"What did you say?!"
Sengoku, who had just arrived at G-1 Base to oversee the construction of the new Marine Headquarters, roared inside the office aboard his warship.
He could barely believe the intelligence that had just been reported.
What did they mean, a Buster Call had been launched on the Sabaody Archipelago, killing a pile of nobles and even blasting the Celestial Dragons to death?
And could someone translate for him what the hell it meant that he had approved Akainu's launch of the Buster Call?
Where was the evidence? Where was the evidence?!
Sengoku carefully combed through his memories and confirmed that he had never agreed to such an absurd order.
He hurriedly contacted Sakazuki. At that moment, Akainu was also in the middle of confirming the situation in complete confusion.
The Golden Den Den Mushi aboard the large warship under his command had not been activated by anyone, in any form whatsoever.
But Marine Headquarters could confirm that the signal had indeed come from his Golden Den Den Mushi.
Because this involved the deaths of Celestial Dragons as well as a hidden danger within the Buster Call system, Sengoku immediately ordered a thorough investigation.
Then they uncovered a series of problems that nearly gave him a heart attack.
Dense, systemic corruption that could practically be called collapse-level. Devil Fruit users who could infiltrate the interior by disguising themselves. Moles planted by other forces. They even found traces of Cipher Pol Agency interference.
The first three could still be understood. But no one could believe the last one. The purpose of the Cipher Pol Agency's involvement had actually been to push the Buster Call forward smoothly.
This sent a massive earthquake through the entire Cipher Pol system, followed by frantic internal investigations.
At this time, the Five Elders in Mary Geoise finally received the report, along with the Den Den Mushi sent over as evidence.
Without a doubt, all of them could tell that this was a frame-up.
With so many different angles of pressure working together, the only truly valuable result it created was that Akainu had been saddled with the blame for killing Celestial Dragons.
The real culprit had not even tried to hide it. They directly used the channels of the World Economic Journal to send footage recording the deaths of the Celestial Dragons to the entire world.
Now, the incident of a Marine Admiral accidentally killing Celestial Dragons was causing an uproar across the sea.
Perhaps commoners did not care about the deaths of nobles and would only clap their hands in delight.
But they would absolutely care about the fact that the Celestial Dragons, who were rumored to be as noble as gods, could actually be killed by cannon fire.
If the golden divinity of the Celestial Dragons, shattered during the Marineford War, had barely been repainted with a layer of gold lacquer through the Buster Call incident and the cooperation of the propaganda machine…
Then now, it had been smashed even more thoroughly. After all, Whitebeard, who had broken that golden image, was at least dead, and the Whitebeard Pirates had also fallen apart.
But everyone was very curious about how Akainu, who had accidentally killed Celestial Dragons, would be dealt with.
The ones even more emotional than them were the Celestial Dragons within Mary Geoise.
They looked down on everyone else, but they certainly regarded their own kind highly. And now, Celestial Dragons had actually been killed by the Marines.
Such a thing had not happened in hundreds of years. It was simply unforgivable!
On top of the previous attack that had caused a great earthquake, as well as the destruction of the God Knights, the judicial organization, the Celestial Dragon class had begun to grow anxious and restless.
They started trying to pressure the Five Elders, attempting to obtain the result they wanted.
"How should we respond?"
Saturn looked toward the other Five Elders. "We already know this is an enemy's frame-up, but now that the incident has fermented to this point, there must be an explanation."
"If we kill Akainu as the enemy wishes, that will only suit their desires even more."
Saint Mars gave his opinion. "Sakazuki is the most loyal to us among the Three Admirals.
"If we killed him just to give an explanation while he was being framed, that would be equivalent to weakening our own strength.
"The current era is more intense than any point in the past several centuries. Cutting off our own arm would only bring about an even greater crisis."
"I concur."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro nodded. "But an explanation is also necessary."
"Then let us do this. Everyone related to this matter will be dismissed from their posts and placed under investigation."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter offered his suggestion. "That counts as having dealt with it. It should barely be enough to fob off those Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise who have opinions.
"If any of them are particularly troublesome, then execute them as a warning to the rest. In this nation, only Lord Imu is absolute."
"What about the appointment of the Fleet Admiral?"
Saturn asked, "Sengoku has already lost his ability as the Resourceful General. He has botched so many matters in succession.
"We cannot possibly allow him to continue serving as Fleet Admiral. Within the Marines, the only ones capable of stepping up as replacements are the Three Admirals.
"With Akainu, the most suitable candidate, out of the running, we can only choose between Kuzan and Kizaru."
"Kizaru?" Saint Shepherd Ju Peter frowned. "He is far too lazy. If he is placed in charge, there will likely be endless problems."
"At the very least, he is more suitable than Kuzan."
Saint Mars shook his head. "Kuzan's pursuits do not align with our position.
"The reason Sengoku and the others wanted to support Kuzan taking power was so they could gradually change the Marines' stance.
"But for us, the Marines as they are now are the best version.
"A blade has never needed its own will. It only needs to obey the will of the one holding it."
The Five Elders looked at one another, then made their choice.
Very soon, the highest order from Mary Geoise arrived at Marine Headquarters, and the corresponding procedures were set in motion.
Akainu and the others were taken to Mary Geoise for investigation. As for Kizaru—
"Huh?"
