REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!
CHAPTER 298 NEGOTIATION
Zephyr sat cross-legged on the ground. Looking at his two students imprisoned in the dim prison, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
These two were his most prized students.
Add Borsalino, and though the three had different personalities and vastly different approaches, on one point alone their pursuit of justice was the same.
Undoubtedly, teaching these three was among the proudest things in Zephyr's life.
Before, he'd never imagined that one day he'd become enemies with these students.
"About the world?"
Akainu was still bound firmly to the ground by chains. The Seastone shackles wrapped around his body made him completely unable to exert even the slightest bit of strength.
Even while speaking and trying to make his tone cold and severe, he still seemed incredibly weak.
"You think it's still time to play teacher-student games? Bastard old man!"
Akainu was already in his mid-forties—no longer the hothead who'd just joined the Navy back then. He was utterly contemptuous of Zephyr's words.
"You're not thinking of trying to persuade us to defect, are you?"
The man with the hottest ability yet coldest heart sneered. "Stop talking nonsense. Having betrayed justice, what right do you have to pontificate before us now?!"
Aokiji maintained silence, saying nothing.
"No need to reject so quickly. Just consider it killing time with some chat."
Zephyr wasn't particularly bothered by Akainu's attitude. After all, besides being teacher and student, they'd worked together in the Navy for decades. He knew this guy's personality all too well.
He smiled. "It's been a long time since we've chatted like this, hasn't it?"
Akainu snorted coldly.
But he said nothing more.
Had to admit—when he'd first joined the Navy, this man before him had been an idol-like existence to him.
This man he'd called Zephyr-sensei had been an important guide on his Navy path.
"So, Zephyr-sensei—"
Not calling Zephyr "old man" directly like Akainu, Aokiji seemed much more polite. He sighed quietly. "What is there left for us to discuss at this point?"
"Just chat about my plans going forward."
Zephyr said. "You should understand without saying what kind of impact our victory in this battle will have, right?"
Aokiji and Akainu both fell silent.
That was naturally all too clear.
This defeat had greatly reduced Navy strength, severely damaged the government's prestige, while conversely, Zephyr and his NEO Navy had gained tremendous fame.
"The Navy cannot truly represent justice. You're ultimately just the World Government's subordinates—claws maintaining Celestial Dragon rule."
Zephyr said. "So I want to establish a new Navy—the NEO Navy."
"This victory is the perfect opportunity. Those helpless people in the New World should already realize we can become their guardians."
"I'll establish an alliance similar to the World Government in these waters, inviting numerous non-member nations to join. Of course they'll need to provide financial support, and we'll provide them protection in these chaotic waters."
Hearing this, Aokiji couldn't help sighing inwardly.
After this battle, wanting such development for Zephyr-sensei would be almost inevitable.
The reputation the NEO Navy had gained was sufficient to easily obtain support from those government non-member nations living day-to-day.
Should he say Zephyr-sensei was worthy of being Zephyr-sensei?
Even after leaving the Navy, he still practiced his justice.
Only, such justice...
"Old man, isn't that too arrogant?"
Compared to Aokiji, Akainu's attitude was far worse. "Who do you think has protected this world for eight hundred years? Who has fought to the death against evil throughout this long history, always protecting the world's peace?"
"I think that bastard Brett has brainwashed you!" Akainu sneered. "If you want to leave the Navy, I have nothing to say. But if you therefore become enemies with the government and Navy, do you know what that means? It'll only give bastards like Brett opportunities!"
Zephyr sighed. This bastard kid really was stubborn enough.
Just like—his former self.
"I once also believed that even if the World Government did some bad things, ultimately they'd protected this world for eight hundred years, preventing evil from running rampant."
He said. "But now I understand—protecting this world, protecting people on the seas, maintaining justice—these aren't the World Government's primary purposes."
"Maintaining Celestial Dragon rule, maintaining their authority—that's the World Government's primary goal."
"What the Celestial Dragons are like—you must know, right?"
Even Akainu could only fall silent at this.
As a Navy Headquarters admiral, he knew all too well what the Celestial Dragons were like. He'd deployed for Celestial Dragon matters countless times.
Summarized in one sentence—even Akainu himself, a loyal World Government supporter, deeply detested the Celestial Dragons' crimes.
"That's exactly it."
Zephyr said. "The Navy supported the government in the past only because the government was the world's only organization willing to maintain order, the only one that would protect peace. Even if this meant enduring the Celestial Dragons' extravagance and doing whatever they pleased, as long as it could protect more people, that was enough."
"But afterward will be different. I just want to tell you—because we've come, we don't have Celestial Dragons above our heads."
Aokiji froze slightly.
Akainu snorted coldly in anger.
When Zephyr came out from the prison, he happened to run into Brett looking for him.
"How'd it go?"
Brett asked with interest.
If these two admirals could really be turned, the coming war would be much easier.
"These two kids aren't kids anymore."
Zephyr shook his head with a light laugh, saying very convoluted words. "Using words alone to shake them is impossible."
"I figured as much."
Brett smiled in agreement.
Those were Navy admirals—Navy Headquarters' highest level. Whether strength or conviction, both were first-rate formidable.
"But it doesn't matter. I never expected to make them change anyway." Zephyr said casually.
"By the way, the World Government contacted us."
Brett said.
Though they were now completely hostile with the World Government, because of previous threats, both sides maintained surface harmony. Even communications hadn't been completely severed.
"Is that so?"
Zephyr sneered. "Let me guess—they want to negotiate with us, right?"
"The losses this time are a bit too great for the Navy and government."
Brett smiled. "So naturally they want to try hard to recover some losses."
"So, Brett, do you think we should agree?"
"Of course."
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