Among the Three Great Admirals of the Navy, Akainu's oppressive presence is the most terrifying in daily life.
This point is beyond dispute.
Because this majesty not only stems from his strength and position, but also from his stern demeanor and his approach to action, which is harsh to the point of cruelty.
In the Headquarters, he has always been the one who can hold the fort!
But today is different from the past.
What lies before them is the most fundamental question of principle for many!
It's something that must be probed to the root no matter what!
Therefore, although Akainu's stern rebuke caused a momentary silence in the conference room,
but it was only for that moment.
"Mr. Sakazuki!"
A Vice Admiral, who usually revered Akainu, instinctively shrank his neck, but quickly reacted, his face flushed as he roared:
"I have always respected you, but please distinguish between what is important now; this is not the time to talk about military discipline or following orders! Do we care about that? Do we care about that!!!"
"If we can't even achieve the basic bottom line of protecting civilians, then what is the point of justice? What is the meaning of wearing this uniform?!"
Akainu looked over with a grim face, just about to reprimand, when more voices erupted from all directions:
"That's right! We joined the Navy to safeguard justice, not to be the hounds for the Heavenly Celestial Dragons! And certainly not to help them slaughter the innocent!"
"Marshal! You and Teacher Zephyr once taught us that justice must not be tarnished, and taught us to protect civilians, drive off pirates, even at the cost of our lives!"
"But now, please look into our eyes and answer, do these things really exist, and what role does the Navy play in them?!"
"This is outrageous!"
Akainu, exuding Evil Qi, stepped forward.
"Enough."
Just as a conflict was about to erupt, Sengoku's tired and weak voice suddenly arose.
He struggled to stand up, seemingly aging ten years in an instant. He looked at the young Major General, swept his gaze over the room, and finally let out a long sigh:
"This issue... it indeed exists."
The conference room immediately buzzed with astonishment!
Though they already had a faint inkling, hearing it come from Sengoku's own mouth was an entirely different feeling.
"The information you all got from the newspapers is basically correct, the Heavenly Celestial Dragon's hunting game, held every three years, is a tradition that has continued for hundreds of years under the World Government."
Sengoku painfully closed his eyes:
"Every three years, a non-affiliated nation is chosen, with the CP Department handling the early preparations, the Navy responsible for outer perimeter security, carrying out clearance, and silencing the news to ensure no leak."
"To date, even the most conservative estimates suggest at least a hundred nations have been wiped out because of this."
A hundred nations, annihilated because of this!
Sengoku spoke casually, but the weight of his words sent everyone's scalp tingling and bodies shivering!
Just one North Sea Lubunier Kingdom had over 300,000 people, so how many civilians, how many elderly and children, died under the Heavenly Celestial Dragon's butcher knife, defended by the Navy!
"What a mess!"
A Major General staggered back two steps, grasping his hair unable to accept it, shouting in deep grief, "It's actually true! It's true!"
Just a while ago, just half an hour ago, he hated the barbarity of the Endgame and was worried for the downfall of the big figures in the World Government.
And now?
What does this make him? What has happened to the justice he steadfastly defended?
How is he any different from a clown!
"Why, just why!"
Vice Admiral Yamakaji glared intently into Sengoku's eyes, pressing forward step by step:
"Marshal, why agree to such things! You are one of the people I admire the most, even if previous Admirals made mistakes, there should have been changes in your term, right! Why is there still the Lubunier massacre this time?!"
"Because these are orders!"
Sengoku finally opened his eyes, in a stern voice:
"Because we are the Navy! The Navy under the World Government! Because if we don't follow orders, more people will suffer! Then someone else will take over to continue with the task! This is how the world operates, don't you understand yet?"
"Passion is good, but reality must be recognized, the Navy is merely the sword of the World Government, and a sword does not need to think for itself!"
These words almost exhausted Sengoku's energy.
Speaking to this point, his voice was already completely hoarse, as if all vigor was drained from him, as he slumped back into his chair, covering his face in his hands.
Dead silence filled the conference room.
A pin drop could be heard.
A moment later.
"I understand now."
Vice Admiral Yamakaji lit up a cigar, taking a forceful drag before slowly removing his epaulettes.
Then he took off his hat and the Cloak of Justice from his back, placing them on the table, smiling broadly at Sengoku: "Since this is the case, this sword, I'm not going to be it anymore."
"Me too."
"Count me in!"
"Count me one as well!"
More and more officers and soldiers angrily tore off the items representing their Navy identity, following Yamakaji's back and turning towards the door.
"Outrageous!"
Akainu was beside himself with rage, his left arm suddenly turned into magma, "Stop right there! What do you plan to do, become deserters?"
"Let them go, Sakazuki."
Sengoku stopped Akainu, shaking his head with a bitter smile, "I didn't do a good job as Marshal, don't blame them. If there's blame, it's all on this old man..."
At this moment.
The always silent Aokiji finally raised his head, speaking expressionlessly:
"Mr. Sengoku, I have a question."
He raised his head, his emotionless gaze staring straight at Sengoku:
"Since you knew this was wrong, why did you continue to carry out these orders?"
"Everyone knows what kind of existence the Heavenly Celestial Dragons are, those disgraceful actions on ordinary occasions might be tolerable, but can even this nation-ending game be tolerated?"
"With the combined strength and prestige of you, Mr. Garp, and us Three Great Admirals, if we unite in resistance, even the Five Elders would have to seriously consider capitulation, right?"
"Or is it that you never intended to do so?"
Sengoku was taken aback.
He looked into Aokiji's eyes, his lips trembled a few times, eventually turning into a long sigh:
"Kuzan, you are still too young..."
"Not all matters can be resolved with force."
"Some rules, once broken, would only lead to greater disasters."
Aokiji lowered his head, immersed in silence again for a long while before suddenly standing up, showing a smile:
"I understand."
"Kuzan." Sengoku, with slight relief, barely gained some spirit, the one among the Three Great Admirals to whom he hadn't dared disclose the entire truth before, could he finally understand?
In the next moment.
He watched in astonishment as Aokiji also removed his epaulettes, unfastened the Cloak of Justice, and placed it on the tatami with a bow.
"Then, I will no longer be this sword."
How could this be!
"Kuzan!"
Sengoku was like struck by lightning, standing abruptly, fixating on Aokiji's actions, his voice nearly trembling out:
"Do you... do you know what you're doing!"
Aokiji didn't respond immediately but instead carefully folded the Cloak of Justice, extending his hand to gently smooth out all the creases.
Only then did he calmly raise his head:
"Of course, I do, Mr. Sengoku, you're right, a sword shouldn't think, but unfortunately, I am a living person, a living person... must have a bottom line."
"Old me..."
Sengoku's face turned red, his chest heaving violently, yet unable to refute at the moment.
"Hey! Kuzan!"
And beside him, Akainu, full of pent-up rage, finally found a suitable target, his face grim, his magma-transformed fist suddenly smashing towards Aokiji:
"Bastard! It's one thing for those people to leave, but you, this guy, are a Navy Grand Admiral! The Navy's ultimate force and model! Did you think the Navy Headquarters is a place you can just leave casually?!"
Aokiji didn't turn his head, but suddenly frost rapidly spread over his eyebrows.
Boom!
In the next moment, dozens of icy spikes sprouted from the ground beneath him like bamboo shoots after rain, clashing with the magma.
A vast amount of steam explosively erupted, the surrounding circle of tatami instantly half turned to magma, half turned to glaciers.