Akainu Submits His Pledge of Allegiance!

Before his words even fell, Sakazuki flashed and appeared in front of Maynard.

The next second, Maynard was grabbed by the neck and lifted over his head.

Before everyone present could react, his unique Logia-type Magma-Magma Fruit ability was quietly unleashed.

"Ugh—"

As Sakazuki's arm turned to lava, Maynard, whose neck was being choked, let out a heart-wrenching scream.

"Sakazuki, what are you doing!"

Completely taken by surprise by Sakazuki's sudden move, Sengoku stood up with a horrified expression and shouted, "Let Maynard go!"

"Crack!"

With a crisp snap, Maynard's neck was broken. Sakazuki then flicked him aside, ignoring the furious Sengoku. His sharp, grim gaze swept over Akainu, Stainles, and the others, and he said with chilling killing intent, "From now on, whoever disrespects Akira will suffer this fate."

He paused for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Sengoku. "This is my stance! Marshal Sengoku, if you don't want to see Marineford covered in lava volcanoes, sign this document."

"Sakazuki, you—"

Sengoku glanced at Maynard, whose neck was not only broken but also half-charred by lava. His eyes widened in fury as he said, "Your actions will plunge the Navy into an abyss of no return. If the Holy Land learns of this, they will surely not acknowledge Akira's legitimacy. At that time, countless Navy soldiers will bleed and die in vain because of you!"

"Marshal Sengoku, those words are no longer important!"

Sakazuki stared intently at Sengoku and said in a deep voice, "From the moment I saw Mother, I stopped caring about right or wrong."

With that, Sakazuki stopped talking and returned to Akira's side, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination.

His previous adherence to absolute justice stemmed from witnessing his parents' tragic deaths at the hands of pirates and the deep-seated hatred that had taken root in his heart since childhood. However, upon learning that his Mother had miraculously survived and had been meticulously cared for by Akira for three years, the justice he upheld began to waver.

It wasn't disappointment with the Navy or the World Government, but a sense of guilt.

The thought of having buried his Mother alive when she was not dead made him want to punch himself. He couldn't imagine how his Mother had survived after breaking free from the earth, nor could he fathom what she had endured all these years after he joined the Navy!

Based on the fact that his Mother, despite suffering from dementia and forgetting his name, still remembered his favorite foods—plain white rice and chili peppers—he could conclude that she must have been searching for him after her survival.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have remembered his favorite foods even as her dementia worsened.

He was grateful to Akira for reuniting him with his Mother, for giving him the chance to atone for the grave mistake he had almost made in his youth, and for his selfless care over the past three years.

After all, his Mother, suffering from dementia, could forget Akira at any moment.

Under such circumstances, Akira could have easily sent his Mother to a nursing home at Marine Headquarters or hired a caregiver.

Most importantly, according to Momonga, Akira's original plan was that if this operation succeeded, it would be great, but if it failed and he died, Momonga was to hand over the investigation report to him because Akira worried that if he died, the elderly woman with dementia would have no one to care for her.

"This is really over now~"

After watching Sakazuki, who had walked to Akira's side with a determined gaze, for a moment, Sengoku sighed inwardly. Borsalino's absence was a clear enough indication of his stance. Coupled with Sakazuki, an Admiral who upheld absolute justice, firmly standing by Akira's side, Sengoku knew he couldn't change anything, even if he went all out.

Although he still had the ace up his sleeve, Garp, the "Navy Hero," and another Admiral, Kuzan, available, Garp was on vacation, likely in the East Blue. By the time Garp returned, no matter how strong he was, he wouldn't be able to contend with Sakazuki, Akira, and all the defecting officers from Marine Headquarters.

As for Admiral Kuzan, he held out no hope. Three days ago, Kuzan had cycled off to who-knew-which sea, and knowing him, he wouldn't return for at least ten days to half a month.

Even if Kuzan returned now, in the current situation, Akira's side, with Sakazuki joining them, would be emboldened.

Of course, it wasn't time to discuss the worst-case scenario yet.

Once Akira completely took control of the Navy, the Holy Land would likely compromise, perhaps even directly appointing Akira as the new Fleet Admiral of the Navy. After all, a new Pirate Emperor had emerged in the New World, and the Revolutionary Army had grown stronger over the years, seriously threatening the World Government's rule. If the Holy Land were to go to war with Akira at this juncture, it would clearly not be a wise choice.

Furthermore, if the Revolutionary Army and the Navy controlled by Akira joined forces, the Holy Land would be caught between two fronts.

And all of this was clearly within Akira's calculations.

Of course, whether he signed or not wouldn't significantly impact Akira. If he refused, Akira would simply eliminate all the soldiers and officers at headquarters who hadn't taken a side. After all, more than half, even a majority, of the officers and soldiers had already pledged their loyalty to Akira.

After a brief silence, Sengoku slowly raised his head and looked at Akira, his expression serious. "Akira, since you arrived at headquarters, how have Garp and I, along with Zephyr, treated you?"

Akira nodded. "Very well, especially Teacher Zephyr. He had high hopes for me at the officer training camp! As for Garp, although he always wanted to groom me as his successor, I don't quite agree with his ideals. To be precise, I don't agree with the justice the Navy upholds from top to bottom!"

"Because in my view, as long as the Celestial Dragons loom over the World Government, the Navy can never truly have justice. That's precisely why I want to use my own methods to ensure the Navy's justice is no longer bound by any restrictions or shackles!"

Sengoku shook his head. "I don't intend to debate with you. I just want to know, since we've all treated you well, why have you kept things from us?"

Akira smiled faintly. "Marshal Sengoku, what I'm doing is instigating a mutiny. How could I not keep it secret?"

"No, no, no," Sengoku waved his hand, his gaze fixed on Akira. "I'm referring to the person Gion just mentioned, Im! Since you know things we don't, why didn't you tell me, Garp, or Zephyr, but instead told Gion?"

Hearing this, Akira turned his head to look at Gion, who was standing beside him, and asked in surprise, "You told them?"

Gion nodded.

Akira didn't blame her. He turned his gaze back to Sengoku and retorted, "Do you believe everything Gion said? About the Flower Chamber, about Im's existence? I'm sure you don't believe it now, and you'll think I'm making it all up just to convince Gion and the others to follow me in this rebellion!"

"If you don't believe it under these circumstances, do you think you would have believed me if I had told you before?"

Sengoku's eyes remained locked on Akira, as if trying to see through Akira's true intentions. "So, is there really a place called the Flower Chamber in the Holy Land? And an Im who wants to sit on the Empty Throne?"

Akira waved his hand. "Marshal Sengoku, rather than lingering here in doubt, why not go to the Holy Land and ask the Five Elders directly, or go and see for yourself? Although I know Im lives in the Flower Chamber, I don't know if Im is male or female. If you manage to see Im's true face alive, remember to tell me when you get back."

"However, before that, you need to sign this document and immediately make a speech, telling those officers and soldiers who are hiding and waiting for an opportunity to reverse the situation to give up their resistance."