socalfunplaces Page 139
Page 139
But after he personally "experienced" the deep-seated, pervasive, and even normalized corruption and darkness within Mary Geoise, he truly understood why the Revolutionary Army was so determined, at all costs, even at the cost of countless comrades' lives, to overthrow this seemingly sacred and inviolable, but in reality, rotten to the core, hypocritical and brutal world government!
At the same time, he also became more aware of the existence of CP0 (CipherPolAigisZero)!
These members, known as the "strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons," are directly under the Five Elders, the highest intelligence agency of the World Government! Their aura is far stronger, more restrained, and colder—and utterly inhuman—than that of ordinary CP9 members!
Kai could sense that they were like true ghosts, lurking in every shadow of Mary Geoise, carrying out all sorts of shady secret orders from the Five Elders! They monitored every word and action of the royal representatives attending the World Government Summit! They dealt with all "destabilizing factors" that might threaten the Celestial Dragons' rule and the World Government's authority! Their hands were stained with the blood of countless rebels and innocents! Their very existence represented the deepest, and coldest, darkest side of the World Government!
What made Kai feel most uneasy and terrified was...
As he carefully and cautiously, as subtly as possible, with the finest spider silk, he tried to penetrate the enormous castle known as "Pangu," a majestic and mysterious structure located at the very center and highest point of the Holy Land of Mary Geoise...
He vaguely, almost imperceptibly, sensed an extremely ancient, extremely majestic, and terrifying aura—a aura as vast, cold, and empty as the universe itself, capable of making one's soul tremble!
This aura was extremely faint! Extremely ethereal! It seemed to belong to nothing at all in this material world! It seemed to be some higher-dimensional will, transcending all known life forms and power systems, beyond the scope of human understanding?!
Kai barely touched the very edge of that aura! Yet he felt as if his soul was about to be completely frozen, or even erased! That primal fear, stemming from his very life instinct, overwhelmed him instantly like a cold tide!
He was so terrified that he immediately, without hesitation, used all his strength to sever all his senses! Like a frightened rabbit, he retreated his consciousness and soul into the deepest recesses of his body! His entire body was completely soaked in cold sweat! His heart was pounding wildly like a drum, almost bursting out of his chest!
What...what is that?!
Deep within Pangaea City… in that place hailed as the very core of the world government's power… what unimaginably terrifying existence lies hidden there?!
Could it be... the legendary... true ruler of this world for eight hundred years... the ultimate, hidden mastermind behind the scenes, whose even the Five Elders are merely his loyal puppets and agents?! The enigmatic, god-like being codenamed "Im"?!
Kai dared not think any further! He knew that he had inadvertently touched upon the deepest, most dangerous, and absolutely untouchable ultimate secret of this world!
This secret is far more terrifying, far more taboo, and far more...deadly than the whereabouts of the so-called "ancient weapons," far more so than the historical truth of the deliberately erased "blank century"!
He had to forget that suffocating feeling immediately! He had to completely erase that chilling, empty terror from his memory and perception! Otherwise, he had no doubt that this mere "peeping" could bring him a devastating and irreversible disaster!
Kai forced himself to calm down, taking several deep breaths to try and calm his still wildly beating heart.
But deep within him, the uncontrollable fear born from glimpsing the world's ultimate darkness, and a trace of... a morbid curiosity that even frightened him, quietly took root in his heart like the most tenacious seed, and began to sprout.
He realized more deeply that the seemingly powerful and orderly world government he was currently serving was far more complex and dark than anyone could imagine! And what kind of wisdom, strength, forbearance, and... ruthless determination would he need to survive in this bottomless, turbulent water and ultimately realize his unknown ambition to dominate the world?
Just as Kai was feeling unsettled and restless after glimpsing the dark side of Mary Geoise and the terrifying secrets deep within Pangaea, he encountered his respected yet somewhat complicated mentor, Admiral Fujitora, again at the temporary naval base on the outskirts of Mary Geoise.
Fujitora also appears to have been temporarily recalled from a battlefield in the New World to the vicinity of Mary Geoise due to security work during the World Conference.
His face, which always carried a hint of compassion, now looked somewhat tired and solemn.
Clearly, the hypocritical and decadent atmosphere of Mary Geoise made this admiral, who was supposed to be "benevolent and righteous," feel extremely uncomfortable and oppressed.
At the same time, Kai also met another top-level powerhouse full of mystery who was also promoted to admiral through the "world conscription" - Aramaki, codenamed "Green Bull"!
This was the first time Kai had ever "seen" this new admiral, who was on par with Fujitora, so closely.
He could clearly sense that Green Bull Aramaki was emanating an extremely unique and powerful aura that was completely different from the other admirals in the Navy!
It was a kind of... vibrant, almost inexhaustible, wildly growing life force, like that of a primeval forest?! That aura seemed capable of bringing withered trees back to life, turning deserts into oases! It was filled with the terrifying power of plant growth, spread, entanglement, and even... devouring everything?!
