Taking over the Navy completely? What an astonishing move!

The sun set in the west.

The sun, hanging high in the sky, slowly sank to the edge of the sea, spreading across the boundless ocean like it was melting, casting a magnificent blood-red hue.

After the meeting ended, Akira came to the rooftop of the Headquarters Building alone, his eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed at the vast sea, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Six years ago, when he opened his eyes and found himself transmigrated to the world of pirates, his blood immediately boiled, and he prepared to roll up his sleeves and make a big move.

Of course, there was also fear of this异世界, as he wasn't sure if he would receive a powerful golden finger like the protagonists in the many transmigration novels he had read before.

As time passed, the golden finger he had been anticipating never appeared.

However, he didn't get discouraged. Instead, he decisively abandoned his fantasies and faced reality. While doubling his training every day, he also made an effort to build good relationships with the soldiers and officers around him.

Gradually, he realized that even without a system, he seemed to be able to carve out a place for himself in this world. Thus, he, who originally just wanted to live as long as possible in this world, began to plan.

As his strength continued to increase and more people gathered around him, his ambitions also began to grow.

However, according to his plans and strategies, he wouldn't go all out at this moment. With his current strength and connections, he could at most survive this trial. It was almost impossible to seize the position of Marshal and control the Navy from top to bottom.

What he didn't expect was that the system actually appeared. Even before he had completely secured the position of Marine Headquarters Marshal, it gave him a reward, upgrading all his abilities to the highest level with a single click.

When his abilities were first upgraded, Akira clearly felt his strength reach an unprecedented height. Yet, even though the knowledge of the three types of Haki, swordsmanship, and the Navy Six Styles, as well as the combat experience granted by the system's powerful functions, felt innate, he couldn't truly experience how powerful the abilities were when raised to their highest level. It was only through his battle with Garp and by repelling six members of the Knights of God that he soberly and intuitively realized that his current strength had reached its peak.

Especially Conqueror's Haki. Before, his understanding of Conqueror's Haki was still stuck at the level of his pre-transmigration knowledge. But after the system upgraded it to the highest level, he truly understood the weight of "Conqueror's Haki reigns supreme over all."

Of course, these were all things that had already happened. What lay before Akira now was his meeting with Imu tomorrow and some plans for the future.

Although Imu had compromised, he wouldn't naively believe that Imu had truly compromised! Imu had been controlling the World Government from behind the scenes for so many years; how could they compromise because of his one mutiny? The only reason they wanted to talk to him was to temporarily stabilize him.

Of course, he also needed some time to adjust.

Launching a full-scale war against the World Government, a behemoth that had stood at the pinnacle of the Red Line for eight hundred years, was not a rational choice at this moment. A momentary surge of impulsiveness could easily lead him, who currently held the initiative, to a passive position.

Of course, if he only wanted to be a pirate emperor in this world, he wouldn't even need to start a mutiny. He could simply take the officers and soldiers loyal to him, leave Headquarters, and establish his own power base. There would be no need for such elaborate schemes.

As a great transmigrator, possessing the "Dragon-Slaying Technique" and a system, to go and become a bandit and a pirate would be a colossal joke.

"Lord Akira?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind him. Following the sound, he saw Gion, with her signature sword Konpira at her waist, wearing her Vice Admiral coat, striding briskly towards Akira.

Akira turned his head and asked, "Is everything arranged?"

"Yes." Gion handed a document to Akira and continued, "Besides Lord Sengoku, Mr. Garp, and Teacher Zephyr, the three Admirals also wish to go to the Holy Land. Also, I noticed that Admirals Kuzan and Sakazuki seem somewhat dispirited. I'm worried about them... Lord Akira, you know how they've had many arguments over the years due to their differing ideologies, and they've nearly come to blows several times."

"Don't worry."

