Chapter 458: Old Generation Tactics

Long Bread's words were deafening; Charlotte Lingling stood atop the thundercloud Zeus, her unusually tall figure now appearing somewhat desolate.

Indeed, the age of pirates has passed.

The Great Pirate Era personally opened by Luo Jie was buried by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, who hailed from Luo Jie's crew, merely sixteen years later.

Very few people discuss the Four Emperors of the New World now; in a few more years, who will remember the Four Emperors?

People will only remember the King of the World, Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, who abolished the slave system, overthrew the World Government, and established the United Kingdom.

Lingling lowered her head and eyes, staring blankly at the Emperor Sword Napoleon in her hand; this famous blade that had accompanied her in battle for many years seemed somewhat weary itself.

The three hundred sons who were once her greatest reliance now followed Long Bread in rebellion, becoming the final straw that broke Lingling.

Clang~

Napoleon fell to the ground; after a bitter laugh, Lingling completely gave up resistance.

Seeing this situation, after hesitating for a few breaths, Perospero and Katakuri quietly placed Sea Prism Stone handcuffs and leg chains on Lingling.

Katakuro and the others also breathed a sigh of relief.

Regardless, Lingling is their mother after all; who would want to draw swords against their mother? This outcome is the best possible.

It is nothing more than being imprisoned in Impel Down.

Moreover, Lingling is currently pregnant; according to the United Kingdom's Law on the Protection of Women and Children, she can wait until after giving birth to go to Impel Down for further training.

However, upon thinking that the father of the child in Lingling's womb is the reactionary Blackbeard, Katakuri and the others suddenly fell into worry.

Truly a mother who pits her children; who else could she choose to bear a child with, but Blackbeard?

Blackbeard carries the bloodline of the Davei clan and once provoked Saint Saint Saint Saiwen; although he has already been publicly executed, who can guarantee that Blackbeard's descendants will not be implicated because of this?

If Saint Saint Saint Saiwen does not pursue the matter, it is because Saint Saint Saint Saiwen is magnanimous.

But there is no guarantee that subordinates, eager to establish merit, will not actively eliminate the remnants of Blackbeard on behalf of Saint Saint Saint Saiwen.

Sure enough, not long after.

After handing Lingling over to the Navy for escort, Katakuri and Perospero led the remaining brothers and sisters to gather around Katakuri.

"Brother Katakuri, Blackbeard's child cannot be allowed to live; this is a time bomb that might explode at any moment."

"Yes, when cutting grass, the roots must be removed."

"Even if Saint Saint Saint Saiwen does not mention such matters, we must proactively share the burden."

Hearing the words of his brothers and sisters, Katakuri sighed melancholically.

"Let us return first; we will discuss it upon returning."

With the arrest of Charlotte Lingling, the three hundred sons of the Lingling Army immediately became a delicacy fought over by the Navy, Army, and Air Force.

Although the three hundred sons are foolish, their combat power is extraordinary.

What's wrong with being a bit foolish?

Fools are more obedient!

Even if only one-tenth achieve success, with guidance from a famous master, three hundred steel balloons can be trained into thirty Four Emperor-level experts.

Moreover, even if only one percent achieve success, three Four Emperor-level experts can be trained.

To fight over the right to distribute the three hundred sons, Navy Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Army Fleet Admiral Dragon, and Air Force Fleet Admiral Shiki argued until their faces were red and their necks swollen in the Holy Land Administration Hall.

"Sengoku? What do you Navy want with so many talents? Do you intend to rebel?"

Shiki immediately employed the old generation's tactics, first slapping the label of rebellion onto the Navy.

Dragon was stunned by this; after a moment's hesitation, he chose to follow suit.

"Yes, Senior Sengoku, the Navy is already full of talents; its top experts under command surpass all three armies, and its mid-to-low-level officers are even more numerous than the Army and Air Force combined."

"What exactly does the Navy want to do?"

Suppressing the Navy would give the Army a chance to surpass those who came before; missing such an opportunity would mean Dragon could be criticized to death by Ivankov, Crow, and others upon his return.

