"Saint Rosse, I apologize for Garp appearing in the South Sea," Sengoku slightly bowed, respectfully lowering his head toward Saint Rosse.
He and Garp had been friends since they first joined the Marine. After so many years, they were already close friends who could entrust their backs to each other.
The incident of Garp appearing on Baterila Island hadn't ended just because he took away Juste. Rosse wouldn't let go of such a good opportunity to damage Garp's reputation.
The incident of Garp attacking and forcibly taking the child had already spread throughout the Marine.
As Garp's close friends, Sengoku and Tsuru were subtly informed of the reasons behind Garp's actions.
To be honest, even though Sengoku knew Garp could be quite out of line sometimes, he never imagined Garp would go this far.
Previously, Garp had implicated a large group of pregnant women and young children in the South Blue, and now he suddenly appeared to snatch Roger's son. Even Sengoku didn't know what Garp was trying to do.
But there was no choice. Since they were close friends, the mess caused by a close friend could only be resolved by him.
"That matter, huh, isn't really that big of a deal. But Juste's identity is quite special. Has the Marine made any corresponding contingency plans?", Rosse looked at Sengoku. Since the other party brought it up deliberately, he would naturally take the opportunity to press the issue.
Garp and he could never be on the same side. Since they were destined to be enemies sooner or later, it was better to kick the guy out of the Marine ranks now. It would make things easier later on.
"Corresponding contingency plans have already been made. Garp promised me that once Juste comes of age, he will let him join the Marine," Sengoku lied without blushing or skipping a beat.
Where was any contingency plan? He didn't even know where Juste was.
However, Garp did promise him. But as for Garp's promises… they were only worth hearing. To this day, few had ever been fulfilled.
If Juste lived an ordinary life, the World Government probably wouldn't pursue it. What they feared was Juste following Roger's path and wanting to become a pirate.
"Garp's promise? His son, Dragon, already changed the name of the Freedom Fighters to the Revolutionary Army. The Revolutionary Army, just hear that name. Whose rule do they want to overthrow?", Rosse looked at Sengoku with a half-smile. Some people kept their promises like gold, while others could spout any nonsense.
Garp had always been unreliable. If it was something serious and that he agreed with, maybe he'd remember it for a lifetime.
But a promise to make Juste join the Marine? Rosse would sooner believe all Celestial Dragons were good people than believe Garp would raise a Marine officer.
"Naturally, it's a Revolutionary Marine. Pirates are rampant nowadays. Dragon is also a man with a sense of justice. Wanting to eliminate pirates and bring peace to the world is a rightful cause," Even as Sengoku finished speaking, he couldn't quite believe it himself.
When Dragon left the Marine, he almost publicly declared opposition to the World Government.
But there was no helping it. Dragon was Garp's son, he still had to help him if he could.
"Since Admiral Sengoku is willing to vouch for it, then I can be at ease. I'll faithfully relay your words to my grandfather,"nRosse said with a gentle smile, as if he didn't mind Sengoku's lies at all.
'So biased in favor of Garp, what's the point of trying to win him over?'
After chatting with Sengoku, Rosse clearly understood his position.
If matters didn't involve Garp and the others, Sengoku could stand with him. But if they did involve Garp, even if he wouldn't betray the Marine, he would certainly lean toward protecting them.
There were still a few years before the current Fleet Admiral Kong stepped down. The exact time was up to Saint Saturn.
Since Sengoku wanted to please both sides, then let him be a good Admiral Sengoku and stop thinking about becoming Fleet Admiral.
Instead of letting Sengoku take the position, it was better to let Sakazuki build up some experience and step in directly when the time came.
Or simply recall Zephyr to take the post of Fleet Admiral, it would be a justified and rightful appointment.
Anyway, Rosse no longer had any expectations for Sengoku.
Different standpoints, that's all.
After the conversation, Sengoku left with a grim face.
Although Rosse didn't spell things out, as the so-called "Strategist" Sengoku, how could he not understand what Rosse meant?
Sengoku really wanted to be promoted to Fleet Admiral. There was no one in the Marine more qualified than him.
But the moment the Five Elders spoke, all his hopes would turn into nothing.
Sengoku knew this very well, but he still couldn't bring himself to say anything disloyal.
Some things ultimately go beyond power.
———
The subsequent journey had no major waves. The ship smoothly arrived at Senti Island.
Although Rosse and his party weren't the last to arrive, they were certainly among the later ones.
"The Five Elders haven't arrived yet?", Gion glanced around at the surrounding ships and whispered in Rosse's ear.
Zannie was still managing things in the Jaygar District, so all of Rosse's miscellaneous affairs fell to Gion.
"They? The most important people always appear last. They won't come by ship," Rosse shook his head.
After all, they were the Five Elders. Although he had seen them many times and they were just that, their entrance would definitely be different from others.
In the future, he too would need to put on a show like that.
Who doesn't enjoy standing out in front of others?
"Teacher Zephyr sent a message: Saint Garling and Shamrock are on the ship from Mary Geoise. Shall we go pay a visit?", Gion asked softly.
She didn't quite understand the etiquette among Celestial Dragons, and the Marine wouldn't teach it either. She had crammed a little knowledge last minute.
Logically, as an elite of the Jaygarcia family, Saint Rosse should go and make a round to Saint Garling.
After all, Garling was the commander of the God's Knights, his status was second only to the Five Elders.
"If my grandfather weren't coming, I'd definitely have to go. But since he is, then there's no need for me," Rosse shook his head.
Even among Celestial Dragons, strength was still supreme.
But to even get into this circle, one must first be a Celestial Dragon.
If he went to see Saint Garling now, it would inevitably be full of passive-aggressive exchanges.
'Just talking, what's the point?'
If he had Roger or Garp's strength, he'd definitely talk to Saint Garling by stepping on Shamrock's head, that's what would feel right.
'Without that strength now, better to not go at all.'
'Anyway, when the Heavens Hunt is over, I won't be the one to lose face.'
"What's the situation with Senti Island?", Rosse lifted his head, looking toward the nearby island.
The island was quite vast, you couldn't see its end at a glance.
But based on the feedback from his Hearing the Sea skill, the Senti Island was generally a 20 × 30 km rectangular island, with a total area of about 600 square kilometers.
"The natives on Senti Island are called the Klin Tribe. They have ten settlement zones scattered across the island. Each community has about 5,000 people. The strongest in each zone at minimum has the strength of a Lieutenant Commander, and the strongest among them is close to a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral," Gion explained.
As Rosse's deputy on this trip, she had memorized all this information beforehand.
"Lieutenant Commander? Marine Vice Admiral?"
Rosse was slightly surprised, 'Such a small Senti Island actually had so many powerful individuals?'
But thinking deeper, he found it normal.
Not all strong people venture into the Grand Line, many remain in their hometowns.
Besides, the North Blue isn't like the peaceful East Blue. Here, even pirates with bounties over a hundred million are common. If an island didn't have some strength, it would have been wiped out by pirates long ago.
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