"It possesses strength beyond that of an Admiral."
Garp's voice echoed sharply in the small office. Everyone inside held their breath, their faces filled with disbelief.
Akainu was stunned for a moment. He wanted to stand up and argue with Garp, but recalling how Osiris had grabbed him and thrown him into the sea earlier, his legs that had just stood were now silently settling back down, his face filled with solemn silence.
"Are you sure, Vice Admiral Garp?" Aokiji's Adam's apple moved as he opened his mouth in surprise.
He wasn't doubting Garp, but the matter was simply too incredible. Ye Chen's single mount alone held the power of one of the Four Emperors. When had Four Emperors become so common that a random red dragon appearing was instantly at that level?
"I fought it personally, so I'm very sure," Garp nodded, then added, "I was suppressed, and it was very humiliating."
At those words, everyone in the office inhaled sharply.
Garp was one of the strongest people in Marine Headquarters, someone who had nearly killed the Pirate King Roger several times before.
For someone that powerful to be suppressed and left in such a sorry state...
"Red Dragon, Four Emperors-level combat power," Sengoku broke the silence, speaking softly.
"Agreed," Garp was the first to voice agreement.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
Seeing Garp's confirmation, no one dared to object.
"With Ye Chen and the Red Dragon confirmed, that leaves the woman. Zephyr, you fought her, tell us about it," Sengoku looked toward Zephyr quietly.
"Ah..." Zephyr sighed lightly, his expression complex as he glanced at Aokiji. "I'm not sure if she's at the Four Emperors level, but she definitely has the strength of a top-tier Admiral. As you all saw, my injuries were caused by her, and her power is exactly the same as Aokiji's."
The moment he said that, all eyes instantly fixed on Aokiji.
"Teacher Zephyr, you're not seeing things, right?" Aokiji felt the pressure with so many eyes on him and casually asked Zephyr.
"Nonsense! Kuzan, my wounds are frostbite. Do you think I applied an ice pack on myself?" Zephyr, already furious from being badly injured by Esdeath, now getting accused of seeing things meant he was getting old—this immediately set off Zephyr's fiery temper.
"Of course not, but it's strange. I've been in the West Blue all along and just returned," Aokiji replied helplessly.
"That's odd. Devil Fruits are supposed to be unique; logically, there shouldn't be two users of the same power," Kizaru stroked his chin slowly and said.
He implied that Aokiji might be...
"Kizaru, shut up! I'm a man, the one Zephyr fought was a woman!" Aokiji could no longer remain silent and stood up, yelling at Kizaru.
"I never said it was you!" Kizaru smirked, crossing his arms and playing with his fingers.
"You..."
"Enough! What's all this noise? Such disrespect," Sengoku shouted.
"Alright, I didn't say it was Aokiji. I just said their abilities are similar, and that woman didn't show any elemental transformation," Zephyr explained, surprised by the wild assumptions, especially linking it to Aokiji.
"That's strange. There has always been only one Logia-type Devil Fruit of each element," Tsuru murmured.
"That dragon could capture me without using Haki. Maybe Ye Chen and the others have other abilities," Akainu looked up and suddenly said.
Everyone thought about it and agreed. The world was vast and full of wonders. Also, Esdeath had no elemental transformation, proving she wasn't a Devil Fruit user.
"So now it's basically confirmed: Ye Chen is a quasi-Four Emperors, the Red Dragon is a Four Emperors, and the Ice Queen is an Admiral," Sengoku paused, "We have basically confirmed their strength levels. Now, about the 'Grand Gift' Ye Chen mentioned — what do you think it could be?"
At this, Kizaru, Aokiji, Akainu, Tsuru, and others all fell into deep thought.
The 'Grand Gift' Ye Chen spoke of was the true focus of this gathering.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do you think they might attack Marine Headquarters?" Akainu spoke softly, then hesitated before continuing, "Since it's a 'gift' to Marine Headquarters, if they attack us and lose, people outside will admire their courage; if they win, we'll lose face."
Akainu's voice reasoned the situation clearly and fitted well with the theme of a 'grand gift.'
If Ye Chen knew that Akainu's analysis led him to believe the gift was an attack on Marine Headquarters, he'd probably laugh to death.
Though Marine Headquarters was hypocritical in its justice, many inside were still decent; Ye Chen had no reason to attack Marine Headquarters.
"Akainu's theory sounds plausible. I also think there's a chance," Zephyr nodded, agreeing.
"I feel the same," others concurred.
"Not bad,"
Akainu's analysis was thorough and matched the conditions of the 'Grand Gift.' Still, Sengoku felt something was off.
At that moment, a cold voice cut through the room: "I don't think so."
Akainu's face stiffened.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, what's your take?" Akainu asked quietly.
"First, Ye Chen said it's a gift to the World Government and Marine Headquarters," Tsuru glanced at Akainu, then continued, "If they attacked Marine Headquarters, it wouldn't affect the World Government, only Marine Headquarters."
"Go on," Sengoku urged.
"More importantly, the so-called 'Grand Gift' — I thought about it. Ye Chen's recent activities all target the Celestial Dragons. I think it's very likely he's going after the Celestial Dragons," Tsuru said softly.
"I think that's possible. Ye Chen's personality is twisted and lawless. Even if he kills Celestial Dragons, it wouldn't surprise me," Zephyr added after a pause, "And more importantly, they are not afraid of the World Government. So I think in the near future, Ye Chen may strike at the Celestial Dragons."
"If he captures or kills the Celestial Dragons, that would indeed be a 'Grand Gift' to Marine Headquarters and the World Government," Garp nodded in agreement with Zephyr's view.
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