Now that he knew what was required—
Law was temporarily useless.
"Take him down and let him rest," Sengoku instructed Kizaru.
Rest, in name.
Surveillance, in reality.
Kizaru understood perfectly. He nodded and left with the silent Law.
Only Sengoku and Garp remained in the room.
Sengoku walked to the bedside and asked in a low voice, "Garp, you heard everything just now. What do you think?"
Though weak, Garp's eyes were still sharp—clouded, but conscious.
He had heard every word.
Stubborn as ever.
Rather than lying here like a useless old man waiting for death—
He would rather change bodies.
No matter how painful the process—
As long as he could fight again.
As long as he had a chance to personally beat that traitorous brat Leno—
He was willing to endure anything.
"Hmph!" Garp snorted hoarsely. "I agree. Do it."
But then he frowned.
"That brat Law… can he really do it?"
He closed his eyes and felt the tearing sensation in his chest.
"That bastard Leno's power… can he truly remove it?"
"What if the ability remains even after changing bodies?"
He had to admit—
Leno's power was stranger than anything he had ever encountered.
Even in his long life, he had never seen a Split-Split Fruit like this.
Garp could feel it—
His condition was worsening.
If they did nothing, it wouldn't be long before the Marine Hero died here.
So it was a gamble.
Sengoku's heart finally settled once Garp agreed.
"Then rest well and stabilize your condition," he said gravely.
"We'll immediately look for a suitable… sufficiently powerful body."
As for where it would come from—
Best not to ask.
After offering a few more words of reassurance, Sengoku left the room.
He hadn't gone far when a Marine rushed over, face lit with excitement.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Good news!"
"We've finally gotten CP9's Owl to talk. We know where the Leno Pirates are hiding!"
Sengoku's eyes sharpened.
"Oh? Well done. Where?"
"According to the intel, they disappeared toward the Calm Belt—Amazon Lily!"
"Nani?! Amazon Lily?!" Sengoku's expression changed instantly.
His brows furrowed.
"The Pirate Empress… got involved with Leno?"
Recalling Hancock's behavior during the Summit War, his face darkened.
Just moments ago he had left Garp's room looking relieved.
Now—
Completely different.
"The Seven Warlords, huh?"
Sengoku snorted coldly. "It doesn't matter."
The World Government's secret weapon was nearing completion.
The Warlord system…
Would eventually become history.
Losing one of them wouldn't change the bigger picture.
He immediately ordered:
"Notify all Admirals except Kizaru and Aokiji—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
His face turned black.
Damn it.
Aokiji was bedridden with severe injuries.
Kizaru was guarding Law.
That meant—
There was only Sakazuki left.
Might as well just say "notify Akainu."
Even Sengoku couldn't help feeling awkward.
But he quickly regained composure.
"Notify Sakazuki. Assemble all available elite Vice Admirals."
His eyes burned with determination.
This time—
He would not let Leno escape.
"Prepare to move. Objective—surround Amazon Lily and capture Leno!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine saluted—but hesitated.
"Fleet Admiral… Admiral Sakazuki has already departed with several warships after hearing Leno might be on Amazon Lily."
"NANI?! That idiot!!"
This time Sengoku's veins truly bulged.
It wasn't that he doubted Sakazuki's strength.
It was that Leno's escape abilities were absurd.
Cunning. Slippery.
With only Sakazuki alone—
The odds of capture were low.
Worse—
He might alert Leno.
"And you're still standing there?!" Sengoku roared. "Notify the Vice Admirals immediately! We depart at once! We must catch up to that reckless fool Sakazuki!"
"Yes, sir!"
Just as the soldier turned to run—
Another Marine stumbled forward in panic.
"Bad news, Fleet Admiral! Marine Headquarters has been attacked! By the world's most dangerous criminal—Dragon!"
Sengoku's heart jolted.
Dragon's strength had reached that level?
He hadn't sensed anything with Observation Haki.
He released his Haki—
The sea was calm.
Everything peaceful.
He glared at the panicked Marine.
"You fool! Do you know the penalty for false reports?! Where is Dragon? Where is the attack?!"
The soldier shrank back and hurriedly clarified:
"Not the new headquarters! It's the old Marineford ruins! Dragon attacked the former headquarters site!"
Sengoku froze.
"Dragon? Why attack an abandoned ruin?"
His brow twisted tightly.
"There's nothing there except cleanup crews and reckless reporters!"
He couldn't comprehend the purpose.
Before he could think further—
The Marine added:
"He didn't go alone! He brought Straw Hat Luffy with him!"
Even hearing Luffy's name didn't help.
"What are they planning…"
The more illogical it seemed—
The more uneasy he felt.
He wanted to head to Marineford immediately.
But Leno still needed dealing with.
And Sakazuki had already moved.
"Damn you, Sakazuki…"
Sengoku clenched his fists.
If Sakazuki hadn't acted on his own—
He wouldn't be stuck in this dilemma.
He weighed the options carefully.
Dragon—the Revolutionary Army's leader.
A threat to the entire World Government.
Leno—strong, dangerous, full of potential.
But still more of a future threat.
As long as they stopped his growth—
He could be dealt with later.
Besides—
Amazon Lily wasn't going anywhere.
Dragon, however—
Rarely showed himself.
This was a rare opportunity.
Sengoku made his decision.
"Orders!"
"Target—the ruins of old Marineford!"
"All assembled forces will follow me! We intercept Dragon!"
It wasn't about disrespecting his old comrade Garp.
For the World Government—
The leader of the Revolutionary Army was a greater immediate threat than a newly crowned Emperor of the Sea.
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