"Alright, I appreciate your attitude."
Caelan looked at Aokiji with satisfaction.
He had long wanted to bring Aokiji over, and now his wish had finally come true. The Neo Navy had gained another powerful admiral.
Aokiji stood behind Caelan, already taking his place.
Sengoku looked at Aokiji's actions and felt deeply conflicted.
This had been his most favored successor, the one meant to become fleet admiral and lead the Navy into a new era of glory.
Now, the Navy had fallen to this state, and Aokiji had left. It was truly over.
After recruiting Aokiji, Caelan didn't stop there. He turned to Borsalino.
"Admiral Kizaru, do you want to join my Neo Navy? The benefits are far better than what you get now."
"Could you tell me exactly how generous it is?" Borsalino asked lazily.
He had no intention of changing sides, but he was curious about the offer.
Caelan said, "One and a half times the salary."
Borsalino gulped, visibly moved. "Gulp~"
Caelan continued, "Five insurances and one pension fund. Full retirement benefits, based on your years of service in the Navy."
Borsalino's eyes lit up. "That's very humane."
"Flexible working hours, and vacation after completing missions."
Borsalino couldn't resist any longer and agreed smoothly, "The Neo Navy is truly a righteous force. They need someone like me to contribute."
Besides, the World Government had committed countless atrocities and was already crumbling. It was no longer a place for someone with insight like him.
"Welcome aboard. The Neo Navy needs talents like you." Caelan smiled warmly.
"Kizaru, you're leaving too?"
Sengoku finally couldn't hold back.
Although Borsalino was usually lazy, he had been quite effective and was one of Sengoku's trusted subordinates.
While not as deeply valued as Aokiji, whom Sengoku saw as his heir, Borsalino was still like his right hand.
Now, with two of the three admirals joining the Neo Navy, the Navy had become a hollow shell.
"Sorry, Fleet Admiral Sengoku." Borsalino smiled casually. "I've been in the Navy for many years and have deep feelings for it. But now it seems that the Neo Navy is the better choice."
"Ah, I won't try to stop you."
Sengoku shook his head and didn't attempt to persuade him further.
The Navy had rotted so much that even if they wanted to retain people, they couldn't.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, if you can't bear to part with your two old subordinates, why don't you come with us to the Neo Navy?" Caelan said with a smile. "I may not be able to offer you the position of Fleet Admiral, but I'm planning to establish eight general-level positions. There's certainly a spot for you."
Sengoku declined without hesitation. "Thank you for the offer, but I have no intention of leaving the Navy."
Even though the Navy had decayed, his feelings for it ran deep. He had no desire to abandon it.
If he had to go down with the Navy, so be it. He was an old man now.
"I understand." Caelan didn't press him and planned to deal with him later.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, before I came here, Gion was really worried about you," Caelan said to Tsuru. "Come with me to the Neo Navy. See how she's doing."
Vice Admiral Tsuru looked perfectly composed, not like some of the other female characters who became grotesque with age.
In this world, she was one of the few women who retained her dignity.
"Gion... I didn't expect she still cares about her old sister." Tsuru sighed softly.
They had only been apart for two or three months, and Gion had already become an admiral of the Neo Navy, while her own Navy was about to collapse.
It was truly a bitter feeling.
After a brief silence, Tsuru looked at Caelan and said seriously, "I'm too old now. I don't want to be running around anymore. I'd rather retire with the Navy."
"So you want to live and die with the Navy?" Caelan frowned.
Before setting out, Gion had given him special instructions regarding this old woman.
If Tsuru insisted on staying with the Navy, it would certainly sadden Gion.
"After all, I'm old now, and there's nothing left I'm attached to." Tsuru smiled gently. "But I do have a granddaughter. I hope you'll will take care of her."
"You should take care of your granddaughter yourself," Caelan said bluntly. "Since you don't want to go to the Neo Navy, I'll just tie you up and take you. I believe Gion will thank me."
"I'll ask you one last time. Are you going or not?"
What a joke. Say "no" and think that's the end of it? This wasn't some casual job interview.
He'd just tie Tsuru up and hand her over to Gion. Let her deal with the persuasion.
"Aren't you being a bit unreasonable?"
"Even if you kidnap me, the Neo Navy won't get my true loyalty!"
Tsuru's gentle expression stiffened, and she looked at Caelan with a bit of astonishment.
Only then did she remember that the man in front of her was the fearsome God Slayer.
He had been kind and respectful toward Aokiji and Borsalino only because they agreed quickly.
If she hesitated even a little, the consequences might be very different.
She suddenly didn't know whether to agree or not.
"I don't know what you're trying to say," Caelan said. "I just know you'll be unhappy if you stay. Gion would be too."
"My job is just to bring you back. Gion will take care of the rest."
"If you can't decide, I'll decide for you."
Caelan curled his lip and spoke indifferently.
In a flash, he moved behind Tsuru.
Tsuru didn't even have time to react before he grabbed her shoulder.
Instinctively, she activated the powers of the Wash-Wash Fruit.
Caelan's expression remained calm, and he silently tightened his grip.
The power of her Devil Fruit was completely nullified by Divine A.
"Ouch!" Tsuru was shocked that her fruit's power had failed. She also felt an overwhelming force pressing down on her.
"Tsuru!" Sengoku shouted in alarm when he saw his old comrade caught by Caelan.
Garp, who had been keeping out of things, finally moved. "Tsuru! I'm coming to save you!"
A massive golden Buddha and a Haki-clad fist attacked Caelan at the same time.
Caelan raised his left hand, and the Sun God Spear appeared.
With a powerful sweep, both Sengoku and Garp were sent flying.
"Tsuru!"
"Tsuru!"
Sengoku and Garp shouted as they were knocked back.
"Sengoku, Garp, you're no match for him! Don't be reckless!" Tsuru called out, desperate to stop her old comrades.
She knew very well that humans had limits. As humans, Sengoku and Garp would never be able to defeat someone like Caelan, a monster who could resurrect.
"Don't hurt Sengoku or Garp! They'll die!" Tsuru pleaded. "I promise you. I'll return to the Neo Navy with you!"
(To be continued.)