Storm: Five Elders, Want to Buy Some Celestial Dragons?

Storm is still alive and well, which makes Sengoku very happy.

However, Sengoku disliked the tone of the other party's voice.

However, before the Sengoku could even speak...

Then Storm continued speaking.

"If you want to talk to me about Donquixote Doflamingo, then I'm hanging up now."

Storm didn't want to listen to Sengoku's rambling nonsense about "Donquixote Doflamingo's sensitive identity, we can't easily make a move against him."

Donquixote Doflamingo's identity is highly sensitive.

At most, he's just a "former" Celestial Dragons.

Ordinary people fear and dread the so-called "descendants of the Creator."

Storm doesn't give a damn about that group of idiots who act recklessly and do whatever they want.

He even dared to fight the Five Elders, Marcus Maz Saint-Storm.

Let alone ordinary Celestial Dragons?

What's more, a "former" Celestial Dragons even the Celestial Dragons themselves don't acknowledge?

"Wait a minute, Storm!"

Sengoku quickly whispered into the Den Den Mushi.

"I do have some things I need to tell you!"

"Did you see the World Economic Journal's emergency printout?"

Sengoku does have some things he wants to discuss with Storm regarding Doflamingo.

However, Storm's attitude was very firm, and Sengoku was afraid that this guy would just abandon the Den Den Mushi, so he decided to talk about other things first.

"World Economic Journal?"

Storm was indeed unaware of this matter.

"What 'big news' has that Morgans Big News Bird fabricated this time?"

"Fabricated?"

Sengoku picked up the World Economic Journal next to him and read out a news headline word by word.

"Dressrosa This is the front Donquixote Pirates headline of the World Economic Journal!"

"I thought it was something big, but it's just this..."

Storm remained silent.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, are you getting a little senile? I'm the one who wiped out the Donquixote Family!"

That's not what I meant!

Sengoku gritted his teeth, stared at the Three-headed White Dragon Flag on the front page of the World Economic Journal, and asked in a deep voice.

"The Kingdom of Dressrosa has removed the Donquixote Family's smiling banner and replaced it with a new one."

"That flag doesn't look like an ordinary pirate flag... a three-headed White Dragon is branded on the black background—"

That's my flag!

Storm interrupted Sengoku directly, informing him of the situation.

"Although I haven't said it yet, I have indeed formed a pirate crew— the Storm Pirates."

"The flag currently flying over the King's Plateau in the Kingdom of Dressrosa is the Storm Pirates' flag!"

Although the Sengoku period had long anticipated this event.

But when Storm himself admitted that the Three-headed White Dragon Flag was his pirate flag.

A sense of regret and loss inexplicably arose in Sengoku's heart.

Storm seems to be going further and further down the path of piracy...

"How come I didn't know you formed a pirate crew?"

"Huh? You really do have dementia, Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"

Regarding the Sengoku period, Storm offered a helpless reminder.

Didn't I just say that?

"The Storm Pirates haven't officially set sail yet! I haven't even gathered all the crew members! I'm currently planning to find another 'ship's doctor'... well, maybe two."

"Cough..."

Sengoku coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment.

He wasn't interested in being the "ship's doctor for the Storm Pirates."

For some purpose, the Sengoku period began to change the subject.

"Storm, didn't you say you were going to build your own crew? I didn't mean the 'Storm Pirates,' I meant the 'Sword Unit.'"

Storm asked in surprise, "Is there any difference between the two?"

"... Um?"

The Sengoku was taken aback.

"I meant the Sword Unit, not the pirates' subordinates!"

"Yes, I know, but what I did in the Sword Unit was be a pirate!"

"I can say that very frankly, "Storm said.

"If Fleet Admiral Sengoku doesn't mind, you can also call the 'Storm Pirates' the 'Naval Storm Force'."

"Wait—wait a minute!"

The Sengoku period felt a chill run down his spine.

"You mean... your 'Storm Pirates' is actually a naval force you formed?"

"That's one way to understand it."

Storm answered calmly.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I can assure you that the members of my 'Storm Pirates' are almost all fresh-faced sailors—well, that doesn't quite sound right, anyway, none of them are 'bad guys'."

"This isn't about who's evil or not..."

A profound sense of powerlessness welled up within Sengoku.

"Storm, you are now Shichibukai."

