Sengoku: I Had Walked on Thin Ice All My Life!

Sakazuki was already losing interest.

After listening to what Aramaki had just said about Celestial Dragons and such, Sakazuki finally asked, "Since Mary Geoise already has a plan, why are you telling me all this? Just send someone to talk to Ortolan."

Aramaki smiled slightly awkwardly, then said, "If the elders are also unsure about Admiral Bane's thoughts, what if these conditions don't suit Admiral Bane's taste, or what if General Admiral is really determined to go down the wrong path? Then we still need to be prepared, right?"

"So this preparation is me?" Sakazuki asked, raising an eyebrow.

Aramaki's expression was also somewhat hesitant and uncertain, as if he was pondering whether or not to say what he was going to say next.

Sakazuki wasn't in a hurry; he calmly smoked his cigar without saying a word.

This made Aramaki even more embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, Aramaki gritted his teeth and said, "Admiral Akainu, what I'm about to say might be a bit disrespectful..."

"Go on," Sakazuki nodded and said calmly.

"Ever since Admiral Bane's situation deteriorated, Lord Aramu has lost a lot of trust in our Marines, especially regarding the Fleet Admiral... Lord Aramu believes that Fleet Admiral Sengoku... may also have some issues. Therefore, while removing Admiral from the Marines, Lord Aramu also believes that the Fleet Admiral, Garp, Garp, and others should all be retired," Zephyr said Aramaki a deep voice.

Saying it's a retirement is really just a form of 'cleaning up'.

Sakazuki's expression froze upon hearing this, then his eyes flashed with anger as he said, "Has Mary Geoise considered what kind of damage this will cause to our Marines?"

At this point, Aramaki also let loose. After all, he had already said what he needed to say, so what was the point of hiding anything? It would only push Sakazuki away. It was better to explain things clearly to him and state the consequences.

Therefore, Aramaki took a deep breath and said, "Of course I've thought about it. Whether it's the Fleet Admiral or Garp, they are all pillars of our Marines, key figures. If they retire, our Marines will lose a large part of its fighting strength and morale..."

"In that case..." Sakazuki was just about to say something.

Just then, Aramaki quickly interrupted him, saying, "However, by then, the major enemy of the New World pirates will have been eliminated, and the Revolutionary Army has also suffered a setback in the East Blue. Our external threats are actually quite small. So as long as we can appease Admiral Bane with gentle means, the situation afterward will only be a growing pain. As long as our Marines gets through this period, everything will recover!"

Before Sakazuki could speak, Aramaki quickly added, "And Admiral Akainu, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you!"

"Good news!?" Sakazuki's expression was stiff, but he was already furious inside.

"Of course it's a good thing. You see, the Fleet Admiral has only been in office for a short time. Given Fleet Admiral current condition, he should be able to stay in that position for at least another ten years. But if you can stand firmly on the side of the World Government and on the side of that lord in this matter, after this is over, who in the Marines has a better chance of being promoted to Fleet Admiral than you?" Aramaki said excitedly.

Sakazuki was also taken aback when he heard this.

That's true. If Ortolan becomes a Celestial Dragons and Fleet Admiral Sengoku retires, who in the Marines can compete with him for the next Fleet Admiral?

Kuzan?

Kuzan is impossible. Kuzan Garp, and even the Fleet Admiral Teacher Zephyr Ortolan. He's already lucky that he's not on the purge list, let alone the Fleet Admiral.

At that time, only Sakazuki is qualified to be the new Fleet Admiral!

To be honest, for a moment, Sakazuki was genuinely a little tempted.

But it was only for a fleeting moment.

Aramaki thought he understood Sakazuki, and Old Star also thought they understood Sakazuki. They felt that Sakazuki cared a lot about the position of Fleet Admiral and was very concerned about it. His ultimate wish was to become the Fleet Admiral.

Indeed, that is the case.

Sakazuki really wants to be the Fleet Admiral!

But Sakazuki disdained to use such a despicable method to become Fleet Admiral!

Drive all the competitors out of the Marines beforehand, and then I'll become the Fleet Admiral?

It sounds... disgusting!

