After leaving Pangaea Castle and Mariejois, aboard Sengoku's flagship, only Sengoku and the Three Admirals remained in the office within the ship's cabin.
For a long time, no one spoke, and the room was engulfed in heavy silence.
The tense atmosphere was only broken when Aokiji suddenly spoke up.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there's still one thing I don't understand. Since we've completely severed ties with the World Government and even declared independence, why don't we just..."
As he spoke, Aokiji made a slashing motion near his neck with his hand.
This statement and gesture made both Akainu and Kizaru look at him in surprise.
Was this really the same Aokiji who was usually more indecisive?
Since when did he start talking about silencing witnesses?
"I'm glad you've come to this realization," Sengoku raised his head with an approving expression.
"But we can't rush this... Not only do the Five Elders possess unfathomable power themselves, but don't forget this is Mary Geoise, where the Celestial Dragons' God's Knights are stationed..."
"We might still have a chance."
"You're not wrong. I have full confidence in your abilities and my own... But think more carefully. If the entire World Government could be toppled through just one desperate battle, why hasn't that brat Michael done it already? He's been aiming for rebellion from the very beginning."
Though Sengoku's words didn't directly answer Aokiji's question, they convinced him nonetheless.
Indeed, if it was just about power, anything they could do, Michael could certainly accomplish—and probably do it better.
Yet even after openly opposing the World Government as part of the Revolutionary Army, he still hadn't chosen to storm Mary Geoise directly.
That was worth pondering.
Aokiji lowered his head in deep thought.
Given Michael's personality—always ready to fight at the slightest provocation—he wouldn't hesitate when violence could directly solve a problem.
This meant...
Even Michael had reservations!
The World Government... might not be as simple as they imagined!
"I see you've calmed down enough to understand," Sengoku sighed before continuing. "Although we're about to lead the Marines to independence, that doesn't mean we'll immediately become enemies with the World Government... For a long time to come, at least until we locate where the World Government keeps 'Uranus,' we can't escalate from complete severance to open warfare."
"Uranus? One of the three legendary Ancient Weapons?" Aokiji nodded slowly in comprehension.
"If we're dealing with a mythical Ancient Weapon, then caution is indeed necessary."
But when Akainu and Kizaru exchanged glances, they both saw shock in each other's eyes.
Was Sengoku implying that...
If not for the existence of "Uranus," he would have led the Marines to besiege Mary Geoise directly?
Once someone like Sengoku had this realization, there would be no stopping him.
Just as the two closest friends were sharing this silent exchange, Sengoku suddenly looked up and smiled at them.
"I know Kuzan well—you weren't particularly close with Michael, no deep personal connection... So before Michael's identity as a Revolutionary was exposed, you probably had little interaction with him..."
"But you two are a different story altogether."
"Borsalino, Michael appeared and informed you about 'Uranus,' and though you've never said it outright, you've always held the World Government in the lowest regard..."
"As for Sakazuki... while you and Michael never seemed to get along, I've always had this inexplicable sense that your every move was, in essence, aligning with Michael's actions. Can you... explain that?"
As soon as the words fell, a sharp glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes, followed by the terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki.
Akainu and Kizaru both stiffened.
After a long silence, they sighed in unison.
Seeing this, Sengoku withdrew his Conqueror's Haki and asked coldly, "When did you two start colluding with Michael?"
"Marshal Sengoku, though you're interrogating us, could you perhaps choose your words more carefully?" Kizaru forced a bitter smile. "The word 'colluding' makes it sound like we have some shady relationship!"
"And what about your relationship with him is anything but shady!?"
"Ahem. I merely made choices based on the Marine's circumstances at the time, decisions that aligned with both my own interests and the Marine's," Kizaru explained, spreading his hands.
"And as for the current Marine, well... there's no need to even mention it. Whether it's our stance or our interests, they're practically indistinguishable from Michael's now. You could even say the Marine today is just another Revolutionary Army."
Sengoku watched as Kizaru grew increasingly at ease with his own words but didn't press him too hard.
After all, this was just Kizaru's nature.
The fact that he had truthfully brought back the intel on Uranus had already been a pleasant surprise for Sengoku.
But Akainu...
"Marshal Sengoku, even with that look in your eyes, my conscience is clear." Akainu puffed on his cigar, lighting it slowly.
"But I must report and expose something—back when Michael was just a rear admiral, he already showed me his unusual ambitions... and he even asked me if I wanted to become the fleet admiral."
"And did you want to?"
"Do you want to retire now?" Akainu shrugged without a trace of guilt. "I believe that after you, the position of fleet admiral is mine for the taking... So I've always kept a close eye on Michael's situation... After all, that was his promise back then."
"And yet you didn't hesitate to sell him out completely."
"Marshal Sengoku... let's speak plainly. Ever since you declared the Marines' independence before the Five Elders, there's no longer any real conflict between us and Michael." Akainu exhaled a long stream of smoke, letting it curl around him.
"Of course, as you said, until we locate Uranus, we can't openly ally with Michael and the Revolutionary Army. We must maintain the appearance of opposition... Otherwise, if we push the World Government too far and they unleash Uranus, things could get ugly..."
"Hey hey hey... Sakazuki... Since when do you care about other people's lives?" Aokiji looked utterly incredulous.
"Am I dreaming?"
"As a Marine admiral, I didn't have to consider it..."
Akainu flicked his cigar ash, his eyes calm.
"But when you view things from the perspective of a fleet admiral, you have no choice."