Pirates Must Be Purged, For Justice!

Meanwhile.

On the high platform in Marineford Plaza, Akira also looked up sharply at the distant high wall amidst the attention of the masses.

The moment he looked up, the high wall in his sight was instantly frozen into a sculpture.

Immediately after, a figure appeared on top of the high wall, facing the Marineford Plaza with the moonlight behind him.

Standing atop the high wall was the last of the Marine Headquarters' Three Admirals, codenamed Aokiji, Kuzan, who possessed the power of the Ice-Ice Fruit.

"Arare, it seems that while I was away, something major happened at Marine Headquarters."

Kuzan, who was nearly three meters tall, looked at the tens of thousands of soldiers gathered in the plaza from afar, then looked at the high platform with a hint of confusion.

Due to the sudden chill that swept through and enveloped the entire plaza, many people in the plaza turned their heads to look at the source. When they saw the figure standing on the high wall, their faces immediately lit up with joy.

However, they quickly calmed down and turned their gazes back to the new Marshal standing on the high platform.

On the high platform, Borsalino and Sakazuki also saw Kuzan suddenly appear on the high wall at this moment.

However, neither of them spoke. One remained vigilant, while the other was lazily indifferent, as if none of this concerned him much.

"Admiral Kuzan!"

Just then, Momonga, standing a row behind Admirals Sakazuki and Borsalino, decisively turned and stepped forward, saying with a serious expression, "You've returned at the perfect time. Lord Sengoku is unwell, so Lord Akira is temporarily acting as Marshal!"

"So that's how it is~"

Kuzan looked back at the high platform, his tone lazy yet tinged with confusion, "But why is it Vice Admiral Akira? If Marshal Sengoku is unwell, the position of Marshal should go to one of the Three Admirals. Since Akira is a Vice Admiral, isn't Marshal Sengoku afraid he won't be able to command them?"

As he spoke, Kuzan flickered and appeared in Marineford Plaza. Under everyone's gaze, he slowly walked up the steps, stood before Sakazuki and Borsalino, and looked up at Akira on the high platform. "I smell blood in the air. Can I interpret this as Marshal Sengoku not being unwell, but rather that you... staged a mutiny!"

Akira smiled and nodded, "Your understanding is correct. As you can see, the reason I stand in this position is not by Sengoku's appointment, but because everyone in Marine Headquarters, except for you, has pledged their loyalty to me!"

After a slight pause, Akira turned his head to look at Hounds.

Hounds stepped forward quickly and handed Kuzan the document signed by Sengoku.

Kuzan took the document and looked at it, then raised his head and asked, "May I go and see Marshal Sengoku?"

"Of course~"

Akira nodded, "He and Teacher Zephyr are in the conference room!"

Upon hearing this, Kuzan turned and left without hesitation.

Just then, two figures flashed by rapidly. They were Ain and Binz, who had rushed over from the headquarters building.

As soon as they reached the base of the high platform, Ain and Binz immediately straightened their bodies, saluted, and shouted in unison:

"Lord Akira--"

"Ain reporting for duty!"

"Binz reporting for duty!"

Kuzan, who had just turned around, looked at Ain and Binz, who had come to report, with some surprise.

As a fellow student of Zephyr, he was not unfamiliar with Ain and Binz. Not only that, but he also knew that both of them were survivors of the training ship attack three years ago.

Regarding the training ship attack, as Zephyr's student, he had always kept it in mind and searched for the culprits every time he went out on vacation. He knew in his heart that the training ship incident had greatly impacted Teacher Zephyr. If they couldn't catch the culprits, Teacher Zephyr would become increasingly disappointed with the Navy, and might even sever ties with the Navy.

However, he had searched all four seas and even ventured into the New World many times alone, but he had not found the culprits of the training ship attack three years ago.

Of course, none of that was important.

What was important was that the appearance of Ain and Binz at this time was enough to show that Akira's mutiny to become the new Marshal had not only gained the support of Teacher Zephyr but might even have involved him.

This meant that whether he accepted it or not, the situation was already decided.

Thinking of this, Kuzan secretly let out a cold breath, then calmly looked back at Sakazuki and Borsalino.

