Navy Headquarters.
Caelan stepped forward and clapped his hands lightly.
Though the movement was subtle, it immediately drew the attention of the entire Navy.
Every action of an absolute powerhouse was worth watching carefully, even for ants.
Caelan said calmly to the Marines, "Bring all usable video Den Den Mushi here. I want to make an announcement to the world."
"…"
Most of the Marines looked at Caelan timidly. They didn't want to move, but they also didn't dare to disobey. They were caught in a dilemma.
This was a god-like figure who had just annihilated three of the Five Elders. His orders felt as heavy as divine decrees.
But that god stood against them, an enemy who had destroyed all the Navy's pride.
In the end, the sailors only shifted back and forth within a five-centimeter radius, but still didn't move.
Even if they died, they didn't want to bear the shame of being deserters.
Perhaps dying like this would be a form of relief. At least they wouldn't have to dwell on the pain of shattered ideals.
"Go. Bring all the video Den Den Mushi here." Sengoku sighed and gave the order. "This is a direct command."
The battle was over.
The World Government had suffered a crushing defeat. The Navy was no longer the force that once maintained order across the seas. It had become a vicious dog serving the World Government, a different breed of pirate.
After enduring such a devastating blow, Sengoku was disheartened and hopeless. Everything in the world seemed dull.
But the remaining Marines should not die in vain for such a Navy.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku…"
The Marines looked at Sengoku with puzzled expressions.
This tall, imposing admiral who had led the Navy for more than a decade now stood hunched over.
Even Sengoku had lost faith in the Navy.
With his order, the surviving Marines finally moved.
Although the Marine Headquarters had been almost completely destroyed by the battle, Caelan's decisive attack had been launched toward the sky, so many of the Den Den Mushi on the warships stationed at the edges of the base had survived.
Soon, dozens of video Den Den Mushi surrounded Caelan from all angles.
His full image was projected on televisions across the world.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone at Marine Headquarters and the world, Caelan began his declaration.
"Pirates run rampant across the seas. The World Government is tyrannical and unjust. Most of the people in this world live in suffering."
"It has been like this for eight hundred years. People have grown used to their pain."
"This world has long since rotted. It is terminally ill."
"I will establish a new order and become the new master."
"I now proclaim this to the World Government and to all pirates who spread chaos across the seas."
"The end has come. All of you, prepare for death."
Caelan's voice was calm and steady, filled with an irresistible will.
He wasn't declaring war. He was foreshadowing his victory.
The World Government, which had stood for eight centuries, and the chaotic Great Pirate Era, would all come to an end by his hand.
"He's so absurdly confident that he already sees the World Government as a corpse," Sengoku said as he looked at Caelan with a sigh.
Only Caelan had the confidence to treat such massive powers as if they were already under his heel.
The World Government that had lasted for eight hundred years had finally met the one who would bring about its downfall.
"…"
Tens of thousands of Marines on-site looked at Caelan with complex expressions.
He was their enemy, yet his declaration was powerful and just.
Wiping out pirates had been their ideal. Overthrowing the World Government and killing the Celestial Dragons was something they didn't even dare to dream about.
Whether they dared or not, Caelan had announced it to the world.
And what he said wasn't just empty words. He had already backed it with action and achieved a stunning victory.
How were they supposed to respond?
Continue serving the World Government and stand against Caelan?
The same World Government that exploited the people and destroyed entire nations within three years.
Would they oppose Caelan?
No matter how they looked at it, it was a losing battle.
The tens of thousands of Marines present immediately started forming their own thoughts. Some wanted to resign and return to their hometowns to protect their regions. Others wanted to join the Neo Navy and help overthrow the World Government.
But Caelan didn't care what they were thinking. He simply looked at Aokiji.
"Aokiji, I've invited you several times. Now, do you want to join the Neo Navy? I'll still give you the position of Fleet Admiral."
Seeing Caelan openly trying to recruit people, the corners of Sengoku's and Borsalino's mouths twitched, but neither moved to stop him.
"I wanted to be an admiral in the Navy…"
Aokiji trailed off in a daze, but then noticed Caelan's half-smile.
Caelan said, "Fleet Admiral of the Navy... is that position even yours to take? Can you solve the Navy's problems just by becoming fleet admiral?"
"…"
Aokiji had no response.
In this war, Akainu had performed far better than he did. Akainu had also been favored by the Five Elders. The position of Fleet Admiral was practically his already.
The Navy had suffered heavy casualties, but even more devastating was the collapse of faith.
If the Neo Navy didn't exist, the Marines could still compete with pirates and limp along.
But compared to the Neo Navy, the Navy was already a rotting corpse.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the current Navy was a filthy, festering pit.
The Neo Navy's future was bright. Many of Aokiji's former comrades, who shared his vision of justice, had already joined.
Thinking of this, his long-held "lazy justice" was beginning to shift into "striving justice."
"I only have one choice now." After thinking it through, Aokiji made his decision. "I'll join the Neo Navy and pursue true justice."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)