On Mary Geoise, countless soldiers raised their hands and dropped their weapons.
The war was over.
However, the corpses and blood scattered across the ground betrayed the brutality of the battle, which had raged for days.
Mio's lips curled upward, his eyes flickering as he waved his hand.
"Continue."
With that, Yasan grinned, stepped forward, and appeared beside another of the Four Elders. He attacked without hesitation. These elders were powerful, but already severely injured. How could they possibly be a match for Yasan, still at the peak of his powers? In a matter of moments, another member of the Four Elders fell at Yasan's hands.
Asuka and the others, their eyes flickering, attacked without hesitation.
Unlike Yasan, whose targets were the Four Elders, Asuka and the others targeted high-ranking officials within the World Government.
Vegapunk had already sent them a list of these officials.
This included all the key positions within the World Government, as well as those steadfastly loyal to it.
Their target was these very people.
Once they struck, they were merciless, slaughtering them instantly.
"Damn it! Why attack them even though they've surrendered? Why?" Seeing this, Sora roared, his eyes reddening.
"Why?" Mio chuckled softly, then stepped forward and appeared before Sora, looking down at him as he sat on the ground.
"Marshal Sora, you understand, don't you?"
"What are you trying to say?" Sora said gravely.
"Since I dare to attack the World Government, you must understand my ambitions. The World Government has collapsed, and I will not let it disintegrate. It's a very good organization, but from now on, I'm its master. That's why these people can't survive. They're diehard fans of the World Government, of Im and the Five Elders. I don't want any more trouble to break out in the future." Mio grinned faintly.
"Then you should kill me too," Sora said coldly.
"No," Mio shook his head and smiled faintly. "You're different from them. After all, you're from the Navy. Unlike those guys on Mary Geoise who are constantly brainwashed by the World Government, you have your own sense of justice and aren't completely loyal to the World Government. Therefore, you're much more useful than those guys."
"Haha." Hearing this, Sora couldn't help but sneer. "You're right. I'm well aware of your ambitions, so I understand why you killed those people. But that doesn't mean I'll continue to serve the World Government after it changes its owner. Kill me or imprison me. You only have two choices."
"That may not be the case," Mio said slowly, his expression calm. "Don't be so absolute. In fact, there's a third option: choose to serve me and ensure the Navy's stability."
"I need you to have all the high-ranking Navy officials present at a meeting with the World Government in two days. Don't worry, I won't take action against them, as long as they obey. However, if you refuse, the Black Crows will target Marine Headquarters. You should know that Marine Headquarters is currently locked in a war with Whitebeard, and win or lose will incur heavy losses."
"Of course," Mio said with a smile tinged with disdain. "Even if there are no losses, the Navy will still be no match for the Black Crows. If I attack the Navy, you should understand that the Navy may no longer be needed on the seas, or perhaps another force, created by me, will replace it."
"I leave this choice to you. Promise me that the Navy will continue to exist and fight for justice. Reject me, and the fate of the World Government will be the fate of the Navy."
Mio calmly looked at Sora, awaiting his response.
By then, Sora's face was gloomy.
Mio seemed to have been surprised by such decisiveness.
He didn't doubt the truth in Black Crow's words. After all, he knew Black Crow's decisiveness. Even though he hadn't fought against him much in the World Government, he had come to understand him. After all, he was one of the New World's emperors. It was because of this understanding that he knew Black Crow wasn't as indecisive as ordinary people. Once he decided to act, he would be ruthless and decisive.
Otherwise, an indecisive person wouldn't have the audacity to attack the World Government.
But asking him to serve pirates…
As the former Grand Admiral of the Navy, now the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government, he felt a sense of reluctance and unwillingness to give in.
But…
Thinking of the Navy, he couldn't bring himself to refuse Black Crow.
After all, he came from the Navy, once a Grand Admiral, and had given so much to the Navy. It was like a home to him.
He felt a sense of belonging and honor.
The World Government no longer existed, or perhaps it still existed, but it was no longer the World Government it once was. But the Navy… he had the choice to keep the Navy the same.
A moment of silence followed.
