Marine Headquarters.
Admiral Akainu was a model worker in the Navy, rarely having a moment to rest.
With the great war imminent, he tirelessly came to inspect the training grounds every day, supervising the training of the naval soldiers.
And the Navy's training situation was indeed far from encouraging. Akainu could keenly sense that:
As Garen's propaganda offensive advanced step by step, the morale of the naval soldiers had nearly fallen to freezing point. They could not muster the slightest spirit for training or war preparations.
Their morale had fallen to freezing point, while their resentment toward the World Government steadily climbed toward the ignition point.
All it would take was a tiny spark to ignite a blaze capable of spreading across the plains.
Fortunately, under the difficult suppression of Hawk commanders such as Akainu, the blaze had not yet fully erupted.
Yet those scattered little sparks still could not be contained, flaring up one cluster after another throughout Marine Headquarters.
And now, just as Akainu arrived at the training grounds for his inspection, he saw yet another such "spark" among the naval soldiers:
"Does this war even mean anything?"
"Who exactly are we fighting for by preparing for war here?"
A young officer shouted passionately before the soldiers, his eyes fixed straight on his superior. He did not stop in the slightest despite his superior's rebuke.
Recklessly discussing state affairs, inciting rebellion, disrupting military morale, defying a superior.
Akainu had seen no fewer than ten such extremists over the past few days.
From his initial fury and harsh punishments to his current numbness and indifference, Akainu's heart had also undergone unspoken changes amid this larger atmosphere.
He had already grown accustomed to such scenes, but this time, something left even him faintly surprised:
The superior that young officer had