Chapter 397: Victory Settlement Screen

North Blue, Freventh.

Akainu stood on the deck of a Navy warship, watching the pirate ship sink into the sea, melted through by lava; his brow showed not a flicker of emotion, yet that inexplicable unease in his heart grew ever stronger.

"Commander, the Revolutionary Army seems unusually active."

The adjutant, holding a logbook, continued reporting beside Akainu.

"Along this route, besides our Navy, the Revolutionary Army has also been clearing out pirates—not just in the North Blue, but across the East Blue, West Blue, and South Blue; their presence has appeared everywhere."

Akainu nodded slightly at this.

"Indeed, it's unusual."

In truth, Akainu had long harbored doubts about Kizaru's earlier orders: first assigning him to patrol his homeland, the North Blue, then sending Kuzan to patrol his own homeland, the South Blue.

It was all too coincidental.

As if they feared we wouldn't work hard enough.

It's the Navy's duty to eradicate pirates—especially for Akainu, who longed to wipe out every last pirate; he would never slack off like his old friend Borsalino.

He recalled that six months ago, Kizaru had dispatched Enel, Kaji, and other officers to key branch bases across the four seas, tightly blocking the entrances to the Grand Line.

Akainu's unease deepened further—he felt something earth-shattering was about to happen.

Yet for now, he couldn't fathom what it could be.

In short, the old bastards at Headquarters were hiding something from him.

"Commander, this child wants to join the Navy, but…" the adjutant lowered his voice: "like the other children in town, he's suffering from Pb-lead disease."

Only then did Akainu turn his gaze to—the boy on deck, his eyes fierce, wearing a spotted cap.

"How old is he?"

"Nine."

"Nine?" Akainu couldn't help but recall: a great pirate he had thought of for years—wasn't that man discovered and invited aboard by Roger at the age of nine?

If the Navy had found that man first, they would have crushed the Age of Pirates long ago.

The mistake was made back then; now…

"Take him back to Headquarters."

Akainu knew well that Freventh, due to its surface's rich Pb-lead deposits, was entirely white—known as the "White Town."

Pb-lead products from here were once sold worldwide by the World Government, widely used in tableware, paint, seasonings, cosmetics, even weapons, bringing the town immense wealth.

Years of unceasing mining caused Pb-lead toxins to accumulate and spread deep in the strata, causing generations of locals to suffer from the incurable Pb-lead disease.

And the World Government deliberately concealed all of this.

Even if this child had little time left, Akainu would rather miss nothing than let go of a nine-year-old.

"Kid, stay alive."

At that moment, the Navy messenger's Den Den Mushi suddenly received a signal, and the image instantly projected forth.

"Hello, hello, hello—this is Morgan, your reporter on the scene."

This sudden development drew the attention of all Navy personnel, including Akainu, who waved his hand to signal the messenger not to interrupt.

On the live broadcast, Morgan held a microphone, his expression ecstatic and exaggerated.

"Fellow citizens of the Four Blues!"

"All oppressed people!"

"The greatest news to echo across the Red Line, the Grand Line, and every sea—happens right now!"

At that moment, the live camera focused on the ruins of Mary Geoise; when Akainu saw the fleeting figures of Admiral Sengoku, Marine Hero Garp, and his old friend Borsalino, his pupils contracted sharply.

Morgan's roaring voice continued.

"The holy land of Mary Geoise, which stood for eight hundred years, towering above all, viewing the people of the Four Blues as ants, has been reduced to ashes!"

"Fellow humans!"

"Brothers of all races!"

"Today, the World Government—built upon the tyranny of the Celestial Dragons, constructed from lies and blood—has been utterly overthrown!"

"The sovereign who forged this world-redefining feat—"

"Bar~zab~Se~ven!!!"

Hearing this, Akainu finally understood—what the old bastards at Headquarters had been plotting… overthrowing the World Government!

"Sengoku!" Akainu gritted his teeth, his face twisted in fury.

How could they not call me?

