiers carefully carried Garp's coffin.
Behind them were the urns containing the ashes of the fallen Marines who had perished during the battle.
Lloyd led the Headquarters officers forward.
Two soldiers slowly opened the coffin.
Garp's body was revealed.
During transportation, his remains had been preserved in cold storage.
A white Marine flag covered his body.
The moment Sengoku and the others saw him, the grief they had been suppressing finally erupted.
Tsuru broke down immediately.
Tears streamed from her eyes as she rushed toward the coffin.
"Garp..."
She repeatedly called his name.
Nearby, Sengoku tightly shut his eyes.
Tears flowed endlessly down his face.
His fists trembled.
"That old fool..."
His voice cracked.
"Still as stubborn as ever."
Zephyr gently placed a hand on Sengoku's shoulder.
"Sengoku."
His voice was low.
"Garp upheld his justice until the very end."
A faint smile appeared on Zephyr's face despite the sorrow in his eyes.
"Isn't that exactly like him?"
Sengoku stood frozen.
Moments later, he slowly raised his head.
Tears still stained his face.
Yet he managed a bitter smile.
"Yeah..."
His voice shook.
"You're right."
Then he looked toward Garp.
"You damned old fool..."
"I really can't bear losing you."
Walking to the coffin, Sengoku pulled two bags of rice crackers from his coat and carefully placed them into Garp's hands.
His voice became soft.
"I left these where I always do, expecting you to come back and take them."
He lowered his head.
"But this time..."
The rest of the sentence never came.
Nearby, Lloyd approached the coffin.
He gently placed Garp's final photograph upon his chest.
Looking at Garp's bruised face, memories surfaced within his mind.
He remembered their conversation in Impel Down's Eternal Hell.
Back then, he had told Garp:
"Don't embarrass the Marines anymore."
Now, looking at the man before him, Lloyd let out a quiet sigh.
"Vice Admiral Garp."
His voice was steady.
"You were an outstanding Marine."
"The Marines are proud of you."
After speaking, Lloyd suddenly raised his arm high.
"All soldiers, present arms and fire a salute!"
The order rang across the harbor.
An instant later, countless rifles were raised.
A thunderous volley echoed across Marineford.
The sound of gunfire rolled through the sky.
Startled seagulls took flight, circling overhead as white feathers drifted through the air.
When the salute ended, Lloyd stood at attention.
Every Marine present followed his lead.
Thousands of soldiers saluted simultaneously.
Sengoku, Tsuru, and Zephyr stepped forward together.
With trembling hands, they slowly closed Garp's coffin.
The moment the lid shut completely, the sorrow in everyone's eyes transformed into cold determination.
A chilling light flashed through Lloyd's gaze.
He beckoned to the personnel from the Information Division.
Standing before everyone, he issued his next order.
"Contact the World Economic Journal immediately."
His voice echoed across the harbor.
"Inform the entire world."
"Place bounties on every member of the Straw Hat Pirates and the Revolutionary Army."
A deadly silence followed.
Then Lloyd continued.
"Anyone who provides information regarding their whereabouts will receive a reward."
===
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