In the beginning, Akira felt it was a pity to let Akainu go, but now, he no longer had such thoughts. Instead, he felt it was quite good. While it was a pity not to have killed Akainu, obtaining Aokiji as an immediate combat power greatly increased the pirate crew's strength. The result was very good.
Curiel and the others didn't ask anything more, and the Moby Dick continued to sail.
While Akira and them were preparing to join up with Marco and the others, Akainu, who had left Punk Hazard, also returned to Navy Headquarters. The current Navy Headquarters was still in Marineford, but because the damage during the Summit War had been too severe, the Navy had temporarily set up a base.
When Akainu returned to Navy Headquarters covered in injuries, all the Navy soldiers were startled. The entire Navy Headquarters knew about the struggle between Akainu and Aokiji, but they had left for more than ten days, so their sudden return was quite surprising. Many people wanted to ask what had happened when they saw Akainu covered in injuries, but seeing Akainu's gloomy expression, no one dared to ask anything.
After Akainu left with a gloomy expression, those Navy soldiers who had seen him began to discuss among themselves. After all, the two of them had left together, but now only Akainu had returned. It was inevitable that people would be suspicious.
"Admiral Sakazuki is back. Why isn't Admiral Kuzan here?"
"Admiral Sakazuki is back. It seems the victory or defeat has been decided. I just don't know who won?"
"I think Admiral Sakazuki must have won. Otherwise, he wouldn't have returned first."
"That's not necessarily true. You can't assume that he lost just because you didn't see Admiral Kuzan return. I think Admiral Kuzan definitely won. I hope Admiral Kuzan can become Fleet Admiral. After all, Admiral Sakazuki is too strict. You have to be careful and cautious at all times when working under him. It's too tiring."
"Oh, you think so too? I also feel that way. Admiral Aokiji is better."
"... "
Various discussions rang out. The Navy Headquarters was currently being rebuilt, so everyone was relatively relaxed. Bored, they naturally started gossiping everywhere.
After returning to the base, Akainu went directly to the temporary Navy Fleet Admiral's office. Since the new Navy Fleet Admiral hadn't been chosen yet, it was still being temporarily held by Sengoku. He was currently discussing matters with Vice Admiral Tsuru, Admiral Kizaru, and several Navy vice admirals. As for Garp, he had left the Navy not long after the Summit War, and had voluntarily transferred to guard the East Blue.
"The top priority now is to recruit new soldiers. We lost too many soldiers in that battle, and the pirates in various places have gone crazy because of Whitebeard's last words, wreaking havoc everywhere. So, we need a large number of Navy soldiers to suppress them. This matter is urgent."
Although the Summit War had ended and the Navy had achieved victory, the result wasn't as good as imagined. Whitebeard had played the Navy a trick before his death, causing the current pirates to act as if they were crazy, with a great tendency to reenact the madness of when the Great Pirate Era had just begun twenty years ago. This had Navy Headquarters in a fluster.
Only a little over a month had passed since the Summit War. Sengoku, whose hair had originally been black, now had a head of gray hair. He looked as if he had aged more than ten years, his energy and spirit far inferior to before. This battle had been a big blow to him.
The reason why he wanted to resign from the position of Navy Fleet Admiral, besides taking responsibility, was also partly because he was no longer up to the task. Coupled with this blow, he no longer had the energy to manage the entire Navy Headquarters. So, he wanted to step down.
While they were discussing, someone suddenly rushed in, shouting loudly, "Admiral Sakazuki is back."
Immediately, everyone present's expression changed, because Akainu's appearance undoubtedly showed that the struggle between him and Aokiji had been decided.
Sengoku was the first to ask, "Sakazuki is back. Where's Kuzan?"
Everyone knew that Sengoku valued Navy Admiral Aokiji, wanting to push Aokiji to the position of Navy Fleet Admiral. However, a large portion of the Navy supported Akainu, and there was also the support of the Five Elders. That's why they had Akainu and Aokiji have a duel.
The one who had come to report was a Navy rear admiral. He hesitated, "I only saw Admiral Sakazuki. I didn't see Admiral Kuzan return. Moreover, Admiral Sakazuki is covered in injuries, looking very bad."
