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Aokiji sat down on the ground, sighing in resignation.
"Your style is just like this—you leave no room for your enemies, and you leave no room for yourself!"
"That's why I can't trust the Navy to you!"
"Hmph! If one dedicates oneself to Justice, one naturally has the resolve to sacrifice for it! If you lack even that much resolve, why be a Marine at all!"
As soon as the topic shifted back to their core philosophies, Akainu became agitated again. However, his emotions quickly calmed down.
"Fine! It's useless to talk about it now! As per our agreement, I lost, and the Fleet Admiral position is yours."
Although Akainu was ruthless in his actions, he was a man of his word. Having lost, he naturally wouldn't cling to the position.
"That you think so is for the best! Sengoku-san and the others have arrived too!"
Aokiji looked up to see Sengoku and a team of medical personnel rushing toward them. Seeing the final result, Sengoku's usually stern face grew even more shadowed. He remembered Smoker's description in his office:
"The World Government will not allow Aokiji to take the position! Because that would be tantamount to denying the World Government's authority over the Marines!"
That sentence struck Sengoku's chest like a heavy hammer. Now that Aokiji had won the duel, what would the World Government do?
After escorting Akainu and Aokiji onto the warship, Sengoku immediately made a phone call.
"Sengoku, what is it you need?" The Den Den Mushi's head showed the spiky-haired silhouette of Kong.
Sengoku said grimly, "Commander-in-Chief Kong, I have an urgent matter to report, and I hope to gain your assistance!"
The person on the other end of the Transponder Snail was none other than the World Government's Commander-in-Chief of the entire military, Kong!
Sengoku reported the outcome of the duel to Kong, hoping that Kong could persuade the Five Elders to allow Aokiji to smoothly take over the position of Fleet Admiral.
Upon hearing the report, Kong could only sigh helplessly. "I can't do anything about this sort of thing either! In the end, it depends on what the Five Elders decide."
Despite Kong holding the title of Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's military—nominally overseeing not only the Navy but also the CP agencies, the Army, and even the police forces—he could truly command very few of them.
The title of Commander-in-Chief was largely honorary!
The real power lay with those Five Elders.
Sengoku was deeply aware of this. Seeking out his old superior was merely an attempt to grasp at one last shred of hope.
Hanging up the phone, Sengoku looked out at the sea and murmured, "I hope nothing goes terribly wrong!"
Seven days later, the report recommending Aokiji as the new Fleet Admiral had long been submitted to the World Government. However, the reply had been continuously delayed. Finally, today, Sengoku received the World Government's response!
However, to Sengoku's shock, what he received was not Aokiji's letter of appointment, but a letter of punishment!
"Marine Admiral Aokiji, for disobeying superior orders, insubordination, and unauthorized dueling with Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, the impact is exceptionally egregious!"
"Admiral Aokiji is hereby ordered to immediately set sail for the New World to patrol the areas previously occupied by the Whitebeard Pirates and to apprehend the Blackbeard Pirates, thereby atoning for his actions!"
After reading the letter, Sengoku couldn't help but once again smash his office desk.
"Those bastards! What do they take the Marines for!" Sengoku roared in fury.
Good heavens, the letter essentially confirmed Akainu's status as Fleet Admiral directly in the document.
Not only did they veto the Navy's decision, but they also designated the entire duel as completely illegal private conduct.
The importance and selection process the Marines placed on the Fleet Admiral position had been casually tossed into the trash by the World Government!
"They're installing Akainu and transferring Aokiji out. This is their way of clearing the path for Akainu to gain full control of the entire Navy!"
Sengoku saw through the World Government's petty trick instantly. The leader of the Dove faction was gone, and the neutral faction, led by Kizaru, would not actively seek trouble with Akainu.
The Hawk faction, led by Akainu, would soon seize all the critical power within the Navy. By the time Aokiji returned, it would be too late to change anything.
"These bastards! They show such expertise when scheming against their own people!"
Sengoku cursed for a while, then reluctantly summoned Aokiji and told him everything.
However, to Sengoku's surprise, Aokiji did not show any anger after listening; he seemed prepared for it.
"After I returned victorious, Smoker came to me and warned me that things might not go as planned this time, and he told me to be careful in all things," Aokiji explained calmly.
"I just didn't expect the World Government to leave us Marines with absolutely no face whatsoever!"
"I originally thought they would allow me to take the position and then find an excuse to kick me out later."
"I didn't think they'd bother with even that much pretense!"
Seeing Aokiji's unperturbed expression, Sengoku actually grew more frantic.
"Aokiji! Don't be hasty! Even though Sakazuki has been appointed Fleet Admiral, the Navy's Justice will not change!"
"You are an Admiral! You have a lot of autonomy! If you don't want to face him, why don't you permanently garrison the New World?"
"No, Sengoku-san, I don't want to do that."
Unexpectedly, Aokiji directly refused Sengoku's proposal. He stated firmly, "Though I apologize, Sengoku-san, please allow me to resign from the Navy!"
BOOM!
It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Sengoku. He asked with a trembling voice, "You... what did you say?"
"I wish to resign my Admiral position and leave the Navy!" Aokiji reiterated his decision with resolute finality.
Sengoku took a deep breath, forcibly composing himself.
"Aokiji, I know you've been wronged! But isn't leaving the Navy too rash?"
"I can guarantee that if you stay, no one will target you because of this incident!"
Aokiji shook his head calmly.
"Sengoku-san, I'm not worried about being targeted! It's that I can no longer find my own Justice within the Navy!"
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. With that statement, Sengoku knew the worst had happened!
"Therefore, I want to go out and see the world, to find where my true Justice lies!"
At that, Aokiji smiled faintly.
"Of course, I will never forget that I was once a Marine! If the Navy ever needs me, I would still be very willing to help!"
Aokiji's conviction was stronger than ever. He had heard the deeper implications of what Aizen Sōsuke had told Smoker!
The World Government needed the Marines to be an obedient dog. The Navy's Justice, in their eyes, meant the dog had a mind of its own. Could a dog with its own ideas still be obedient?
Aokiji realized then that the current Navy could no longer truly fulfill Justice. If he had become the Fleet Admiral, he could have initiated change. But since he failed, he had to leave!
Sengoku saw the determination in Aokiji's eyes and knew he couldn't stop him. He could only sigh.
"I hope you find your Justice soon!"
Did Sengoku not know the World Government's attitude toward the Marines? He knew everything.