The troops surging from the city were led personally by Commander-in-Chief Kong, with the vanguard featuring the likes of Momousagi, Chaton, and Momonga. Behind them followed the units directly under the World Government, headed by the Holy Cross Knights.
"Aliya, what exactly do you think you're doing?"
Kong's face was dark. By addressing her by her real name instead of her codename, Shirokitsune, he signaled that he no longer considered her a member of the military.
"When you were Fleet Admiral, you were a man who considered the masses and the collective. Have you now truly degenerated into a mere lackey for the Government?"
Shirokitsune responded without a hint of fear. "Compared to Alucard, this is a golden opportunity to excise the cancer that is the World Government. Pirates will always leave openings, but for the Government to expose a flaw this massive... it is the first time in eight hundred years. Do you really intend to let it slip away?"
Her words were like a boulder dropped into a calm pond, sending massive ripples through the ranks, especially among the Marines and those former Marines who, like Kong, had been transferred to Government units.
For a moment, everyone forgot their target was Alucard. A low, frantic buzz of conversation broke out.
"Hey, hey... is Vice Admiral Aliya... committing treason?"
"It's not just her. Even Admiral Fujitora seems to be..."
"Where does the Navy stand? What are we supposed to do now?"
"To be honest, I don't like the Government either. They've done too many things to screw over the Navy in recent years."
As the murmurs grew, morale began to crumble. Sengoku felt a sense of powerlessness as he tried to regain control of the situation.
"Sengoku-san, this is getting quite troublesome, isn't it~?" even Borsalino dropped his usual flippant tone, scratching his head in genuine frustration.
Whoosh!
At that moment, nearly two thousand Marines leveled their rifles toward Kong and the Government forces. Leading them was a Captain wielding a massive sword that rivaled Mihawk's Yoru in size. He shouted, "Fujitora-sensei and Vice Admiral Shirokitsune are right! This is a once-in-eight-hundred-years chance! Alucard can be dealt with at any time!"
Garp's expression sank to a new low. He recognized those men instantly, they were Issho's personal division.
"It seems Fujitora didn't spend his spare time idle. He's managed to convince two thousand men to turn against the Government in one go," Tsuru observed from the side.
"Oho~"
Alucard recalled Baskerville back into the pool of blood, watching this unexpected turn of events with amusement. "Now this is getting interesting."
His gaze focused primarily on Shirokitsune Aliya. This woman was more impressive than he had imagined; she had endured twenty years of humiliation just to seize this singular moment.
"What an interesting woman," Alucard mused.
"This actually... sounds like a plan~"
With a leap of her long legs, Momousagi landed in front of Issho and Shirokitsune. "I've actually had quite enough. A chance like this comes once in eight centuries. I'd like to grab it too."
"Momousagi, even you!!"
The veins on Kong's forehead looked ready to burst, but Momousagi merely shook her head. "Commander-in-Chief, we've been in the Government for years. Do you really not know what kind of people they are?"
"If the World Government's rule collapses, how will 170 allied nations be managed? How will this chaotic sea be governed?!" Kong roared. In his view, Shirokitsune and Momousagi were merely acting on impulse, forgetting that whether they succeeded or failed, there would be no happy ending, not for them, and not for the world.
"As for that..."
Issho finally spoke, his tone carrying a trace of killing intent. "We can worry about that after it collapses."
"Regardless, allowing the Government to continue its rule is certainly not what's best for the world." Issho spoke the unspoken thoughts of Momousagi and the other dissidents.
Sengoku gritted his teeth. It was a mess. Complete chaos. A war that was supposed to be a united front against Alucard had devolved into a civil war between the Navy and the Government.
"Where do the rest of you stand?"
Momousagi brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "Will you follow your sense of Justice, or..." She turned her gaze toward Oseinofica, who still wore an expression of supreme, haughty disdain. "...will you continue to let the Government grow unchecked and oppress the people?"
The field of over a hundred thousand people fell into a deathly silence. After a long pause, Vice Admiral Momonga spoke up. "The oath we took under the military flag was to protect the people first, and the Government second."
With a sharp ring of steel, Momonga drew his blade and pointed it at the Holy Cross Knights. "As for the chaos of the seas... we will deal with that once the Government is gone."
"Momonga, you too..." Kong felt his nerves fraying. Momonga had been a respected name since the era of Roger; seeing even him stand against the Government made Kong feel as if the world was coming apart.
"I disagree, Momonga."
Another Vice Admiral, Comil, shook his head. "While the Government has many problems, they are necessary to maintain the balance of the world."
"So Vice Admiral Comil stands with the Government?" Momonga frowned.
"No... I withdraw from this choice. Fighting here and now is meaningless for us." Comil refused to pick a side; it was a choice more difficult than life or death.
"This is wrong... we should at least deal with Alucard before worrying about this." Vice Admiral Doberman, a staunch hawk, argued that Alucard was the immediate threat and that the Navy and Government should stay united.
Unfortunately, with even someone of Issho's stature rebelling, his words fell on deaf ears.
"No, no matter how corrupt the Government is, it is the pillar of the world. it cannot fall."
As another Vice Admiral made his choice, more and more soldiers began to pick sides, while the vast majority remained paralyzed by the dilemma.
"Vice Admiral Garp! What should we do?!"
Koby and Helmeppo stood behind Garp, terrified by the sudden escalation. They could only look to the hero for guidance. But Garp had no answers. Though he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was in total turmoil.
"Yehahaha!"
Suddenly, Oseinofica burst into manic laughter. He extended a hand and clenched it into a fist. "A bunch of low-level brats actually debating which side to take? Fine, I'll help you. Anyone who wants to stand with Fujitora and Shirokitsune, feel free. I'll be happy to send you all to the afterlife!"