Strategic Dilemma of the Marines
"Work needs to be handled step by step, and each issue must be addressed individually. Since we cannot manage both simultaneously, we are left with no choice but to prioritize. There is no fault in the logic of Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"But what about the Central Puppet Army?"
After a brief silence, a voice came from another Den Den Mushi.
"If we abandon our holdings in the New World, wouldn't we be handing them over to Caesar?"
A vice admiral raised the concern, his expression tense. The territories in the New World had been seized through the Navy's blood and effort. To relinquish them now would mean losing a strategic foothold—one that would not be easily reclaimed.
Moreover, Caesar's growing influence was impossible to ignore. If the Navy failed to impose checks and balances during this transition, the balance of power in the New World would spiral out of control.
"Good point," another officer chimed in. "Beyond that, what of the nations aligned with the World Government in the New World?"
"If we retreat, the World Government will undoubtedly view it as negligence on our part. The member nations in the New World will protest, questioning our commitment to their protection!"
The concerns raised by the high-ranking officers were reasonable. However, despite prolonged discussion, they failed to produce a definitive solution.
"But what can be done?" another officer asked, siding with Sengoku's strategic stance.
"The current state of affairs is grim—our forces are stretched thin across the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line. We are barely holding the line!"
"If we continue this way, the number of pirates will only increase. The law of the sea ensures that only the strongest survive, and if we allow this cycle to persist, we will face an unprecedented crisis!"
Sengoku's primary concern was not the allied nations but the unchecked rise of piracy. If left to fester, it would threaten even the most fortified World Government territories.
To address this, the root cause had to be tackled—the rapid expansion of pirate factions.
The debate grew more heated, yet no consensus was reached.
Strategic Retreat and New Priorities
A vice admiral seated in the conference room took a deep drag from his cigar, his frustration evident.
"We don't want to abandon the New World, but the reality is, we are losing control!"
"Rather than overextending ourselves and failing everywhere, it is wiser to maintain a few key strategic positions!"
"When stability is restored in the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line, we will push forward once more!"
"Do you truly believe that after consolidating our strength, we will be incapable of retaking lost ground in the New World?"
He flicked the ash from his cigar, his expression unwavering. His belief in Sengoku's approach was resolute.
"But the Central Puppet Army is not to be underestimated," another officer interjected.
"In sheer numbers, they may not rival us, but in combat power alone, they possess at least a third of our strength!"
The New World was vast, populated by both World Government-affiliated nations and independent forces. Of all the threats, Caesar and his expanding kingdom posed the most significant danger.
"And that doesn't even account for their strongest fighters!"
"If we consider their elite warriors—those who stand at the level of vice admirals or higher—then the Central Puppet Army is almost on par with us!"
Many officers scowled at this uncomfortable truth but found themselves unable to refute it.
"In terms of top-tier combat power—their elite lieutenants and officers—they might have already surpassed us!"
"If we abandon the New World, there is a high probability that they will seize these territories uncontested."
His analysis mirrored the concerns expressed by Sengoku. The vice admiral's unease was justified, even if his assessment did not offer a direct solution.
Sitting at the head of the table, Commander-in-Chief Kong nodded solemnly.
"The Navy alone cannot suppress the entire world."
"But the Central Puppet Army, possessing at least a third of our strength, will have no such difficulty expanding its reach in the New World!"
"If left unchecked, I fear that Caesar's power will become uncontrollable!"
Kong took a long drink of water before slamming his cup onto the table.
The discussion continued for hours, yet no definitive course of action emerged. Even Kong, despite his authority over Marine Headquarters, could not afford to make such a decision lightly.
The high-ranking officers' concerns were valid, but they were at an impasse.
In the end, Kong was left with no choice but to escalate the matter to the highest authority—the Five Elders of the World Government.
The Five Elders' Verdict
Following extensive deliberations, the Five Elders issued their decree:
1. First, stabilize the situation in the Four Blues.
2. Secure absolute control over the first half of the Grand Line.
3. As for the New World—withdraw for now, maintaining only critical strategic positions.
There was no time for prolonged debate—each passing day saw the rise of more pirates.
Though they did not wish to abandon the New World, they had already conquered key positions. The belief was that the Central Puppet Army, despite its strength, would face its own limitations in expansion due to the sheer difficulty of survival in that lawless sea.
With the Five Elders' backing, Kong issued an executive order:
All Marine forces in the New World were to withdraw, leaving only the G-1 to G-8 branches operational—eight vital islands near the Red Line.
Certain uncharted and difficult-to-access islands, ones that could not be found without a specialized Log Pose, would also remain under Marine control.
The moment the order was given, the affected Marine divisions swiftly moved into action.
With the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line already engulfed in chaos, hesitation was not an option.
The withdrawal of Marine forces from the New World was akin to throwing fuel onto a raging fire—the power vacuum only emboldened the Central Puppet Army, whose influence now surged to unprecedented heights.
For Caesar, this was the moment he had been waiting for.
The Seizure of Bomb Rock Island
No sooner had the Marines retreated than the Central Puppet Army launched its offensive.
However, before expanding his kingdom's borders, Caesar had his sights set on a single, critical objective—an island of immense strategic importance.
This island contained a rare and powerful resource—Bomb Rock, also known as Power Rock.
A natural repository of explosive energy, Bomb Rock was a vital component in the arms race between world powers. Even a small fragment of it held destructive capabilities comparable to tactical nuclear weapons.
Though exaggerated in legend, its explosive force far exceeded conventional munitions.
Unfortunately for the Marines, this island was home to G-8, one of their most fortified bases.
Yet, none of that mattered—Caesar himself was leading the assault.
Accompanied by his formidable lieutenants—Gnali, a warrior on par with an admiral, and Hades, the strongest merman to rival Marine elites—Caesar personally spearheaded the attack.
It didn't take long for the alarm bells on the island to blare.
The defending Marines, initially dismissing the invasion as another opportunistic raid, quickly realized the horrifying truth—Caesar, the self-proclaimed King of the Central Kingdom, had arrived in person.
Panic set in among the defenders. They knew the gap in power between themselves and Caesar's forces was insurmountable.
The siege was swift. Within hours, the island had fallen.
News of the attack reached Sengoku, who immediately grasped Caesar's intent.
"He's after the Bomb Rock!"
With no time to waste, Sengoku mobilized reinforcements.
But the Navy's retreat had left them vulnerable. The nearest backup would take at least ten hours to arrive.
By the time they reached the island, it would be too late.
Caesar had secured what he came for.
His next step? Unleashing the full potential of Bomb Rock—to revolutionize the art of war itself.
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