XX-level Hokage

These are not ordinary prisoners, but the backbone of the Navy—Admiral Akainu Sakazuki and Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon.

These two will play a crucial role in Mashiro's future plans. Mashiro took light and silent steps and slowly walked towards the cell where Akainu was imprisoned.

She was dressed in a black dress, the dark hem swaying gently with her steps, her eyes flashing with a cold and calm light. Mashiro first went to the cell where Akainu was being held.

Sakazuki... She stood outside the cell and softly uttered Akainu's name, her voice as cold and piercing as an ice blade cutting through the air.

Akainu was firmly chained to the wall, his body covered in battle scars, yet his face remained as fierce and unyielding as ever. He opened his eyes, his gaze piercing Mashiro like a knife.

"Mashiro, you parasite of this world... how dare you imprison me!" Akainu growled, his voice filled with anger and resentment.

He had always upheld "absolute justice" and never imagined he would one day fall to such a state. "A parasite?" Mashiro chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned about Akainu's accusation.

She slowly approached, stood before him, and looked down at the admiral, saying, "You're a pathetic fellow, Sakazuki. So-called justice is nothing but a tool the World Government uses to control pawns like you."

Akainu's eyes burned with rage. Despite being imprisoned, his imposing manner remained undiminished. "I don't need you to lecture me! No matter how you try to justify yourself, justice is justice! Everything I've done is to maintain world order!"

"World order?" Mashiro's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Is your so-called order just about letting the Celestial Dragons be high above, arbitrarily enslaving and exploiting innocent people? Is your so-called justice just a tool for those corrupt rulers to maintain their rule? Have you never thought that the Celestial Dragons are the real cancer in this world? Ask yourself honestly, am I more like an insect than the Celestial Dragons?"

Akainu's expression changed slightly. He too had doubted the World Government's rule and questioned the Celestial Dragons' status.

Despite his dissatisfaction with the Celestial Dragons' actions, he firmly believed that maintaining the existing order was the Navy's duty.

"Enough nonsense! The Celestial Dragons are descendants of the Twenty Kings, and they play an important role in maintaining the stability of the world. No matter what you say, you cannot shake my belief!" Akainu struggled to break free of his restraints, but the metallic clanging of the chains sounded utterly powerless.

Mashiro's gaze darkened, and her voice became cold and resolute: "Your so-called important role is nothing but a deception. The Twenty Kings are just an unverifiable legend."

The Celestial Dragons, for their own benefit, are willing to plunge the world into endless war and suffering.

And you are merely a knife in their hands, used to cut off all forces of resistance.

At this point, a flash of red light shot out from Mashiro's eyes, followed by an invisible force that instantly surged into Akainu's mind, like a sharp...

The sharp needle pierced his consciousness.

Akainu suddenly felt a severe headache, as if his head was about to split open.

"What...what did you do to me!" Akainu growled through gritted teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes flashing with extreme pain and rage.

"This is just one of my abilities, allowing you to confront the truth you've been avoiding." Mashiro's voice was deep and penetrating. "I will implant the essence of the world into your consciousness, so you can see for yourself just how ridiculous the justice you've been upholding really is."

With Mashiro's "thought implantation," Akainu's vision began to blur, as if he had entered another world.

He saw countless battlefields and countless bodies lying in disarray, all the result of the wars he waged in the name of "justice".

Then, he saw the extravagant and brutal rule of the Celestial Dragons, who disregarded the lives and deaths of ordinary people and even treated humans as toys and slaves.

Something deep within Akainu began to waver, but he continued to resist, still trying to uphold the absolute justice he believed in.

"Don't try to shake my resolve," he said through gritted teeth, but his tone was no longer as firm as before. Mashiro gave a cold laugh, knowing that his implanted will was beginning to take effect.

She intensified her psychological erosion, gradually tearing apart his long-held beliefs and forcing him to confront the truths he didn't want to see.

"Sakazuki, you know in your heart that the justice you've always followed has been corrupted beyond recognition by the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. You're just a tool for them now. When you're no longer useful, they'll abandon you without hesitation. What you wanted to protect is long gone."

Akainu's eyes gradually became unfocused, and images flashed through his mind one after another, challenging his beliefs.

He witnessed the war he himself had started, saw the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, and saw the Celestial Dragons' brutal rule. He had never realized so clearly that his so-called "absolute justice" was nothing more than serving those corrupt rulers.

Mashiro's voice rang out once more, as if from the depths of his consciousness: "Now, you have a chance to redefine your justice. You can choose to follow me, break this corrupt world, overthrow the Celestial Dragons, and establish true order."

And I need someone like you to usher in a new era for me.

