The next day dawned with the first light of morning.
News birds, tireless messengers, flew through the sea breeze, carrying the latest news and rapidly spreading it to every corner of the world.
Jin An sat in his office, holding a newly delivered newspaper in his hand, his gaze lingering on the headline for a moment before his brow gradually furrowed.
His eyes were deep and complex, as if he could see a deeper conspiracy through the thin paper.
“Knock, knock, knock…”
A soft knock came from outside the door, breaking the silence of the room.
Jin An folded the newspaper and placed it on the table, his eyes slightly narrowing their sharpness.
His tone was steady, yet carried an undeniable authority, "Come in."
The door opened, and Brooke's tall, thin figure walked in, his usual sunny smile slightly restrained at the moment, "Admiral Jin An, Fleet Admiral Sengoku has ordered you to attend an emergency meeting."
Jin An nodded, his gaze returning to the newspaper, his fingers gently tapping the table, as if contemplating something or making a decision.
Finally, he stood up and walked towards the door with steady steps.
Brooke skillfully opened the door for him.
Just as Jin An's figure was about to disappear out the door, Brooke inadvertently glanced at the newspaper on the table. Although he had no flesh-and-blood eyes, a flash of astonishment appeared in his hollow eye sockets—the headline read:
“New Warlord of the Sea Blackbeard Teach Unleashes a New Wave on the Grand Line!”
Brooke's smile momentarily froze, his skeletal face seeming even more rigid.
He quickly retracted his gaze, returning to his usual demeanor, and carefully closed the office door behind him.
However, he found it difficult to calm his heart. He knew all too well what that headline meant.
Blackbeard Teach, a name that had made him feel uneasy when Jin An mentioned it, and now that unease was clearly becoming a reality.
On the other side, Jin An's pace did not falter because of the news. His face showed no emotional fluctuations, as if what he had just seen was an insignificant piece of information.
But deep down, he knew that this was just the prelude to a storm.
Teach's rise was not just about unleashing a wave; it concealed a deeper crisis and threat.
“I didn’t expect that just giving that guy something to do would lead to something big..."
Jin An walked down the corridor, his mind quickly sorting through the possible changes in the situation.
Sengoku's summons for a meeting was certainly related to this matter. Jin An knew that this was not just a matter for the Navy, but a challenge for the entire World Government.
Teach's ambition, the forces he might be hiding behind him, and the timing of his actions, all made him someone not to be underestimated.
Thinking of this, Jin An's eyes became even more determined. As an admiral, he not only had to deal with the immediate crisis, but also plan ahead and prepare for the future.
And no matter how violent this storm might be, he would become the line of defense protecting the Navy and world peace.
Footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, and Jin An's figure gradually merged into the conference room where discussions and decisions were about to take place.
He knew that from this moment on, the situation had changed, and he would once again stand at the center of the storm, ready to face the upcoming challenges.
...
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could crush the air.
Every Marine admiral in the room maintained a standard military posture, sitting up straight, their gazes focused but each with hidden thoughts.
Although they were all battle-hardened and never retreated in the face of strong enemies, the silence at this moment revealed an invisible tension and pressure.
Sengoku's eyes were like torches, slowly scanning everyone in the office.
Among the admirals, some had furrowed brows, some clasped their hands together, and some had stern expressions, clearly experiencing a mix of emotions.
Everyone knew that today's meeting was no small matter.
Sengoku's fingers gently tapped the table, making a low sound, like the sound of a war drum, pulling everyone's thoughts back to the current crisis.
“I believe everyone has seen the news this morning…”
Sengoku's voice was low and steady, carrying an undeniable authority.
He paused, his gaze falling on each of the admirals below, his inscrutable expression sending chills down their spines.
The conference room was so quiet that only the sound of each other's breathing could be heard, and each admiral's gaze became unconsciously more solemn under Sengoku's scrutiny.
Sengoku slowly opened his mouth, "Just last night, Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, accompanied by two people, arrived directly at Mariejois and met with the Five Elders."
These words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer, and the entire office seemed to lose its sound in an instant, a deathly silence enveloping everyone's minds.
The admirals' faces changed slightly, some with deeply furrowed brows, some with slightly trembling lips, but no one made a sound.
The news was too shocking. Blackbeard directly meeting the Five Elders meant that the situation was more complex and dangerous than they had anticipated.
Sengoku continued, "Since that guy was granted the title of 'Warlord of the Sea,' we Marines have been like being roasted on a fire. This fire is scorching, but what's even more unbearable is that the Five Elders' decision has put us in an unprecedented predicament."
His voice was low, his eyes sharp, as if to penetrate people's hearts.
He paused for a moment, a complex emotion revealed in his eyes.
"His test of loyalty was the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. You all know how much Whitebeard values his family. Their almost fanatical loyalty and protectiveness towards their family makes this all more difficult than we imagined."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the office became even heavier, and several senior Marine admirals even clenched their fists unconsciously.
They knew very well that if the Whitebeard Pirates were angered by this matter, then they, the Marine admirals, would have to face the strongest man in the world—Whitebeard.
This was not an ordinary war, but a showdown that would determine the direction of an entire era.
Sengoku's voice revealed a hint of helplessness, but he still maintained his usual composure, "Next, if we don't handle this well, we will directly face the strongest man in the world."
Every admiral in his heart was very clear that they were the Marines, the sharp blade in the hands of the World Government.
Although this blade could sometimes act independently, most of the time they could only follow orders and had no choice.
And now, this blade was about to be pushed to the sharpest battlefield to face the existence that made the entire ocean tremble—Whitebeard.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and then Sengoku's eyes became even more determined.
He knew that this crisis would test not only the strength of the Marines, but also their wisdom and courage.
And as Fleet Admiral, he had to lead his admirals to find a way to survive in this storm, and even go against the wind.
...