But beneath this terrifyingly powerful life force, Kai keenly sensed a dangerous attitude: a cynical, unruly demeanor, and an extreme yearning for and desire for absolute power (especially the kind of "complete justice" and ruthless methods represented by Fleet Admiral Akainu).
This newly appointed "Green Bull" admiral doesn't seem to have joined the Navy with some lofty ideal of "righteousness" or to protect civilians, like his predecessor Fujitora. He seems more like a pure, lawless monster who pursues ultimate power and some kind of...unrestrained "freedom"? Perhaps he joined the Navy simply because it could provide him with greater power or satisfy some special "needs"?
Kai soon discovered that the relationship between these two newly appointed admirals, who were also promoted through the special "world recruitment" process, was not as close as outsiders imagined.
Instead, it's filled with obvious, almost undisguised ideological conflicts and tense confrontations?!
He happened to "witness" (or rather, "hear") a not-so-secret, highly charged argument between Fujitora and Green Bull.
The dispute seems to have originated from the same old, yet unresolved, question: "The existence or abolition of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system" and "How should the Navy treat the high and mighty Celestial Dragons?"
Fujitora continues to adhere to his "benevolence and righteousness" philosophy, which many people consider somewhat "naive" and "impractical."
He believes that the Seven Warlords of the Sea system is itself a root of evil, a short-sighted and ineffective appeasement policy adopted by the World Government to balance the power of the Four Emperors! It has not only failed to effectively curb the arrogance of pirates, but has also bred more corruption and crime, bringing profound disaster to countless member states and innocent civilians! Therefore, it must be completely abolished!
The Navy, as a violent machine for maintaining world peace and justice, should not become the lackey and accomplice of those arrogant and domineering Celestial Dragons who treat human life like dirt! The Navy's justice should be to protect all good people in the world, not just serve a privileged few!
Green Bull, on the other hand, scoffed at Fujitora's "benevolence and righteousness" rhetoric, his tone filled with undisguised mockery and disdain.
"Huh? Abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea? Dude, are you kidding me? Have you been staying in some godforsaken rural area for too long and gotten all confused?"
Kai could clearly "hear" Green Bull's slightly rough and hoarse voice, filled with obvious mockery and disdain, echoing in a corner of the naval base, his tone full of contempt for Fujitora.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea are officially recognized by the World Government! They are a crucial strategic force used to balance those four monsters in the New World! If we take them down, who will deal with monsters like Kaido and Big Mom? Are we supposed to rely on the Navy ourselves? How many brothers would die? Can you bear that responsibility?!"
"Moreover, the Celestial Dragons? They are the descendants of the 'gods' who created this world! They are the world's nobles! Isn't the very purpose of our Navy to protect these noble 'gods'?!"
Green Bull's tone became even more matter-of-fact, even carrying a hint of... nauseating flattery and ingratiation.
"It's an honor for our navy to serve the Celestial Dragons! Besides, I haven't had a proper meal in years! If it weren't for the 'special' 'nutrients' that Mary Geoise provides, which are unavailable to ordinary people, I'd probably have starved to death in some corner long ago! I don't care about any bullshit justice or benevolence! As long as I can eat my fill and live comfortably, I'll do anything! Even if it's being a dog for the Celestial Dragons, I'd be happy to!"
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Upon hearing Green Bull's almost shameless and depraved remarks, Fujitora was so enraged that his white beard trembled violently! His eyes, though blind, seemed to see through everything, and at this moment, they appeared somewhat frightening due to his anger!
"Lord Huangmu! Your thoughts are too dangerous! And too depraved!"
Fujitora's voice became unusually serious and low, the anger within almost bursting forth. "Power should not be a reason for you to indulge your desires or even aid and abet evil! The Navy's duty is to protect all innocent people in the world! Not merely to be the watchdogs and executioners of a privileged class!!!"
"Tch! Stop spouting those high-sounding platitudes at me! I'm sick of hearing them!"
Green Bull nonchalantly picked at his ear, revealing a shameless expression that refused to be swayed by reason. "I only recognize strength! Whoever has the strongest fist is the boss! Fleet Admiral Akainu is right! Only 'complete justice'! Only ruthless methods! Can bring true peace to this chaotic world! Your weak, incompetent, and hesitant so-called 'benevolence' will only make this world worse and worse, more and more beyond redemption!"
The argument between the two ended badly due to their fundamentally opposing beliefs and huge differences in personality.
Fujitora stormed off in anger, while Green Bull remained nonchalant and indifferent, even whistling as if the argument was nothing more than a harmless little amusement for him.
.................
Kai stood by, like a cold, indifferent ghost, watching everything unfold with detached indifference.
He felt a sense of disdain and contempt for Green Bull's pure power supremacy and its obsequious attitude towards authority.
