Although there were no casualties among the soldiers on Whole Cake Island, both the Akainu Army and the Momousagi Army suffered significant losses of soldiers and officers during their fierce battle with the Beasts Pirates.
With Whole Cake Island now under Marine control, Orion announced plans to establish a new Marine base within the territory of Totto Land.
As a result, Sakazuki and Gion no longer needed to bring the fallen soldiers back to headquarters.
With Orion permission, they immediately arranged for their subordinates to carry the fallen soldiers off the warships and began constructing a heroes' cemetery on Whole Cake Island.
Under the direct command of the two Admirals, thousands of soldiers worked tirelessly and in just over an hour, a cemetery took shape.
Though it seemed somewhat hastily built, it would be further refined as the Marine base began construction.
The Akainu Army and Momousagi Army, tempered by blood and fire, now stood gathered on both sides of the cemetery.
Accompanied by Admirals Gion, Sakazuki, and Kuzan, Orion arrived at the entrance of the cemetery.
After a glance at the fallen soldiers within the cemetery, Orion silently raised his hand in a salute.
Seeing this, all the soldiers present, as well as the three Admirals behind Orion, also raised their right hands in salute.
Meanwhile, the soldiers inside the cemetery carefully lifted the fallen soldiers and placed them into the temporary graves that had been dug.
"Fire the salute!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
As the crisp sound of gunfire echoed, the soldiers who had bravely followed Sakazuki into the New World and sacrificed their lives were laid to rest here, their spirits now guarding the Marine base that would soon stand on Whole Cake Island.
Unlike before, Orion did not deliver an inspiring speech.
Instead, he maintained his salute, silently watching as the soldiers were gradually covered with soil and disappeared from his sight.
Only after the last fallen soldier was buried did he finally lower his gaze.
Then, he turned around, his eyes sweeping over the thousands of soldiers standing in orderly rows on both sides of the cemetery entrance.
On the right stood the Akainu Army and Momousagi Army, survivors of the blood and fire.
Before following Sakazuki and Gion into the New World, every soldier in the Akainu Army and Momousagi Army had been encourage by their success in the coup, constantly yearning to achieve military glory.
However, after the grueling battle with the Beasts Pirates, though their eyes still burned with unprecedented determination, their demeanor was now starkly different from when they were at headquarters.
Orion believed that after this life-and-death trial, both the Akainu Army and the Momousagi Army would become unprecedentedly strong.
Even without the presence of an admiral in the future, they could rely on their rich combat experience to become living heroes.
***
Holy Land.
Because Orion personally ventured into the New World and single-handedly killed two of the Four Emperors, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, the Five Elders sat in the Chamber of Power each sit down silently, busy with their own thoughts.
The one in the best mood was naturally Zephyr, the former Admiral of the Marine Headquarters.
Upon receiving the news, Zephyr, who usually disliked snacks, snatched the rice crackers from Sengoku hands and devoured them.
After eating several pieces, Zephyr suddenly choked and began coughing violently, sending a spray of saliva mixed with rice cracker crumbs flying, splattering Sengoku and Saturn, who was sitting nearby.
"Zephyr, you—"
Saturn, now covered in spit, was furious, glaring at Zephyr with wide eyes.
"Could you at least cough in a different direction? And didn't you say you didn't like rice crackers?"
Zephyr ignored Saturn.
After the coughing fit, he suddenly burst into laughter.
"Ah, that felt good, really good, hahaha—"
In high spirits, Zephyr picked up another rice cracker, turned to Sengoku and said sarcastically.
"Sengoku, take notes. This is what a qualified Fleet Admiral looks like. Pirates should be dealt with ruthlessly. Whether they're one of the Four Emperors or not, no pirate is beyond killing!"
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right."
Sengoku snatched the rice cracker back, chuckling.
"But wasn't it you who was once known as the 'Non-Killing' Admiral?"
Hearing this, Zephyr nearly spat out blood.
The good mood he had from learning about Kaido and Charlotte Linlin deaths instantly soured.
Because it was true—he had once made a fatal mistake.
Facing the most vicious pirates, he had always captured them rather than kill them. But the result was that his wife and child were killed by pirates and the young officers who followed him on training missions were almost completely wiped out.
"Alright, alright, let's not hurt each other anymore—"
Sengoku, realizing he had accidentally hit a sore spot, quickly changed the subject, his expression turning serious.
"Although Kaido and Linlin have been dealt with, the war is not over."
At this point, Sengoku shifted his gaze to the Science Defense God Saturn, the Justice God Topman, and the Finance God Ethanbaron.
"According to our intelligence, two underground emperors were involved in this war. Not only did they send assassins to attack G-5, but they also helped the Beast Pirates transport thousands of their subordinates!"
"What are your thoughts on this, gentlemen?"
Before Sengoku could finish, Topman stood up abruptly, exuding a murderous aura.
"We must teach these underground emperors of the New World a lesson! How dare they ally with pirates and attack a Marine stronghold? They're utterly reckless!"
"Reckless?"
Sengoku picked up his teacup, gently swirling it, his eyes narrowing.
"It's undeniable that these underground emperors of the New World possess immense power and wealth. But even if we gave them a hundred chances, they wouldn't dare openly cooperate with pirates to attack a Marine stronghold! After all, under the leadership of Fleet Admiral Orion, the Marines are at the peak of their power. Why would these underground emperors choose to act so brazenly at this time?"
"If that's really the case, how could they have risen step by step to their current status, becoming the kings of the underworld?"
Hearing Sengoku insinuating tone, Ethanbaron who stood beside him holding a katana, instantly furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice.
"Sengoku, what do you mean?"
Sengoku took a rice cracker and placed it in his mouth, speaking leisurely.
"Whether it's Peclo, who sent out the assassins, or Ummit who helped the Beasts Pirates transport their crew, the reason they dared to oppose the Marines at this time is because someone gave them courage!"
"Or rather, someone is backing them!"
Crunch~
A crisp sound echoed as Sengoku bit into the cracker, then dropped a bombshell.
"The person backing the emperors of the underworld is in the Holy Land."
"SENGOKU!"
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Almost simultaneously, Topman and Ethanbaron roared in unison.
Ethanbaron even took a step forward, his hand gripping the hilt of his katana, his gaze fixed intently on Sengoku as he said with a chilling killing intent.
"Are you suspecting us?"
"No, no, no."
Sengoku waved his hand, smiling amiably "I'm not suspecting all of you, but I'm certain it's one of you... among you."
Before his words could fully settle, a domineering and fierce shockwave suddenly erupted from Sengoku body.
In the next second, the unique power of his Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit was unleashed.
Accompanied by the overwhelming shockwave, the previously gentle and refined Sengoku transformed into a massive golden Buddha statue radiating dazzling light.
Before Zephyr, Saturn, and Topman could react, Sengoku now in his Buddha form, narrowed his eyes and towering over Ethanbaron with his colossal golden Buddha body, spoke in a voice as resonant as a great bell, echoing through the Chamber of Power.
"Ethanbaron!"
"Do you need me to slap the evidence in your face?"
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