Chapter 437: What Is Called a Society of Personal Connections

Sacred Land, Sky City, Marine base.

High-ranking officials including Marine Commander-in-Chief Sakazuki, Marine Hero Garp, the current Three Admirals Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji, as well as the headquarters' Chief Strategist Tsuru, all gathered together.

Originally, Sakazuki had happily brought his beloved son Rosinante to the Sacred Land to attend Seven’s wedding, hoping Seven would see Rosinante’s growth.

But due to the matter of the Air Force receiving new aircraft, Sakazuki had to urgently summon all arriving Marine high-ranking officers for a meeting.

“Comrades,

According to the Interior Ministry’s deliberated resolution, the newly mass-produced aircraft from the Science Defense Department will be prioritized for the Air Force, followed by the Marine and Army branches.”

“Technically, we should obey the Interior Ministry’s decision, but I’m deeply uneasy about it.”

Everyone knows the Marine is the strongest of the three forces; we can’t be treated like an orphan just because we defected.

Though Sakazuki didn’t say it outright, all the Marine high-ranking officers understood—and their gazes unconsciously turned toward Kizaru.

Porusarino, it’s up to you now.

Sensing all eyes fixed on him, Kizaru frowned, looking utterly exasperated.

“Their official name is Air Force.”

Kizaru really wanted to tell Sakazuki and the others: originally, according to Seven’s intention, he, Porusarino, was meant to become Air Force Commander-in-Chief.

But at that time, Kizaru was facing the one-in-a-lifetime event of courting Bellmell, the adoptive mother of the Golden Lion’s adopted daughter.

Moreover, Kizaru had spent most of his life in the Marine, and truly didn’t want to leave—so he refused.

Kizaru knew full well that the Captain and the Interior Ministry intended to equip the Air Force first with bomber aircraft, troop transport aircraft, and patrol aircraft.

Only after the second production batch would the Marine and Army’s needs be addressed.

Hearing this, Sakazuki could only speak gently.

“Porusarino, the Interior Ministry’s resolution is a resolution—but don’t we have you as a connection? You don’t want the Marine to be surpassed by the Air Force, do you?”

Having served as Marine Commander-in-Chief for so many years, Sakazuki had realized the moment he saw the aircraft: aircraft would change the nature of warfare.

And the balance of power among the three forces within the United Kingdom.

That’s why he hoped Kizaru would intervene, using his status as a key official of the Morning Star Corps, to plead with Seven for more aircraft for the Marine.

Such is the nature of a society built on personal connections.

If the Marine had no connections, fine—but to ignore the connection we have with Kizaru would be sheer madness.

At that moment, Garp suddenly asked:

“Sakazuki, what’s the name of the aircraft that Vegapunk and the Science Defense Department developed?”

“Collectively called the Big Plane.”

Sakazuki continued: “Including troop transport Big Planes, bomber Big Planes, patrol Big Planes, and eventually, civilian Big Plane transport routes will be established.”

With that, Sakazuki’s gaze fell lovingly on Kizaru, making Kizaru’s skin crawl.

“Fine. After Seven’s wedding, I’ll go ask him.”

Kizaru always disliked such troublesome matters, but years of Marine camaraderie compelled him to accept this unpleasant duty.

Better to go home and ask Bellmell.

After the Captain’s wedding, he’d find time to enter matrimony himself—Porusarino, too, must marry.

Hearing this, Sakazuki nodded in satisfaction.

With Kizaru and Rosinante’s connection, they could at least secure some Big Planes for the Marine, preventing the Marine from falling behind the Air Force.

Still feeling uneasy, Sakazuki turned his gaze to Vergo behind Aokiji.

“General Vergo…”

Vergo immediately snapped to attention and saluted.

“Rest assured, Commander-in-Chief. I will convey the Marine’s demands to Lord Seven.”

Now Sakazuki was fully at ease.

So what if the Air Force is full of Seven’s loyalists? We have loyalists too—we can make the Marine entirely composed of Seven’s loyalists.

“While Lord Seven is celebrating his wedding, enjoy yourselves in the Sacred Land—the air here seems sweeter than anywhere else.”

“Meeting dismissed.”

In fact, even Zephyr and other Marine high-ranking officers had been assigned residences in Sky City—clearly, Seven was truly considerate.

Meanwhile, in the Army base:

A similar meeting, chaired by Dragon, gathered the Army’s core leadership—Red Count, Barret, Ivankov, Crow, and others—to discuss the matter.

“Comrades, you’ve all heard or seen the power of the Big Plane.”

“Technically, prioritizing the Air Force for Big Planes aligns with the Air Force’s founding purpose and mission—but still.”

“If we get not a single Big Plane, I feel deeply aggrieved.”

As he spoke, Dragon looked toward Red Count and Barret seated nearby.

“Senior Redfield, Brother Barret—you both know the Army’s situation.

In terms of mid-to-low-ranking officers, we’re far behind the Marine. If the Air Force surpasses us too, everyone will lose face. Help the Army.”

Barret rubbed his temples as if suffering a headache.

Dragon and Red Count’s strength—he respected them. Having served as Army General for years, Barret had grown attached to the Army.

“I’ll speak to the Captain.”

Red Count nodded.

“I’ll go with you.”

Since joining the Morning Star Corps, Red Count had finally realized life could be this smooth.

In just a few short years, his experiences had been a thousandfold more thrilling than his decades at sea.

He, Red Count, had risen from a prisoner in Level Six of Impel Down, to a Revolutionary Army officer, then to a founding hero of the United Kingdom, and now to Army General.

He could start his own family genealogy.

In the entire Balorick family, spanning centuries, no one had ever surpassed him in achievement.

As the saying goes: one prospers, all prosper; one falls, all fall. Red Count sincerely wished to preserve the stability of the United Kingdom, and as one of the current Army Generals, he naturally had the duty to elevate the Army’s status among the three forces.

There was no choice—once he was alone, eating well meant no one else starved; now that he had children, he had responsibilities.

Even if he didn’t think of himself, he had to think of his children’s future.

At this moment, Red Count finally understood.

Why the Captain had wanted to completely overthrow the old system and build a world of equality—because the United Kingdom had existed for only nine years, and a new privileged class had already emerged.

Yet compared to the era of the World Government, the common people under the United Kingdom at least no longer starved… no longer became slaves.

It was undeniably a tremendous advancement.

As for the future? As long as the Captain remains, the privileged class won’t dare go too far—this sea won’t fall into chaos.

From this perspective, the Captain’s debt to this sea can never be repaid.

Moreover, within the United Kingdom, anti-corruption and anti-privilege campaigns were already in full swing.

These events in Sky City couldn’t be hidden from Seven; he understood the Marine and Army’s demands.

But production simply couldn’t keep up.

If the pirate world’s productivity had advanced by several centuries, there would be no shortage of Big Planes.

As for the embryonic privileged class… that problem was even harder than production.

Fundamentally, it was an ideological issue rooted in thought and system—far more difficult to eradicate than technological or material gaps.

Fortunately, Seven had no intention of changing anything.

After all, Seven didn’t plan to become a saint—and he had already fulfilled his dream of feeding everyone. The future? Let future people handle it.