Such a person, no matter how powerful, is ultimately just a soulless tool driven by desire.
At the same time, he felt even more powerless and... a trace of indescribable sorrow at the fact that his senior Fujitora still insisted on his almost naive and idealistic "benevolence and righteousness" in the Navy, a huge and realistic system full of dirty deals and power struggles.
He realized that Fujitora's path was destined to be lonely and fraught with difficulties.
He might even be ostracized, suppressed, or even exploited by his "colleagues" like Green Bull because of this "out-of-time" ideal.
Kai silently assessed the strength and stance of the two new admirals.
Although Fujitora's ideals are completely different from his own, his persistence and unfathomable Gravity Fruit abilities still deserve his respect and caution.
In the future, if a suitable opportunity can be found, perhaps we could try to cooperate with him in some form.
Green Bull's strength is equally unfathomable, and he seems to be a staunch supporter and die-hard fan of Fleet Admiral Akainu? In the future, he might become a formidable, potential rival for my advancement within the Navy? Or... he could also become a pawn that I can cleverly use to achieve certain goals?
The relationships among the naval high command were indeed more complex and...delicate than I had imagined.
Kai's lips curled into a cold, unpredictable, and calculating smile once again.
He knew that he had to navigate this bottomless, murky water carefully in order to finally reach the glorious shore that belonged to him.
The World Conference was in full swing in the city of Pangaea, the holy city of Mary Geoise, which symbolized the highest power in the world.
Kings and representatives from all over the world engaged in heated and lengthy discussions and debates on various issues concerning the future of the world.
Although Kai could not directly participate in the internal processes of the meeting, he was still able to get a general understanding of the meeting's progress and some important issues through the Navy's internal intelligence channels and his all-pervasive Observation Haki.
Among them, the most eye-catching and controversial issue is undoubtedly the "abolition or retention of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system"!
This system, established by the World Government to use powerful pirates to restrain other pirates and maintain the balance of power on the Grand Line, has been controversial and criticized since its inception.
While the Seven Warlords system did indeed serve to deter ordinary pirates and maintain stability in certain regions to some extent.
However, its drawbacks are becoming increasingly apparent.
Many members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, relying on the legal right to plunder and their privileged status granted by the World Government, acted with impunity within their spheres of influence, committing arson, murder, robbery, and all sorts of atrocities, even secretly carrying out treason, bringing profound disasters to countless member states and innocent civilians.
Crocodile in Alabasta is a bloody example.
Using his status as a Shichibukai, he secretly plotted a massive conspiracy to steal the kingdom, nearly destroying a peaceful and prosperous nation.
Chapter 142 A single command! Luffy is ordered to empower Big Mom!
Doflamingo in Dressrosa took the privileges of the Seven Warlords of the Sea to the extreme.
He not only controlled the entire country, manipulating the king and the people at will, but also established a vast network for trading arms and artificial Devil Fruits in the underworld, becoming an important pillar of the new world's dark order and bringing immeasurable harm to the entire world.
These shocking cases have led more and more kings of member states to have strong doubts and dissatisfaction with the Seven Warlords system.
At this World Conference, Nefertari Cobra, the King of Alabasta, and Riku Doldo III, the King of Dressrosa, who had just been liberated from Doflamingo's tyranny, were the first to speak out against the Shichibukai system. They denounced the various drawbacks of the Shichibukai system and strongly demanded that the World Government abolish this evil system and restore true peace and justice to the world!
Their proposal received positive responses and support from many kings of member states who had also suffered from the aggression of the Seven Warlords.
In an instant, the crowd in the venue was in a frenzy, and the calls to abolish the Seven Warlords system reached an unprecedented high!
Behind this surging public opinion, Kai also keenly sensed the undeniable aura of "benevolence" and resolute will emanating from Admiral Fujitora Issho.
Clearly, Fujitora did not suffer severe punishment from the World Government for his "kneeling apology" incident in Dressrosa. Instead, he took advantage of the World Conference to actively work behind the scenes, contacting kings who were dissatisfied with the Shichibukai system and striving to abolish it.
His persistence and dedication are truly moving.
What surprised Kai even more was that Fleet Admiral Akainu seemed to have adopted a tacit or even covertly supportive attitude towards the proposal to abolish the Seven Warlords system.
Kai knew that Akainu was known for his ruthlessness and toughness, and that he believed in "complete justice." He also deeply hated pirates and wished he could exterminate them all.
The Shichibukai system, a policy of compromise and cooperation with pirates, is inherently incompatible with Akainu's ideals.
Perhaps, in Akainu's view, abolishing the Seven Warlords system, while potentially causing further chaos in the New World in the short term and increasing pressure on the Navy, would be a mistake.
However, in the long run, it will allow the Navy to completely shed the stigma of colluding with pirates, concentrate its forces, and more purely confront the true maritime overlords—the Four Emperors.