In this new era, you will be the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, a true commander representing justice.

Akainu's eyes gradually regained a sliver of clarity. Although he was still struggling deep inside, he could no longer completely deny Mashiro's words.

His worldview began to crumble, and Mashiro's plan was to lead him towards a new kind of "justice." In the end, Akainu remained silent for a moment, a flicker of wavering crossing his eyes.

Chapter 175: Brainwashing (Part 2)

Akainu remained silent for a long time under Mashiro's "psychic implantation".

His heart was filled with intense struggle; his once unbreakable beliefs were crumbling, just as Shinji had foreseen. The corruption of the World Government and the atrocities of the Celestial Dragons weighed heavily on his mind like a huge, heavy stone.

Despite his relentless pursuit of "absolute justice," Akainu realized in that instant that he had been serving the very powerful and wealthy people he despised. He gritted his teeth, his anger still burning, but no longer with the intensity of before.

"What exactly does this new era you speak of look like?" Akainu asked hoarsely, his voice low and no longer filled with hostility. Mashiro gave a meaningful smile, as if she had already anticipated Akainu's question.

She gently waved her long dress in her hand, as if she had the whole situation under control, and slowly said: "Sakazuki, the world I want to create will not only have so-called justice. Just as shadow cannot exist without light, the world cannot only have justice without evil. I will preserve the existence of pirates, but their identities and nature will be completely different from the current chaotic situation."

Akainu's gaze flickered slightly. The existence of pirates had always been one of the sources of his hatred, and it was precisely to eliminate them that he upheld absolute justice. "Preserve pirates?" he murmured, his voice tinged with doubt and incomprehension. "Your so-called justice allows those evils to exist?"

Mashiro nodded, her expression remaining calm. "Yes, pirates must exist, but not in the current chaotic state. The vast majority of pirates will be incorporated into a completely new system—the Pirate Alliance."

Pirate alliance? "The doubt in Akainu's eyes grew stronger."

"Yes, it will be managed by several powerful pirates, such as Kaido, who, although I have now defeated him, will still be one of the important forces. There are also other pirates with extraordinary strength, such as the Four Emperors and the Seven Warlords of the Sea, who will be under my command."

In this alliance, pirates will no longer be rampant villains, but rather adventurers who will continue to explore the seas and search for treasures, but will never be allowed to oppress the people at will.

Whether it's pirates or so-called justice, I will redefine them all.

Akainu remained silent for a moment, pondering Mashiro's idea. He had once wanted to completely eliminate pirates, but had never considered how to truly change this deeply entrenched system.

Mashiro's plan seems to offer a way out for pirates who are not entirely evil at heart, and this may be more practical than simply eliminating them.

Mashiro's eyes flashed with calm and decisiveness as she continued, "On the other hand, the Navy will also be transformed. After overthrowing the World Government, I will..."

A new ruling system will be established above all the lands in the world—the Maritime Lands.

At that time, the navy will become an integral part of the kingdom, responsible for ensuring its smooth operation.

The justice you uphold will continue, but no longer to serve the corrupt Celestial Dragons; it will be for true peace and order.

"The Ocean Kingdom?" Akainu repeated the phrase, vaguely sensing the immense change it implied. "How do you plan to establish this kingdom?"

Would all countries willingly join?

A confident smile appeared on Mashiro's lips. "I won't give them a choice."

After I defeat the Donquixote Family, Kaido, and other forces, the world will fall into a power vacuum.

The rulers of those major powers will have no choice but to submit to me, otherwise they will be powerless to resist the ensuing chaos.

At that time, I will inform all the kingdoms across the world and announce the establishment of the 'Ocean Kingdom.' This will be a completely new system that transcends national boundaries.

Akainu listened in silence. Although he still harbored a deep hatred for pirates, he had to admit that Mashiro's plan had, to some extent, solved a problem he had been unable to solve for a long time: how to maintain long-term order in this turbulent world.

Mashiro continued, "And in this kingdom, the Revolutionary Army will also become an important force. They have always been working to overthrow the corrupt rule, and now I will give them a legitimate identity. They will be responsible for dealing with evil on land, especially overseeing officials in various countries to ensure that there is no more corruption and oppression."

"So, you want the Revolutionary Army to control the land and the Navy to control the sea?" Akainu asked coldly.

“That’s right,” Mashiro nodded, “but most importantly, there will be no more nobles in this kingdom. The Celestial Dragons will be completely wiped out, and their rule will be ended forever.”

This world doesn't need those so-called nobles. Instead, it needs a unified society without class distinctions. I will do so with divine wisdom.

He ruled the entire kingdom in his name.

