Sengoku's words made the already heavy atmosphere in the office even more oppressive. His sharp gaze swept over every general present as he spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, "Everyone, speak your minds. What are your thoughts on this?"
However, the only answer he received was a difficult, heavy silence. This decision was far too significant; speaking too quickly could mean bearing eternal infamy or completely ruining the future of the Marines.
In the middle of this suffocating quiet, a rapid, jarring sound suddenly cut through the air: "Blurub-blurub—blurub-blurub—". It was the ringing of a Den Den Mushi. Everyone's eyes instantly snapped toward the source of the noise—Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Tsuru calmly reached into her cloak and took out the small Den Den Mushi. When she saw the arrogant, black-haired image simulated on the snail's face, her pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. She looked up at Sengoku, silently seeking his permission with her eyes.
Sengoku took a deep breath and nodded with a solemn expression. He knew that what was meant to come could no longer be avoided.
Tsuru answered the call and pressed the speaker button, allowing a voice capable of influencing the entire universe to echo through the highest center of power at Marineford.
"Hey, old hag, how is it? Have you thought it over yet?" Takuro's distinctive voice, filled with a hint of laziness and impatience, came through the speaker. "Do you Marines want to join me or not? This is your last chance. Next time we meet, we'll be enemies."
It was blatant coercion with absolutely no room for maneuver.
Tsuru's heart tightened. She knew he was forcing their hand, but she remained calm, trying to buy them just a little more time. "Mr. Takuro, please give us a little more time to decide. This matter is of great importance, and we Marines are currently in the middle of—"
"Oh?" Takuro interrupted her directly, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "From what you're saying, all the Marine decision-makers are present right now, aren't they? That's perfect. It saves me the trouble of finding each one of you individually. Let's settle this now! If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm in a good mood, so I can answer them for you."
His casual tone made it sound like he was bargaining in a common market, which made many of the Marine generals furious. Yet, they were so intimidated they dared not speak out.
To everyone's surprise, the first person to speak up was Kizaru Borsalino, the man who was always hard to read.
"Yo~ It's been a long time, little brother Takuro~" Kizaru's unique, slow drawl filled the room.
"Hmm?" Takuro paused on the other end, then seemed to suddenly realize who it was. "It's you, Uncle Flash."
"Ugh... It seems little brother Takuro still hasn't managed to remember my name~" Kizaru pushed up his sunglasses, his tone carrying a hint of helpless amusement. "My name is Borsalino, you know~"
"That doesn't matter," Takuro said indifferently. "So, do you have any questions, Uncle Flash?"
Kizaru reined in some of his usual nonchalance, a white light glinting on his lenses. "Well, let's not talk about things too far off, little brother Takuro. I just want to ask you one thing. Even if you successfully gathered Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom, are you really sure you can defeat the World Government? They have ruled the universe for eight hundred years. Their foundation isn't that simple, you know~"
This question voiced the exact thoughts of almost every Marine general in the room. They all knew the hidden power of the World Government, the God's Knights, and the many unknown horrors they kept secret.
However, Takuro's answer was simple, crude, and carried an overwhelming confidence:
"So that's it. It seems you're doubting my strength. But unfortunately, I don't need to prove anything to you, nor do I care about your opinions."
His voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an undeniable resolve. "I only have one thing to say: surrender, or die. Choose one."
There were no explanations and no promises—only the most primitive, direct threat of power. Upon hearing this, Kizaru did not get angry or argue. Instead, he fell into a brief silence.
From Takuro's calm yet decisive tone, Kizaru heard a confidence that was by no means a bluff. It was a confidence that stemmed from absolute power. Kizaru mused to himself, Could it be... he has some trump card we can't even imagine? The scales in his heart began to tip slightly toward the pirate.
Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the figure who had been grim-faced and suppressing his anger—Akainu Sakazuki. As the representative of "Absolute Justice" within the Marines, his attitude was crucial.
Akainu didn't shy away. He took a deep drag from his cigar, thick smoke escaping between his teeth. His voice was low and full of pressure: "Takuro, your goal is to overthrow the World Government, isn't that right?"
"That's right," Takuro answered straightforwardly.
"Then what?" Akainu pressed, asking the core question. "After overthrowing them, what do you want to do? Do you want to become the new king ruling this universe?"
This was everyone's assumption: you overthrow the old king to establish a new one. That was how the cycle of history was supposed to work.
However, Takuro's answer made everyone in the office, including Sengoku and Tsuru, instantly stunned.
"No," Takuro's voice carried clear disdain. "Too much trouble."
"...What?!" Akainu almost thought he had misheard him. Not just him, but all the Marine generals showed absurd expressions.
He didn't want to be king? Then why go to all this trouble to overthrow the World Government? Was he just playing games?
"My main goal, from beginning to end, has only been one thing," Takuro said, seemingly feeling the need to explain so this group of "frogs" would understand. "I want to find the Dragon Ball, then become stronger, rush into the universe, and see a vaster sea of stars."
This reason once again shocked the Marines' worldview.
"And according to the information I have, the most crucial clues about the Dragon Ball are hidden in that blank 100 years of history, tightly guarded by the World Government," Takuro continued. "So, to make them obediently kneel and listen to me, and honestly hand over the Poneglyph and the whereabouts of the Dragon Ball, I just have to beat them down first. As for what happens after overthrowing the World Government?"
He paused, then said something that made all the Marines' hearts stop:
"I'll just be a nominal ruler. I'll just put my name on it to hold the fort. The rest—all those troublesome things like maintaining order, establishing a new government, and managing the planet... you Marines can handle all of that. I'm not interested in any of it."
Silence. Dead silence. The Den Den Mushi itself seemed to stop breathing.
Takuro's words were like a bolt of lightning, splitting open the mental shackles of the Marine generals!
All their previous concerns—the moral burden of cooperating with pirates, the possibility of Takuro becoming a new tyrant, the future of the universe—seemed to be replaced by an extremely absurd yet tempting possibility!
If Takuro was telling the truth, he only wanted a "nominal rule"—a symbol that could deter villains and prevent the universe from falling into chaos again!
And the true power to govern, the power to uphold justice, and the opportunity to build a new order would all fall into the hands of the Marines!
Without the Celestial Dragons' obstruction and without the corrupt interference of the World Government's high-ranking officials, they—the ones who truly understood the sea—would personally shape a new era!
At this moment, even Akainu's rock-solid heart of "Absolute Justice" was violently shaken. He detested pirates, but he yearned even more to eradicate all "evil" in the universe without interference. If he could obtain such a powerful symbol to deter enemies while gaining complete autonomy, it changed everything.
Inside the office, the sound of heavy breathing rose and fell. Almost all the Marine generals' eyes changed. What burned in them was no longer mere anger, but a light named "ambition".
Fleet Admiral Sengoku exchanged glances with Vice Admiral Tsuru. They both saw the same shock in each other's eyes, and a hint of an irrepressible re-evaluation of the future.
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Takuro seemed to imagine what the silence meant. He yawned lazily. "How is it? Have you thought it over? My patience is limited, you know."
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