Chapter 396: The Rift in the Navy Alliance

Navy Alliance Headquarters,

Fleet Admiral Sengoku's expression was gloomy; even the white dove that usually perched on his head could not withstand this low pressure and flapped its wings to leave.

When he first received the news, he even suspected that the Information Department had been infiltrated by the enemy and was spreading false information.

It was not until Navy personnel returned to the headquarters one after another to report,

and there were no signs of them being controlled by Genjutsu, that Sengoku accepted the facts.

"Sengoku, the most urgent matter is to contact Aokiji; nothing is set in stone yet."

The aged yet wise and elegant Staff Officer Tsuru rarely showed a look of worry.

Although she was persuading Sengoku with her words, she herself found it difficult to remain calm.

An Admiral defecting.

Once confirmed, the nature of this is extremely severe.

Among the hundreds of Navy branches spread across the Si Hai, including the Marine Headquarters, it was not as if defectors had never appeared before.

For example, Iron Fist Garp's own son, the Leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon.

Or, for another example, the current Elite cadre under the Flamingo Pirate Crew, formerly Colonel Axe-Hand Morgan of the East Blue Branch.

Defection is not new, but Navy personnel granted the title of Admiral are all carefully selected by the Navy Alliance and symbolize the majesty of the Navy patrolling the Si Hai.

Aokiji's defection is a massive blow to the Navy's reputation.

Sengoku took a deep breath, golden Buddha Light erupting from his eyes as he barely steadied himself and asked: "Tell me in detail exactly what happened in the Zombie World!"

Staff Officer Tsuru was right; nothing was set in stone yet. Although Aokiji turned a blind eye to the Navy's battle, there might be hidden circumstances.

Moreover, he only ignored the battle and did not directly attack the Navy.

In this situation, setting aside his words about wanting to leave the Navy, at worst, it would only amount to a pay deduction.

"In Jiang Family Town, a suspected Dark Gold-level zombie was discovered. Admiral Aokiji and the Straw Hat Pirates engaged in battle, and then he was intercepted by the suddenly appearing Hongfa Xiangkesi..."

"The two did not fight, but after Admiral Aokiji made contact with him, he made the statement about leaving the Navy."

Xiangkesi?!

Sengoku's face turned livid, and his tightly clenched fist slowly landed on the conference table.

Boom.

The Buddha Light surrounding the surface of his fist touched the tabletop, and the table shattered as if crushed by a thousand-pound boulder, unable to bear the weight.

"Stay calm, Sengoku; anger will interfere with your reason."

Staff Officer Tsuru frowned, looked at the erupting Buddha Light, and said: "Although the Buddha Light True Qi of a 【Monk Lv. 35】 is powerful, it carries the risk of falling into a demonic state; you must maintain a stable state of mind."

"I understand."

Sengoku adjusted his emotions and gradually calmed down.

It's Xiangkesi again. To actually dare to incite a Navy Admiral to defect is simply lawless. Does the Adventurer Guild want to die?

"At Adventurer Headquarters, although Xiangkesi and Hawkeye are strong, if the Navy Alliance wants to crusade against them, it would be easy..."

No matter how fierce a tiger or leopard is, it cannot withstand a pack of wolves.

The advantage the Navy Alliance relies on is the endless stream of Elite players and dozens of Branch Commanders with the strength of 【First-rate Players】.

Staff Officer Tsuru shook her head repeatedly and said: "However, a crusade against the Adventurer Headquarters will inevitably anger the adventurers spread across the Si Hai."

Adventurers are like the pirates who set sail during the Great Pirate Era.

It is just that these adventurers are different from the heinous pirates; most of them carry dreams.

They are vast in number and are a neutral group.

Within the Navy Alliance, there is a portion of the adventurer group; if the Adventurer Headquarters were wiped out, these adventurers would certainly view the Navy as enemies.

Sengoku asked in a deep voice: "Has Aokiji's Den Den Mushi been contacted?"

"Not yet..."

