Chapter 437

The Holy Land's Sky City, Navy base.

High-ranking officials including Navy Admiral Sengoku, Navy Hero Garp, and the current Three Admirals: Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji, as well as Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, all gathered together.

Originally, Sengoku had happily brought his beloved son Rosinante to the Holy Land to attend Saint Saint Saiwen's wedding, hoping Saint Saint Saiwen would see Rosinante's growth.

But due to the Air Force's adoption of new aircraft, Sengoku had to urgently summon all arriving Navy high command for a meeting.

"Comrades,

According to the Interior Ministry's deliberated resolution, the newly mass-produced aircraft by the Science Defense Department will be prioritized for the Air Force, followed by the Navy and Army."

"Technically, we should obey the Interior Ministry's decision, but I'm deeply uneasy about it."

Everyone knows the Navy is the strongest of the three forces; we can't be treated like a stepchild just because we defected.

Although Sengoku did not say it outright, all the Navy high command understood—their gazes unconsciously turned toward Kizaru.

Borusarino, it's up to you now.

Sensing all eyes fixed upon him, Kizaru slumped his face in resignation.

"Their official name is Air Force."

Kizaru truly wanted to tell Sengoku and the others: originally, according to Saint Saint Saiwen's intention, he, Borsalino, was meant to become Air Force Admiral.

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

Moreover, Kizaru had spent most of his life in the Navy and truly did not wish to leave—so he refused.

Kizaru knew 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 batch of mass production would the Navy and Army's demands be met.

Hearing this, Sengoku could only speak gently.

"Borusarino, the Interior Ministry's resolution is a resolution, but don't we have you as a connection? You don't want the Navy to be surpassed by the Air Force, do you?"

Having served as Navy Admiral for so many years, Sengoku 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.

Hence, he hoped Kizaru would intervene, using his status as a key official of the Morning Star Corps, to plead with Saint Saint Saiwen for some aircraft for the Navy.

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

If the Navy had no connections, fine; but if we have Kizaru's connection and don't use it, we'd be fools.

At that moment, Karp suddenly asked:

"Sengoku, what's the name of the aircraft Bell-punk and the Science Defense Department developed?"

"Collectively called Big Aircraft."

Sengoku continued: "Including troop transport Big Aircraft, bomber Big Aircraft, patrol Big Aircraft, and in the future, civilian Big Aircraft transport lines."

Upon finishing, Sengoku's affectionate gaze settled on Kizaru, making Kizaru's skin crawl.

"Fine. After Saint Saint Saiwen's wedding, I'll ask him."

Kizaru always resisted such troublesome tasks, but years of Navy camaraderie compelled him to accept this bitter duty.

Better to go home and ask Bell-mère.

After the Captain's wedding, he, Borusarino, should find time to enter matrimony himself.

Hearing this, Sengoku nodded in satisfaction.

With Kizaru and Rosinante's connection, the Navy could still secure some Big Aircraft, preventing it from falling behind the Air Force.

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

"Vergo, Vice Admiral…"

Vergo immediately snapped to attention and saluted.

"Rest assured, Admiral. I will present the Navy's demands to Lord Saint Saint Saiwen."

Now Sengoku was completely at ease.

Even if the Air Force is entirely composed of Saint Saint Saiwen's loyalists, so too can the Navy be—our Navy can be entirely composed of Saint Saint Saiwen's loyalists too.

"While Saint Saint Saiwen is celebrating his wedding, everyone, relax and enjoy yourselves in the Holy Land—the air here seems sweeter than anywhere else."

"Meeting adjourned."

In fact, even Zephyr and other Navy high command had been assigned mansions in Sky City—clearly, Saint Saint Saiwen was truly considerate.

Meanwhile, in the Army base:

A similar meeting, presided over by Dragon, gathered the Army's core leadership—Red Count, Barret, Ivankov, and Crow—all in one room.

"Comrades, you've all heard of or seen the power of the Big Aircraft."

"Technically, prioritizing the Big Aircraft for the Air Force aligns with the Air Force's founding purpose and mission—but…"

"But if we get not a single Big Aircraft for the Army, 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-level officer numbers, we're far inferior to the Navy; if we're surpassed by the Air Force too, everyone will lose face. Help the Army."

Barret rubbed his temples as if suffering a headache.

Dragon, Red Count—they were both powerful, and Barret, having served as Army General for years, had grown attached to the Army.

"I'll speak to the Captain."

Red Count nodded in agreement.

"I'll go with you."

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

His experiences over just a few short years had been far more thrilling than his decades at sea.

He, Red Count, had risen from a prisoner in Level 6 of Impel Down, to a Revolutionary Corps officer, to a founding hero of the United Kingdom, and now to Army General.

He can now start his own family genealogy.

Throughout the entire Barlojik family, over centuries of history, none had ever surpassed Red Count in achievement.

As the saying goes, prosperity or ruin is shared by all; Red Count sincerely wished to uphold 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 above the other two branches.

There was no choice—once he was alone, feeding himself meant the whole family didn't starve; now that he had children, he had responsibilities.

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

At this moment, Red Count finally understood.

Why had the Captain originally sought to completely overthrow the old system and establish a world of unity? Because the United Kingdom had existed for only nine years, and a new privileged class had already emerged.

But compared to the era of the World Government's rule, the common people under the United Kingdom at least no longer went hungry… no longer became slaves.

In the end, it was a tremendous advancement.

As for what the future held, as long as the Captain remained, the privileged class would not dare go too far, and this sea would not descend into chaos.

From this perspective, the Captain's debt to this sea was truly impossible to repay.

Moreover, within the United Kingdom, an anti-corruption and anti-privilege campaign was already raging.

The events occurring within Sky City naturally could not escape Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's notice; Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen expressed understanding of the Navy's and Army's demands.

But productivity simply could not keep up.

If the productivity of the Pirate World had advanced by several centuries, there would never have been a shortage of large aircraft.

As for the embryonic privileged class… this was even harder to resolve than the issue of productivity.

At its core, this was an ideological problem rooted in thought and system, far more difficult to eradicate than gaps in technology or material resources.

Fortunately, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had no intention of making changes.

After all, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had no intention of becoming a saint, and his dream of ensuring everyone had enough to eat had already been realized; the future's problems would be solved by future people.