Chapter 473 - Akainu: Are you afraid?
At the same time, in Marine Headquarters, Marineford—
Inside the emergency military meeting room, a group of high-ranking naval officers swiftly took their seats, led by their adjutants. Their gazes were fixed on the Den Den Mushi screen, their expressions grim and tense.
Marine Fleet Admiral Akainu sat at the center, his face dark with fury. The murderous aura radiating from him was as chilling as ice frozen for a thousand years, causing the room's temperature to drop ever so subtly.
"Public executions are getting more and more interesting."
Kizaru supported his chin with one hand and said slowly with a mocking look on his face.
Everyone else can hear the deep meaning behind Kizaru's words.
The significance of public execution was to demonstrate the authority of justice.
It was a symbol of "legitimacy" in law enforcement.
For countless years, only the Navy Headquarters—the "spokesperson for justice" and the sole military force legally recognized by the World Government—held the authority to conduct public executions.
Any execution carried out by other forces or organizations lacked legitimacy. In the eyes of the government and the navy, such acts were nothing more than vigilante justice—mere battles fueled by personal grudges and revenge.
This was different from Judicial Island, like the Impel Down Prison, which was a symbol of the law enforcement of the authoritarian rule of the World Government.
But the scene before them means that the Navy has completely denied the legitimacy of the World Government.
Public execution!!
Liu Feng and the new navy under his leadership have now replaced the Navy Headquarters and become the "executors of justice" and law enforcers on this sea!
This may not be something that can affect the lives of many people, after all; such a world was still very far away from them.
But for the Navy Headquarters, it means that they have completely and simply, without ambiguity, lost the legitimacy of "justice".
"Blackbeard was captured alive by them."
"It seems that the Blackbeard Pirates were wiped out by the New Navy in the New World, and the Whitebeard Pirates were resurrected. The information has been confirmed."
"And the Pirates..."
Fujitora, who was sitting next to Kizaru, frowned tightly.
His thick eyebrows twisted into a deep "川" character, revealing a haze that could not be dispersed.
In the sight, the Whitebeard Pirates and the members of the Pirates have already put on the black robes of the New Navy.
"I'm very curious—how did Liu Feng manage to get Whitebeard and the other two to join his army?" Green Bull smirked with interest, his expression playful.
"Forget Whitebeard. With his personality, it's not surprising if he joined Liu Feng out of gratitude for resurrecting them," he continued. "But that... crazy woman—I can't imagine she would agree so easily."
"How could the Four Emperors, rulers of the New World, willingly serve under someone else?"
While the three Admirals remained relatively at ease, the Vice Admirals sat in tense silence, their expressions solemn. They barely dared to breathe as they watched the figures on the screen—figures so overwhelmingly powerful that their mere presence felt suffocating.
At that moment, a chilling realization struck them.
—In the near future, they might have to face these terrifying monsters in battle.
In the war on the top, they urgently summoned the Seven Warlords of the Sea, dispatched countless troops, and deployed their camps to defeat the Whitebeard Pirates.
But their Navy Headquarters also paid an extremely heavy price.
"That was just one of the Four Emperors' crews! What if they truly decide to confront the Navy head-on?"
If that happened, they wouldn't just be facing two of the Four Emperors' forces—they would also have to contend with a New Navy that had grown even stronger than the Four Emperors themselves.
Against such an overwhelming enemy, could they really hope to win?
As this thought took hold, a heavy sense of despair settled over the room. Many present felt their spirits sink, their confidence wavering. Victory seemed impossible.
"You are afraid??"
Akainu's voice suddenly broke the silence. He slowly lifted his head, the shadow of his military cap failing to conceal the murderous, cold, and merciless gleam in his eyes. His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept across the conference room.
Aside from a handful of admirals, none of the officers dared to meet his stare.
Seeing this pathetic display, Akainu let out a low laugh—cold, mocking, yet unsurprised. It was as if he had expected this all along.
"It's right to be afraid."
To everyone's surprise, Akainu said this.
They were stunned and then raised their heads in confusion.
Akainu's bloodshot eyes remained fixed on the Den Den Mushi screen, his expression rigid and cold, like an unfeeling machine.
"Only by overcoming the fear in your heart—by standing firm even against an enemy several times, or even dozens of times stronger—can you truly never retreat."
"This... is what it means to be a true soldier, isn't it?"