Meanwhile.
On the high platform of Marineford Square, Orion also suddenly looked up at the distant high wall amidst the attention of the crowd.
The moment he looked up, the high wall in his line of sight was instantly frozen into a sculpture.
Immediately after, a figure climbed onto the high wall facing away from the moonlight, looking down at Marineford Square.
Standing atop the high wall was the last of the three admirals of the Marine, codenamed Aokiji, who possessed the power of the Ice-Ice Fruit.
"Ah, it seems that something incredible has happened at the Marine Headquarters while I was out." Standing nearly three meters tall, Kuzan looked at the tens of thousands of soldiers gathered in the square, finally gazing in confusion at the high platform.
As the sudden chill enveloped the entire square, many people in the square turned around at once. When they saw the figure standing on the high wall, their faces lit up with joy.
However, they quickly regained their composure and turned their attention to the new marshal standing on the high platform.
On the high platform, Borsalino and Sakazuki also noticed Kuzan, who had suddenly appeared atop the high wall. However, neither of them spoke.
One remained vigilant, while the other appeared lazy and indifferent as if none of this had much to do with him.
"Admiral Kuzan!"
At that moment, Momonga, who was standing in the row behind Admirals Sakazuki and Borsalino, decisively turned around and took a step forward, speaking with a serious expression.
"You've returned just in time. Fleet Admiral Sengoku is currently unwell, so Vice Admiral Orion is temporarily acting as the Fleet Admiral!"
"Is that so..." Kuzan looked back at the high platform, his lazy demeanor tinged with a hint of confusion.
"But why Vice Admiral Orion? If Fleet Admiral Sengoku is unwell, the position of marshal should naturally fall to one of the three admirals. As a vice admiral, wouldn't it be difficult for Orion to command respect?"
As he spoke, Kuzan figure flashed, and he appeared in Marineford Plaza. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he slowly ascended the steps and stood before Sakazuki and Borsalino, looking up at Orion on the high platform.
"I smell blood in the air. Am I to understand that Fleet Admiral Sengoku isn't unwell, but rather… you've staged a coup?"
Orion smiled and nodded.
"Your understanding is correct. As you can see, I stand here not by Sengoku appointment, but because the entire Marine Headquarters, except for you, has pledged their loyalty to me!"
After a brief pause, Orion turned his head toward Hound.
Hound quickly stepped forward and handed Kuzan a document signed by Sengoku.
Kuzan took the document and glanced at it, then looked up and asked.
"May I see Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
"Of course~" Orion nodded. "He's in the conference hall with Teacher Zephyr."
Hearing this, Kuzan turned and walked away without hesitation.
At that moment, two figures swiftly approached. It was Ain and Binz, who had rushed over from the headquarters building.
As soon as they arrived at the base of the high platform, Ain and Binz immediately straightened their posture, raised their hands in salute, and shouted in unison.
"Fleet Admiral Orion—"
"Ain reporting for duty!"
"Binz reporting for duty!"
Kuzan, who had just turned around was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Ain and Binz.
As a fellow student of Zephyr, he was no stranger to them.
In fact, he knew that both of them were survivors of the attack on the training ship three years ago.
The incident of the training ship attack had always weighed heavily on Kuzan mind.
Every time he went on leave, he would search for the perpetrators of that attack. He knew all too well how deeply it had affected Teacher Zephyr. If they couldn't bring the culprits to justice, Zephyr disappointment with the Marines would only grow and he might even sever ties with them.
However, despite searching across the four seas and venturing into the New World multiple times, Kuzan had never found the perpetrators of the attack three years ago.
But none of that mattered now.
What mattered was that the appearance of Ain and Binz at this moment was enough to prove that Orion coup to become the new marshal of the Marines not only had Zephyr support but might even have involved him directly.
This meant that, whether Kuzan accepted it or not, the situation had already been decided.
At this thought, Kuzan secretly exhaled a cold breath, then subtly glanced back at Sakazuki and Borsalino.
From their reactions, he didn't detect any dissatisfaction with Orion coup, especially from Sakazuki, who seemed like a completely different person, his eyes unusually resolute, clearly acknowledging Orion ascension to the position of Fleet Admiral.
