Chapter 231: Marine Rewards? Public Execution!
"Sakazuki!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke coldly, "Don't embarrass yourself with that kind of tactic!"
There were always factional conflicts within Marine Headquarters.
Compared to the laid-back Aokiji and the clock-punching Borsalino, Sakazuki's iron-blooded hawkish style made him the most supported admiral among the lower ranks.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to challenge the Five Elders' plan to make Aokiji Fleet Admiral in the future.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Sakazuki naturally denied it—he had secretly ordered his personal guards to call out his name.
If it worked, great. If not, he'd just deny it. Even if Tsuru figured it out, it wouldn't cost him anything.
"Should we choose Aokiji? Or the old hero Garp?"
"Smoker is probably the Navy's number one right now, isn't he?"
The buzz of discussion made Tsuru frown.
She turned to Fang Yi and asked, "Mr. Fang Yi, can we have Fleet Admiral Sengoku perform the draw?"
If the factions couldn't agree, the best solution was to hand the draw to the highest authority.
"No."
Fang Yi answered patiently. "Only those who have obtained a Contract Fruit and become players can participate in game activities.
Although Sengoku became a player by selling naval bases, he didn't take part in the East Blue event."
To claim a reward for defeating a Corrupted Lord,
the person must have had contribution value from that event to be eligible.
What now?
Tsuru's brow furrowed even more.
The eyes of all the high-ranking Marines were on her.
Though she was only a vice admiral, her authority in decision-making was no less than that of the Fleet Admiral.
Her decision would determine the future structure of the Navy.
Only Garp remained oblivious, happily munching on senbei and donuts.
Fang Yi could easily see the worry in her heart.
Even when they were being surrounded by tens of thousands of players, Tsuru hadn't been this hesitant.
In any faction, uneven distribution of resources was the fastest way to collapse morale—
especially on the eve of war, where it could determine the outcome.
"In that case, why not leave it to the will of the Navy?"
Seeing Tsuru's hesitation,
Fang Yi extended his finger and pointed to the center of the naval camp.
All Marines who had contributed to the Corrupted Lord hunt lit up with a faint white glow—
and a subtle force began to push the pointer of a large wheel forward.
"The shared will of 8,764 Marines will determine the reward drawn. How about that?"
This method perfectly bypassed factional struggles.
Everyone gave input. No one monopolized.
"Mr. Fang Yi, isn't the reward based on the winner's intent and desires? Won't having so many people affect the result?"
"The final prize will reflect the collective will of the Navy."
Fang Yi explained politely,
"If the Navy's collective will is to rule the world, and even the lowest-ranked soldiers believe it, then the prize will align with world domination."
"If the Navy wishes to protect the world, then the reward will match that intent."
This kind of collective-will lottery was no different from a public execution.
Hadn't the Navy always claimed to defend the peace of the four seas?
Now was the time to test that.
If the prize had nothing to do with protection,
every word the Navy had ever said would be a slap to their own face.
Even Tsuru wasn't sure what to expect.
She trusted most of the elite Marines—but not all of them.
Human nature was always the hardest thing to judge.
Corrupt officers like Captain Nezumi,
vice admirals who carried out Buster Calls indiscriminately,
mid-ranking officers who ignored Alabasta's suffering—
These were what worried her most.
But it was too late to back down now.
Retreating would only confirm that the Navy was rotten inside.
"Thank you for understanding."
Tsuru bowed slightly, eyes fixed anxiously on the slowly spinning wheel.
Five radiant golden wheels overlapped like miniature suns, drawing all eyes.
With each rotation,
lesser rewards were eliminated,
until only the brightest golden light remained—so intense it stung the players' eyes.
"Damn you, Navy! We're enemies for life!"
Doflamingo's smile twitched, forehead veins bulging.
He was furious.
If the first kill went to the Revolutionary Leader, that was just his own lack of strength—
fine, he could accept that.
But after selling half of Dressrosa and crafting high-tier puppets,
he had still been outplayed by the Navy.
"I shouldn't have sold all of Dressrosa…"
That thought hit him hard.
He had planned to wipe out all loyalists to the Riku Royal Family—
did some hopeful fools survive?
Nearby,
Mihawk stood on the Red Force's deck, sidestepping Shanks' attempt to put an arm around his shoulder.
"Too bad. The Navy has no real swordsman. They probably won't draw anything related to swordsmanship."
Mihawk sighed.
He had reached the peak of swordsmanship in the pirate world—yet still yearned to look beyond.
Shanks clung to him like glue, ignoring his annoyance.
"Aren't you worried?" he asked. "Openly trading away naval warships and going against HQ—
The stronger the Navy gets, the more dangerous things become for you."
Even if the World Government hadn't made an official announcement,
Marine HQ was clearly no longer under their control. The Shichibukai system was effectively dead.
"No worries."
Mihawk's gaze was still as sharp as a hawk's, his presence exuding the aura of a true master.
But now—
to Shanks, he seemed like a blade returned to its sheath—dangerous, but contained.
Mihawk noticed the change in Shanks' expression.
He turned and caught a flash of fighting spirit in his old rival's eyes.
"If you want a duel," he said, "I'll oblige."
Shanks blinked in surprise. "I never thought I'd hear that from you.
With my arm gone, you've always turned me down before."
He was surprised by Mihawk's willingness—
and by his ability to detect such a fleeting trace of battle intent.
Shanks' Observation Haki was among the best in the world—
yet Mihawk had seen through it.
"You with one arm wouldn't be a match for me."
Mihawk said it matter-of-factly.
"I don't mean just a sword duel—I mean a full battle. You, using all your strength.
The Conqueror's Haki that made you a Yonko."
"I'll match your four-dimensional stats exactly—and defeat you."
Once upon a time, swordsmanship in the pirate world had been overshadowed by Devil Fruits and Haki.
Even Mihawk, called the world's strongest swordsman, had been more title than truth.
But now,
he was confident he could challenge anyone in the world.
All other powers—
would bow before the sword.
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