"Watch your attitude, Sakazuki. Don't think you can be so disrespectful to us just because you're Fleet Admiral. In the end, your Navy is nothing more than a facade for the government. Even the World Government has to be loyal to and obey the Celestial Dragons, let alone your Navy..."
"Indeed, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, please show some respect. If you continue to speak to us in that tone, don't blame us for reporting this to the government. Then your navy's budget will be... hehehe!!"
Two masked, unidentified men in white robes stood one behind the other, their cold smiles fueling Akainu's anger. The temperature in the room soared, and it seemed as if a fight was about to break out at any moment.
"Alright, Sakazuki, calm down. As far as I know, the other two members of the Seven Deadly Sins haven't made a move in decades, have they? Their high-profile appearance this time isn't to target that man, is it?"
Just as the situation was about to erupt, Vice Admiral and Supreme Commander Tsuru spoke up. She intervened just in time to stop the impending conflict as Akainu's anger flared, white poisonous smoke billowed out, and he was about to stand up and attack the two men.
"Hehehe, is there anyone in the Navy who understands things? Ms. Tsuru, we know you. As the highest-ranking officer in the General Staff for several years, you must be familiar with our organization. So, we'll trouble you to explain to the newly appointed Fleet Admiral Sakazuki why we have the confidence and strength to put pressure on your Navy..."
Seeing that Tsuru, who had been sitting quietly to the side without interrupting, spoke up, the masked man who had first given orders to Akainu and put pressure on him, and whose status seemed to be slightly higher than the person behind him, chuckled and said.
Tsuru glanced at Akainu, who had gradually calmed down and sat down, then looked up at Kizaru, who was holding a teacup, casually putting his feet up, and looking relaxed. Seeing that Kizaru seemed interested in learning more, Tsuru sighed and then explained to the two of them.
"Very well, Akainu, you'll be learning about this soon enough, so let me tell you beforehand. The Seven Deadly Sins are said to have originated eight hundred years ago when the nineteen kings of Mary Geoise founded the World Government and the Marine Headquarters to guard the four seas and the Grand Line."
Then, in Mary Geoise, they created the Cipher Pol as a foundation to serve the World Government. The Seven Deadly Sins are composed of the seven strongest members selected from each generation of CP, and like CP0, they directly obey the Celestial Dragons ' orders, but their status is higher. They won't easily act unless it threatens the Celestial Dragons ' rule, and as far as I know, they haven't appeared for decades. I just don't know why they're here this time..."
The crane explained to the two of them.
"Hehehe, let me tell you about this. The reason is simple: it's all about betting..."
The crane's words revealed their true identities: they were Mammon, the fifth of the Seven Deadly Sins, and Asmodeus, the seventh, who were ordered to capture Catherine and execute Luo Chen and his group.
As soon as the crane finished speaking and turned its gaze toward them, Mammon stepped forward and continued the conversation.
"Bet?"
Even Kizaru, who had been sitting there without saying a word, was surprised to hear this answer.
"Heh, not bad, it's a gamble. I'm sure you've all seen Saint Orange, who came to inspect the Marine Headquarters a while ago. He's the one we Seven Deadly Sins are betting on this time. Having received the highest inheritance from the progenitor of the Gustav Family Clan, he will be Gustav's sole heir, and one of the top three among the nineteen royals, achieving a status comparable to Lord Imu. And this is the one that the Pride Leader is betting on..."
"Yes, I was instructed by the Pride Leader to bring back Saint Orange's fiancée, Catherine Palace, and at the same time deal with the culprit, the pirate Luo Chen. This matter has already been reported to the World Government, and I believe the Five Elders will receive news from them soon."
Dududu...
Dududu...
However, less than a second or two after Asmodeus finished speaking, a Den Den Mushi ( Akainu Den Den Mushi) on Akainu's desk, which connects directly to the highest levels of the government, rang.
The gurgling sound drew everyone's attention.
"Hehehe, it seems the Five Elders have all called. Answer them, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki. Once you've received them all, you'll understand..."
Upon seeing the Den Den Mushi, Mammon seemed to remember something and chuckled as he spoke to the three of them.
Click...
After looking around, Akainu answered the phone.
"Moshi moshi... This is the Fleet Admiral's Office."
Akainu answered the phone and asked the question first.
" Sakazuki, it's us. A secret Celestial Dragons organization should be heading to Marineford today. Whatever their demands, your Navy should cooperate fully..."
When Den Den Mushi answered the Akainu, it transformed into the appearance of an old man with white hair and a long beard, who spoke to him in a condescending tone.
"What? Five Elders, you must know what outrageous demands they've made—altering classified documents, arbitrarily changing achievements. I cannot accept this..."
" Akainu... the decisions made by our government are not to be refused. In the end, you are merely the face of the government; as long as you obey orders, that's all that matters..."
The Five Elders opposite seemed to have lost face because of Akainu's refusal. He stopped calling him by his name and started calling him by his code name, his tone becoming more heated.
"Snort!!"
Click...
Akainu ignored them, snorted coldly, and hung up the phone, greatly angering the Five Elders in Mary Geoise.
In Mary Geoise, inside the Five Elders' meeting room, five highly respected elders sat on the sofa, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"It seems that Sakazuki isn't entirely obedient to the government. This is problematic. If that's the case, was our decision to put him in power wrong?"
The Five Elders, whose faces changed after being rejected by Sakazuki, then addressed the others.
"Heh... what's the point of saying this now? But relax this time, with He there, I believe he'll make the right choice..."
One of the bald old men, holding a sword, said coldly.
"Then let's wait and see..."
The other of the Five Elders remained noncommittal.
Then they went to Marineford's Fleet Admiral's Office.
"What? Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, now that the government has given the order, you're not going to comply? That would go against the very purpose of your navy..."
Mammon saw him angrily hang up the phone, ignoring his cold, pale face, and spoke sarcastically without any mercy.
"Hmph, what original intention? The Navy's original intention was simply to deal with the garbage of the sea, not to protect those high-ranking officials..."
Sakazuki said this, but his confidence seemed somewhat lacking.
Hehehe...
Mammon and his companion did not answer, but instead gave him a cold laugh, as if mocking him.
"Stop talking about Sakazuki. Just do as they say. He's just a Shichibukai. I know you're only doing this because you care about your authority as Fleet Admiral, but you haven't been in office long enough to understand that a Fleet Admiral should be flexible and adaptable, just like Sengoku..."
Crane sighed again and tried to comfort him.
"Hmph, I'm not that old man who's now playing the invisible card. I'll give you face for now, but only this time..."
Sakazuki understood that no matter how angry he was, he couldn't change the government's decision, so he had no choice but to swallow his pride and accept the situation.