Kizaru shook his head with a baffled expression. "This old man really can't shoulder such an important duty."
"This is an order from the Five Elders."
Tsuru said.
"Oh my, compared to me, wouldn't choosing Kuzan be better?"
Kizaru's mouth crooked to one side. "Whether it's you people or him, you all wanted him to become Fleet Admiral very much, didn't you?"
"That was before. But now…"
Tsuru's words paused, and she looked out the window. "He has already left the Marines. He submitted his resignation letter."
"?!"
Kizaru froze.
"Hurry up and accept this reality. The World Government has already issued a new directive."
Tsuru shook her head, then said, "Next, we will hold a World Military Draft to select powerful individuals from all over the world and fill the hollowed-out ranks.
"Fleet Admiral Borsalino, from now on, you will have to bear the burden."
"…"
Kizaru said nothing, his expression exactly like that of a worker heading to the office on Monday morning.
Cold air spread across the sea, freezing a long ice road that continuously extended into the distance.
The weather on the Grand Line was rarely peaceful. The sea breeze was so pleasant.
Yet Kuzan, riding his bicycle over the ice, pressed his lips together and silently kept pedaling.
Although he had very complicated feelings toward Ren, and had even once believed that the other party could accomplish things that should have been impossible…
Although he had developed deep impressions such as how killing Ren was basically impossible…
Only on the matter of Ren's prophecy had Kuzan always maintained a resistant, unwilling-to-believe attitude.
When he realized that Ren had made a move against Akainu, caused the Sabaody Archipelago Buster Call incident, and brought about the deaths of two Celestial Dragons…
He had placed even greater hope in it not being true.
Until the prophecy became reality.
The Five Elders would rather choose Kizaru than choose him. Once the prophet's words had been nailed into reality, Kuzan finally truly understood.
What the World Government needed was not an orderly justice.
It was merely a tool that would obey orders no matter what.
If he stayed there, he would be unable to accomplish anything. It would be better to leave.
It was just that Kuzan was also somewhat lost. After giving up his ideals and pursuits within the Marines, where could he even go…
Creak.
The ice bicycle suddenly stopped. Kuzan looked ahead with a complicated expression.
Within the drifting cold mist, Ren's figure emerged.
"Aren't you afraid of being discovered and then surrounded?"
Kuzan subconsciously asked. Then he smiled slightly. "I almost forgot. A guy like you can go anywhere. If you wanted to leave, I'm afraid no one could keep you there."
"You're exactly right."
Ren smiled, then stretched out his hand at the end of the ice road and spoke bluntly.
"Come try it, Kuzan. A brand-new future unlike anything in the past."
At this moment, the prophet had truly and completely broken through Kuzan's mental defenses.
"Ren…"
He stopped with a bitter smile, but did not know what to say.
"Do you think my ideals cannot accommodate yours?"
Ren tilted his head. "Or do you think I have no chance of winning in the end?"
"No. I only just left the Marines, and now I'm joining the Marines' greatest enemy…"
Kuzan hesitated somewhat.
"I don't think you're that stubborn and pedantic."
Ren shook his head. "Pursuing what you desire is not something shameful, because they were the ones who betrayed the shared ideal first. You were not the one who betrayed them first.
"Wasn't the Marineford War exactly like that? In full view of everyone, they chose self-interest over justice.
"You heard about the investigation into the Buster Call from within the Marines too, didn't you?
"Why do you think so many traitors and corrupt elements who sold out the Marines' interests appeared?"
He stared at the silent Kuzan and calmly said, "Because the Marines betrayed justice first.
"After acting in such a way, are they still worthy of even the slightest respect from you?"
"…What do you plan to do next?"
Kuzan suddenly asked.
"Whitebeard is dead. The other Yonko should go with him as well. The new era has no ship that can accommodate them."
Ren's tone was flat, as if he were discussing something as ordinary as a household meal rather than the Four Emperors.
"…"
Kuzan took a deep breath and stared at Ren for a long time. Then he got off his bicycle and walked over.
When the two approached each other, he reached out and clasped the hand that had never been lowered.
"Welcome aboard."
Ren grinned.
All the effort and groundwork laid since Mock Town finally gained meaning at this moment.
A pinnacle powerhouse of the One Piece world. A Logia Fruit Awakening ability user. One of the strongest Three Admirals in history, Aokiji Kuzan, joined his team at this moment!
Counting Fujitora, Dragon, Mihawk, and himself, this team now had roughly five pinnacle-level powerhouses.
Even within Mary Geoise, with its eight-hundred-year legacy, the ones who belonged at this level were only the Five Elders themselves.
The ice mist over the sea dispersed, and the figures of Kuzan and Ren disappeared.
At the same time…
High in the sky, another battle also began.
Within the Observation Haki range of Impel Down, Ren had encountered Bullet and the other characters who had appeared in the movies.
In other words, the Golden Lion, who had also appeared in a movie, likewise existed in this world.
Considering the Golden Lion's purpose, as well as the special nature of his Devil Fruit…
Ren decided to eliminate this factor in advance, as it had the potential to cause additional trouble.
The Revolutionary Army had provided assistance during this period. Their people had infiltrated the Golden Lion Pirates and were serving as human beacons within the floating island chain.
(End of Chapter)