Chapter 403: He Deeply Loves This Sea

North Sea, Marine Branch 80.

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

Compared to Akainu’s elite Marines, the North Sea rebels were weak, but the North Sea waters were too vast; Akainu spent two and a half months entirely suppressing the rebellion.

Upon arriving at the port, a lazy yet familiar figure suddenly appeared in Akainu’s line of sight.

“Kizaru,” Akainu joked in complaint: “Why didn’t you warn me ahead of time?”

Kizaru understood: his old friend wasn’t angry about not being notified before his arrival, but about not being called when he stormed Mary Geoise two and a half months ago.

His old friend still harbored deep resentment toward the World Government—even after all this time, he hadn’t let it go.

“Sorry, it happened suddenly.”

Kizaru had hidden the news from Akainu precisely because he feared his old friend, upon hearing it, would lose his mind and rashly lead the Marines to support the World Government.

Against the Captain’s blade, even more Marines would only add to the casualties.

But from his old friend’s complaint now, and from the exhaustion and bright eyes on his face: he had been wrong.

His old friend had never entertained the idea of supporting the World Government; instead, afterward, he diligently led the Marines to maintain order in the North Sea.

Akainu did not press further, but asked:

“Why are you here?”

Given Kizaru’s status and strength within the United Kingdom, he could not possibly have come without reason.

“Nothing much. Just traveling around.”

“I see...” Akainu smiled.

“Come on, to my office. Let’s taste the tea of the North Sea.”

The two had known each other for years; Akainu saw at a glance that his old friend was lying.

And with too many eyes at the port, they couldn’t speak freely—so he used tea to find out what had truly happened.

Not long after, in the branch commander’s office.

Akainu poured Kizaru a cup of tea himself.

“No one’s here now. Speak.”

Kizaru held the teacup, pausing to consider.

“It’s not really a big deal—just that the Captain has killed too many people lately. After several attempts to dissuade him failed, I had no choice but to use my patrol of the Four Seas as an excuse to step away for a while.”

“That’s it?” Akainu couldn’t help laughing.

As a close friend who joined the Marines at the same time, Akainu knew his old friend’s nature—

Always seeking to avoid effort, indifferent to power, struggle, good or evil; though he had his own moral bottom line, he rarely showed it.

If his old friend had spoken up to dissuade him, then the number of people Barzab Seven had killed recently... must truly have been immense.

“Do you think Barzab Seven has killed too many?”

At this, Kizaru nodded silently.

Incomplete estimates show that since the Captain overthrew the World Government, over six million people across the Four Seas have been executed under charges of rebellion.

Roughly the population of a mid-sized nation.

That’s why Dragon, Kizaru, Fujitora, and even Kizaru had all tried to dissuade him—yet to no avail.

The Captain was determined to carve out a bright new world by blood.

Akainu lit a cigar and spoke in a low voice:

“I actually agree with Barzab Seven’s methods.”

“During this time, I’ve seen too many opportunistic schemers in the North Sea, using their pretended allegiance to the United Kingdom to turn the region into a cesspool.”

In contrast, Barzab Seven—

Direct, decisive, no destruction, no creation.

He destroyed the old era’s poisons with extreme means; even if he bears hatred, at least he’s infinitely better than the Celestial Dragons.

With such resolve and power to reshape order, he deserves to hold it all.”

With that, a light Akainu had never shown before flickered deep in his eyes as he looked at Kizaru:

“Old friend, I’ve had little contact with Barzab Seven, but through the United Kingdom’s recent decrees...

No matter how the world judges Barzab Seven—

Whether he’s seen as loyal and righteous, or cruel and bloodthirsty—he loves no one, holds no affection for any individual, but he deeply loves this sea.

If it will make this sea better, he will unhesitatingly sacrifice anyone.”

“Of course,” Akainu changed tone: “This is only my personal view.”

In truth, Akainu wholeheartedly approved of Barzab’s actions—if you’re going to do something, do it thoroughly. If you hesitate because too many have died, then why even overthrow the World Government?

Why not just keep being a Celestial Dragon?

“Besides, Barzab Seven gave those people chances—but you saw how they only grew bolder, greedier.”

“Their surrender was merely a ploy to become nobles of the new era, clinging to power, oppressing the people, living in luxury.”

Akainu sneered.

“If it were me, I’d kill every last one of these scum. Barzab Seven letting some go mine coal... he’s still too soft.”

Kizaru knew this would happen—he shouldn’t have come to his old friend to complain.

“Thankfully, it wasn’t you making the decisions.”

If Akainu’s logic ruled, every noble from the former World Government member states would be dead.

“Come on, let’s go to Sky City for the meeting.”

“Meeting?” Akainu looked surprised: “I’m invited to a meeting in Sky City?”

Everyone knew he and Barzab Seven were at odds—and he only led the Marines to suppress the rebellion in the North Sea because he was fulfilling his own sense of justice.

“You’re one of the three current Admirals of the Marines. Of course you’re invited,” Kizaru explained.

“Not only kings, but also the Marine Commander-in-Chief, Chief Strategist, three Admirals, the Warden and Deputy Warden of Impel Down, the Chief Judge of Enies Lobby—even civilian representatives—all have the right to attend.”

“Before I came, all the kings had already arrived in Sky City.”

Akainu nodded.

“I’ll hand over my duties to my adjutant. Honestly, I’m quite curious about Sky City—why call it Sky City when it’s not even in the sky?”

As they walked, Kizaru explained:

“Garp asked the Captain this same question: 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 couldn’t hear the voices of the Four Seas’ people; if too low, it would crush them under its weight.

Rooted on the ground—just right.”

At these words, Akainu fell silent for a long time, then raised his thumb.

“Barzab Seven is a great man.”

Ever since Barzab overthrew the World Government and declared the liberation of all slaves, establishing a world where everyone could eat their fill—

Akainu’s hatred toward Barzab had vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented sense of identification.

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

The fifty thousand Marines who died at Marineford were stepping stones toward a new order.

No sacrifice was too great to accept.