As for Borsalino, though he appeared nonchalant, there were no signs of dissent either.
Taking in the reactions of the two Admirals, Kuzan didn't linger and quickly made his way toward the headquarters building.
Orion didn't pay attention to Kuzan departure.
After Ain and Binz returned to their positions, he took a deep breath and swiftly scanned the crowd before speaking in a calm yet deliberate tone.
"I know that among the tens of thousands present here tonight, many still find it hard to come to terms with what has happened! Because in tonight's operation, many Vice Admirals, including Onigumo, Doberman, and Maynard, as well as officers and soldiers of lower ranks, lost their lives!"
"Many of you here were subordinates of these officers. If you do not recognize my temporary authority as Fleet Admiral, you may bravely step forward and I will arrange for a ship to take you away!"
"Of course, you may also choose to stay and pledge your loyalty to me."
After a brief pause, Orion raised his voice slightly.
"Now, I will give you one minute to make your decision."
As Orion words fell, Marineford Square once again fell into dead silence.
As Orion had said, many of the officers and soldiers present were subordinates of the fallen Vice Admirals like Onigumo and Doberman.
When they saw the bodies of their superiors, their first instinct was to rise up to fight the rebellion.
However, Marineford was largely under the control of the 'rebels,' forcing them to bury their anger deep within and plan to escape Marineford to seek revenge later.
But when they saw that both Sakazuki and Borsalino had chosen to pledge their loyalty to Orion, the fire of their anger was instantly extinguished. Most importantly, they didn't expect Orion to offer to send them away on a ship.
They didn't doubt Orion words, because although they had never interacted with him due to their superiors' disagreements with him over the years, they had learned from their colleagues that Orion not only fulfilled requests but also kept his word.
After a brief silence, several officers suddenly stepped forward from the ranks, standing straight and saluting Orion in unison.
"LOYALTY!"
As these officers stepped forward, the soldiers behind them also raised their hands in salute, shouting in unison a resounding cry that echoed across the sky.
"LOYALTY!"
"LOYALTY!"
For a moment, the word "loyalty" rose and fell in waves across the ranks, with not a single person choosing to step forward and leave.
Of course, this was only natural.
Even the Admirals had chosen to pledge their loyalty—what could those of lower rank possibly fight for?
Watching the figures continuously stepping forward to offer their loyalty, Orion narrowed his eyes slightly. The highest level of Observation Haki, enhanced by his system quietly activated.
In the blink of an eye, his Observation Haki silently enveloped all of Marineford and the innermost thoughts of everyone present were laid bare, unable to escape its scrutiny.
After using Observation Haki to listen to the thoughts of everyone, especially those who had pledged their loyalty at that moment, a faint smile gradually appeared on Orion face.
He then raised his hand, signaling the soldiers and officers who had offered their loyalty to step forward. Although a very few individuals had not fully committed their loyalty, their concerns were merely about potential retribution from Orion in the future, with no ulterior motives.
Orion didn't dwell on this and spoke calmly.
"You have made the wisest choice of your lives. Of course, I will not keep this glory to myself!"
After a brief pause, Orion once again unleashed his Observation Haki.
This time, however, he wasn't using it to listen to the thoughts of those present but to deliver a brainwashing speech through the power of Observation Haki!
Having elevated his Observation Haki to its highest level through the system, it not only granted him the ability to foresee parts of the future but also allowed him to convey his consciousness to others, influencing their minds and thoughts and even altering their values and ideologies—a rare and formidable ability.
After a moment of silence, Orion took a bold step forward, his voice rising.
"EVERYONE, THE FUTURE OF THE NAVY IS HERE."
"I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ERADICATING THE CORRUPT PRACTICES OF THE OLD ERA AND BUILDING A NEW WORLD OF HARMONY, FREEDOM, AND EQUALITY IS OUR GREAT MISSION IN THIS AGE."
"THE ERA WHERE THE CELESTIAL DRAGONS ENJOYING ALL PRIVILEGES MUST END, AND THE EVIL PIRATES ON THE SEAS MUST BE PURGED—"
"FOR JUSTICE!"