Inside the Marshal's office at Marineford, Sengoku rubbed his temples in frustration, staring at the two Admirals who were furiously arguing.
Luo Ye's recent actions had stirred a storm: killing two Warlords of the Sea (Shichibukai) — Crocodile and Donquixote Doflamingo — angered the Five Elders at Mariejois. Yet Sengoku, standing firmly behind Luo Ye, had shouldered all the responsibility. If he hadn't, the Five Elders might have ordered severe punishment against Luo Ye.
Sengoku was reminded of another rebel — Monkey D. Dragon, Garp's son. Once a brilliant Marine prodigy, Dragon turned against the World Government after witnessing its corruption, becoming the world's most wanted revolutionary. Sengoku didn't want Luo Ye to walk a similar path. In his mind, Luo Ye's potential even surpassed Dragon's.
The heated argument between Sakazuki (Akainu) and Kuzan (Aokiji) stemmed from fundamentally different views on the Shichibukai system.
Sakazuki, fists clenched, growled at Kuzan, "Kuzan! An organization like the Shichibukai should have been abolished long ago! Luo Ye did the right thing by executing them!"
To Sakazuki, who upheld "Absolute Justice," the existence of pirates — even those affiliated with the government — was an unforgivable stain. Although bound by orders from the World Government, he despised the Shichibukai. Luo Ye had achieved what he long wished to do himself but couldn't because of Marine regulations.
Akainu's respect for orders was absolute, but his hatred for pirates was deeper. If the order had been given to eliminate the Shichibukai, he would have led the charge himself. Seeing Luo Ye disregard the Five Elders' authority and take matters into his own hands filled Sakazuki with admiration, even envy.
Adding insult to injury, the Five Elders, instead of abolishing the Shichibukai after Crocodile and Doflamingo's deaths, intended to replace them with new pirates from the New World. Sakazuki found it intolerable.
On the other side stood Kuzan, who held a more "Lazy Justice" ideology.
While Kuzan agreed that Crocodile — who tried to usurp Alabasta's throne and sought Pluton, the Ancient Weapon — deserved death, and that Doflamingo — who trafficked slaves, manipulated underworld dealings, and even planted his agents within the Marines — had it coming, he didn't believe the entire Shichibukai system should be dismantled.
Some Warlords, like Dracule Mihawk and Bartholomew Kuma (at least before his full Pacifista conversion), had contributed positively by maintaining balance. Abolishing the system hastily could destabilize the seas further.
Thus, neither Akainu nor Aokiji could convince the other. Their clashing ideals mirrored the conflict that would later erupt between them at Punk Hazard — a deadly duel over the next Fleet Admiral position.
As tempers flared and voices rose, the office doors suddenly swung open.
Luo Ye, the root of the problem, strolled in lazily, with Kizaru (Borsalino) slouching behind him.
Akainu immediately pointed at Luo Ye and barked, "Luo Ye! Perfect timing! Tell this naïve fool that the Shichibukai system has no place in the world!"
Kuzan's brow twitched darkly. He hadn't forgotten the sparring session where he once lost to Luo Ye. Though it had been a training bout, the Marine grapevine had exaggerated it to "Kuzan's defeat." Hearing Akainu bring it up now only reopened the wound.
Kizaru, lounging on a nearby sofa, chuckled internally. Earlier, when Luo Ye had teased Ace and Sabo about fighting him, the two young men had wisely backed off. In the Marines, it was a known fact: even a harmless training match could be twisted by rumors into a humiliating "defeat."
Sengoku sighed and addressed Luo Ye, ignoring the bickering Admirals.
"Luo Ye, the World Government has scheduled a Shichibukai summit. What are your thoughts?"
Everyone watched Luo Ye expectantly.
Luo Ye slumped lazily into a chair, stretching his arms behind his head.
"What's there to say?" he replied nonchalantly.
Everyone except Kizaru frowned at the apparent indifference.
Before they could comment, Luo Ye continued with a cold glint in his eye,
"Whether Shichibukai exist or not doesn't matter to me. If a pirate commits evil in the New World and crosses my path, I'll execute them — no matter their title or status."
Hearing this, everyone present, even Akainu and Kuzan, relaxed slightly.
This attitude was pure Luo Ye: direct, ruthless, and unbound by politics.
Sengoku, studying Luo Ye carefully, knew that this boy wouldn't hesitate even if it were a Celestial Dragon committing atrocities. That thought gave Sengoku both pride and a massive headache.
Still, Luo Ye hadn't yet crossed the ultimate red lines.
Sengoku turned toward Akainu and said firmly,
"Sakazuki, the Shichibukai were sanctioned by the World Government. Unless they revoke the system officially, Marines can't abolish it on our own."
"But," Sengoku added, eyes flashing, "if any Warlord commits atrocities — like Crocodile and Doflamingo did — Marines are free to take action immediately. No more hesitation. No need to wait for orders."
At these words, Akainu, Kuzan, and Kizaru all looked at Sengoku in shock.
This was a significant shift. The usually by-the-book Sengoku now gave unofficial permission for Marines to bypass bureaucratic red tape when dealing with rogue Warlords.
As the Admirals processed this, Luo Ye — the catalyst for this change — simply yawned, as if none of it had anything to do with him