Without delay.
The World Government directly seized the day and held a press conference.
"Announcing a very unfortunate piece of news: this morning, Marine Headquarters' highest combat power, Admiral 'Akainu,' leading a punitive fleet, was jointly ambushed by the Revolutionary Army and the Flying Pirate Fleet in the Balangiliya Sea of the South Sea..."
"Marine Headquarters Admiral 'Akainu' Sarkas-ji, in order to allow the Marines under his command to safely retreat, resolutely chose to stay behind on the battlefield. Under the siege of powerful enemies like Golden Lion Shiki and Revolutionary Army Dragon, he ultimately succumbed to overwhelming odds and heroically fell in battle!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku wished to resign, but was retained by the World Government's high command. He will temporarily assume the role of Marine Headquarters' Fleet Admiral! Additionally, Marine Headquarters has decided to hold a hero's memorial service for Admiral Sarkas-ji in three days!"
A series of shocking news reports shook the world, causing the Grand Line to tremble.
All major news agencies secretly controlled by the World Government were frantically printing manuscripts directly transmitted by the World Government.
They had to transmit this news across the Grand Line as quickly as possible, seize the initiative, and minimize the impact of the incident.
Not only did they directly portray Marine Hawk-Eye Admiral "Akainu" Sarkas-ji as a subordinate, a Marine hero who sacrificed himself without hesitation.
Of course, Sarkas-ji was an Admiral of the Marine. Although his personality was stubborn and unyielding, everything he did was for justice and self-sacrifice. He truly had the qualifications to be called a hero and a martyr.
The impact of this incident on the World Government could be said to have been reduced to the absolute minimum.
The key was that this reason was reasonable and logical. It even appeared more real and credible!
After all, a Marine Admiral was no pushover. For so many years, no pirate of the Four Emperors had ever killed the Marine's highest combat power.
According to the World Government, in order to allow the fleet under his command to safely retreat, Admiral Akainu resolutely chose to stay behind and single-handedly fought against powerhouses like Revolutionary Army Dragon and Flying Pirate Golden Lion, ultimately succumbing to overwhelming odds and heroically sacrificing himself.
Perhaps the "alliance" between the Revolutionary Army and the Flying Pirates would make many forces and intelligent people somewhat disbelieving. But even an Admiral, who represented the highest combat power of the Marine, had fallen. What else was impossible?
So many years have passed since the Great Pirate Era began, and no Admiral has ever been killed. If the Marine Headquarters' strongest combat force were so easily eliminated by a certain power, then how would the "Four Emperors" of the New World, who had more than once clashed fiercely with Marine Headquarters and fought Marine Admirals, save face?
"Flying Pirate" Golden Lion Shiki was indeed one of the three great legends of the previous era. His reputation even overshadowed the "Four Emperors." But what about Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, who was once his peer? He was publicly recognized as the world's strongest man, yet he couldn't even defeat a Marine Admiral?
The World Government's announcement clearly provided a way out.
One of the world's most vicious criminals, and a pirate legend of the previous era. Such figures needed to join forces to kill a Marine Admiral. Moreover, it happened when a Marine Admiral resolutely stayed behind to "cut off the rear." This was enough to show the "strength" of the Marine's highest combat power!
"Wahahaha, this is the biggest joke I've heard in years..."
"A man like Golden Lion, how could he possibly ally with the Revolutionary Army?"
"Compared to that, I'd rather believe that Golden Lion or the Revolutionary Army itself took down Marine Admiral 'Akainu'..."
But some forces also scoffed at this.
For example, Whitebeard, who understood Golden Lion best, believed that this lion would absolutely not (afcd) ally with the Revolutionary Army.
Even if he allied with someone, he would only prioritize choosing a fellow pirate, one of the "Four Emperors," right?
Even allying with the Four Emperors was basically impossible.
One must know, how arrogant and ambitious Golden Lion was back then. He even wanted to directly recruit Roger, who had not yet become the Pirate King. How could he look up to people like Big Mom and Kaido, who had once barely survived under his might and were now called Four Emperors?
"Hoo... hoo..."
In a certain sea area, a powerful airflow whistled by.
Tens of thousands of meters up in the sky, a gigantic warship soared across, flying towards the Sabaody Archipelago at extreme speed.
"Their movements are quite fast..."
Having received the news via radio waves, Iji couldn't help but sneer: "To save the World Government's face, they even dragged the Revolutionary Army into it..."
"This is understandable. Akainu himself was originally going to the South Sea to suppress the rebels related to the Revolutionary Army. It has to be said, the World Government's announcement can indeed minimize the impact of the incident!"
Sol, "God of Thunder," sitting nearby, directly shrugged: "It's just that the Revolutionary Army is probably going to suffer now. The World Government has suffered a 'great loss,' so there will definitely be retaliatory actions!"
"Shihihihi, in order to let the fleet retreat, they resolutely chose to stay behind and cut off the rear, ultimately succumbing to overwhelming odds and heroically falling in battle..." Shiki walked over, laughing wildly, his face full of mockery: "Tsk tsk, that Admiral Akainu, he even became a Marine hero!"
An Akainu, who would sacrifice his subordinates for a mission without hesitation, would he choose to stay behind to cut off the rear for a mere fleet of less than ten thousand people? Not to mention, among that nearly ten-thousand-strong fleet, it would be good if one-third were elites from Marine Headquarters.
It was simply a huge joke.
"All in all, our Germa has successfully shaken off suspicion. Nothing could be better!"
Iji leaned on the sofa, his fingers interlaced, and murmured, "I just don't know who will fill the Admiral's vacant spot at Marine Headquarters next. Will it be an Admiral candidate from Marine Headquarters like 'Tea Rabbit,' or will they directly recruit a monster from the civilian world who has no ties to the Marine's native faction...?"
But he estimated that the possibility of Tea Rabbit filling the spot was higher.
Of course, if the World Government was already dissatisfied with the Marine and wanted to use this opportunity to reshuffle the complex factions within the Marine, it was very likely that they would directly recruit someone from the civilian world.
"Ugh, ugh..."
And Weevil, carrying several large bags of snacks, sat there with his obese body, continuously gobbling.
He completely ignored their discussion. These things were too brain-consuming for him.
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