It's true that Sakazuki wants to be the Fleet Admiral, but if he's going to compete for it, he should do it fair and square, not in this way!

After a brief moment of confusion, Sakazuki's gaze towards Aramaki remained unchanged, but in his heart, he felt a sense of disgust.

In the past, he had thought that Aramaki was someone whose style of doing things was compatible with his.

Right now, he just felt a little nauseous.

After saying all that, what Aramaki really wanted to say was to become Fleet Admiral, but rather to become Marine Admiral!

Sakazuki had already seen through his intentions. Aramaki wanted to use Mary Geoise's power to reshuffle the high command within the Marines, thereby creating at least one vacancy for Admiral. Then, by leveraging his connection with Mary Geoise and his so-called 'loyalty,' he could become the new Marine Admiral!

However, Sakazuki didn't expose him directly. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "I understand..."

"You agreed!?" Aramaki asked with some surprise.

Sakazuki waved his hand, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke that obscured his expression, and said softly, "You guys try to figure out if you can get through to Ortolan first... As for me, I will not stand by and watch the Marines fall apart, no matter what!"

No matter what, Sakazuki is loyal to the Marines!

However, as Marine Admiral, he would never allow the Marines to fall apart!

Upon hearing this, Aramaki was delighted. Although Sakazuki did not give a definite answer, he was not surprised. How could there be a definite answer to such a thing right away? Sakazuki's reaction this time was already quite good.

He can act as a mediator again if there are any other situations later!

"Alright, Akainu Admiral, you go ahead with your work. I have some things to take care of, so I won't bother you any longer," Aramaki said with a smile.

A short while later, he left Sakazuki's Admiral's office.

After Aramaki left, Sakazuki sat silently at his desk for a long time before roughly stubbing out his cigar in the ashtray, his eyes somewhat gloomy.

"Hmph, as expected of someone who descended from Mary Geoise. They have no feelings for us Marines and are not loyal enough!" Sakazuki sneered.

Without a doubt, at this moment, Sakazuki felt that Aramaki had no regard for the interests of the Marines; he only cared about his personal interests and the interests of Mary Geoise.

Such a person is undoubtedly not loyal enough.

Doesn't it seem a bit ridiculous that someone disloyal to the Marines would try to win over Marine Admiral who has toiled half his life in the Marines?

But after a moment, Sakazuki sighed softly, a hint of bitterness and helplessness in his voice, and muttered to himself, "Shackles? Ortolan... are you doing this for the Marines, or for yourself?"

Meanwhile, upstairs from Sakazuki, in the office of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Marines Sengoku Fleet Admiral standing by the window.

He looked at the scenery outside the Fortress of Justice, and he also saw the Aramaki, draped in the Justice Cloak, emerging from the fortress.

A moment later, Sengoku murmured to himself, "Sakazuki... what decision will you make this time?"

Since he reported to Old Star about Ortolan's departure from the Second Division, he has been unable to contact the Steel Bone Commander on Mary Geoise for more than half a month.

The people there said that Commander-in-Chief Steel Bone is ill and is receiving treatment on Mary Geoise.

During the Sengoku, the government neither confirmed nor denied this claim.

He could already sense the approaching storm... The greatest crisis in the history of the Marines, and also its greatest opportunity, was not far off.

"What are you thinking about, Sengoku?" On the sofa, Chief Staff Officer Tsuru looked at Fleet Admiral Sengoku's back and suddenly asked.

Sengoku smiled, stroked his braided beard, turned around, and looked at Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, saying, "Tsuru, I've dedicated my life to the Marines. Judging from the current situation, perhaps it will soon be time for me to 'sacrifice' myself..."

"You don't have to go to Mary Geoise, Sengoku," said Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"When the time is right, I must go. If I don't go, how can Ortolan make a move?" Sengoku laughed, but the smile vanished in an instant. A moment later, he sighed softly and said, "My whole life has been like walking on thin ice. Tsuru, do you think our Marines can conquer the other side?"

"You're a strategist... do you really need to ask me this kind of question?" Chief Staff Officer Tsuru shook his head, offering no answer.