Suddenly branded with the big label of rebellion, Sengoku was truly intimidated for a moment.

"You are too oppressive!"

"You... you... are too oppressive!"

"Do not forget, your father, Monkey D. Dragon, is right inside the Navy; if Garp wants to rebel, do you think you can escape?!"

Dragon immediately felt some regret: I was careless!

Seeing this situation, Shiki went all out.

"The Navy and Army are involved so deeply; does Saint Saint Saint Saiwen know? What exactly do the two of you want to do? Hm?!"

Damn it! Sengoku and Dragon finally realized.

This old thing Shiki wants to swallow those three hundred steel balloons alone.

Shiki can slap the big label of rebellion onto the Navy and Army, but they cannot slap it back, because the Air Force consists entirely of Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's direct loyalists.

From Air Force Fleet Admiral Shiki, Grand Strategist Lafitte, and Air Force Admiral Ace down to mid-to-low-level officers, almost all hail from the Morning Star Corps and the former retinue of the Four Emperors.

"Senior Shi Ji, those words are incorrect; we are all members of the United Kingdom, all serving under Saint Saint Saint Saiwen."

"Where does the talk of rebellion come from?"

Hearing these words, Sengoku sighed helplessly.

Dragon is still too young after all.

The person who wrongs you already knows better than anyone that you are wronged; moreover, once trapped in the pit of self-proof, one only becomes more passive the more one explains, ultimately losing in a crushing defeat.

Sure enough, Shiki sneered.

"Then why are you involved so deeply?

Can I understand this as you, ostensibly the Navy and Army, actually having long been in collusion, using the names of the two major military branches to secretly communicate, and secretly twisting into a single rope behind the scenes?"

"Speaking of maintaining stability across the Four Seas and adhering to the bottom line of justice, but in reality, merely wearing the cloak of justice while secretly plotting rebellion?"

Sengoku silently raised his thumb.

First slapping on a label, then forcing one to take a side; the Golden Lion plays this game skillfully.

No, given Sengoku's understanding of the Golden Lion, he would absolutely never speak such profound words; it must be that someone signaled him from behind.

In fact, Sengoku had long noticed: the Navy and the Army were deeply intertwined.

The father of Army Marshal Dragon, Garp, is the Navy Hero Garp; with such a relationship existing, the Navy's interior was also thoroughly integrated with the Army.

After all, most of the Air Force originated from pirates, and some Navy officers harbored a certain degree of resistance.

And the Army originated from the Revolutionary Army; furthermore, since the duties of the Navy and Army were similar, the Navy naturally drew closer to the Army.

Sengoku realized the truth, but he was not sad; instead, he felt a certain relief and liberation.

His beloved son, Donquixote Rosinante, only needed to follow the established order, and in a few years could succeed as the Navy Headquarters Grand Strategist.

Then he, the Navy Marshal appointed by the former World Government, was the time to choose to step back to a secondary position, making room for the new era Navy.

As for who would succeed as Navy Marshal, it was probably that guy Borsalino...

But Borsalino... was he truly willing?

The next day, Navy Marshal Sengoku came to the Administrative Hall to resign and recommended Navy Admiral Kizaru to succeed as the new Navy Marshal.

Unexpectedly, he was refused by Saint Saint Saiwen.

"Senior Sengoku,

you are not unclear about the character of older brother Borsalino; moreover, with Bellmere about to give birth, he certainly will not accept the appointment."

"How about letting Sakazuki come?"

"Sakazuki?" Sengoku was greatly surprised.

Logically speaking, among the three Navy Admirals, Kizaru belonged to Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's trusted inner circle; Aokiji and Saint Saint Saint Saiwen had never had any friction; only Akainu was the least likely person to succeed to the position of Navy Marshal.

Everyone's heart clearly knew that Saint Saint Saint Saiwen and Akainu had always had a very deep rift.

Yet Saint Saint Saint Saiwen chose Akainu.

Sengoku could not help but begin to doubt: could it be that yesterday he overthought it, and actually no one thought he should retire?

How ridiculous; I was being too clever by half.

Sengoku's intestines were regretted green.