Chapter 359: Empress

Kizaru vaguely remembered.

Two years ago, the people surrounding Gao Wen were all insignificant minor characters.

Now, however, they had all become dangerous figures within the World Government that could not be ignored.

This posture already bore some resemblance to the Rocks Pirates of years past, and this might not even be their limit.

What kind of monsters has this era bred?!

Kizaru was deeply alarmed; seeing that Gao Wen offered no response, he dropped the lazy expression from his face and spoke seriously:

"One month from now, the Navy will publicly execute Portgas D. Ace, the commander of the 2nd Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, at Marineford."

"And his true identity is the son of the Pirate King, Roger."

"Given the style of the Whitebeard Pirates, they will absolutely not sit idly by regarding this."

"A great battle is imminent; as a Shichibukai authorized by the World Government, you must fulfill your obligations at this time, otherwise the World Government will strip you of your privileges as a Shichibukai."

As his voice landed, the surroundings fell silent for a moment, with no one speaking to respond to Kizaru's request.

Tap—!

Zoro's hand had already rested on the Murasama at his waist, flames of eagerness flickering in his eyes, while Ah Jin and the others similarly revealed dangerous glances.

After a year of cultivation, their growth was obvious, and they were even more eager to clash with strong opponents to verify what they had learned.

Moreover, they could not tolerate anyone provoking the flag behind them or Gao Wen standing before them!

"Whitebeard, huh..."

Xiang Keluo understood clearly, a trace of Solemnity flashing across his eyes.

With his insight, he could naturally see clearly what the Navy was actually preparing to do.

Following Zephyr leading the Neo Navy to declare independence, the Navy's influence across the seas gradually declined; they urgently needed to prove their authority while deterring the various factions stirring with ambition.

To achieve this, there was no better method than publicly executing the bloodline of the Pirate King and the commander of Whitebeard's 2nd Division.

But the risks within were also obvious at a glance; given Whitebeard's personality, he would certainly not sit idly by.

It was no wonder the Navy's conscription this time was so forceful.

It was just that the more critical the moment, the more clearly Xiang Keluo understood that it was the Navy that needed Gao Wen's power.

Or rather, at this point in time, if Gao Wen simply did not cause trouble, that would already be the greatest help to the Navy.

Whoosh—!

A sea breeze blew past.

It lifted Kizaru's capelet; he sighed, his tone softening:

"Just do it for my sake."

The corner of Gao Wen's mouth curled up into a slight smile:

"Then I will give you that face."

Kizaru's expression eased slightly; he wiped his sunglasses, put them back on, and that sloppy expression returned to his face once more.

After informing Gao Wen of the meeting time, he departed hastily with his subordinates.

Within the harbor.

The Navy warships raised their sails and sailed far away.

Kizaru stood on the deck, looking back at Gao Wen and his group within the harbor.

Only now did he discover that his back had unknowingly seeped a layer of fine cold sweat.

"Ko~wa~i~ne~"

Kizaru's voice remained no different from before.

Lazy, powerless, exuding a sort of beast-of-burden exhaustion from being completely crushed by work, yet beneath the sunglasses, his eyes revealed immense Solemnity.

Not only Gao Wen, but even the aura displayed by Gao Wen's crewmates had far surpassed Kizaru's imagination.

The strongest pirate crew on these seas was neither Whitebeard, nor Kaido, nor Red-Haired, but the Gao Wen Pirates!

The explosively off-the-charts combat power on Gao Wen's ship, if truly positioned against the World Government, combined with Gao Wen's thoughts that transcended the era, would create a threat far beyond what a single Neo Navy could compare to.

In terms of both combat power and strategy, the gap between the two sides was simply too vast!

The reason the Navy Headquarters chose to dispatch Kizaru for this mission was primarily due to Kizaru's old connection with Gao Wen.

But firstly, their identities were inherently opposed, and secondly, with the matter of Britannias preceding this, it was still unclear what Gao Wen's attitude toward the Navy and the World Government actually was.

