However, just as Smoker was cursing the Marine Headquarters in his heart, Sengoku was also having a headache over Kouta.
Half a day was more than enough time for Borsalino, along with the vice admirals and rear admirals who accompanied him to the Floating Island of the Golden Lion, to ascertain whether the Golden Lion was dead or had escaped.
At the bottom of the giant crater in the center of the island where Kouta and the Golden Lion had battled.
At this moment, with a flash of golden light, Kizaru's figure gradually materialized at the bottom of the crater.
"This should be the place where Silver Hair and the Golden Lion had their final decisive battle!"
Kizaru stood idly, hands in his pockets, looking around.
"So terrifying!"
Then, his eyes flashed red, and his Observation Haki instantly swept across the entire massive crater.
"Hmm!"
He found nothing. He then expanded his Haki outwards, sweeping across the entire island. Other than the ferocious beasts, there were no other presences.
Although he couldn't find any trace of the Golden Lion, his intuition told him.
The Golden Lion was definitely here, he just hadn't found him yet.
His Observation Haki repeatedly swept across the bottom of the crater, finally stopping at a crevice.
The crevice was not filled, clearly a result of human intervention. He swept his Haki downwards through the gaps in the soil.
"Hmm..."
In his perception, there were two presences emanating endless sharpness from below. If he could sense them, they must not be ordinary swords.
He stroked his chin and thought, then a look of understanding dawned on him.
"The famous swords 'Sakura Ten' and 'Kikyo'."
"The Golden Lion's two sabers."
This indicated that the Golden Lion was indeed thoroughly dead.
Just as Kouta had guessed, Kizaru did not disturb the Golden Lion, even with two powerful famous swords lying below.
After all, the man was dead, wasn't he?
At this moment, in the Marine Headquarters' Grand Conference Room, where important matters were being discussed.
Any vice admirals and rear admirals who were at Headquarters and did not have particularly important tasks were gathered in this Grand Conference Room.
Even Vice Admiral Garp, the "Hero of the Marines," who was in the New World, had returned.
Upon hearing the news of the Golden Lion's reappearance after 18 years, Garp was urgently summoned back by the Marines.
After all, the Golden Lion had a history of attacking Marine Headquarters.
It was Sengoku and Garp who had joined forces to capture the Golden Lion and imprison him in "Impel Down."
Who knew that the Golden Lion could sever his own legs and become the first pirate to escape Impel Down.
The Golden Lion had disappeared for 18 years. His reappearance must mean he was plotting some earth-shattering scheme again.
Most of the generals present in this room had experienced the Golden Lion's invasion of Headquarters 18 years ago.
They were well aware of the terrifying power the Golden Lion possessed.
Therefore, the Marines, from top to bottom, were filled with seriousness regarding this meeting about the Golden Lion.
At this moment, everyone in the conference room sat cross-legged in silence on both sides of the room, waiting for news from the Den Den Mushi in front of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who occupied the central seat at the head of the table.
They had already learned from Kizaru that Kouta had left safely. Now, they were just waiting for news about the Golden Lion.
Just as everyone's faces were grim, waiting for news from the Den Den Mushi,
From the upper right side of the conference room, a discordant "crunch, crunch" sound could be heard.
Upon seeing who was making the sound, everyone adopted an indifferent demeanor.
Only Sengoku's brow furrowed slightly.
Crunch!
Crunch!
Crunch...
Listening to Garp's increasingly outrageous crunching, reminiscent of a rat stealing food, Sengoku finally lost his patience.
He stared at Garp and shouted, "Garp, mind the occasion."
Hearing the shout, Garp looked up at Sengoku and asked in confusion, "What is it?"
Then, he clenched his right fist and hit his left palm, his face showing a look of sudden realization.
"Sengoku, do you want to eat too? Just ask me if you want some, I'm not stingy."
Reluctantly, he pulled a senbei from a bag in front of him and offered it to Sengoku.
"Just one, there are no more."
He then tucked the bag of senbei in front of him into his chest, like a hamster hoarding food, as if afraid someone would snatch his senbei.
Looking at the senbei offered to him, Sengoku finally couldn't hold back. Veins bulged on his forehead as he roared at Garp, "Garp... if you don't want to properly attend the meeting, then get out."
The immense sound seemed to make the entire building tremble.
The Marines inside and outside the building who heard Sengoku's roar all had a calm expression.
In the entire Marine Headquarters, only Garp could make Fleet Admiral Sengoku roar in anger.
It happened once or twice every month anyway.
They were all used to it.
Garp looked at the enraged Sengoku.
Casually, he picked his ear with his little finger, then burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha!!"
Laughing, he quickly took back the senbei he had offered, popped it into his mouth, and then reached out to pat Sengoku's shoulder, saying, "Sengoku, don't be so stingy! It's just a bag of senbei, I'll make it up to you next time."
"Hmm..."
Sengoku thought for a moment, then became furious. "You rascal, you ate my senbei again."
"Ah..."
Saying this, he roared and lunged at Garp, snatching the bag of senbei from Garp's chest.
Throwing his head back, he poured all the senbei from the bag into his mouth.
"My senbei, give it back to me..."
Garp, who snatched the now empty senbei bag from Sengoku, was dumbfounded.
He pouted at Sengoku. "Do you have to be so stingy!"
"Alright, how long are you two going to mess around?"
At this moment, Director Tsuru, sitting opposite Garp, couldn't stand it anymore.
Seeing Sengoku and Garp acting like two children and causing a scene at such an important occasion, she couldn't help but call out to stop them.
Sengoku glanced at Garp triumphantly. "It was my senbei, and you claimed it was yours. Next time, next time I'll even snatch your donuts."
He sat up straight, tidied his clothes, and his gaze swept across the generals in the conference room. Seeing their serious expressions, he nodded with satisfaction, regaining his composure as Fleet Admiral.
"Burururu!"
"Burururu!"
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in front of Sengoku rang.
Sengoku's expression tightened, and he quickly reached out to pick up the receiver of the Den Den Mushi.
"This is Marine Headquarters Sengoku. Who is this? Please respond if you can hear me."
As Sengoku spoke into the receiver, the Den Den Mushi's head suddenly transformed into a head resembling Kizaru's. The Den Den Mushi spoke lewdly, "Yo! It's Commander Sengoku! This is Borsalino."
The people in the conference room looked solemn upon hearing Kizaru's voice.
Whether the Golden Lion was dead or not, it was a big problem for the Marines.
If he was dead, it proved that Silver Hair Kouta's strength had reached the world's top tier.
If he was not dead, the Golden Lion could bring even greater trouble to the Marines.