It seems like…
it doesn't really matter even if I have to fight Sakazuki?
At least it's not making me kill Vergo, that innocent branch officer.
On the other side.
Akainu was indeed on the road hunting down Aokiji.
Because this matter was an order issued by the Five Elders of the World Government.
Akainu had originally wanted to bow his head and discuss with the Five Elders the responsibility for Akihara Kagura's attack on Saint Figarland Garling, believing that this incident itself shouldn't fall on Admiral Sengoku's shoulders, and still wanting to shoulder all the blame himself.
Because Marshal Sengoku himself had no idea about it.
Just as Saint Saturn was quite satisfied with Akainu lowering his head, yet still didn't want to let Akainu off the hook, both sides received newspapers from the World Economic News Agency, and saw in them the news that Aokiji had chosen to leave the Navy, which instantly made Saint Saturn explode in fury yet feel helpless.
Saint Saturn did not want Akainu to be promoted to Navy Admiral; with Kizaru refusing the promotion to Navy Admiral, he had thought there was still Aokiji as the final backup option…
And now…
Aokiji's betrayal was a harsh slap across Saint Saturn's face, especially Aokiji choosing to join the Konoha Pirates, which undoubtedly made Saint Saturn feel like he was sitting on pins and needles!
That bastard Aokiji…
His act of betraying the World Government was even more vile than Akainu's subordinates attacking a Heavenly Celestial Dragon!
People…
are only afraid of having no comparison.
Once there's a comparison, it lowers their psychological bottom line.
Akainu's subordinates attacking a Heavenly Celestial Dragon was just a bit of an internal problem; at least this guy didn't choose to betray the World Government. That bastard Aokiji directly defected to Konoha, the number one enemy of the Heavenly Celestial Dragons, blatantly putting up a stance of wanting to break with the World Government…
Saint Saturn simply decided to stage a dog-eat-dog show, directly ordering that guy Akainu to go kill the traitor Aokiji; as long as Akainu could kill Aokiji, then Akihara Kagura's attack on a Heavenly Celestial Dragon would be written off!
Mary Geoise.
Sengoku had already left.
Saint Saturn's expression was growing uglier and uglier.
This Five Elder was clutching a newspaper in a death grip, staring fixedly at Aokiji's photo printed on it, the murderous intent in his eyes as if he wanted to slice the man on the page into a thousand pieces!
"What do we do now?"
Saint Nusjuro's face didn't look too good either; he said in a low voice, "We've already agreed to let Sengoku resign as Navy Admiral. Borsalino refused the promotion, Kuzan betrayed us, Sakazuki is the one behaving obediently and compliant, but the matter of his subordinates attacking Saint Garling…"
"Stabilize the situation first."
Saint Saturn reached out and heavily slammed the newspaper on the table, saying in a deep voice, "We'll talk after we see the result of Akainu hunting down Aokiji. If this biting dog is still willing to listen, we don't mind tossing him another bone and letting him keep biting others for us…"
To be honest…
this was an insult!
A kind of helpless humiliation!
Neither Saint Saturn nor Saint Nusjuro believed Akainu could become the new Navy Admiral, yet right now it seemed they didn't have a better choice!
By comparison…
Akainu's willingness to bow his head showed he was still willing to stay loyal to the World Government.
Of course…
If possible, even in Saint Saturn's heart he somewhat regretted agreeing to Sengoku's resignation; even if they had received the news a few minutes later, he would certainly have been willing to sit down and talk it over with Sengoku properly.
"There have always been people in the Navy who are dissatisfied with us…"
"The Navy…"
"has long since stopped being of one mind with us. Whether it was Garp back then, or Akihara Kagura now, it's just that the Navy has been taking things further and further…"
Saint Nusjuro took a deep breath, ultimately having no choice but to accept reality: "Didn't we also think back then about promoting Garp to become a new Admiral? That old guy is even from the D Clan! The truth is we've long since been unable to do without the Navy, especially at a time like this—Konoha's threat is too great, and we need the Navy to deal with Konoha's threat as well…"
"What a pity…"
Saint Saturn regretfully shook his head. He slowly stood up, leaning on his cane as he walked to the window of the room, looking in another direction.
That direction…
was precisely the area where Imu resided.