"The light of God?" Akainu frowned, filled with doubt and unease about this title.

Mashiro smiled slightly, "That's right, in the new era, I will become the sole ruler of the world."

Whether pirates, marines, or revolutionaries, they will all obey my orders. I will use absolute power and wisdom to ensure the stability and prosperity of this lord nation.

And you, Sakazuki, will become the Admiral of the Navy, the Admiral who truly represents justice.

Akainu's brow furrowed deeply. The justice he had always pursued seemed to have found a completely new definition in Mashiro's vision—a kind of justice that was neither...

Justice that is no longer solely dependent on the existing system, nor merely serving corrupt rulers.

However, this justice comes at the cost of Mashiro's absolute rule.

He had to admit that Mashiro's plan was extremely tempting, especially after years of experiencing the corrupt rule of the World Government. However, Mashiro's ambition and ruthlessness also made him feel a vague sense of threat.

"Your plan sounds...not bad." Akainu said in a low voice, his tone slightly wavering, "But I have one more question, sorcerer. You said you want to rule this kingdom in the name of the gods."

So, once you have all that power, who will supervise you?

Mashiro paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sakazuki, I don't need anyone to supervise me, because only I can truly understand this world."

The world's suffering, and leading it towards true peace, necessitates the concentration of power to prevent new chaos. As for oversight, I will let facts and results prove my decisions.

Akainu fell into deep thought.

He knew that excessive concentration of power could very likely lead to new corruption and dictatorship, but at this stage, he could not deny the feasibility of Masashiro's abilities and plans.

Finally, he raised his head and looked at Mashiro, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "If everything you've said is true, perhaps I can follow you, overthrow the World Government, and shatter this corrupt world."

Mashiro smiled with satisfaction; Akainu's compromise meant she was one step closer to her goal.

“Very well, Sakazuki,” she whispered, “we will witness the arrival of a new era together, and you will be the sword of justice for the new world.” Akainu remained silent, knowing that the road ahead would be filled with the baptism of blood and fire.

But regardless, he has decided to stand on Mashiro's side for now and wait for the world to be reborn.

However, Akainu does not completely trust Mashiro. If Mashiro later falls into the lust for power, he would not mind cooperating with the Revolutionary Army once to overthrow the "tyrant".

Chapter 176: Brainwashing (Part 2)

Meanwhile, in the streets of Dressrosa, the liberation movement was in full swing.

Standing on the high platform, Bello Betty's call to action grew stronger, and more and more citizens took up arms to launch a final reckoning against the Don Quixote family.

Lindbergh led the revolutionary army's technological forces to quickly restore order to the city.

Meanwhile, in the dark and damp depths of Dressrosa prison, Mashiro's figure, like a ghost, silently passed through a heavy iron door and headed towards the cell where the Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon was imprisoned.

At the end of the deep corridor, the dragon's cell door was tightly shut, covered with thick Seastone. This stone, with its unique properties, restricted the abilities of those with superpowers, and the dragon imprisoned within was also bound tightly by Seastone chains, making it difficult for him, even as a powerful being, to break free.

As footsteps echoed through the narrow corridor, Mashiro's mind began to plan her next move. After persuading Akainu, the next step was Dragon.

Upon arriving at the dragon's cell, the heavy iron gate made of sea stone was tightly shut. The guard at the door respectfully opened it. Mashiro walked in. The cell was dimly lit, and a damp, musty smell filled the air.

The dragon was tightly chained to the central stone pillar, its limbs firmly bound by sea stone chains, and even its head was forced to droop.

Even so, his aura was still undeniable, like a caged beast, only temporarily dormant, but ready to leap at any moment. Long Shuang kept his eyes slightly closed, and although he sensed Zhenbai's arrival, he showed no sign of closing them.

At this moment, he was filled with anger and disappointment. His partner, who had once fought alongside him and shared ideals, had betrayed him.

“Mashiro, you actually came here,” Ryu’s voice was low and cold, tinged with weariness. “Are you here to mock me, or to flaunt your achievements?” Mashiro smiled slightly, sat down on a stone bench not far from Ryu, and calmly said, “No, I’m not here to mock you. On the contrary, I’m here to tell you…”

Everything the Mingjun army has done over the years has been meaningless.

“You’re not qualified to discuss the Revolutionary Army,” Long Chao said sarcastically.

Mashiro chuckled lightly, as if she were facing a naive child, and said, "You overestimate the role of your Revolutionary Army, Dragon."

"What revolutionary army? Nothing but rats hiding in the shadows. What have you done all these years? You wave the banner of freedom and peace, yet you've never shaken the foundations of the World Government."