But judging from the outcome, at least this man had not chosen to stand opposite the Navy.

That was enough.

"Lord Borsalino, are we really going to bow down to pirates?!"

The marine who had raised his gun earlier stood beside Kizaru, resentment shining in his eyes, but even more so, incomprehension.

The Navy bore justice upon its shoulders, so it ought to be domineering, eliminating evil like Lei Ting.

But what he had seen and heard today had already greatly exceeded his understanding.

"A recruit?!"

Kizaru glanced at him; seeing the latter nod, he sighed:

"You are still young; having drive is a good thing, but when you reach my age, you will understand."

"Understand what?!"

"Justice does not always triumph over evil, or rather..."

Kizaru's eyes held some sighs;

"How can you be certain that what you bear is justice, and not some kind of lie?!"

"The first thing a person bearing justice should learn is to put down their arrogance."

"Do not believe what the officer academy taught you; compared to the education we received back then, the current officer academy..."

"Let us not speak of it."

"What you must believe in is what you have seen, what you have felt, what you acknowledge, and what you truly wish to protect."

The marine soldier paused slightly; just as he was about to press further, before he could even open his mouth, Kizaru had already turned and walked toward the cabin.

Clack!

Clack!

Clack—!

Footsteps approached, yet they carried an indescribable heaviness.

The recruit watched Kizaru's retreating figure, sensing an overwhelming solitude emanating from the latter.

"Lord Borsalino..."

He suddenly recalled rumors he had once heard.

Kizaru was the first admiral in Marine history to be suspended by the World Government due to a failed mission.

It was said the true reason was his failure during the operation to eliminate Vegapunk on Future Island, resulting in Vegapunk escaping with his research findings.

Among those findings were even certain projects secretly developed by the World Government.

And Vegapunk was Kizaru's closest friend.

The recruit lowered his gaze, looking at the word 'Justice' engraved on the flintlock in his hand, feeling nothing but immense heaviness, so heavy that he could barely hold the gun.

Britannias Port.

Gao Wen and his party watched the Marine warship disappear beyond the horizon; only then could Xiang Keluo no longer restrain himself and asked:

"Our strength is far beyond what an ordinary Warlord of the Sea can compare to."

"The Marines surely never intended for you to actually go fight; they only wanted our stance. Interfering at this moment... what were you thinking?!"

"Snatching chestnuts from the fire."

Gao Wen's tone was indifferent.

Knowing that Portgas D. Ace would still be publicly executed just as in the original story, and that Blackbeard had become one of the Warlords of the Sea, the subsequent events had already become predictable to Gao Wen.

Seeing Xiang Keluo frown, Gao Wen explained:

"The Pluton plan has been obstructed, facing problems in both technology and materials."

"Regarding technology, Roubo Luqi is currently tracking Vegapunk and has already found some leads; a few days ago, Vegapunk's subordinate, War Taowan, appeared on the Sabaody Archipelago, mingling with the Straw Hat Pirates."

"Although, due to Bartholomew Kuma's interference, the Straw Hat Pirates were crushed and their whereabouts are now unknown."

"However, War Taowan has fallen into the hands of the Marines; at this point in time, he should still be en route under escort to Impel Down."

"As for the solution to the material problem, aside from the Swallow-Swallow Fruit, there is the Merge-Merge Fruit."

"The user of the Merge-Merge Fruit happens to be inside Impel Down as well!"

Xiang Keluo suddenly understood:

"You intend to take advantage of the chaos to assault Impel Down?!"

"That would indeed be an opportunity."

"No!"

Gao Wen shook his head, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, revealing an indescribable sense of mockery:

"Someone else will be the one to assault Impel Down; after Impel Down comes under attack, you will make your move to help the Marines quell the disturbance, and simultaneously locate these two individuals."

"War Taowan, and Barrett, the user of the Merge-Merge Fruit."