"All right, now we can finally talk."
In an uninhabited corner of Marineford,
Alex smiled faintly as he looked at the imprisoned top brass of the Navy in front of him.
"Don't think that we'll submit just because of this. If that's what you're thinking, then you're underestimating us!"
Admiral Akainu let out a cold snort, his attitude proud and unyielding.
Alex wasn't surprised by Akainu's stance in the slightest.
He didn't bother responding either, instead shifting his gaze directly onto Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
After all, this was the real decision-maker.
"What do you think?"
Alex asked calmly, staring straight at Sengoku.
"Why do you need so many Devil Fruits?"
"It's clear that with your power, you could destroy the entire Marineford if you wanted to. On this sea, almost no one can stop you."
"So why do you still need Devil Fruits?"
Garp stared at Alex with unconcealed curiosity as he asked this question.
When Kizaru had first reported that Alex wanted Devil Fruits from across the entire sea, Sengoku and the others had instinctively assumed that Alex was planning to create an army of Devil Fruit users.
Something like the Revolutionary Army—building power to compete with the Marines and pirates alike, aiming to carve out a place on the seas.
Or perhaps even to rise above the Four Emperors.
Or to carry out some other grand scheme.
But now, seeing things firsthand, the Navy's top brass realized they were wrong.
If this man truly wanted to do something big, why would he need to go through all that trouble?
He had single-handedly torn through Marineford!
The three Admirals, the Fleet Admiral, and even Garp—the Navy's strongest combatant—
all of them had been beaten and captured like dogs by this one man.
With strength this terrifying, what need was there for an army of Devil Fruit users?
He alone was worth an entire army!
Even if he really wanted subordinates, all he would have to do was reveal his power and raise his banner—countless strong individuals would flock to him.
There was simply no need for so many Devil Fruits.
Garp genuinely couldn't understand it.
Why Devil Fruits?
Because I need to get stronger, of course.
But that was something Alex obviously couldn't say out loud.
After thinking for a moment, he gave an answer instead:
"Don't you think the reason the sea is so chaotic… is because of Devil Fruits?"
"I don't quite understand what you mean,"
Garp said, slightly stunned.
Sengoku and the others were also confused, unsure where Alex was going with this.
"The vast majority of powerful pirates on the sea exist because of Devil Fruits. That's undeniable, isn't it?"
"If there were no Devil Fruits, there wouldn't be so many powerful pirates."
"So, I intend to destroy all Devil Fruits."
Alex delivered the explanation he had prepared.
When a Devil Fruit user dies, the fruit "reincarnates" somewhere else.
But if a Devil Fruit itself is destroyed outright, then it's gone for good.
"So what you're saying is… you're doing this to deal with pirates? For the peace of the entire sea?"
Kizaru looked at Alex with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
Sengoku and the others felt the same—it was hard to believe.
This madman who had turned Marineford upside down… was claiming to share the same goal as the Navy?
What a joke.
And yet—
if what he said were true, it might not actually be a bad thing.
Sure, destroying Devil Fruits would affect the Navy as well.
But the Navy's dependence on Devil Fruits was far lower than that of pirates.
And more importantly—
if this man really did eliminate the Four Emperors, the situation would become overwhelmingly favorable for the Navy.
That thought briefly crossed their minds, but none of them seriously entertained it.
They had no intention of cooperating with someone like him.
"Come out."
"You really think I wouldn't notice you?"
Just as Sengoku and the others were about to speak again, Alex suddenly turned toward a large boulder not far away and spoke coldly.
Sengoku and the rest instinctively followed his gaze.
A bald man holding a long sword stepped out from behind the rock.
One of the Five Elders.
The Navy's top brass were instantly shocked.
That's right—the newcomer was unmistakably one of the Five Elders.
In truth, Alex had sensed the bald Elder's presence long ago.
Everything he had just explained to Sengoku and the others was also meant for the Five Elders to hear.
After all, he needed to dispel the doubts of both the Navy and the Five Elders.
Devil Fruits could turn ordinary people into powerful fighters—there was no way the Navy would casually help someone collect them.
That would be sheer nonsense.
Which was why Alex said he planned to destroy them.
And in fact, he wasn't lying.
Absorbing Devil Fruits completely was no different from destroying them.
"You truly intend to destroy the Devil Fruits?"
The bald Elder walked up to Alex and asked seriously.
"Of course,"
Alex shrugged casually.
"Do you really think I need something like Devil Fruits, given my strength?"
The bald Elder had nothing to say to that.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke again:
"I have one condition. You must destroy Devil Fruits in front of us."
"No problem,"
Alex agreed without hesitation.
"Then, sir, I accept your request on behalf of the Navy. You should know what my identity represents."
The bald Elder made his decision after a brief pause.
"What? We can't—!"
Akainu immediately objected angrily.
Cooperating with someone like this—did the Navy have no dignity left?
"Sakazuki!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku shouted, cutting him off.
The Five Elders' decision was not something they had the authority to question.
And besides—
the fact that even the Five Elders had chosen to compromise sent an extremely telling signal.
Did this mean that even the Five Elders couldn't deal with this man?
Or… did they have some other motive?
As it turned out, Sengoku was right.
The Five Elders did have another motive.
If Alex helped them eliminate the pirates, they would naturally welcome it.
But Devil Fruits?
They had no intention of truly giving those to Alex.
After witnessing Alex's ability to sweep through Marineford and even rival the Four Emperors, the Five Elders secretly discussed a plan:
Use Alex as a weapon to eliminate the Four Emperors—
and then quietly eliminate Alex afterward.
Perfect.
"Then here's to a pleasant cooperation."
Alex smiled.
But in his eyes, a sharp glint of cold light flashed.
If the Five Elders behaved themselves, fine.
But if they tried any tricks—
they would be digging their own graves.
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