Betting the Name of the Navy's Absolute Justice!

Sakazuki, after leaving the conference hall, did not immediately follow Akira out of the Headquarters Building.

He first went to his office and glanced at the plaque hanging on the main wall. His gaze lingered on the words "Absolute Justice" inscribed on it.

After a brief silence, he suddenly let out a sigh, as if shedding his last burden. A smile, unseen for decades, appeared on his face.

Without further delay, he turned and walked out of his office.

As he passed Borsalino's office, the two soldiers standing guard at the door quickly snapped to attention and shouted in unison, "Loyalty!"

Sakazuki raised his hand in return and asked, "Is Admiral Kizaru inside?"

One of the soldiers nodded, "Yes, Admiral Sakazuki!"

Sakazuki did not hesitate and said in a deep voice, "Open the door!"

The two soldiers, clearly aware of Sakazuki's current status, immediately opened the office door.

Inside the office, Borsalino sat slumped at his desk. Perhaps it was the Seastone handcuffs he wore, or perhaps it was his nature, but he appeared listless.

"Oh?"

Seeing Sakazuki enter, a flicker of surprise crossed Borsalino's eyes. He then sat up straighter and said lazily, "How terrifying. I didn't expect Akira to even convince you!"

"Didn't you also choose to stand by and do nothing?" Sakazuki asked, standing over Borsalino at the desk, his voice deep. "Tell me, what are your truest thoughts?"

"What thoughts could I have?" Borsalino raised his cuffed hands, a look of helplessness on his face.

As they were both Devil Fruit users, they could not properly handle the Seastone handcuffs. Sakazuki, without hesitation, turned to the two soldiers guarding Borsalino and ordered, "Remove the handcuffs. Also, your duty here is finished. Go to the plaza and assemble immediately!"

"Yes!"

The two soldiers saluted in unison and quickly unlocked Borsalino's handcuffs.

After the soldiers left the office, Sakazuki looked at Borsalino with a serious expression. "You should know very well that in Marine Headquarters, you are my only brother! If you accept the choice I've made now, will you continue to stand by my side?"

Borsalino did not answer immediately. He simply flexed his wrists, then slowly stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the brightly lit Marineford Plaza.

At that moment, at least fifty thousand people had gathered in the plaza. Surprisingly, no one made a sound. They all stood in neat formation, looking up in anticipation.

"I want to know, what method did Akira use to make you make such a choice!"

After a brief silence, Borsalino, without turning around, followed Sakazuki's retreating figure with his gaze as he headed straight for the plaza from the Headquarters Building. "Don't tell me he found some crime you committed—"

"He found Mother!"

Before Borsalino could finish, Sakazuki interrupted, "And he took good care of her for three years."

"Hmm?"

Borsalino turned back, disbelief in his eyes. "The elderly lady Akira saved three years ago? I met her once. She seemed to have severe dementia and, due to her illness, forgot everyone around her. She left home alone and wandered around the family housing complex looking for her grandson. At the time, I didn't know who her grandson was, so I assigned two soldiers to stay with her."

Having said that, Borsalino seemed to develop amnesia himself and changed the subject. "By the way, what did you say just now?"

A question mark appeared above Sakazuki's head. He asked uncertainly, "Will you continue to stand by my side?"

Borsalino shook his head. "The sentence before that."

Sakazuki thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "Brother?"

"Let's go see Mom."

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of light shot out of the office and instantly landed in front of Akira's home in the family housing area.

Akira and his entourage, having left the Headquarters Building, also arrived at the entrance to Marineford Plaza.

As soon as Akira reached the entrance, the soldiers standing neatly on both sides snapped to attention and saluted.

The tens of thousands of soldiers and officers of all ranks gathered in the plaza also turned their heads at this moment.

In the crowd, the female soldiers in Hina's unit looked towards Akira with anxious hearts.

Akira did not stop. Surrounded by a group of Vice Admirals including Gion, Momonga, Bastille, Strawberry, and Hounds, he walked into the plaza towards the high platform.

As Akira and his group entered the plaza and passed the first formation, all the soldiers and the officers standing at the front of the ranks stepped forward, straightened their backs, and shouted in unison, "Loyalty!"

Akira raised his hand in a salute.

As he passed the second formation, the soldiers in the second rank also stepped forward, shouting "Loyalty" with fervent excitement.

Akira still did not reply. Instead, he returned the salute with a gentle smile.

Just as Akira was passing the third formation, before the soldiers in that rank could shout their slogan, a tall figure suddenly rushed out from the fourth rank, followed by a shout that made many people's ears ring.

"Akira!"

The shout, tinged with anger, fell as the tall figure stood opposite Akira, like a moving small mountain exuding a powerful aura.

"John Giant?"

Before Akira could react, Strawberry, who was always by Akira's side, changed expression. However, without hesitation, he and Gion, standing to Akira's left, stepped forward simultaneously into a combat stance.

Momonga, Hounds, and Bastille, though not immediately shielding Akira, watched the suddenly appearing, highly oppressive figure as if facing a great enemy.

It wasn't that they were overreacting. The one blocking their path was Vice Admiral John Giant, a powerful warrior from the Giant race.

Most importantly, John Gendou not only possessed strength and endurance several times that of an ordinary person, but as a fellow member of Marine Headquarters, he also held the authority to command all subordinates within the headquarters.

Facing a Vice Admiral of the same rank, and a powerful warrior from the Giant race at that, they naturally had to give their all. If John Gendou made even the slightest move, they would surely charge forward without hesitation, giving him no chance.

"What a crazy act, Akira!"

Facing five Vice Admirals who could attack him at any moment, John Gendou dared not advance rashly. He stood his ground, using his height advantage to look down at Akira. "However, gambling on the name of the Navy's absolute justice, I must stand up and stop you!"

Before his voice even faded, John Gendou swiftly drew the greatsword from behind him like lightning. A boundless battle spirit erupted, causing his incredibly wide Vice Admiral coat to flutter wildly. An invisible pressure surged out like a tsunami, instantly engulfing Akira.

"John Gendou!"

Akira raised his hand, stopping Strawberry and the others who were preparing to charge. He said calmly, "You should have stood up for justice earlier. Because if you only act now... you will bear the charge of a rebel."

As he spoke, Akira took a step forward.

"Dong--"

The moment his foot landed, the ground vibrated in response.

Immediately after, a terrifying wave of shockwaves erupted from beneath his feet, instantly forming a flame cloud of red and black. An invisible and boundless pressure caused the void to vibrate at a low frequency, all without a sound.

The next second, John Gendou, who had just drawn his sword, felt as though his body was imprisoned and unable to move. An invisible mountain seemed to press down on his head, making it impossible for him to resist. He fell to his knees with a thud, facing Akira.

"This... this is--"

John Gendou, kneeling on both knees, used his greatsword to support his body. Then, with all his might, he lifted his head to look at Akira, his face filled with horror. "Conqueror's Haki! You actually... awakened Conqueror's Haki!"