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

Chapter 306 The General Departs, Sengoku Falls into a Coma

snort~
The temperature inside the conference room instantly polarized.

The two tall figures facing each other served as the dividing line.

The officers on the left side were pale and shivering.

Meanwhile, the people on the right were drenched in sweat from the sweltering heat.

"Are you sure you want to make your move here, Sakazuki?"

Aokiji didn't turn around, his hands in his pockets, and said calmly:

"You should know very well that you can't stop me. The outcome will be the same except that the Marine Headquarters will be reduced to ruins."

Even if Akainu were at his peak, he was confident that he would not lose to his opponent in the slightest, let alone in his current state of serious injury and not yet recovered.
"I don't know!"

Akainu's face was grim, and his lava fist emitted a blinding red light:
"I only know one thing: there has never been a precedent of a naval admiral leading a defection! A traitor like you doesn't even need to be sent to Impel Down; you should be burned to ashes with lava!"

He took a step forward, and the air between them instantly began to distort violently.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Countless cracks appeared on the wall, spreading and proliferating wildly!

This extremely terrifying collision of energy fluctuations caused the entire fortress, shaped like a castle tower, to shake and tremble!

The officers who remained where they were were filled with dread.

Are these two generals really going to fight to the death here?
The last time Marineford was almost destroyed was when the Golden Lion came to visit. Is it going to happen again today because of internal disputes?
"Borsalino! What are you standing there for? Come with me and take this guy down!"

Akainu glanced to the side and demanded an answer in a stern voice.

"Ah...uh, this..."

Kizaru scratched his head, glanced at the bandages wrapped around his body, and looked troubled.
"I'm seriously injured right now. The doctor has repeatedly warned me that I can't do any strenuous exercise for a week, cough cough cough..."

As he spoke, he clenched his fist and covered his mouth, coughed exaggeratedly twice, and shrank back into his seat, looking like a listless old monkey.

"Asshole!"

Akainu's forehead veins bulged, and he was about to explode, but seeing that Sengoku was still standing there in a daze and showed no intention of stopping him, he...

He sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and his lava-like left arm churned violently, but he ultimately did not continue to attack.

Just as Aokiji said.

On my own, I was indeed powerless to stop the other party from leaving.

Seeing this, Aokiji said nothing more, put his hands in his pockets, and slowly walked towards the door, his leather shoes making a crisp clicking sound as they stepped on the icy floor.

Until Aokiji's figure was about to disappear outside the door.

Akainu's voice then rose again in a deep tone:
"Kuzan!"

Aokiji stopped in his tracks and turned his head slightly: "Hmm?"

Akainu opened his eyes, concealing the complex emotions within them, and said expressionlessly:

"You'd better just leave the Navy. After that, you can travel around the world or go to some rural area to live in seclusion, it's up to you."

"But if I find out that you dare to join any pirate faction, especially to join that Shano..."

"You'd better think this through, or you'll become the biggest enemy of the entire Navy! And even the World Government!"

Akainu snorted coldly, his killing intent palpable:
"If that really happens, then when we meet again, even if it costs me my life, I will personally kill you without mercy!"

"Is it?"

Aokiji chuckled softly upon hearing this, and waved his hand without turning his head:
"Don't worry, Sakazuki, I have absolutely no interest in being a pirate. However, your suggestion has given me a good idea. How about taking a round-the-world trip first?"

After years of hard work and exhaustion, my heart has become colder and more weary than my body.

Perhaps I really need some time to relax alone in a quiet, undisturbed environment.

As for what to do next...

Leave it to your future self.

Aokiji's figure completely disappeared outside the door.

The huge conference room was completely silent, except for Akainu who was still staring intently at the empty door and breathing heavily.

for a long time.

"."

Sengoku wiped his glasses, slowly raised his head, glanced around at the remaining high-ranking naval officers, and spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Is there anyone else... leaving?"

no respond.

There were quite a few people who stayed, but only a handful cast supportive and understanding glances at him; the majority of the rest kept their heads down and remained silent.

"very good."

Zhan Guo took a deep breath, forced himself to stand up, and looked as if he had aged more than ten years:
"Well then, that concludes today's meeting."

"Marshal! Marshal Sengoku!"

