Chapter 342: Rebellion! Rebellion Against Heaven!

Sengoku wanted the Navy to maintain absolute autonomy, yet due to military budget constraints, he had no choice but to obey the World Government's orders.

From Fleet Admirals down to Second Class Privates, every Navy member receives a monthly salary, and a year-end bonus is distributed at the end of the year based on their performance.

Whether old-style warships or new-style warships, whether equipment or armaments, everything requires money to build.

Especially Inazuma's Sea Prism Stone products; they simply do not accept credit, demanding cash on delivery.

Even so, orders are booked until the year after next.

The Navy needs money for food, money for uniforms, money for warships; every day Sengoku opens his eyes, his mind is filled entirely with insufficient military funds.

Eating, drinking, and relieving oneself all cost money.

No money? Without money, nothing can be done!

Navy Grand Strategist Tsuru and Admiral Aokiji have worked hard for several years, yet still found no solution to the military funding issue.

Sengoku simply could not figure it out: where does the Revolutionary Army's military funding come from?

Keep in mind, the Revolutionary Army's slogan is to overthrow the World Government, liberate all slaves, and seize land from the rich to distribute to the poor.

The land has already been distributed to the common people,

and the meager money looted from the Heavenly Tribute is far from enough to support the Revolutionary Army's growth and expansion.

If it weren't considered impolite to ask Garp directly, Sengoku would have sought help from his old comrade to ask the Revolutionary Army leader Dragon: where exactly does your Revolutionary Army get its military funding?

Harald: I provided a portion, and it has not been repaid to this day.

While Sengoku was deeply depressed, the Den Den Mushi nearby suddenly began to tremble violently.

"Hello, this is Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

The Den Den Mushi frowned: "Sengoku-san, Saint Elaine has arrived at Vegapunk's laboratory; should this be reported to the World Government?"

"Saint Elaine?" Sengoku asked in return.

"Isn't he at Sabaody Archipelago? How could he be on Punk Hazard?"

"Sabaody Archipelago?" The Den Den Mushi paused, seemingly confirming with Saint Elaine.

Sengoku faintly heard Saint Elaine's voice.

"It was Saint Saint Saint Saiwen who brought this Saint here to come learn from the Big Brain. The Five Elders provided Saint Saint Saint Saiwen with five hundred billion Berries in learning funds, and this Saint hasn't spent a single coin."

Immediately after, the voice of Kizaru rang out.

"Learning funds? What learning funds?"

"The Five Elders feel that Saint Saint Saint Saiwen doesn't look like a Celestial Dragon at all, so they provided five hundred billion Berries for this Saint to teach Saint Saint Saint Saiwen how to be a Celestial Dragon."

After the words fell, there was prolonged silence.

Not only did Kizaru and Akainu fall silent simultaneously, but even Sengoku on the Den Den Mushi end said not a word.

Absurd, simply absurd beyond belief.

The Five Elders would rather spend five hundred billion to let Saint Saint Saint Saiwen learn how to be a Celestial Dragon than allocate that sum to the Navy as military funds.

Furthermore, the Five Elders, citing tight funds, are about to cut the Navy's military budget.

It was clearly agreed that military funds would double within five years, yet only two and a half years have passed, and the Five Elders want to go back on their word.

Sengoku, enraged to the point of losing reason, abruptly hung up the Den Den Mushi and began to curse loudly.

"I have lived sixty-one years and have never seen such stupid people; these five scallions, ginger, and garlic are simply beyond foolish."

"Without the Navy, the World Government is nothing."

Under normal circumstances, Sengoku would absolutely not curse and insult the Five Elders like this; one can imagine just how furious he was at this moment.

"Rebellion! Rebellion against heaven!"

The commotion was so great that Zephyr, Tsuru, and Aokiji from the neighboring office were drawn over, staring in shock as Sengoku smashed things and cursed in the office.

"Sengoku? What exactly happened?"

Sengoku cursed while crying and laughing.

"The Five Elders would rather give pirates five hundred billion to let them learn how to be Celestial Dragons than give the Navy a single cent, and they even want to cut the Navy's military funds."

"How can such a thing exist in the world?!"

"Doesn't the Navy protect the World Government? Or does the World Government no longer need the Navy?"

Zephyr sneered.

"Is this the first day you've known them?"

"Haven't they always been like this?"

"Even the murderer who destroyed Marineford can transform into a World Noble; what is there the Five Elders cannot do?"

"Sengoku, let us rebel."

Tsuru held her forehead in pain; she simply could not bear to look at the remarks of these two old comrades.

"Rebellion is easy, but how do we solve the military funding?"

Grand Strategist Tsuru's words left Zephyr speechless, forcing him to stare blankly at Sengoku.

"I actually have an immature idea," Aokiji suddenly spoke up.

"Why don't we ask Dragon?"

"The Revolutionary Army has long been different from the past these past few years; since Dragon can solve the Revolutionary Army's military funding troubles, there is no reason we in the Navy cannot do the same."

After the words fell, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Tsuru's eyes simultaneously lit up.

"That makes sense."

Actually, Sengoku had wanted to do this long ago, but considering Garp would misunderstand because of it, he never truly put it into action.

Now that Kuzan has proposed it, there is naturally no problem.

Kuzan is, after all, Garp's eldest disciple.

"Then..." Sengoku pondered: "Among us... who will contact Dragon?"

Regardless, Dragon is ultimately the leader of the Revolutionary Army, naturally standing in opposition to the World Government, while the Navy currently falls under the World Government.

"I'll do it," Zephyr volunteered.

Whether it was Sengoku, Tsuru, or Kuzan, they all still held key positions in the Navy, while he, Zephyr, merely oversaw the main base's training camp.

Even if the World Government discovered the signs, the punishment would be trivial.

Having spoken, Zephyr took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed the number Kuzan had provided.

"Dragon, it's Zephyr."

The Den Den Mushi looked utterly shocked, only recovering its senses a few seconds later: "Mr. Zephyr, you... are also preparing to rebel?"

Zephyr muttered irritably.

"Rebel? You and your whole family rebel! I'm doing just fine in the Navy; why would I rebel?"

The seedlings of the New Navy had not yet grown to the point of weathering storms on their own; Zephyr still needed to remain in the Navy to protect them.

Previously, tempting Sengoku had merely been words spoken in anger.

"I need something from you."

The Den Den Mushi smiled: "Mr. Zephyr, speak; I am listening."

"Your Revolutionary Army's military funds—how exactly was that huge sum of money resolved?"

Sengoku, Tsuru, and Kuzan leaned in with rapt attention, ears pricked, fearing they might miss some crucial information.

The Den Den Mushi remained silent for a long time.

Seeing this, Zephyr finally realized: if the Revolutionary Army had a way to make money, they certainly wouldn't tell the Navy.

Anyone teaching you how to make money surely wants to earn your money; Dragon's method of making a fortune quietly was the true way to make money.

"Sorry, I cannot say."

Dragon wasn't stupid.

At such a critical moment, under no circumstances could his mistake expose Mr.'s identity, causing the great cause of liberating the entire world to suffer.

If that truly happened, Dragon would absolutely hang himself from a southeast branch to apologize to his comrades.

However, from Zephyr's actions, Dragon read a different meaning.

Either Zephyr held a grudge against the Navy, or the Navy's high command was dissatisfied with the World Government, prompting Zephyr to represent them in asking about military funds.

Thinking this, Dragon casually asked a question.

"Mr. Zephyr, is my father there?"