Chapter 394: The Darkness of the Pirate World

Aokiji said expressionlessly, "Are you joking, Shanks?"

Even he felt it was absurd.

If you were recruiting an ordinary Marine, that would be one thing, but he was a Marine Admiral, the highest combat power of the Navy; would he really defect just because of a few words from you? "No, I am very serious."

Shanks revealed a serious expression and said, "You are not a qualified Marine, Kuzan, come with me and become an adventurer!"

"Ridiculous, Shanks."

Cold air spewed from Aokiji's mouth, his mood inexplicably irritable.

The fighting spirit that had already vanished rose once again, causing the atmosphere that had originally dissipated to become tense and ready for battle once more.

To say he was not suited to be a Marine,

the subtext was to question his Justice Will.

Having upheld justice for countless years and grown all the way to become a Marine Admiral, it was only natural for Aokiji to be angry at having his most fundamental will questioned.

This was a person's conviction, just like Luffy wanting to become the freest person on the sea, or Sanji's wish and dream of eating the Transparent Fruit being refuted.

In higher-level worlds, this kind of conflict of conviction could even lead to contamination and corruption.

Originally,

Aokiji had nearly killed the Straw Hat Crew because of Robin's little schemes, and it had taken great effort for him to stabilize his thoughts and decide to continue observing the right and wrong of the Justice Will, yet Shanks pulls this stunt? Even if his strength was inferior to Shanks,

if it came to a life-or-death struggle, Aokiji would not hesitate at all.

Shanks continued, "If you were truly willing to uphold the Navy's justice, no one would have survived the Ohara incident."

Bang.

The ground was pierced, and dozens of Ice Spears wrapped in cold air shot out.

Shanks's body swayed slightly, dodging all the Ice Spears, and he stood in the gaps where the spears crossed.

Shanks did not counterattack, but continued, "The Navy's justice does not suit you."

Aokiji frowned deeply and responded, "The current Navy has already broken free from the control of the World Government, Shanks; your methods of provocation are too childish."

The Navy of the past had indeed done countless things that disappointed Aokiji, and even Aokiji could not accurately judge justice and evil.

But that was all because of the World Government, and now, with the help of the Samsara Game, the Navy Alliance had already broken free from the World Government's control.

It was a brand new, independent organization of justice.

"It is not a provocation."

Looking at the hostile Aokiji, Shanks still maintained his intention to recruit him, and a voice slowly drifted over.

A blind man leaning on a purple cane with his eyes tightly shut walked to Shanks's side, his body emitting an aura extremely similar to Shanks's.

"Ashura?"

Aokiji raised his eyelids, looked at the blind man who had suddenly appeared, and quickly identified his identity.

Fujitora,

a Paramecia Heavy-Heavy Fruit user, with a gentle and upright personality and a strong sense of justice; his game profession was Ashura.

The Navy Alliance had once recruited him, but Fujitora, who had originally been quite fond of the Navy, suddenly defected in the end and chose to join the Adventurer Guild.

Aokiji had read the other party's file, so he was able to recognize him.

"Admiral Aokiji."

Fujitora bowed slightly, offering a polite salute to Kuzan.

With his lenses obscured by cold air, Aokiji frowned and asked, "You, who refused to join the Navy Alliance, have already abandoned justice; do you now want to come and turn me against them?"

He was actually quite curious about the reason Fujitora had ultimately rejected the Navy.

No matter how one judged it, the Navy was the greatest hero in maintaining the stability of the sea, not the adventurers who upheld Free Will and threw the world into chaos.

It was truly strange that someone with Fujitora's personality would make such a choice.

Fujitora shook his head gently and said, "It was only after careful consideration that this old man felt the future described by Guild Leader Shanks is the true justice." "Nonsense!"

"Admiral Aokiji, has your immense power caused you to lose your way?"

Fujitora's tone was stiff and unyielding as he said, "What this old man values is the safety of the common people, not serving the hypocritical justice of the Navy; shouldn't rejecting the Navy be the right thing to do?"

"Hypocritical justice?"

Aokiji's face was annoyed, and he said coldly, "Fujitora, who do you think is maintaining the stability of this sea?"

If not for the patrols of the Navy, the countless countries of the Si Hai would have long since been ravaged by pirates.

For this,

countless young Marines had sacrificed their lives, and he would never allow others to slander the Navy.

Fujitora suddenly countered, "So, has the living environment of the common people changed?"

"Of course it has changed, the Navy captures pirates..."

Aokiji wanted to refute, but was interrupted by Fujitora.

Fujitora said, "Before this old man considered rejecting the Navy, I traveled through countless towns and countries; things did not get better because of the Navy's independence, and the common people are still struggling in deep water and scorching fire."

"Even harder than before."

Aokiji did not speak, doubt appearing in his eyes.

Having been baptized by the Samsara Game, the Navy Alliance's strength had greatly increased, and most of those scattered pirate crews had been wiped out.

How could the common people be living even harder?

Fujitora sighed and said, "Admiral Aokiji, do you really think the only enemies of the common people are pirates?"

"The World Government has turned into the God Clan, and the former Heavenly Tribute has been changed to the God Clan Sacrifice; every country must offer up a large amount of resources to the God Clan."

"Has the Navy ever stopped this?"

Aokiji remained silent.

Although the Navy Alliance had broken free from the control of the World Government, it still maintained a delicate cooperative relationship, so naturally, it was impossible for them to fall out with the other party over such a matter.

After a while, Aokiji opened his mouth and said, "After returning, I will discuss with the Fleet Admiral to let the World Government lower the Kinkaku."

Cancellation is definitely impossible.

But a reduction is hopeful to achieve, and by then, the lives of commoners should be much better.

Fujitora sneered, "The World Government lowers the Kinkaku, and then it will be taken away by the Navy Alliance, right?"

Listening to the implication in his words, Aokiji asked, "What do you mean?"

As far as he knew, the resources of the Navy Alliance were mostly a portion of the Reward Points from Navy members of all ranks hunting Pollution Monsters, gathered after a portion was contributed.

There was also another portion, which was the military expenditure for the Navy stationed in the countries of the Si Hai.

Bang! The Purple cane slammed hard into the ground, emitting a crisp sound, and Fujitora said with a livid face, "Go ask Fleet Admiral Sengoku yourself, where do the resources for those commanders originally belonging to various branches to cultivate 【First-Class Players】 under their command come from?"

"Branch Commanders trade with local Nobles, selling commoners like cattle and horses!"

"Slaves are everywhere in the countries of the Si Hai!"

"Even worse, some secretly cooperate with the World Government, kidnapping Vegapunk, and using his scientific technology to inject Corpse Poison extracted from the Zombie World into the bodies of commoners, infecting entire towns, treating commoners as zombies to hunt, and earning Reward Points!"

Countless unbearable darknesses were uncovered by Fujitora.

He originally did not believe these either, until he saw them with his own eyes, and was shocked that these Nobles and high-ranking officials could actually treat human lives as such lowly things.

"How is that possible?!"

Aokiji's gaze suddenly tightened, and cold sweat slid down his temples, freezing into ice shards.

How could the Navy Alliance do such things? Would Fleet Admiral Sengoku allow it?

Does Vice Admiral Tsuru know about this?

(End of this chapter)