From their reactions, he could not detect any dissatisfaction with Akira's mutiny. Sakazuki, in particular, seemed like a different person, his eyes exceptionally firm, clearly having accepted the fact that Akira had become the Marshal of Headquarters. As for Borsalino, although he appeared nonchalant, there were no extraneous thoughts.

Seeing the reactions of the two Admirals, Kuzan no longer lingered and quickly headed towards the headquarters building.

Akira did not pay attention to Kuzan's departure. After Ain and Binz returned to their positions, he took a deep breath and quickly scanned everyone present. He then spoke unhurriedly, "I know that among the tens of thousands of people present, there are still many who cannot come to terms with what happened tonight! Because in tonight's operation, many Vice Admirals, including Onigumo, Doberman, and Menard, as well as officers and soldiers of all ranks below Vice Admiral, lost their lives!"

"Many of you present are subordinates of these officers. If you do not agree with me temporarily exercising the authority of Marshal, you can bravely step forward, and I will arrange a warship to send you away!"

"Of course, you can also choose to stay and pledge your loyalty to me."

After a slight pause, Akira raised his voice slightly, "Now, I will give you one minute to make your choice."

As Akira's words fell, Marineford Plaza fell into silence again.

As Akira had said, many officers and soldiers present were subordinates of the eliminated Vice Admirals like Onigumo and Doberman. When they saw the bodies of their superiors, their first reaction was to resist. However, Marineford was basically controlled by the "rebels," so they could only bury their anger in their hearts and plan to find an opportunity to escape Marineford and return for revenge.

But when they saw that both Admirals Sakazuki and Borsalino had chosen to pledge loyalty to Akira, the anger in their hearts was instantly extinguished.

Most importantly, they did not expect Akira to offer to send them away by warship.

They did not doubt Akira's words. Although they had not had any contact with Akira over the years due to their superiors' disagreements with him, they knew from their colleagues that Akira not only granted requests but also kept his promises.

After a brief silence, several officers suddenly stepped out of the ranks, straightened their backs, and saluted Akira, saying, "Loyalty!"

As these officers stepped out of the ranks, the soldiers behind them also raised their hands in salute, shouting in unison a slogan that echoed through the heavens.

"Loyalty!"

"Loyalty!"

For a time, the words "Loyalty!" echoed back and forth through the ranks, and not a single person chose to step out and leave.

Of course, this was only to be expected. With even the Admirals choosing to pledge their loyalty, what reason did these lower-ranking individuals have to risk their lives?

Watching the figures continuously step forward and offer their loyalty, Akira narrowed his eyes. His Observation Haki, enhanced to its highest level by the system, was quietly activated. In just the blink of an eye, it silently enveloped the entirety of Marineford, with everyone's inner thoughts exposed and nowhere to hide under its surveillance.

After listening to the thoughts of everyone, especially those currently pledging their loyalty, a smile gradually appeared on Akira's face. He then raised his hand, signaling the soldiers and officers who had offered their loyalty to fall into line.

Although a very small number of them harbored thoughts of not being entirely loyal, these individuals were simply worried about him seeking retribution later and had no other ulterior motives.

Akira didn't dwell on this. He spoke unhurriedly, "You have made the wisest choice of your lives. Of course, I will not keep this glory to myself!"

After a slight pause, Akira released his Observation Haki once more.

This time, however, he wasn't using it to listen to everyone's inner thoughts. Instead, he intended to use it for a brainwashing-style speech!

This was because his Observation Haki, having been elevated to its highest level by the system, not only possessed the ability to glimpse the future but also the rare capacity to transmit his own consciousness to others, influencing their minds and thoughts, and even altering their values and ideologies.

After a brief silence, Akira, releasing his Observation Haki again, took a sudden step forward, his voice rising, "Everyone, the future of the Navy has arrived."

"I firmly believe that eradicating the corrupt practices of the old era and building a new world of harmony, freedom, and equality is our great mission in this age."

"The era where the Celestial Dragons enjoy all privileges must end, and the wicked pirates on the seas must also be purged--"

"For Justice!"