On the live broadcast, Morgan, nearly insane with fanaticism, poured out every ounce of his wit and eloquence to praise Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's monumental achievements.

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, the Holy Lord—"

"Like an unsetting sun, leading twenty righteous men, he swept away the false divine authority with the force of Lei Ting, utterly crushing the Wang Zuo held by the Celestial Dragons!"

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, the Holy Lord—"

"Ended eight hundred years of dark rule, shattered the chains around the necks of all people on earth!"

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, the Holy Lord—"

"Turned the lofty privileges to ash, let the light of justice and equality shine upon this sea for the first time!"

On the live broadcast, Morgan's eyes burned red as he turned the camera to the Five Elders, bound by Seastone chains, covered in dust, disheveled, kneeling helplessly on the ground.

"All citizens! All brothers!"

"Look! The Five Elders have been captured!"

"From this day forward, no more Mary Geoise! No more World Government! No more Celestial Dragons!"

"The Four Blues united as one,"

"Order reborn,"

Freedom descends!

To the left of the Five Elders was the victory summary screen, including—

The solemn-faced Marine Admiral Sengoku, Marine Hero Koby, Marine Admiral Akainu; and the smiling Revolutionaries' leader Dragon, Four Emperors Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Kaido, Lei Li, Jaba, and others.

And the enormous Loki.

Moments later, Morgens hurried to the right side of the Five Elders, standing beside the Starlight Gang's companions.

"My lord Saint Saint Saiwen—

Together with countless righteous souls, you have rewritten history and forged a new era with supreme might!

He is the architect of the new era! The liberator of billions of compatriots! Undoubtedly—the King of the World!"

"This moment shall be forever inscribed in history!

All compatriots! All brothers!

Let us rejoice together as the new era descends!"

The scene seemed frozen: Akainu gripped his magma fists, staring at Sengoku, Koby, and Akainu celebrating victory.

"Old friend, why didn't you call me?!"

Akainu was filled with regret—his guts turned green: toppling the World Government was so easy! How could you three not call me!?

The presence of Sengoku, Koby, and Akainu meant the Marines had fully pledged allegiance to Saint Saint Saiwen Saint and would become the new Marine force under the new regime.

Yet this Marine Admiral had not participated in the great act of toppling the World Government.

How could this be allowed?!

Still, when Akainu remembered that Kuzan was also absent, his gloom lifted slightly.

The instant Morgens finished speaking, the live broadcast cameras swept across the ruins of Mary Geoise from every angle.

Amid the held breath of millions, Saint Saint Saiwen, with a lightning squirrel named Tie Lei perched on his shoulder, simply raised his hand and waved.

In an instant, ten-thousand-zhang divine light erupted across heaven and earth.

Countless auspicious clouds churned, and blessed vapors rose.

The clouds above the nine heavens shattered with a roar, and from nothingness slowly emerged a majestic, soaring sky-city suspended in the heavens.

Then, descending gently from the depths of the cloud sea, it settled firmly upon the ruins of Mary Geoise on the Red Line.

Within the city, light and shadow flowed, jade towers and crystal palaces shimmered in orderly brilliance, like a divine realm.

On the Marine warships, including Akainu, every boy wearing a spotted cap stared, dumbfounded, at it all, afraid to miss a single second.

Akainu understood: from this day forward, no one on the seas would dare defy Saint Saint Saiwen Saint's will.

Not even the Marine high command, the Revolutionary high command, three of the Four Emperors, or the Starlight Gang's officers who had aided Saint Saint Saiwen Saint in toppling the World Government.

For men have weaknesses—but gods do not.

"Uncle… can I take it back?"

At nine years old, suffering from Perona disease, wearing a spotted cap, Trafalgar Law suddenly asked.

Akainu understood perfectly: this boy had returned because he wished to join Saint Saint Saiwen Saint and gain a chance to be cured of his Perona disease.

"No."

"The Marines are Saint Saint Saiwen Saint's people too. Come back with me to headquarters—I'll take you to the Holy Land… to be healed."