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For the older generation of Marines like Sengoku, the stability of the Grand Line superseded everything else!
The World Government's order might have a thousand flaws, but it was still vastly preferable to complete, utter chaos.
As for change...
Not everyone possessed the courage and boldness for it. After all, no one knew whether breaking the current rules would lead to a better or worse outcome. Sengoku and Garp, at least, belonged to the pessimistic faction.
Even these world-class powerhouses were cautious. That's why those throughout history who managed to overturn the status quo are hailed as Great Men!
Sakazuki's inauguration as Fleet Admiral sent significant shockwaves through the Navy.
The second piece of news that followed immediately after caused the entire organization to boil over: Marine Admiral Aokiji, codenamed Aokiji, resigned from the Navy!
For a time, many people cried foul for Aokiji, believing the World Government had reneged on their promise and seized the Fleet Admiral position that rightfully belonged to him, forcing him to quit the Navy!
Smoker and Hina, in their conversations with friends, also mentioned the World Government's true view of the Navy, leading to growing discontent among the lower and middle ranks toward the World Government.
"Though it was only a minor, idle move, it served its purpose well."
In the Science Unit, Aizen Sōsuke listened to a military officer's report, a faint smile on his face. The World Government wanted the Navy to be their dog, did they? He would ensure he planted a few landmines to make the Navy resent the World Government.
As long as the seed of doubt was sown, any excessive demands the World Government made of the Navy in the future would only deepen the Navy's dissatisfaction and distrust. By the time it fully erupted, it would be too late for the World Government!
The Five Elders mistakenly believed that Aizen Sōsuke, now in the Science Unit, would be restricted and reluctantly participating in various research projects.
They could never have imagined that Aizen Sōsuke had already used Kyōka Suigetsu to control everyone upon his arrival. He could even remotely influence the developments at Marine Headquarters.
The strongest personnel in the Science Unit, aside from the occasional garrison by Admiral Kizaru, was the head of the security forces, Sentomaru.
This man, who claimed to have the world's tightest security, actually couldn't keep a secret and had strength equivalent to a mere Vice Admiral. He offered no resistance whatsoever to Aizen Sōsuke's Kyōka Suigetsu.
Aizen Sōsuke did have to be careful dealing with the recording and surveillance equipment in the labs. Hypnosis was, after all, ineffective on machines. Fortunately, everyone in the research institute was now under his control, so no real flaws were left behind.
"Mr. Aizen!"
At that moment, a man with a receding hairline, graying hair, and an apple stem-like apparatus on his head walked in. He was the World Government's Chief Scientist, the man hailed as having wisdom 500 years ahead of the world, Dr. Vegapunk!
Vegapunk excitedly waved a report in his hand.
"It's truly incredible! The so-called Spiritual Pressure (Reiatsu) seems to be a form of soul power, quite similar to Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku Haki), yet not entirely the same!"
"In terms of development and application, Spiritual Pressure can be actively trained and even manifests in different forms for use, completely surpassing Conqueror's Haki!"
Aizen Sōsuke listened with interest. He hadn't originally planned to cooperate with their research when he came to the Science Unit. However, after meeting Vegapunk, Aizen Sōsuke's mind changed.
This was a genuine research prodigy!
He was in no way inferior to himself or Urahara Kisuke. Perhaps he really could research something useful!
Therefore, Aizen Sōsuke gave him a small amount of his Spiritual Pressure and bodily tissues for Vegapunk to study in depth.
Despite it being his first time dealing with Soul Reaper mechanics, Vegapunk had actually managed to figure something out!
Vegapunk continued, "Although the source of Spiritual Pressure is the soul, studies on Mr. Aizen's bodily tissues suggest that your body contains a large amount of elements that resonate with the soul. Thanks to these elements, you can cultivate Spiritual Pressure like an ordinary person trains their body."
"For ordinary people like us, these elements in the body are much scarcer, so it would be difficult to cultivate Spiritual Pressure!"
Aizen Sōsuke instantly understood. He was talking about Reishi (Spirit Particles)!
In the original Bleach story, everything in the Soul Society was composed of Reishi. Soul Reapers had bodies made of highly concentrated Reishi, which is why their Spiritual Pressure was innately far superior to other souls!
In the World of the Living, people with high Reishi content could see Soul Reapers and Hollows, and could even train to become Quincies. The source of all of this was Reishi!
Aizen Sōsuke was impressed that Vegapunk could deduce the existence of Reishi. He truly was a scientist ahead of his time!
After a moment of thought, Aizen Sōsuke decided to reveal some information to Vegapunk.
"In the Holy Spirit Empire, these elements are called Reishi! It is a talent granted to us by the Soul King! If you can decipher its mystery, you might be able to harness this power!"
Vegapunk's eyes instantly lit up.
"Are you suggesting that this is actually a technique based on human body modification?"
"Hmm, something like that! But it's definitely different from the body modifications you've studied before."
Aizen Sōsuke was, after all, the person who studied the Hōgyoku and successfully merged the powers of Soul Reapers and Hollows. He had considerable experience with Reishi-based human modification.
"Excellent! Then I know which direction to take my research!" Vegapunk immediately ran back to his laboratory, excited.
Aizen Sōsuke merely shook his head slightly. Modification was certainly possible, but it was practically impossible to achieve in this world!
Any modification to a Soul Reaper or Hollow required a high concentration of Reishi as a prerequisite!
The One Piece world also had Reishi, but compared to the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, the concentration was less than half. Hoping to complete human modification with such sparse Reishi was simply a pipe dream.
"Research whatever you want. As long as I can satisfy their requirements, that's enough for me."
Aizen Sōsuke was in no hurry. He was being cooperative enough. If they lacked the ability to materialize the research results, that was their problem!
While Aizen Sōsuke was effectively under house arrest in the Science Unit, Marine Headquarters was in the throes of the World Military Draft.
With Sengoku retired, Aokiji resigned, and Akainu assuming the Fleet Admiral position, the Navy was suddenly down two top-tier powerhouses and desperately needed an injection of new blood.
If Garp's retirement application hadn't been forcefully rejected by Sengoku, the Navy would have been almost completely out of capable personnel!
Who could have imagined that the Navy, which constantly sought to abolish the Warlord system, would one day face a situation where they had no one to fill their own ranks?
Auguro did not intend to interfere with the World Military Draft. It would simply result in the introduction of Fujitora (Issho) and Green Bull (Ryokugyu). Green Bull was unpredictable, but Fujitora was a man who pursued true justice, so Auguro didn't need to intervene too much.
He was more interested in the whereabouts of the protagonist crew, Luffy, and the others. According to Rob Lucci's report, most of the crew's destinations were the same as in the original timeline. Only Luffy had completely vanished!
Auguro had even specially contacted Hancock to confirm that he had not shown up on Amazon Lily (Kuja Island)!