Chapter 140: Navy Shockwave

"The final winner of the Martial Arts Tournament is actually Akin? After training for over two months, that guy Xiang Keluo's level has actually declined?"

After a moment of thought, Gao Wen shook his head, roughly guessing what had happened:

"Intentionally holding back is unlikely; after all, that would be somewhat insulting."

"Then there are only two possibilities."

"Either Xiang Keluo was drained of stamina by others in previous battles, or Akin exerted his utmost, enduring until both sides exhausted their stamina."

"However, to reach this extent, Akin indeed wagered his life."

Having spoken, Gao Wen's attention was drawn by the system prompt before him:

"Potential increased, yet it did not cross the Bai Yin tier limit?"

This did not surprise Gao Wen.

After all, even the gap between one Iron and another Iron is so vast it approaches instant-kill levels.

While the gap between Silvers is not that exaggerated, there is still a significant difference between a Navy Rear Admiral and a Vice Admiral.

To put it in more fantasy terms, it would be something like moving from Bai Yin Lower to Bai Yin Upper, or even the Peak tier.

"But Akin's potential has undoubtedly advanced a step further, becoming even stronger."

"Once developed to the limit, he will at least reach the level of a Navy Vice Admiral; converted using the Cross Guild's bounty standards from later eras, that is a five-billion level."

"Compared to his former Bronze-level potential, this is undoubtedly a thorough transformation."

"And I..."

Gao Wen looked at the system panel, his gaze falling on a newly added item in the skill bar:

【Conqueror's Haki-LV-1: 30/5000】

The character rating also underwent a new change:

【Rating - Gold:

A powerful force of one side, possessing the qualities of a king.

】

Observing the two most obvious changes, a faint smile unconsciously curled the corners of Gao Wen's mouth.

Previously, when he consumed the Red Dragon Fruit, his own potential had already touched the Legendary tier, but he lacked the Conqueror's Haki essential for top-tier powerhouses; even if he fully realized his potential, his combat strength would likely be the weakest among Legendaries.

But now the final piece of the puzzle has been completed; even if there is no further potential increase afterward, Gao Wen is confident he will become one of the most top-tier individuals in this world.

With the BUG-level abilities of the Red Dragon Fruit, by the day Gao Wen ascends to the Legendary peak, if the battlefield is suitable, he fears no opponent, including the Five Elders who are suspected to possess immortality.

Moreover, Gao Wen does not believe he will truly stop here.

"Unknowingly, has my power already approached that of the most top-tier individuals in the world?"

Gao Wen smiled faintly.

The sea wind howled.

Fujitora stepped out of the ship's cabin and said to Gao Wen:

"I have already applied a hundredfold gravity to Zephyr and those two severely injured Navy officers; even with their superhuman physiques, they cannot move freely."

"However, do you really intend to use Zephyr to exchange for a Warlord of the Sea position?"

As he spoke,

Fujitora's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Having traveled from the New World and witnessed countless tragedies, his perception of the Warlords of the Sea is no better than that of the World Government.

Among those who become pirates, the vast majority are indeed ordinary people forced into it by desperation, but there are also those driven by their own ambitions.

Especially the powerful pirates standing at the top of the food chain; almost all are like this. In comparison, Gao Wen is an outlier among them.

"Mm."

Gao Wen nodded and explained:

"The title of Warlord of the Sea can save me from countless troubles, especially for Raven Port."

"Moreover, with me serving as a Warlord of the Sea, shouldn't you feel more at ease?"

Fujitora was slightly stunned, a faint smile appearing on his lips:

"That is true, but next, we shall see the Navy's reaction."

Gao Wen said calmly:

"They will agree."

"Zephyr's status within the Navy is different; in the hearts of the Navy officers, his importance is even greater than that of the so-called hero, Garp."

"Such a person, unless he actively betrays the Navy, neither the World Government nor the Navy will easily give up on him."

At the same time.

Aine, having already completed the rescue of the suffering ships, immediately led his subordinates to search the vicinity for Zephyr and the others' whereabouts.

"Colonel Aine, there is still no reply from Master Zephyr."

"I'm afraid..."

The Marine officer responsible for the report swallowed hard, not voicing the speculation in his heart, yet unable in any way to conceal the unease within.

"It won't happen!"

"With Master Zephyr's power, there is absolutely no way he would encounter trouble in a place like the East Blue."

In his heart, Zephyr has always been an image of near-invincibility; whether pirates dominating the New World or the Grand Line, none are his match.

How could such a being possibly suffer defeat in the East Sea?

Ain believed this with absolute certainty, yet the facts laid out before her eyes left her increasingly uneasy.

The warship suddenly picked up speed and soon arrived at the island where Gao Wen and Zephyr had previously fought.

At this moment the tide had receded, revealing countless reefs hidden beneath the seawater, along with creatures of the seabed.

A giant mechanical arm was wedged in the middle of the reefs, extraordinarily conspicuous.

"That is... Instructor Zephyr's..."

