Chapter 279

"Are you still going to keep working overtime here?"

"Don't wear yourself out—navy can't afford to lose you now!"

Saying this,

Huang Yuan strolled leisurely out of the admiral's office.

19

Akainu stared at Huang Yuan's relaxed back, his chest tightening with rage.

The navy's situation is this bad—can't you, Porusarino, show even a fraction of a admiral's responsibility?

But Akainu knew,

no matter how much he lectured Huang Yuan, it would be useless.

Huang Yuan, who upheld ambiguous justice, simply didn't care.

Take the position of admiral, for instance.

Akainu and Kizaru fought for ten days and ten nights, each desperate to claim it.

Yet Huang Yuan, whose strength was no weaker than Akainu's or Kizaru's—and in some ways even greater—

had never once mentioned wanting to become navy admiral.

How could you expect such a slacker, with no ambition and nothing but idle workdays, to show any responsibility?

Huang Yuan had just left.

An old man with completely white hair suddenly poked his head in from the doorway, grinning maliciously:

"Hard to be admiral, Sengoku?"

It was the former admiral, now navy inspector general, Sengoku.

Clearly,

Sengoku had heard every word spoken inside the office.

Akainu snarled:

"None of your business, you half-retired old man!"

Sengoku chuckled as he withdrew.

Akainu's chest grew even tighter.

He remembered why he'd fought Kizaru for ten days and ten nights—it was because Sengoku had recommended someone else to the Five Elders.

If Sengoku had recommended him, Kizaru wouldn't have had the qualifications to challenge him for the position.

After all,

during the Marineford War,

Akainu's deeds—killing Ace and delivering a fatal blow to Bai Huzi—far surpassed anything Kizaru had ever done.

Akainu harbored deep resentment toward Sengoku.

Akainu took several deep breaths to suppress the nameless fury swelling inside him.

He made another call, summoning Green Bull and Vergo inside.

He told them:

"The high command has decided: in a few months, we'll hold a World Summit to discuss how to respond to today's global situation."

"Security around Mary Geoise must be strengthened."

"This task falls to you two."

"Don't embarrass me like Tashigi!"

Green Bull, who idolized Akainu, though not officially a admiral as in the original,

yet held a status no lesser than a admiral, replied confidently:

"Don't worry, Mr. Sakazuki—there won't be a single problem!"

Vergo maintained his usual cold expression, murmuring:

"Understood, Admiral Sakazuki."

Neither Akainu nor Green Bull noticed,

but when Vergo heard he was assigned to guard Mary Geoise, a faint, strange gleam of excitement flickered deep within his pupils.

As Luo Xing's deepest mole embedded within the navy,

Vergo knew clearly:

His greatest mission was to uncover the World Government's secrets—the hidden truths of the Celestial Dragons!

Including Mary Geoise's national treasures, and the utterly mysterious Lord Im!

Yes.

Luo Xing had already informed Vergo of Im's existence.

When Vergo first learned this, he was utterly stunned.

Did the Five Elders, known as the world's highest authority, really have a master above them?

Just who was this Lord Im, this unimaginable figure?

Vergo was awestruck—and thrilled.

To uncover such the world's deepest secrets was thrilling, intensely challenging!

Vergo had long been waiting for an opportunity to investigate Mary Geoise.

Unexpectedly,

just as he dozed off, a pillow appeared.

Akainu had voluntarily assigned him to secure Mary Geoise for the World Summit.

Truly, even Heaven is helping him!

Vergo carefully concealed his true thoughts.

With a blank expression, he headed to the Holy Land Mary Geoise alongside Green Bull.

Green Bull was a talkative fellow with a somewhat erratic personality; four large characters, "Death River in the Heart," were tattooed on his chest, suggesting some unknown past.

On the road.

Green Bull stretched and smiled at Vergo:

"Mr. Vergo, for such a trivial matter, I alone am sufficient; there is absolutely no need for you to step in."

Vergo's tone was cold:

"This is the Fleet Admiral's order; we merely obey."

Green Bull laughed heartily:

"Mr. Vergo, you truly are an excellent soldier who strictly obeys orders; no wonder you are a senior of the Marines!"

Then, he changed the subject to other matters.

"This is my first time going to that place known as the Holy Land; has Mr. Vergo been there before?"

"I heard that not only are there the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, up there, but also Dr. Vegapunk, who possesses a super brain and is said to be five hundred years ahead of the Beyond the Current World!"

"I am truly curious!"

"However, even if it were Dr. Vegapunk himself, he would admit he is far inferior to that legendary Fifth Emperor, Luo Xing."

"Tsk tsk, I wonder what kind of man the Fifth Emperor Luo Xing is? I suppose Brother Fujitora saw him this time?"

"Ah, no, Brother Fujitora is blind, he cannot see, hahaha!"

Meanwhile.

On a very secret island in the New World.

This island does not lie within the sphere of influence of any of the Four Emperors.

This place has been a lawless land for a very long time.

Chaos, hunger, sin, orphans, and death are the synonyms for this place.

But at some unknown time.

This country suddenly became wealthy; vast amounts of treasure inexplicably began appearing within this country.

The people here simply could not believe it.

They believed it was a gift from heaven.

And with these treasures, this country finally had the money to pay the Heavenly Tribute, and the people's lives gradually improved.