Just then, another adjutant, panicked, rushed in:

"I just received news that more than half of the medical staff at the main hospital have submitted their resignations!"

"And... at Marineford port, a large number of soldiers on warships mutinied, and more than 5,500 sailors have already left with their families..." "Also, also..."

The young adjutant glanced furtively at Sengoku's expression, swallowed hard, and said tremblingly:
"It seems a dispute has broken out at the headquarters training grounds as well. Someone saw a warship leave port without registration, and almost all of this year's elite recruits from headquarters boarded that ship. And the leader, the leader..."

"It is indeed the head instructor of this headquarters, Mr. Zephyr!"

"what?!"

Sengoku suddenly looked up, the last trace of color draining from his face. He practically lunged forward, grabbing his adjutant by the collar and roaring:
"What did you say! Say it again, who? Who left too?!"

The adjutant was so frightened that his face turned pale.

Before he could even stammer out a word, Sengoku dejectedly let go of his hand, swaying and staggering back a few steps.

If it weren't for Kizaru's quick reflexes, who flashed behind him and caught him, he would have almost fallen to the ground.

"Even you're leaving, Zephyr..."

Zhan Guo gripped the edge of the table, sat down, and stared blankly out the French windows, his lips trembling as he muttered to himself.

Yes.

Isn't this inevitable? I expected it all along; I've just been avoiding it and trying to convince myself otherwise.

What kind of wishful thinking are they harboring?

Even Kuzan has left.

How could that old buddy, who had suffered repeated setbacks and whose temper had become increasingly volatile and aggressive, not leave?

"Zefa".

Sengoku murmured the name again, as if through glass, he could see once more the spirited, purple-haired youth from decades ago—

at that time.

Of the four of them, Zephyr was the first to make a name for himself on the sea and was promoted to general early on.

Even now, from the Warring States period to the present, he still remembers the way Zephyr, with a toothpick in his mouth, hands on his hips, and a bright smile, showed him and Tsuru the brand-new Justice Cloak he had just acquired.

"Hey! That's not fair! Why did you get promoted before Sengoku?!"

"Idiot Garp, are you jealous? Haha, because I am the hero of justice, Z!"

"Don't worry, as a role model for you all, I will work even harder in the future, so that the name of Black Arm will shake the seas and bring complete peace to this turbulent era!"

"Pfft hahaha!!!"

In a daze, it seemed as if I could hear Zefa's hearty laughter again.

But looking closely, all that could be seen outside the window were the chaotic figures of people in Marineford harbor and warships gradually disappearing on the horizon in the distance.

"Marshal of the Warring States! Marshal of the Warring States!"

The adjutant's urgent call brought Sengoku back to reality: "Should we send out a fleet to intercept them immediately? We should still be able to catch up if we do..."

Chase?
Sengoku did not answer: If they were to pursue, would they still need a fleet?

He himself broke through the window and stepped onto the moon; it wouldn't be long before he caught up with the warship.

But how could he possibly face Zephyr?

From now on...

In the end, we'll become like strangers.

"Report! Emergency!"

Another communications soldier scrambled in, his face filled with terror:
"Marshal! We've just received news that large-scale mutinies have occurred in the East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, North Blue, and various branches along the Grand Line!"

"Some branches, and even the base commanders, are leading the defection, and the other branches are powerless to stop them! They are urgently requesting assistance from headquarters!"

"Furthermore, preliminary statistics show that over 30,000 marines across various branches have already announced their withdrawal from the navy! And this number is still increasing!"

How many?

The news has only been out for a short time, and already more than 30,000 people have mutinied?

Kizaru and Akainu's expressions changed simultaneously, and Kizaru noticed out of the corner of his eye that Sengoku's face looked very strange, as if his soul had been taken away, and he was almost devoid of any human presence.

next moment.

"marshal!"

Kizaru exclaimed in surprise, and saw Sengoku sway twice, spit out a mouthful of blood, and fall backward, unconscious.

The naval commander, who had been so dignified and imposing at the meeting just minutes before, finally succumbed to the successive blows and collapsed like a withered old tree.

"Marshal! What's wrong, Marshal!"

"Quick! Someone, get a stretcher!"

"Notify the military doctor immediately!"

The entire conference room was thrown into complete chaos amidst panicked shouts and cries.

(End of this chapter)