Ain leaped up, landing atop the reef, and looking at the pulverizer before her and the flesh clinging to the connection point, her face went deathly pale.

No matter how unwilling she was to believe it, she had no choice but to accept the truth before her eyes.

Zephyr had lost.

Lost at the hands of a pirate of the East Sea.

No one had expected that the Knight Gao Wen's power had already grown to such a degree that even a former Admiral was no longer his match.

"Instructor Zephyr, he..."

She bit down hard on her lip, forcibly suppressing the unease within, and ordered:

"Search!"

"Look around the area and see if there are any hidden clues!"

Columns of marines filed down from the ship and, spreading out across the entire island, launched a carpet search for possible survivors and clues.

Very soon.

They found several marines in the distant dense forest, bound hand and foot, their souls still shaken.

Ain ordered her subordinates to untie them and asked:

"What exactly happened here? Where did Instructor Zephyr go?"

The men gasped for breath, their voices still laced with an inexpressible terror, so much so that their words came out garbled:

"Co-Colonel Smoker, Colonel Binz, and Vice Admiral Zephyr all lost to the Knight Gao Wen, and along with the marines on the ship, all of them were taken captive.

"He left us here because he wants the position of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

In an instant.

Ain's face turned deathly pale; she stood frozen on the spot for a good few dozen seconds before finally abandoning the idea of rushing to the rescue immediately.

"Quickly!"

"Report this matter to Headquarters!"

"This time."

"The very heavens above the Marines are likely to collapse!"

……

……

……

Night fell.

Marine Headquarters.

The bright moon hung high, yet within a few breaths it was obscured by dark clouds.

Thunder rumbled.

Yet the atmosphere in the conference room grew ever more oppressive.

As Tsuru relayed the intelligence from the East Sea above, the faces of those present gradually flushed red.

"Instructor Zephyr actually lost in the East Sea?"

"No!"

"We cannot sit and wait for death; I absolutely will not allow anyone to lay a hand on him!"

……

At their seats.

Vice Admiral Onigumo's eyes were already glistening with tears.

The people all around wore the same expression; even Spider, long known for his extreme cold-bloodedness, was trembling at this moment with an anger he could not contain.

Only because the one in trouble this time was the man they respected most—a man who had devoted his entire life to the Marines, to Justice.

He was, apart from Garp, the other banner of the Marines.

In a corner.

Kizaru adjusted his glasses; the lamplight flickered, and no one could make out his expression, as he said lightly:

"I'll go take a trip. Although I don't get along with the old man temperament-wise, I absolutely will not permit something like this to happen."

Having said that.

Kizaru rose to leave directly, but was held down by Aokiji beside him:

"Borsalino, calm down!"

"Right now we are the ones on the back foot; once the other side chooses to fight to the death, things none of us want to see might happen."

The conference room instantly fell silent, yet in the eyes of everyone present, an inexpressible fury was being suppressed.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Rough knocking sounds came from outside the conference room—it was the countless Marine officers and cadets who had rushed over from all parts of Marineford, seething with fury, itching to head straight for the East Sea and rescue that man.

……

Sengoku sat in the main seat, watching everyone's reaction, and sighed inwardly; this was the very reason he had initially been unwilling to let Zephyr return to the front lines.

Nowadays, most of the officers in the Marine Headquarters and its various branches were disciples personally trained by Zephyr; should something like the current situation occur, the repercussions would be far too great.

Moreover, if Zephyr and he came into conflict, it was an open question whom these people would obey.

Yet the bond forged through decades of fighting side by side ultimately prevented him from doing certain things.

Zephyr understood this as well; thus, even though their political views clashed, they mostly held private meetings to discuss matters, only notifying others once a decision was reached.

"Silence!"

Sengoku roared in anger, and as he raised his eyes, he saw a pair of eyes suppressing fury.

He took a deep breath to calm his heart, then spoke with Solemnity:

"There is still a chance for this matter; Knight Gao Wen is demanding a position among the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

At these words,

the conference room fell silent for an instant, followed immediately by countless angry voices.

"Setting aside the fact that the Seven Warlords of the Sea are already at full strength, even if they were not, attempting to seize a Warlord position in this manner is no different than shitting on the Marines' heads; it is an insult to the banner of Justice!"

"Before Doflamingo, did he not become a Warlord through similar means?"

"That is different!"

"That fellow's bloodline flows with that of a god!"

"Given the potential Knight Gao Wen has already demonstrated, if not restrained, within a few years at most, there will be another Kaido of the Beasts!"

"Joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea would achieve two goals at once!"

Instantly,

fierce discussion erupted once again within the conference room.

Everyone held their own views, refusing to yield, turning the room into a chaotic mess, yet no one had thought of abandoning the rescue of Zephyr.

Sengoku and Tsuru watched everything before them with indifference, their eyes inevitably Show Solemnity.

Sengoku murmured:

"Setting aside this incident, Zephyr's influence within the Marines is simply too strong."

(End of this chapter)