On the reviewing stand, Luo Chen's gaze swept across the army of ten thousand, a faint smile on his face as he spoke:
"At this very moment, the people of the world are watching this live broadcast."
"Allow me to first introduce myself."
Following the speech drafted by Nico Robin, he briefly explained his identity.
This was for the benefit of those who had never heard of Luo Chen before, or who did not know much about him.
After a few short sentences, Luo Chen's expression slowly turned grim as he began the main topic of the day.
"You are not unfamiliar with my experiences."
"From a bottom-tier Marine in the East Blue to the Pirate Emperor I am today."
"Every step I took can be said to have been forced by the Marines and the World Government."
"The World Government, with the Celestial Dragons at its core, and its related organizations, have persecuted the people of the world for eight hundred years."
"Just on my journey alone, I witnessed with my own eyes over five hundred innocent villagers of Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue being slaughtered!"
"I saw Alabasta, a great nation on the Grand Line, where countless corpses were buried in the yellow sands due to civil unrest and drought... and the culprit was a Warlord of the Sea sanctioned by the World Government."
"On Star Island and the Sabaody Archipelago, wherever Celestial Dragons pass, people have their wives and daughters stolen, or are killed innocently."
"This kind of chaos is not unique to one country or one island; it spans the entire sea and brings disaster to people all over the world."
"Whether my words are true or false, you who are watching this live broadcast can judge for yourselves."
Luo Chen paused slightly, seemingly giving the masses watching the broadcast around the world time to react.
He waited a moment before continuing, "Someone once said, with great power comes great responsibility."
"Anyone with a conscience, seeing the suffering endured by the common people of the world, would surely empathize and feel compassion."
"Therefore, I have decided to establish an army named Jinghai."
"Jinghai means stability, to pacify the turmoil of the sea."
"The goal of this army is to destroy the three sources of chaos: the World Government, the Celestial Dragons, and the pirates."
"The Jinghai Army will purge the turmoil and return a peaceful and prosperous age to the common people of the world."
"Those who share this ambition may come to Totto Land and join us."
...
After Luo Chen finished speaking, the people in front of the live broadcasts on various islands around the world were completely sent into an uproar.
They stood up in shock, discussing animatedly, unable to control their volume.
"Jinghai Army?!"
"Purge the World Government, the Celestial Dragons, and the pirates?"
"My god, is Luo Chen crazy? He is declaring war on the whole world!"
"..."
Some questioned the truthfulness of Luo Chen's words, some questioned the authenticity of the broadcast footage, and even more questioned the health of their own ears.
These remarks were too astonishing!
The most powerful forces and groups in the world were the Celestial Dragons, the World Government, and the pirates.
Threatening to destroy all three meant that the top powerhouses of the entire world were his enemies.
Some undercover World Government agents who had been planted in the crowds beforehand took the opportunity to guide public opinion.
"Don't listen to Luo Chen's bewitchment!"
"He is a Pirate Emperor, the Fifth Emperor, yet he wants to purge pirates? Not even a dog would believe that!"
"I think the establishment of this so-called Jinghai Army is just to trick strong people into joining and expanding the power of his own pirate crew."
"Luo Chen simply doesn't dare to make an enemy of the World Government!"
"Exactly! The World Government has ruled for eight hundred years. Does Luo Chen think he can destroy it just by moving his lips?!"
"Anyone who believes Luo Chen has water in their brain and is a fool!"
"..."
From the New World to the Grand Line, and then to the Four Blues.
Basically, as long as it was a prosperous island, there were World Government agents in the crowd inciting public opinion.
For a time, many people wavered internally.
But there were also clear-headed viewers who immediately spoke up to refute:
"Why can't Luo Chen destroy them? Do you not recognize the people standing behind Luo Chen?
Marine Admirals Kizaru and Aokiji.
Marine Fleet Admiral Akainu.
And the Marine Hero, Monkey D. Garp.
Why would these powerhouses stand behind Luo Chen? They must have been incorporated!"
The titles of Marine Admiral, Fleet Admiral, and Hero Garp were widely known.
Currently, they did not understand why Marine powerhouses would stand beside Luo Chen.
Perhaps Akainu and the others had defected.
These top powerhouses certainly knew more information than the public, and thus made a rational choice.
In other words, defecting to Luo Chen might have better prospects than staying with the Marines and the World Government.
Thinking even more radically, the current Marines might not necessarily represent justice anymore.
The Marine Admirals, Fleet Admiral, and Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp very likely switched to Luo Chen's command after becoming disappointed with the Marines.
After all, the scandal created by the previous Fleet Admiral Sengoku was known to the whole world.
The status of justice that the Marines held in the hearts of the world's people had already been shaken.
So far, the crowd watching the live broadcast could be said to be divided into three factions.
One faction did not trust Luo Chen, including those World Government agents and those who had been bewitched.
One faction believed in Luo Chen and waited for what followed.
The last faction was neutral, continuing to watch the development of the situation.
...
Totto Land, Sea-Suppressing Star Hub.
Luo Chen did not let the audience wait too long and began to introduce the power of the Jinghai Army.
He knew that to attract more strong people and to make people believe, he had to display his "muscles."
Moreover, by displaying power, he could also make some enemies voluntarily give up resistance.
Subduing the enemy's troops without fighting.
Creating too much slaughter was not a good thing.
Within the Marines, the pirates, and even the World Government, there were innocent people.
They might have unintentionally become the "butcher's knife" in the hands of murderers due to their stance or incomplete information.
Trying not to harm innocent people had always been Luo Chen's principle.
His gaze swept over the six people behind him, and he spoke slowly:
"The Jinghai Army has the confidence, and the strength, to clear away all turmoil."
"Aside from myself, the Jinghai Army Fleet Admiral, there are nine Admiral positions established."
"Every Admiral is a rare powerhouse in the world, with the strength to suppress a region of the sea."
"You should have already recognized many of them."
"Former Marine Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki, also known to you as the former Marine Admiral Akainu."
"Former Marine Admirals, Aokiji and Kizaru."
"Former Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp."
"These four were originally Marine generals. Not long ago, they recognized the evil face of the World Government, so they defected to the Jinghai Army to continue protecting the justice in their hearts."
"From now on, they no longer fight for the Celestial Dragons, the World Government, or any World Noble."
"Instead, they fight for you in front of the screens, to protect the billions of common people in the world!"
Luo Chen's last sentence made the hearts of Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji tremble.
To fight to protect the common people of the world.
This was their original intention for joining the Marines decades ago.
At first, they indeed did so, punishing evil and promoting good, beheading pirates, and protecting civilians.
Later, as their strength grew and their positions rose, they began to come into contact with the World Government, the Five Elders, and the Celestial Dragons.
Their actions were gradually restricted.
They could no longer protect civilians according to their own will as before.
Many times, they even helped the Celestial Dragons persecute civilians.
Sometimes, due to the orders of the World Government, they had to slaughter civilians and hurt friends.
The three of them also had moments of confusion, doubt, and self-blame in their hearts.
They thought about quitting the Marines, but where could they go?
Become a pirate? Join the Revolutionary Army?
Neither was what they pursued.
As for living the life of a recluse, the World Government would not let them go.
Having been cultivated by the Marines all the way to become Admirals, they had long been unable to leave.
The three ultimately chose different ways to continue serving as Marine Admirals.
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