If Imu were willing to act, they could settle the Konoha crisis; how would they have ended up being forced to accept such a result they didn't want…
"For now…"
"this is all we can do…"
"The Navy's combat strength truly is indispensable."
Saint Saturn leaned on his cane, speaking in a deep voice about his plan: "Summon Supreme Commander Steel Bone Kong here once. We'll discuss the Navy's situation with him. Sengoku's resignation and Aokiji's defection have opened up two positions at the top of the Navy…"
"The Admiral's post…"
"If Sakazuki can kill Aokiji, or if he is willing to risk his life to kill Aokiji for us, then we'll hand the Admiral's position to Sakazuki."
This was something done out of sheer necessity.
Because there was no suitable candidate left within the Navy.
The post of Navy Admiral can only be chosen from among the Admirals; it's impossible to promote directly from the Vice Admirals, and in any case the Admiral's combat strength can't be weaker than that of an Admiral, right?
"And the candidates for Admirals?"
Saint Nusjuro raised a new question.
"First, Fujitora, who appeared during the World Government's grand conscription. Although he's just a Paramecia-type·Press-Press Fruit ability user, during this period he's earned great merit in hunting down the Great Pirates who escaped from Impel Down, and deserves an Admiral's position…"
Saint Saturn immediately settled on one candidate for Admiral.
Even though there were quite a few so-called Admiral candidates within the Navy, they were all somewhat lacking in strength. They couldn't let the so-called highest fighting force of the World Government be lowered, could they?
"The second…"
Saint Saturn immediately fell into hesitation.
In fact…
the second candidate was the one most vexing.
Because everyone knew that with this shuffle caused by Aokiji's defection and Sengoku's resignation, there was one person who was bound to become a new Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.
If this person did not get promoted to Admiral, it would certainly spark a lot of discussion; yet having Saint Saturn say this person's name felt like making him swallow something greasy and nauseating. Before the news of Aokiji's defection came out, he had even wanted to kill that person!
"Akihara Kagura, I suppose…"
Saint Nusjuro simply helped his colleague say that name, and his attitude was also very clear: "Given the current situation, the Konoha Pirates' strength keeps growing, and no one knows what their next move will be. Before we regain the ability to deal with Konoha through Vegapunk, ensuring the Navy's combat strength is the most important…"
"In any case…"
"what we need is the Navy to go all out against Konoha…"
"That guy who attacked Saint Garling isn't weak either. Being able to take down Hundred Beasts Kaido and Charlotte Lingling, those two Four Emperors, is enough for him to stand against that bunch of monsters in the Konoha Pirates. Toss him a bone and let him go fight the Konoha Pirates to the death…"
"What's most urgent now…"
"is still to get our hands on Vegapunk's technology as soon as possible."
"…"
Saint Saturn could only nod heavily. Looking at the weather over Mary Geoise, he let out a long sigh: "These truly are troubled times. I hope the CP Department can move a bit faster and bring Vegapunk back as soon as possible…"
"…"
Saint Nusjuro could only nod as well.
The atmosphere throughout Pangu City inevitably sank into oppression.
For so many years, the Five Elders had always held power on Imu's behalf, controlling most of the resources across the seas. The talent under their hands had once been countless; they could exterminate countries and races at the drop of a hat, wipe out an entire people with a single order—when had they ever suffered such humiliation as now?
And now…
they had no choice but to swallow this humiliation.
Compared to their side…
the mood at Marine Headquarters Marineford was clearly a bit cheerful.
Because Akihara Kagura and Kizaru had just arrived at Marineford.
"Kuzan has left the Navy, and Marshal Sengoku has resigned from the position of Navy Admiral…"
Kizaru sat in his office, leisurely brewing a pot of black tea, slowly pouring Akihara Kagura a cup: "If Sakazuki becomes Navy Admiral, then the Navy will have to select two new Admirals…"
"Strength comes first."
Akihara Kagura took the cup of black tea and lazily spoke two names: "If nothing unexpected happens, it should be Fujitora and me. There's no one in Marineford stronger than the two of us, at least on the surface…"
"Then…"
Kizaru couldn't help thinking of something.
"Will Sakazuki be the only one… who isn't one of our own?"