Before the words fell,

the Den Den Mushi in Sengoku's pocket opened its eyes, and after connecting, Aokiji's voice rang out.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku..."

"Aokiji, you bastard, do you really want to betray the Navy?!"

Buddha Light lit up in the conference room again as Sengoku gripped the Den Den Mushi and questioned him angrily.

"It is not I who betrayed the Navy, but the Navy that betrayed me."

Aokiji's voice sounded as if he were suppressing anger.

Sengoku was stunned.

"Civilians are captured and turned into slaves, injected with various serums, and infected with Corpse Poison to become zombies..."

Through the Den Den Mushi, one could imagine Aokiji's appearance, furious to the point of madness.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, are you not aware of what these Noble Groups are doing?"

Sengoku's heart skipped a beat; the reprimand that had reached his lips felt as if his throat had been pinched, and he could not make a sound.

"Noble Group..."

Sengoku stammered, finally managing to adjust his emotions, and said in a deep voice: "The Navy Alliance is absolute justice; we have absolutely never colluded with the Noble Group!"

He naturally knew about these things.

The Noble Group controls countries and civilians, but they lack the power to deter pirates and ambitious individuals, making it easy for their assets to be plundered.

Therefore, they need to find strong individuals to rely on.

Those Navy Branch Commanders who have already broken free from the control of the World Government are undoubtedly the best protective umbrellas.

"The Navy Alliance has never done anything that goes against justice!"

The conference room was very quiet; the Branch Commanders present, including Jonathan, were all accepting resources from the Noble Group.

It is indeed as Sengoku said, the Navy has not actively participated in these dirty affairs.

However, the resources the Noble Group extracts from the commoners include a share for the Navy.

Therefore, when saying these words, Sengoku did not sound as resonant and forceful, lacking a bit of confidence.

"Navy Alliance? Truly ugly..."

"Previously bound by the World Government, you had no choice but to turn a blind eye to the vile Celestial Dragons; now that you have broken free from the World Government, you turn a blind eye to the Noble Group's enslavement of commoners simply because they can provide Reward Points?"

"In that case, it would be better to let the Navy continue being the dog of the World Government; at least the number of Celestial Dragons is not as vast as the Noble Group."

"Sengoku!"

In the end, it was the sound of Aokiji gritting his teeth.

Faintly, one could hear the static coming from the Den Den Mushi.

"Aokiji? Damn it... we paid protection money, stop at once!"

"What on earth is going on? Is the Navy going to violate the agreement?"

Sounds of explosions and wailing.

Before Sengoku could speak, the expressions of those Branch Commanders changed drastically,

and they stood up abruptly, shouting sternly: "Aokiji, have you gone mad, actually slaughtering the Navy's allies?"

The Noble Group was a cash cow that could provide them with a steady stream of Reward Points; with Aokiji stirring things up, who would still trust the commanders, and who would still be willing to pay?

If there is no money, how can one become stronger?

If one is not strong enough, how can one protect the Navy Alliance?

"Report, the Image Den Den Mushi shows that two islands in the West Blue have been attacked one after another, and the Royal Courtyard and Noble Manor have been completely destroyed."

"The perpetrator is... Admiral Aokiji!"

A Navy member from the Information Department knocked on the door and entered, trembling as he reported.

The two Branch Commanders of the West Blue, with ashen faces, looked at the silent Sengoku and questioned: "Marshal Sengoku, the two islands destroyed in the West Blue were both allies protected by the branch; you must give us an explanation for this behavior of Aokiji!"

Sengoku felt overwhelmed,

on one side was Aokiji questioning the Justice Will of the Navy Alliance, and on the other were the Branch Commanders demanding an explanation.

The strongest force, the Navy Alliance, is not an iron bucket internally.

If it cannot be handled well, it could easily be exploited by someone with ulterior motives like Hongfa Xiangkesi.

In an instant,

Sengoku, who possesses the strength of a 【Top-tier Player】 and is surrounded by Buddha Light, appeared to grow old, even though he had not changed in the slightest.

(End of this chapter)