Chapter 403: He Deeply Loves This Sea

North Blue, Marine Branch 80.

Accompanied by several warships arriving at the port, the Marine soldiers, led by Akainu, dragged their exhausted bodies back to the branch to rest.

Compared to the Marine elites led by Akainu, the North Blue rebels were not strong, but the North Blue sea area was simply too vast; Akainu spent a full two and a half months before finally quelling the rebellion completely.

Just as they arrived at the port, a lazy yet familiar figure suddenly came into Akainu's line of sight.

"Borsalino," Akainu complained jokingly, "Why didn't you notify me in advance?"

Kizaru understood that what his old friend was complaining about was not his failure to notify him before arriving, but rather that he hadn't been called when they stormed into Mary Geoise two and a half months ago.

His old friend holds deep resentment toward the World Government; even after so much time has passed, he still hasn't let it go.

"Sorry, the situation happened suddenly."

The reason Kizaru hid it from Akainu was precisely because he feared that if his old friend received the news, he would overthink it, get heated, and lead the Marines to support the World Government.

Facing the Captain's military might, even if the Marines sent more troops, it would only result in increased casualties.

But judging from his old friend's current complaint, the exhaustion on his face, and his bright eyes: he was wrong.

His old friend not only had no thought of supporting the World Government, but afterwards, he dutifully led the Marines to maintain order in the North Blue.

Akainu did not continue to dwell on it, but asked.

"Why have you come?"

Given Kizaru's status in the United Kingdom and his own strength, he would absolutely not have come without cause.

"Nothing much, just looking around."

"I see..." Akainu smiled.

"Let's go, to my office, and taste how the North Blue tea is."

Having known each other for many years, Akainu saw right through his old friend's lie at a glance.

And since the port was crowded and not suitable for detailed discussion, he borrowed the excuse of drinking tea to find out exactly what had happened.

Shortly after, inside the branch base chief's office.

Akainu personally poured a cup of tea for Kizaru.

"No one is around right now, speak."

Kizaru held the teacup, pondering for a moment.

"Actually, it's not a big deal; it's just that the Captain has killed too many people recently. After several attempts to dissuade him failed, I had to borrow the excuse of inspecting the Four Seas to temporarily come out and avoid the storm."

"That's it?" Akainu couldn't help but laugh.

As a close friend who joined the Marines in the same period, Akainu knew his old friend's character well—

He slacks off whenever possible, observing power struggles and good versus evil indifferently; though he has inner principles, he rarely shows them.

For his old friend to speak up and dissuade him, it seems the number of people Saint Saint Saint Saiwen has killed recently... is indeed quite large.

"Do you think Saint Saint Saint Saiwen has killed too many people?"

Hearing this, Kizaru nodded silently.

According to incomplete statistics, since the day the Captain overthrew the World Government, over six million people across the Four Seas have been executed under the charge of rebellion.

That is roughly the population of a medium-sized nation.

Precisely because of this, Dragon, Sengoku, Master Tenghu, and even Kizaru have all spoken up to dissuade him in turn, but ultimately to no avail.

The Captain is determined to kill until the sky is clear and the world is bright.

Akainu lit a cigar and said in a deep voice.

"I actually agree with Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's actions."

"During this time, I have seen too many opportunistic ambitious people in the North Blue who, under the guise of submitting to the United Kingdom, have made the North Blue a mess.

In contrast, Saint Saint Saint Saiwen,

was decisive and straightforward; without breaking the old, the new cannot be established.

He used extreme methods to destroy the tumors of the old era; even if he bears infamy, it is at least countless times better than the Celestial Dragons' methods.

With such boldness and strength to reshape order, he is qualified to hold all of this."

Having spoken, a gleam never seen before flashed in the depths of Akainu's eyes as he looked at Kizaru and said.

"Old friend, I haven't had much contact with Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, but through the political arrangements of the United Kingdom during this time...

No matter how the world evaluates Saint Saint Saint Saiwen.

Whether he is Heavy on Emotion and Righteousness or cruel and cold-blooded, he loves no one, has no love for any individual, but he deeply loves this sea.

As long as it can make this sea better, he can sacrifice anyone without hesitation."

"Of course," Akainu shifted his tone: "This is just my personal opinion."

In reality, Akainu genuinely approved of Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's actions; if one is to do something, one must do it thoroughly; if one hesitates because too many people have been killed, then why overthrow the World Government in the first place?

Isn't it better to continue being a Celestial Dragon?

"Moreover, Saint Saint Saint Saiwen gave those people a chance, but as you saw, they only became more presumptuous and more insatiable."

"Surrendering and submitting was merely to transform into nobles of the new era, continuing to occupy high positions, exploiting the common people, and living a life of extravagant excess."

Akainu sneered.

"If it were me, this bunch of scum should all be killed; Saint Saint Saint Saiwen letting some of them mine... is ultimately too kind."

Kizaru knew it would be like this; coming to his old friend to complain was truly not a wise move.

"Fortunately, it wasn't you making the decision."

If the decision followed Akainu's line of thinking, the nobles of the former World Government member nations, one by one, would all have to die.

"Let's go, to Sky City for the meeting."

"Meeting?" Akainu looked surprised: "Going to Sky City for a meeting, and there's actually a spot for me?"

The world knows that he, Akainu, and Saint Saint Saint Saiwen are very much at odds, and the reason he was willing to lead the Marines to quell the rebellion in the North Blue was simply to execute the justice in his heart.

"You're one of the Navy's current Three Admirals, so of course you have your place." Admiral Yellow Beard explained.

"Not only kings are eligible to attend the World Conference—admirals, chief strategists, the Three Admirals, the warden and deputy warden of Impel Down, the chief justice of Enies Lobby, and even civilian representatives all qualify."

"Before I arrived, the kings of all nations had already reached Sky City."

Red Dog nodded.

"I'll go hand over my duties to my aide. To be honest, I'm genuinely curious about Sky City—it's not in the sky, yet it's called Sky City."

As he walked, Admiral Yellow Beard explained to Red Dog.

"Captain, when Mr. Karp asked: if it's called Sky City, why is it on the ground?"

The captain said our roots lie on this land.

If Sky City were too high, it could not hear the voices of the people of the Four Seas; if too low, it would crush them under its weight.

Rooted on the ground is just right."

Upon hearing this, Red Dog fell silent for a long time, then raised his thumb.

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen is a great man."

Since Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen overthrew the World Government, proclaimed the liberation of all slaves across the Four Seas, and ultimately established a world where everyone could eat their fill,

Red Dog's hatred toward Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of identification.

Just as he had said before: if it would make this sea better, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen would unhesitatingly sacrifice anyone.

The fifty thousand Navy soldiers who died in the Battle of Marineford were stepping stones toward a new order.

No sacrifice is too great to be acceptable.