Kuzan! Answer me, are you willing to stand with me?

Akira's speech was extremely persuasive, and combined with the influence of Observation Haki, the atmosphere in the plaza was quickly ignited, with shouts of "Loyalty" drowning out each other.

The most excited were the soldiers and officers who had followed Akira all these years. They were like they had been injected with adrenaline, their voices hoarse from shouting slogans. Some even exaggeratedly shouted "Storm the Holy Land, break away from the World Government," raising the atmosphere in the plaza to an unprecedented height.

The reaction of the tens of thousands of soldiers in the plaza caught the two Admirals standing below the high platform, along with Gion and a group of Vice Admirals, completely off guard.

Akira's speech was indeed passionate, but this was a capability every commander must possess. For example, John Giant; whenever there was a major event at Marine Headquarters in the past, Vice Admiral John Giant would give a speech to boost the morale of the soldiers and officers.

Before Akira, Vice Admiral John Giant's speeches were considered the most rousing by them.

But the scene unfolding before them now was even more exaggerated than Vice Admiral John Giant's speeches. Almost every soldier, every officer, and even several Vice Admirals standing alongside Gion seemed possessed, continuously raising their arms and shouting slogans of loyalty.

Not only were the two Admirals and Gion stunned, but Sengoku and Zephyr in the conference hall were also dumbfounded by the surging roars from the plaza.

However, they soon discovered something unusual.

"Rare Observation Haki?"

Sengoku, who had discovered the anomaly, withdrew his gaze and chuckled bitterly, "He conveys his thoughts and consciousness through his speech, making everyone present resonate with him. No wonder he was able to make so many people at Headquarters unwavering in their loyalty in just six years."

Zephyr did not answer but suddenly turned around and looked towards the door.

Seeing this, Sengoku quickly looked back.

Kuzan was standing by the conference hall door, holding the document signed by Sengoku, his expression complicated.

"Teacher Zephyr, do you support everything Akira is doing now?"

Kuzan walked into the conference hall, getting straight to the point, "I believe you've both heard Akira's speech just now. He said the era of Celestial Dragons enjoying privileges should end. If the Holy Land learns of this, the Navy will be doomed."

Zephyr's expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Kuzan, do you intend to stop this?"

"No!"

Kuzan's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly, "I just want to know your true thoughts."

Hearing this, Zephyr chuckled and shook his head, "Kuzan, my thoughts don't matter. You are one of my most outstanding disciples, and you understand me best. In my heart, the Navy of the past is dead!"

"Of course, I understand you best too. After returning from Ohara, you've been holding a grudge against Sakazuki's actions. You even privately let go of the sole survivor of Ohara, Nico Robin, and changed your unwavering justice to a lazy justice. Weren't you also extremely disappointed with the Navy?"

Kuzan let out a breath and said unhurriedly, "Teacher Zephyr, I—"

"Wait."

Before Kuzan could finish speaking, Sengoku, who was standing nearby, suddenly stepped forward and looked at Kuzan in disbelief, "You were the one who let Nico Robin go back then? Kuzan, you... how could you do this? If the Holy Land finds out about this, your future will be ruined. You should know very well that the Holy Land fears researchers of that 100-year history the most. As a Headquarters officer, you actually let Nico Robin go! What were you thinking?"

As soon as Sengoku finished speaking, Zephyr immediately stepped forward, "Kuzan, don't listen to his nonsense. Akira is in charge of Headquarters now! So what if you let Nico Robin go? It's no big deal. As long as you continue to stay at Marine Headquarters and assist Akira, with the three Admirals assisting him, and the Navy united as never before because of Akira, it doesn't matter even if the Holy Land finds out!"

Kuzan nodded, "I understand Teacher Zephyr's choice! No matter what Akira does next, even if he goes to war with the World Government, will Teacher Zephyr support Akira with all his might?"

Zephyr's gaze was firm, "Naturally!"

The Marine Headquarters, having experienced a mutiny, gradually returned to calm after Akira's speech.

Accompanied by the two Admirals and a group of Vice Admirals, Akira returned to the top floor of the Headquarters Building.

However, he did not head towards the conference hall but went directly to the Marshal's office.

Before Gion, who was behind him, could push open the office door, the closed door suddenly opened.

Immediately after, Kuzan, who was nearly three meters tall, walked out of the office.

"Admiral Kuzan?"

Gion, who had not expected Kuzan to come out of the Marshal's office and was about to open the door, immediately stepped forward as if facing a great enemy and said in a deep voice, "What are you doing in the Marshal's office?"

Kuzan glanced at Gion, then shifted his gaze to Akira and said lazily, "Vice Admiral Akira... No, I should call you Marshal Akira now. If I leave now, who do you plan to appoint to replace my position as one of the three Admirals of Marine Headquarters?"

"Leaving now?"

Akira smiled and shook his head, "Admiral Kuzan, you can't leave now. After all, you are a Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit ability user, and your strength is immense. If you were to leave, you would be a potential threat to me! Therefore, you only have two choices: one, stay and be loyal to me, continuing to serve as an Admiral of Headquarters. Two, be eliminated by us."

Kuzan's brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze swept over Sakazuki, Borsalino, Gion, and the others, "Are you worried I'll go to the Holy Land and inform the Five Elders of what you've done?"

"You won't have the chance to go to the Holy Land!"

Akira waved his hand and walked past Kuzan, standing before the desk, and said calmly, "I've already had someone send the matter of you letting Nico Robin go at Ohara to the Holy Land. As soon as you step out of this building, the Five Elders will know about you letting Nico Robin go."

He paused slightly, then suddenly changed his tone, becoming a little gentler, "Kuzan, times have changed. You didn't leave after meeting Sengoku and Teacher Zephyr, but chose to wait for me here. In fact, you've already made your choice in your heart. Coming to ask me an irrelevant question now is just you needing a way to step down! After all, the general trend at Marine Headquarters has been decided. You don't have many options left."

"I won't give you a way to step down."

"I am now formally inviting you. If you don't want to continue to be lost, and wish for the justice you once upheld to reignite, then stay and help me!"

"In my hometown, there was once a wise man who said: 'Do kings and nobles have to be born into their positions?'"

"Twenty kings 800 years ago could form an alliance to establish the World Government. As long as we work together with one heart, we can also create a better era 800 years from now!"

After saying this in one breath, Akira turned and sat down at the Marshal's desk. He then looked up at Kuzan and suddenly raised his voice, "So, Admiral Kuzan, please answer me, are you willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with me?"

--

Please give me some "power fueled by love," muah~