Hearing these words, everyone's expressions changed again. Aokiji hadn't returned. Did this mean something?
Sengoku's whole body shook, leaning back against the chair. Vice Admiral Tsuru glanced at him, sighed, and asked, "Where is Sakazuki now?"
The Navy rear admiral said, "Admiral Sakazuki is heading here. He should be here soon."
Sengoku closed his eyes, and said, "Alright, the new Navy Fleet Admiral has appeared. Just leave the following matters to him to handle. I won't worry about them anymore."
Seeing the always-serious Sengoku reveal this kind of dejected and discouraged appearance, everyone present felt very sorry. This man, who had dedicated his life to the Navy, was now ending his career in this way. It was inevitable that he would feel sad in his heart.
While they were talking, they saw Akainu walking over in a hurry. Seeing him, everyone stood up.
Sengoku also stood up. He didn't say any unnecessary words, directly opening his mouth to ask, "Sakazuki, you and Kuzan have decided the victory or defeat, right? Where's Kuzan?"
"That idiot!"
It would have been better if Aokiji hadn't been mentioned. Hearing Sengoku mention Aokiji, Akainu immediately turned hostile. He roared, "That bastard, he's crazy. He's really gone crazy."
Hearing Akainu constantly cursing Aokiji, the people present couldn't help but frown. They had guessed that Akainu might have defeated Aokiji, but even if you had defeated Aokiji, there was no need to curse him so openly, right? Wasn't this too lacking in grace?
Sengoku frowned, and asked, "What is it, Sakazuki? What did Kuzan do to make you so angry? What happened between you two?"
Akainu still said angrily, "He and I have decided the victory or defeat. But I'm not angry because of that, because I'm the one who won in the end. I'm angry because that idiot actually betrayed the Navy."
"What did you say?"
As soon as Akainu said these words, he was immediately met with everyone's disbelief. Sengoku and the others all expressed that this was absolutely impossible.
Akainu said hatefully, "That idiot betrayed the Navy, and degenerated to becoming a pirate. He has now joined the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates led by Death God. He's already a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, a pirate."
"What are you saying? Kuzan became a pirate? That's impossible."
As soon as Akainu's words came out, they were immediately met with everyone's disbelief. Sengoku and the others all expressed that this was absolutely impossible.
Akainu said angrily, "I know you don't believe it, but that's the truth. That bastard joined Death God's Whitebeard Pirates. It was on Punk Hazard, where I dueled with him, right in front of me."
Vice Admiral Tsuru was the calmest. She asked in confusion, "Sakazuki, you said that Kuzan joined the Whitebeard Pirates in front of you. Why would he do that? Just because he lost to you? I think with his mental fortitude, he shouldn't be reduced to doing this kind of impulsive thing, right? Was there some kind of unexpected thing that happened in between?"
"Unexpected thing? Of course there was an unexpected thing. But no matter what kind of unexpected thing it was, he should never have made this kind of choice. It's simply insulting our Navy's justice. I absolutely can't forgive it," Akainu shouted angrily.
However, Vice Admiral Tsuru pressed on, asking, "What exactly happened that was unexpected? Even if Kuzan lost to you, and chose to become a pirate, he wouldn't have joined the Whitebeard Pirates so quickly, right? Did you encounter the people of the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Akainu said in a deep voice, "It was Death God. I was having my final duel with that guy, and about to decide the victory or defeat, when that Death God suddenly appeared out of nowhere."
It could be seen that Akainu was angry at Aokiji, not even calling him by his name, directly calling him that guy.
"You encountered Death God?"
Sengoku and the others were looking at Akainu in surprise. Sengoku asked, "Are you saying that when you and Kuzan were about to decide the victory or defeat, Death God happened to appear, so Aokiji chose to join the Whitebeard Pirates in order to protect you and his lives?"
Sengoku's guess was exactly what others were thinking. After all, this made a lot of sense. Aokiji, in order to protect Akainu and his life, had chosen to sacrifice himself.
"No, that's not it at all. I can feel that that guy chose to join the Whitebeard Pirates sincerely. At the very least, he definitely wasn't deceiving me. As for saying that it was for my and his lives, it was more like it was for his own life."
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off