Sora looked up at Mio and spoke hoarsely.
"I understand. I promise you, but you should know that neither I, Sengoku, nor even Garp and the others will ever work for you. Furthermore, they're aware of the situation in Marijoa. Even if they were threatened, they wouldn't agree to work for you."
"I know. Don't worry, I won't attack them. But don't worry, since I asked you to summon them here, I have my own plans. You don't have to worry about anything else."
Mio sneered and took a step forward. His figure appeared in the distance, continuing to drink from his wine in big gulps. His Observation Haki enveloped the entire Marijoa.
He wouldn't let any fish slip through his net.
Everyone on Marijoa today, those who deserved to die, would die.
Those who weren't destined to die would die alone on Marijoa.
Nothing here would be known.
Thinking of this, Mio looked up at the sky, his voice cold.
"You should come down."
The voice trailed off.
A figure suddenly appeared in the sky, swiftly approaching, finally landing in front of Mio. He smiled, removed his hat, and bowed slightly.
"Respected Lord Black Crow, Morgans greets you. Hey!"
"Morgans, no need to waste time," Mio said calmly, dropping his hand. "I don't want to hear about what's happening here, understand?"
He had already noticed Morgans, but since he hadn't prepared to leave, he hadn't paid any attention. After all, he was in the middle of a battle.
If Morgans had tried to leave then, he would have struck him down in the sky without hesitation.
Now that the matter was resolved, he summoned Morgans.
As the King of News, Morgans' newspaper commanded a considerable readership, so Morgans was certainly useful to Mio.
Otherwise, after defeating Rocks, Mio would have killed Morgans immediately, rather than keeping him around until now.
"Yes, I know," Morgans nodded, grinning. "Don't worry, I won't spread a word of what's happening here. Furthermore, if you wish, you can immediately send someone to the World Economic Newspaper and take full control of it. I think that should be enough to reassure you and convince you of my words."
"Unless you wish, nothing here will appear anywhere in the world."
"Oh?"
Mio was startled, then looked at Morgans with interest, his lips curled up. "Tell me your purpose."
The World Economic Newspaper was Morgans's lifeblood, and he wouldn't have said anything without a purpose.
"The World Government has already been defeated by you, hasn't it? Then the ocean will inevitably undergo the greatest structural shift in history." Morgans bowed his head slightly. "I just want to find a way out for myself."
"A way out?"
Hearing this, Mio chuckled faintly, understanding Morgans's intention. But then, Mio's eyes turned cold.
"Even if you say so, I must control the World Economic Newspaper in your hands, as you just said. Besides, I will give you the way out you seek."
"If you need me, I will offer the World Economic Newspaper to you with both hands," Morgans said solemnly, without hesitation.
At this moment, hesitation would cause his mind to separate from his body.
He knew this all too well.
"Then, go and do something."
"Go ahead."
"The war between the Navy and Whitebeard will undoubtedly go awry, and I believe Whitebeard is already dead at Marine Headquarters," Mio said calmly.
Morgans' face flickered with surprise, then nodded gently.
"I just received the news a while ago. As you said, Whitebeard and Ace both died at Marine Headquarters. Both Whitebeard and the Navy suffered heavy losses in this battle. Even so, the Navy should have been completely victorious. But then Blackbeard appeared. He took advantage of Whitebeard's battle with the Navy, traveled to Impel Down, and recruited a group of its most vicious criminals as his allies. He even used unknown means to steal Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, becoming the first person in history to possess the power of two fruits."
"He also took advantage of the war to spread Blackbeard's fame around the world, and the Navy's prestige plummeted. Of course, Whitebeard died at Marine Headquarters, so no amount of hype would have made a difference."
"Then use your World Economic Newspaper to publish this. Here's what you're going to publish."
"Considering the Navy's heavy losses in the war with Whitebeard, the World Government will invest more in the Navy to strengthen it and prepare to eliminate pirates!"
As the voice fell, Mio's eyes gleamed with ambition.
Morgan's eyes gleamed, as if he understood Mio's thoughts. A hint of horror flashed in his eyes, and then he nodded gently.
"I will do it."