Watching the reactions of the three middle-aged and elderly figures, Caelan couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
It almost looked like he was abducting an old woman.
If he had really just forcibly taken her for himself, that would be one thing, but in truth, he was only taking Tsuru on behalf of Gion.
When she surrendered, Caelan immediately released his grip and allowed her to regain her freedom.
He had no interest in playing out some disturbing scene with an elderly woman. That would just be too cruel.
Sengoku and Garp also calmed down, no longer intending to start trouble with Caelan.
Sengoku spoke with some sadness, "I'm sorry. We acted on impulse. On second thought, it's better if Tsuru goes with you."
Garp added, "Tsuru, just stay with the Neo Navy. I'll bring my grandson to visit you when I retire."
Now that the Navy had fallen to this state, keeping Tsuru here would only be a burden.
"You two don't have to wait until later. Just come with me today," Caelan said to Garp and Sengoku.
"I won't join the Neo Navy. I'll stay in the Navy and fall with it," Sengoku responded firmly.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is your final chance to reconsider," Caelan said with a smile. "If you don't join, you'll be the enemy of the Neo Navy. I'll have to capture you and hand you over to Admiral Zephyr."
"And you, Vice Admiral Garp. Although Luffy is the son of my partner, the Neo Navy will never tolerate pirates. He'll be captured and sent to Admiral Zephyr for reformation."
"You're handing me over to Zephyr?" Sengoku's expression twisted in discomfort at the thought.
Zephyr was an old comrade. Despite previous conflicts over the World Government, they were still brothers-in-arms.
Sengoku had even killed Weevil to avenge Zephyr's lost arm.
But being captured by Caelan and handed over to Zephyr would be humiliating. That would hurt more than death.
"You want to capture Luffy and let Zephyr train him?" Garp was stunned. "Caelan, I'll support the Neo Navy myself!"
He had always been worried he couldn't guide Luffy properly. But now Caelan was offering a famous teacher.
Zephyr had trained countless Marine officers and made even the worst troublemakers obedient.
His godson Ace had been executed by Akainu, and his prized student was killed by the Five Elders.
He had no more reason to stay in the Navy.
Now, his only wish was to bring Luffy back on the right path.
There was no good ending for pirates, especially when facing someone like Caelan. That was a death sentence.
Joining the Neo Navy and working with Zephyr to train Luffy was the best choice.
Thinking this through, Garp turned to Sengoku and advised, "Don't be stubborn. You can't beat him. If you agree, you'll join with dignity. If not, you'll go as a prisoner."
"Be decent, Sengoku. Just go with him."
He was deliberately making things difficult for Sengoku.
After all, he still held resentment over Ace's death.
Of course, what he said was true. At this point, Sengoku didn't have the right to choose.
Tsuru, seeing how far things had come, understood that it was inevitable that Caelan would take over the upper ranks of the Navy. She could only accept reality.
So she also advised, "Sengoku, just agree. Do you really want Zephyr to laugh at you?"
After multiple angles of persuasion, Sengoku finally gave up.
There was no way to refuse anymore.
If he were captured by the Neo Navy, not only Zephyr but even the Marines who had defected would mock him.
Finally, Sengoku had no choice but to compromise.
"I agree to join the Neo Navy. But I don't need an admiral's position. Just make me a disciplinary officer."
For someone who had served as Fleet Admiral, becoming an admiral in the Neo Navy would be too humiliating.
Better to serve as a disciplinarian, maintain order and standards, and guide the Neo Navy's development.
That way, at least he could hold his head high.
"Welcome aboard, Chief Inspector of the Neo Navy, Sengoku."
Caelan saw through Sengoku's intentions but showed no dissatisfaction.
He looked around at the high-ranking officers behind him, very pleased.
A former Fleet Admiral, two admirals, a Navy hero, and the Chief of Staff.
Aside from Akainu, who had been taken by Saint Jaygarcia Saturn and Saint Nusjuro, the rest of the Navy's leadership had now joined him.
Combined with the 256 Devil Fruits obtained from Impel Down, the Neo Navy already had the power to take over the world.
It wouldn't be long before the World Government was toppled completely.
When the time came, he would personally remove Imu's mask and see what kind of being was behind it.
With his goal at Marine Headquarters fully achieved, it was time to leave.
"Kaido, take us to Dressrosa," Caelan ordered using the power of the Command Spell.
"Roar!"
Kaido roared, reluctantly transforming into a 600-meter-long blue dragon.
Caelan leapt onto the dragon's head, while Sengoku, Aokiji, Borsalino, Tsuru, and Garp stood on the dragon's back, holding Luffy.
The blue dragon soared into the sky and headed toward Dressrosa.
Before leaving, Caelan turned back and declared, "All Marine officers and soldiers. If you wish to join the Neo Navy, come to Dressrosa. That is where true justice lies!"
The 50,000 remaining Marines at the base were all stunned as they watched the blue dragon carry Caelan and the entirety of the Navy's high command into the sky.
The Navy's top brass was gone.
"The Fleet Admiral and the others joined the Neo Navy... What now?"
"Is there anyone left who can make decisions?"
"The Navy is finished. All the top brass are gone!"
The elite vice admirals and branch officers were at a complete loss.
Only Akainu remained, severely wounded. The rest had defected to the opposing camp.
The Neo Navy had suddenly grown overwhelmingly powerful, while the current Navy had been reduced to a shell.
Of course, they still had the advantage in numbers.
Marine Headquarters had 50,000 elite troops, and the branches held millions more.
But after witnessing the Battle of Marineford, they understood that numbers were meaningless.
Against monsters like the admirals and the Yonko, one person alone could wipe out 100,000 troops if there wasn't someone equally strong to stop them.
Especially Caelan, the God Slayer.
If that divine spear hadn't been aimed at the sky but at Marine Headquarters, none of them would have survived.
Many Marines felt nauseated at the thought of facing the Neo Navy, led by several admirals and a god.
They were no match.
"Do I really want to be enemies with the Neo Navy?" some muttered.
"But the Navy now isn't even worth defending."
Suddenly, many remembered Caelan's final words.
Come to Dressrosa. True justice is there.
Once the thought of surrender took root, the horizon seemed to widen.
Naval headquarters and branch forces around the world could no longer sit still.
Countless warships set sail for Dressrosa.
The glorious era of the Neo Navy had begun.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ 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.)