"I can completely understand why you formed a pirate crew."

"But why do you confuse pirates with the navy?"

Who exactly made Storm become Shichibukai in the first place!?

The heart of the Sengoku was roaring with rage.

There was a moment of silence on Storm's end.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, regarding this matter, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Sengoku felt that Storm's explanation was somewhat complicated.

What is a lie? And what is the truth?

"The lie is—my current public identity is that of a pirate, so it's inconvenient for me to recruit marines."

Storm answered seriously.

"The truth is—these days, which talented, ambitious, and capable young person would want to join the navy?"

Storm's words came from the bottom of his heart.

The Navy has long faced a talent shortage problem.

During the Sengoku period, three "Admiral" emerged in one generation: Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr.

Time flies, and the next generation of Marines will be born, including characters like Kizaru and Akainu.

Strictly speaking...

Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu are not considered to be of the same generation. (Aokiji is almost ten years younger than Kizaru.)

And then Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji.

The Navy could only find "Admiral Candidate" like Momousagi and Chaton.

In the past.

The so-called "Admiral Candidate" actually refers to someone who can immediately take over as the new Admiral once Admiral's Admiral Candidate becomes vacant.

However, Storm was well aware of one thing.

A few years later, the Summit War broke out, the Navy underwent a complete reshuffle, and the World Government launched World Military Draft.

Sengoku semi-retired, Akainu rose to power, Aokiji left the Navy.

Two vacancies suddenly appeared in the position of Admiral.

However, it was not Chaton Tokikake or Momousagi Gion later became Headquarters Admiral.

Instead, they were Fujitora Issho and Ryokugyu Aramaki, selected through World Military Draft!

Why weren't Chaton Tokikake and Momousagi Gion, these two "Admiral Candidate," chosen Admiral?

Is it because Chaton Tokikake and Momousagi Gion don't like being Admiral?

Is it because Chaton and Momousagi prefer to be "Admiral Candidate"?

It's all because these two so-called "Admiral Candidate" are completely no match for Fujitora and Ryokugyu, who were selected through World Military Draft!

The navy cannot cultivate top-notch talent internally.

The only option is to recruit Headquarters Admiral from outside the country through World Military Draft!

What does this tell us?

The navy's top-tier combat power has completely disappeared!

The root cause of the talent shortage is...

Storm believes that Roger ushered in the Great Pirate Era.

Talented, ambitious, and capable young people no longer believe in justice; they all go in pursuit of the "Great Treasure"!

This is the real reason for the talent shortage in the Navy!

Lies don't hurt people.

The truth is the fastest way to cut.

Sengoku found Storm's "truth" incredibly jarring.

"Vice Admiral Storm! You are also a member of the Navy! We are all champions of justice!"

"... Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I remember you seemed to believe in 'justice that reigns supreme over the seas' back then, didn't you?"

Storm paused for a moment, then suddenly brought up a past event.

"But once you step down Admiral and become Fleet Admiral, your justice will become 'Absolute Justice'!"

"So, has your current practice of 'Absolute Justice' helped the Navy's justice 'reign supreme over the sea'?"

"Who truly reigns supreme over the seas? Others may not know, but surely the dignified Fleet Admiral knows?"

These words were spoken.

Sengoku instinctively reached out and touched the white Den Den Mushi beside him.

If it weren't for the white Den Den Mushi diligently interfering with outside eavesdropping signals here.

At this point, Sengoku wanted to just hang up on the Den Den Mushi!

Sometimes.

Sengoku really envied that bastard Garp.

Marine Vice Admiral, what an enviable position...

Headquarters Admiral.

Fleet Admiral of this Command.

Commander-in-Chief of the entire army.

The higher you stand, the more you know.

From eight hundred years ago to today.

The justice that the Navy practices has never been for true justice, but rather to maintain the ruling order of the World Government!

Thinking of this, Sengoku's interest in the conversation suddenly waned.

He shouldn't have talked to Storm about "justice"...

Back when this guy was recommended by Zephyr to join the Sword Unit.

Zephyr once said in his Recommendation Letter--

Vongola Storm possesses his own unique philosophy of justice.

In a sense.

Storm was able to join the "Freedom" Sword Unit.

This demonstrates that Storm's "ideology of justice" is in stark conflict with the Navy's most prevalent principles of justice!