Akira waved his hand and chuckled, "It's understandable that they're feeling a bit down at this moment. Because of Imu's existence, it has shaken the justice they each uphold! Especially Sakazuki; he's long harbored dissatisfaction towards the Celestial Dragons and the Five Elders in the Chamber of Power, but he chose to endure it due to his position and the justice he pursued. Now that a hidden controller of the World Government has suddenly appeared, anyone with true justice in their heart will feel demoralized."

"It's the same for Kuzan. Back during the Ohara incident, he already felt lost about the justice of the Navy. Now that he knows of Imu's existence, his confusion will naturally be amplified!"

"However, once we go to the Holy Land, I believe neither Sakazuki nor Kuzan will be confused anymore."

Gion's eyes lit up, and she tentatively asked, "So, when you repelled the members of the Knights of God, you revealed Imu's existence in front of them, not just to confront Imu and the World Government, but to make Admirals Kuzan and Sakazuki make their final choice?"

Akira nodded, "Not just them, but Sengoku and Garp too! For these old fogeys and powerful individuals, mere force and conventional methods are not enough to make them fully choose to stand with us. Only by letting them see the situation clearly and understand the truth, combined with our current actions as a prelude, will they cast aside all illusions and face reality!"

Hearing this, Gion tilted her head slightly and glanced at Akira.

Akira was still Akira, but the Akira before her now felt somewhat unfamiliar.

After all, Akira was only about the same age as Hina, yet his intellect and composure were beyond that of ordinary people. His ability to manipulate people's hearts was already perfected, not inferior to Sengoku, who was known as a "wise general," perhaps even surpassing him.

The sea breeze sweeping in from the sea stirred the coats of Akira and Gion, making a slight rustling sound in the wind.

Akira glanced at the contents of the document and then handed it back to Gion. He then raised his head to look into the distance, his eyes slightly narrowed as he murmured softly, "The wind is picking up."

A new day arrived, and the sun rose as usual.

As newspapers printed by various news agencies were delivered to all corners of the world by news birds, the Great Route and the four seas were shocked by the content published in the newspapers.

New World, Red Hair Pirates' territory.

The members of the Red Hair Pirates, dressed in various styles, were sprawled on the ground, either lying down or passed out. The sounds of their snoring were so loud that even the birds in the surrounding forest dared not make a sound.

Shanks, the captain of the Red Hair Pirates, who had recently become one of the Four Emperors, had gotten drunk after a grand feast with his crew and slept soundly with a wine bottle in his arms until he woke up naturally.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Shanks saw a figure standing opposite him, holding a dish. It was the Red Hair Pirates' first mate, Benn Beckman.

Beckman didn't even glance at Shanks as he woke up. He held the newspaper delivered by the news bird in his hands, his expression unusually grave.

"Beckman, good morning~"

Rubbing his slightly swollen eyes, Shanks got up with his wine bottle and walked over to Beckman, grinning. "Up so early? Didn't have enough fun last night?"

Beckman remained silent, instead handing the newspaper in his hand to Shanks.

"Hm?"

As his gaze swept across the headline of the newspaper, Shanks' pupils suddenly constricted. He immediately snatched the newspaper and read it with wide, disbelieving eyes, "Mutiny at Marine Headquarters? Vice Admiral Akira seizes the position of Marshal!"

After a brief moment of shock, Shanks suddenly looked up at Beckman. "When... when did this happen?"

"Last night, while we were having our feast!" Beckman took out a cigarette and lit it, his expression solemn. "Before you woke up, I contacted our intelligence members lurking in the Sabaody Archipelago. Not only Marine Headquarters, but most of the Navy branch bases on the Great Route and the four seas underwent a thorough cleansing with lightning speed. All the officers who became base commanders of these Navy bases at this time are this Vice Admiral's trusted confidants."

He paused slightly, then looked up at Shanks. "Taking complete control of the Navy in just one day, what astonishing means are these? I have a premonition that the balance between the Holy Land and the World Government's member nations, as well as the balance between the Navy and the Four Emperors of the New World over the years, will be completely shattered because of this Vice Admiral."