Chapter 458

Long Bread’s words rang deafeningly loud; Luffy stood atop the thundercloud Zeus, her towering figure now seeming strangely forlorn.

Yes, the age of pirates has passed.

The Great Pirate Era, opened personally by Roger, lasted only sixteen years before being buried by Barzab Seven, who once served in Roger’s crew.

Few now speak of the Four Emperors of the New World; in a few more years, who will even remember them?

People will only remember the World King, Seven Saint, who abolished slavery, overthrew the World Government, and established the United Kingdom.

Luffy lowered her head, gazing blankly at the Emperor Sword Napoleon in her hand—the famed blade that had accompanied her through countless battles now seemed weary.

Her once-greatest asset, the three hundred sons, had now turned against her with Long Bread, becoming the final straw that broke her.

Clang~

Napoleon fell to the ground; Luffy let out a bitter laugh and surrendered completely.

Seeing this, Perospero and Katakuri hesitated for a few breaths, then quietly fastened Sea-Prism Stone manacles and leg irons onto Luffy.

Katakuri and the others also sighed in relief.

No matter what, Luffy was still their mother—who among them wanted to draw blades against their own mother? This outcome was best of all.

It’s just being locked up in Impel Down.

Moreover, Luffy is currently pregnant; according to the United Kingdom’s Women and Children Protection Law, she can wait until after childbirth before being sent to Impel Down for “re-education.”

Yet, the moment they thought of the child’s father—Blackbeard—Katakuri and the others suddenly grew troubled.

What a terrible mother—to pick anyone but Blackbeard to bear a child with.

Blackbeard carries the bloodline of the Davy family and once angered Seven Saint; though publicly executed, who can guarantee his descendants won’t suffer collateral consequences?

If Seven Saint chooses not to pursue it, that’s his magnanimity.

But who can say some underling, eager for merit, won’t take it upon themselves to eliminate Blackbeard’s remnants on Seven Saint’s behalf?

Indeed, not long after:

Perospero and Katakuri handed Luffy over to the Marines for transport, then gathered the rest of their siblings around Katakuri.

“Big Brother Katakuri, we can’t let Blackbeard’s child live—it’s a ticking bomb, ready to explode at any moment.”

“Yes, we must uproot it completely.”

“Even if Seven Saint doesn’t say it, we must take the initiative to ease his burden.”

Hearing his siblings’ words, Katakuri sighed heavily.

“Let’s return first. We’ll discuss it again later.”

With Charlotte Luffy’s capture, the three hundred sons of her army instantly became a coveted prize fought over by the Navy, Army, and Air Force.

Though the three hundred sons were foolish, their combat power was formidable.

So what if they’re dumb?

Dumb ones are easier to control!

Even with only a ten percent success rate, with proper mentors, three hundred steel balloons could produce thirty Four Emperor-level experts.

Even with just a one percent success rate, they could still produce three Four Emperor-level experts.

To fight over the allocation of the three hundred sons, Navy Marshal Senkaku, Army Marshal Dragon, and Air Force Marshal Gold Lion argued fiercely in the Sacred Land’s Administrative Hall until their faces turned red.

“Senkaku? Why does your Navy need so many troops? Planning a rebellion?”

Gold Lion opened with the old-school tactic—accusing the Navy of rebellion right away.

Dragon, stunned, paused briefly before joining in.

“Yes, Marshal Senkaku, your Navy is already overflowing with talent; your top-tier warriors outshine all three branches, and your mid- and lower-ranking officers outnumber the Army and Air Force combined.”

“What exactly does the Navy intend to do?”

Suppressing the Navy gives the Army a chance to rise—miss this opportunity, and Dragon would be tormented to death by Ivankov, Crow, and others when he returned.

Suddenly branded with the accusation of rebellion, Senkaku was momentarily stunned.

“This is too much!”

“You… you… this is too much!”

“Don’t forget, your father, Monkey D. Dragon, is in the Navy! If Karp wants to rebel, do you think you can escape?”

Dragon immediately regretted it: I was careless!

Seeing this, Gold Lion escalated further.

“The Navy and Army are so deeply entangled—does Seven Saint know? What exactly are the two of you planning? Huh?!”

Damn it! Senkaku and Dragon finally realized.

That old bastard Gold Lion wanted to monopolize those three hundred steel balloons.

Gold Lion could use the rebellion accusation to pin the Navy and Army, but they couldn’t turn it back on him—because the Air Force was entirely composed of Seven Saint’s loyalists.

From Air Force Marshal Gold Lion, Chief Strategist Lafayette, Air Force Admiral Jin, down to mid- and lower-ranking officers, nearly all came from the Morning Star Crew and former Four Emperor factions.

“Senior Shiki, that’s not right—we’re all part of the United Kingdom, all serving under Seven Saint—”

“How can you speak of rebellion?”

Hearing this, Senkaku sighed helplessly.

Dragon was still too young.

The people who falsely accuse you know better than anyone that you’re innocent—and once you fall into the trap of proving your innocence, the more you explain, the worse you become, until you’re utterly defeated.

Sure enough, Gold Lion sneered.

“Then why are you so deeply entangled?”

“Can I not interpret this as you pretending to be Navy and Army, but in truth, long ago formed a secret alliance, using the names of two branches to secretly unite as one?”

“You claim to uphold peace across the seas and guard justice’s bottom line, but in reality, you’re merely wearing a cloak of justice while plotting rebellion behind the scenes?”

Senkaku silently raised his thumb.

Accusing first, then forcing alignment—Gold Lion played this masterfully.

No, knowing Gold Lion as he did, Senkaku knew he could never have spoken such a profound line—someone must have whispered it to him.

In fact, Senkaku had already noticed: the Navy and Army were deeply entangled.

Dragon’s father, Karp, was the Navy hero Karp; with that connection, the Navy and Army had long since merged into one.

After all, most of the Air Force came from pirates, and some Navy officers still harbored resistance.

The Army, born from the Revolutionary Army, naturally drew closer to the Navy due to overlapping responsibilities.

Senkaku realized this, but felt no sorrow—only a sense of release.

His precious son, Rosinante, only needed to follow the routine, and in a few years, he’d inherit the position of Chief Strategist of the Navy Headquarters.

Thus, he—the former World Government-appointed Navy Marshal—was now ready to step back, making room for the new era’s Navy leadership.

As for who would succeed him as Navy Marshal… probably that fellow, Borsalino…

But would Borsalino… truly want it?

The next day, Navy Marshal Senkaku went to the Administrative Hall to resign and recommended Admiral Borsalino as the new Navy Marshal.

But Seven Saint refused.

“Senior Senkaku,

You know well how Brother Borsalino is—besides, Bellmeire is about to give birth; he certainly won’t accept the appointment.”

“What about Sakazuki?”

“Sakazuki?” Senkaku was greatly surprised.

Logically, among the three Navy Admirals, Borsalino was Seven Saint’s trusted loyalist, Aokiji had always been on good terms with Seven Saint, but Sakazuki was the last person who should become Navy Marshal.

Everyone knew Seven Saint and Sakazuki had always been deeply estranged.

Yet Seven Saint chose Sakazuki.

Senkaku began to doubt: Had he overthought it yesterday? Had no one actually thought he should retire?

Impossible! I made a fool of myself.

Senkaku deeply regretted his actions.