Sengoku shook his head inwardly; he no longer wanted to discuss "justice" with Storm.

"... Let's leave this topic here for now, Storm."

The Sengoku once again employed the tactic of shifting the topic.

"Regarding the Vergo matter... thank you for the information."

When Storm saw that Sengoku had changed the subject, he decided to stop while he was ahead.

To be honest...

Storm didn't want to constantly discuss topics like "justice" and "evil" with others.

But there are always people who jump in his face, shamelessly talking about justice!

There are indeed good naval officers within the navy who uphold justice.

But those were just a very few isolated cases.

For example, Zephyr.

Take T. Penn, for example.

But what kind of justice do the other navies have?

The most "outstanding" young generation that the future navy can find is actually a "deserter king" from the Summit War!

For organizations like this, there's no point in discussing justice...

Storm continued the conversation, following Sengoku's lead.

"Vergo from the G5 Branch? How is he now? Should I go see him?"

As the highest-ranking officer of the G5 Branch and a vice Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Vergo is worth at least a Diamond Trophy!

Storm's standard for judging a pirate was that simple and brutal.

"That's what the Sengoku replied."

"Vergo has been captured by Borsalino and will soon be sent to Impel Down."

"Okay, that works!"

Storm nodded reluctantly.

"Impel Down is indeed a 'good place'!"

"Yeah, haha..."

Sengoku chuckled twice.

An awkward silence then fell between the two.

A few more seconds passed.

Sengoku pursed his lips, but still insisted on speaking.

"Vice Admiral Storm, don't forget your place. You too will eventually return to the Navy..."

Snap!

After saying this, Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi without giving Storm a chance to reply.

Storm listened to the Den Den Mushi's receiver and couldn't help but purse his lips.

Return to the Navy?

On his very first day at the Naval Academy, Storm was already thinking about how to get out of the navy!

What's the point of staying in this crappy navy?

If the Den Den Mushi of the Sengoku hadn't been disconnected.

Storm really wanted to say something to this Fleet Admiral—

"Fleet Admiral, please don't contact me anymore. I'm afraid Professor Zephyr will misunderstand!"

According to Storm...

Rather than returning to the Old Marines.

Let's trust the New Marines!

Although Zephyr's "Non-Killing Justice" is rather weak and not well-suited to this chaotic world of the high seas.

But isn't it better than "Absolute Justice" that upholds the rule of the World Government and protects the interests of the World Nobles?

Storm was just about to drop the Den Den Mushi.

Another ringtone sounded.

The person who contacted us this time was of a higher rank than the Fleet Admiral.

The Gorosei, the Financial Martial God, Izambaron V. Saint Nusjuro!

Storm had a sudden inspiration.

Could it be that the Gorosei also contacted us because of the Donquixote Doflamingo incident?

"Hello..."

Storm had just Den Den Mushi.

Then Saint Nusjuro's angry reprimand came through the receiver.

"White Dragon! Look what you've done!"

Saint Nusjuro asked.

"Why did you target Donquixote Doflamingo? Why did you make it so obvious!? Do you know how important Donquixote Doflamingo's business is to the government—"

"The Gorosei!"

Storm coldly interrupted Saint Nusjuro.

"Do you sell Celestial Dragons? I can buy one for 10,000 Beli."

Storm's words, relayed by Den Den Mushi, reached directly into the Chamber of Power of Pangea Castle.

The other four members of the Gorosei all heard Storm's reply.

Saint Nusjuro was first shocked and stunned, then utterly bewildered, and finally enraged.

"White Dragon! Vongola! Storm! Who do you think you're talking to!?"

"Are the Gorosei very angry?"

"... Um?"

Saint Nusjuro was somewhat taken aback by Storm's answer.

He had just been so angry he was practically fuming, but his rage was strangely suppressed.

"What did you say?"

"If you won't sell Celestial Dragons, then are you going to Celestial Dragons?"

Storm stated bluntly.

"Donquixote Doflamingo is in my hands now, do you want him or not?"

About Donquixote Doflamingo.

Storm had already identified two potential buyers.

One of them is a small boat doctor from North Blue, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.

The other one is the World Government!

Storm pressed on.

"Gorosei, do you want this former Celestial Dragons or not?"

At dawn, 20,000 words, presented here!!

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Goodnight everyone.

Five updates tomorrow.