One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 305: Massive Defection from the Navy!
Of the three admirals of the Navy, Akainu is the most terrifying in terms of his usual oppressive aura.

There is no doubt about this.

This authority stems not only from his strength and status, but also from his unsmiling personality and his strict, almost cruel, way of doing things.

At headquarters, he's always been the one who can keep things in check!

But these days are different.

What many people are facing is a fundamental question of principle!
It is something that must be thoroughly investigated no matter what!
Therefore, Akainu's stern rebuke brought a brief moment of silence to the meeting room.

But it was only for a fleeting moment.

"Mr. Sakazuki!"

A vice admiral who usually held Akainu in high esteem first instinctively shrank back, but then quickly recovered, his face flushed red as he roared:
"I've always respected you, but please distinguish between what's important and what's not. This isn't the time to talk about military discipline or obeying orders! Is that what we care about? Is that what we care about?!"

"If we can't even uphold the most basic principle of protecting civilians, what right do we have to talk about justice? What's the point of wearing this uniform?!"

Akainu looked over with a grim face, about to reprimand, when more voices erupted from all directions:
"That's right! We joined the Navy to uphold justice, not to be the Celestial Dragons' hunting dogs! And certainly not to help them indiscriminately kill innocent people!"

"Marshal! You and Teacher Zephyr both taught us that justice cannot be tainted, and that we should be willing to give our lives to protect civilians and repel pirates!"

"But now, please look us in the eye and answer: did these things actually happen, and what role did the Navy play in all of this?!"

"presumptuous!"

Akainu, his aura menacing, took a step forward.

"enough."

Just as a conflict was about to erupt, Sengoku's tired and weak voice suddenly rang out.

He struggled to his feet, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He looked at the young major general, then surveyed the entire room, and finally let out a long sigh:

"This matter...is indeed true."

The meeting room erupted in an uproar!
Although I already had a vague idea in my heart, hearing Sengoku say it in person was a completely different feeling.

"The information you all received from the newspapers is basically accurate. The Celestial Dragons hunting game is held every three years and is a tradition that the World Government has continued for hundreds of years."

Sengoku closed his eyes in anguish:
“Every three years, a non-member country will be selected, with the CP department responsible for the preliminary preparations, the navy responsible for perimeter security, clearing the area, and blocking information to ensure that no word gets out.”

"By now, even by the most conservative estimate, at least a hundred countries have become extinct as a result."

Hundreds of countries were wiped out as a result!

The words spoken by Zhan Guo were simple and understated, but their weight sent chills down everyone's spines and made them feel cold all over!

The Kingdom of Lubniz in the North Sea alone had more than 300,000 people. What about all these hundreds of countries combined?

How many civilians, how many elderly people and children, have died under the swords of the Celestial Dragons that the Navy is supposed to protect!

"What are you doing!"

A major general staggered back two steps, clutching his hair in disbelief, and cried out in grief and indignation, "It's really true! It's really true!"

Just a moment ago, half an hour ago, he was still filled with hatred for the atrocities committed by the Fallen Ones and was still worried about the fall of a great figure in the World Government.

The results of it?
What am I to them? What has become of the justice I once upheld?
What's the difference between him and the Joker?
"Why, why!"

Fire Mountain General stared intently into Sengoku's eyes, pressing him for answers step by step:

"Marshal, why did you agree to this? You are one of the people I admire most. Even if previous naval marshals made mistakes, shouldn't things have changed under your command? Why did the Rubnière Massacre happen again?!"

"Because it's an order!"

The Warring States period finally opened its eyes and said sternly:
"Because we are the Navy! The Navy under the World Government! Because if we don't carry out orders, more people will suffer! Then someone else will take over! That's how the world works, don't you understand?"

"Passion is a good thing, but we must also be realistic. The Navy is merely a sword in the hands of the World Government, and a sword does not need to have its own thoughts!"

These words almost exhausted the strength of the Warring States period.

By the time he finished speaking, his voice was completely hoarse, and he seemed to have lost all his energy. He slumped back into his chair and covered his face with his hands.

There was dead silence in the conference room.

You can hear the needle drop.

After a while.

"I understand."

Fire Mountain General lit a cigar, took a deep drag, and slowly removed his epaulets. He then took off his military cap and the Justice Cloak from behind him, placed them on the table, and grinned at Sengoku: "In that case, I'm not going to take this sword anymore."

"Me too."

"me too!"

"Count me in!"

More and more officers and soldiers angrily tore off their naval identification badges and followed Huo Shaoshan's retreating figure, turning towards the gate.

"presumptuous!"

Enraged, Akainu's left arm suddenly transformed into a molten lava-like mass. "Stop right there! What are you doing? Are you deserting?!"

"Let them be, Sakazuki."

Sengoku stopped Akainu, shaking his head with a wry smile, "It's my fault for not being a good marshal. Don't blame them. If anyone's to blame, blame me..."

at this time.

Aokiji, who had been silent all along, finally raised his head and spoke expressionlessly:
"Mr. Zhan Guo, I have a question."

He raised his head, his gaze, devoid of joy or sorrow, fixed directly on the Warring States period:

"Since you know it's wrong, why do you keep executing this command?"

"Everyone knows what kind of people the Celestial Dragons are. We can tolerate their usual ugly behavior, but can we tolerate a game that destroys a country?"

"With your and Mr. Garp's strength and prestige, plus the three of us admirals, if we were to unite in rebellion, even the Five Elders would have to seriously consider compromising, right?"

"Or are you saying you never intended to do that at all?"

The Warring States period was stunned.

He gazed into Aokiji's eyes, his lips trembled a few times, and finally he let out a long sigh:
"Kuzan, you're still too young..."

"Not everything can be solved with force."

"Some rules, once broken, will only bring greater disasters."

Aokiji lowered his head and fell silent again. After a long while, he suddenly stood up and smiled.

"I understand."

"Kuzan." Sengoku looked relieved, barely managing to muster some energy. Of the three generals, this kid, the only one he hadn't dared to reveal the whole truth to before, could finally understand him?
The next moment.

He watched as Aokiji removed his epaulettes, untied his Justice Cloak, and bent down to place it on the tatami mat.

"Then, I won't take this sword anymore."

how so!
"Kuzan!"

Sengoku was struck dumb, abruptly rising to his feet, staring intently at Aokiji's movements, his voice almost trembling as he forced out the words:

"Do you...do you know what you're doing?!"

Aokiji did not answer immediately. Instead, he carefully folded the Justice Cloak and then reached out to gently smooth out all the wrinkles.

Only then did he calmly raise his head:

"Of course I know, Mr. Zhan Guo, you are right, a sword should not have thoughts, but unfortunately, I am a living person, and a living person... must have some bottom line."

"I..."

Sengoku's face turned red, and his chest heaved violently, but he was unable to refute it for a moment.

"Hey! Kuzan!"

Meanwhile, Akainu, who was seething with anger, finally found a suitable target. With a grim face, he slammed his magma-like fist down at Aokiji.

"Damn it! It's one thing for those guys to leave, but you, a Marine Admiral! The Navy's highest fighting force and role model! Do you think Marine Headquarters is some place you can just walk away from?!"

Aokiji did not turn his head, but frost suddenly spread rapidly across his eyebrows.

boom!
In the next instant, dozens of icy spikes sprouted from beneath his feet like bamboo shoots after a rain, colliding with the lava.

A large amount of water vapor suddenly exploded, and the surrounding tatami mats instantly turned half into lava and half into glaciers.

(End of this chapter)