After that, Sengoku sat down dejectedly. He turned his head to look at the seagull flag fluttering outside the window, but he only felt extremely dazzled.
He felt that something was suppressed in his heart, but he had nowhere to vent.
It was an indescribable sense of helplessness, knowing that what was happening was wrong but having no choice but to continue.
Because he knew clearly that once he stopped, the consequences would be unbearable for both himself and the world.
But… is it really true?!
After a long silence, Sengoku picked up the Den Den Mushi beside him and dialed the number of another man who was also heading to Water 7:
"Sakazuki, how much time can you delay the mission in Water 7?"
"Wait."
Sengoku's face flushed slightly.
"What I meant was, how are your injuries?!"
"Do you need to rest for a few days?"
On the other end, there was a long silence before Sakazuki's cold voice finally came through: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"This kind of childish trick is meaningless, and it won't save the civilians in Water 7."
"Letting them live will only create instability."
Sengoku raised his hand and pinched his eyebrows.
The words that Aokiji just said were still like a huge rock pressing on his chest, making him feel hard to breathe.
"Then you should know."
"Even if those pirates get the blueprint of Pluton, it is impossible to make that thing."
"Even Vegapunk can't do it."
"This time, the Buster Call is different from Ohara and every time before. It's just simple..."
"Simple..."
Sengoku gritted his teeth while looking at the Marines flag outside the window and felt that the clothes on his body became extremely heavy.
The rescue that those civilians are looking forward to should not be just a…
"A massacre!"
"Sakazuki, this is my request."
"Sorry, Mr. Sengoku."
… … …
On the vast sea, Sakazuki stood on the deck while slowly putting away the Den Den Mushi.
Looking back, he found that his fellow marines were standing behind him without knowing when.
The look in their eyes was filled with reluctance, confusion, hesitation, and an indescribable sense of indecision.
They knew that they were about to become executioners and knew that what they did was absolutely wrong, but this was an order from the above.
Obviously, everyone in this fleet was extremely tormented, especially when they knew what they were about to do.
Only a few might mentally collapse, but many would surely begin to waver in their belief in justice.
This was shaking the very foundation of the Marines.
A marines officer stepped forward, raised his hand to take off the hat on his head, and then took off the shawl with the word justice printed on it, folded it, and put it on the ground.
However, his spine remained straight as he spoke: "Admiral Akainu."
"This time, I can't convince myself. When we put on the Marines uniform, we had already made a commitment to risk our lives."
"Back then, with the Ohara incident, we could still justify ourselves by claiming we were preventing the worst from continuing."
"But this time?!"
"I joined the Marines for justice, not for senseless slaughter!"
Akainu frowned.
According to his usual habits, he would never, ever compromise on such matters.
But this marine was different. He had been with him since before the Ohara incident twenty years ago.
He could almost be considered one of his closest subordinates. Although his rank was only Rear-Admiral, his combat strength was on par with a Marine vice-admiral.
He was one of his core men.
"Arudiba..."
"Did you forget what I told you?!"
The marine named Arudiba lowered his head, his voice shaking with emotion: "No."
"But I also remember what Mr. T Bone said to me."
"If this is the case, with that man's character, what would he do?!"
When his voice fell, the warship fell silent for a while.
Someone took action to pull Arudiba up, and someone came forward to plead with Akainu.
But the man standing on the deck did not move at all from beginning to end. His expression was still the same as at the beginning, as cold as a piece of ice.
There were no surprises here; inside the Marines, both Akainu and Aokiji had long been described in such a way.
The person with the coldest heart has the hottest ability, and the one with the hottest heart has the coldest ability.
This is also one of the reasons Aokiji and Akainu have always been at odds.
The two of them, both in terms of action style and philosophy, were at opposite extremes.
"Have you thought it through?"
Akainu's expression was cold and hard, and there was no trace of emotion in his voice.
But those who know him know it.
When the volcano is dormant, the hot lava surges underground. Once it erupts, it will be earth-shattering and have the power to burn everything.
Arudiba raised his head, looked directly into Akainu's eyes, and then nodded heavily: "I've thought it through."
"Very good."
"Then, from today on, you will start over as a trainee marine."
After that, Akainu looked around, and the invisible sense of oppression spread, making everyone sweat all over.
They are all veterans who have followed Akainu for many years and naturally know how terrifying Akainu's power is.
Even among the three admirals at this time, he was the best.
In this era, when Sengoku retired, and Garp was semi-retired, Akainu could even be said to be the number one in the marine!
In a word, he is an inhuman, moving disaster!
"I told you a long time ago."
"If you want to walk with me, you must abandon all useless sympathy and use thunderous methods to nip all possible evil in the bud."
"If you don't have the awareness of going to hell after death, don't get on my ship!"
Arudiba gritted his teeth and argued: "But this time... Our actions are just for slaughter!"
"Everyone knows that in this era, that blueprint is just a piece of waste paper, even Vegapunk-"
"Who can guarantee that no pirate can make it!"
A roar suddenly exploded from Akainu's mouth, leaving everyone present speechless for a moment.
"Have you ever thought about how many people will die if Vegapunk makes a mistake in his judgment?!"
"That number will be hundreds or thousands of times greater than the Water 7."
"The safest approach is to nip all possibilities in the bud."
"I don't think I'm a bloodthirsty person, but if necessary, I can kill anyone."
"There's no perfect solution in this world. Choices always come with sacrifices, and all I can do is protect the majority. Even if the people sacrificed include my… Close friends."
Akainu's eyes were red.
Wasn't he also venting the emotions he had been suppressing all this time?
But that's the kind of person he was. In the face of the larger picture, he would make the most rational choices, like a cold-blooded monster.
No matter who was sacrificed, it was something he could accept.
Akainu looked around at the pale faces of people around and said lightly: "Now, full speed ahead to Water 7. Any problems?!"
"No!"
"All… for justice!"
A group of marines stood up, their bodies straight.
The sun shone from behind them, and the shadow completely covered Akainu's figure.
The fleet gathered again, with the icebreaker leading the way, breaking through the glaciers and heading toward Water 7 at a faster speed.
A mutiny caused by the collapse of faith was eliminated invisibly.
At the same time, Sengoku sat in the office, looking at the hung-up Den Den Mushi in his hand, and couldn't help taking a deep breath.
It had been more than ten years since he took command of the Marines, but never before had he felt so mentally exhausted, and there was a sense of… confusion.
Suddenly, the door of the office was pushed open.
Squeak!
Amid the harsh noise, a tall figure stood at the door, looking at Sengoku with a smile on his face.
"It's been a while, Sengoku."
"Zephyr? You came just in time; I have something to tell you."
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