On the main avenue of the G-1 Marine Base, Strawberry was walking toward the base together with Ortoren.
By now, Strawberry was no longer the only one stationed at G-1. When Ortoren arrived, he had also brought Stainless from G-3 with him. Among the external fleets enforcing the blockade of the New World's gateway waters, Cancer was present as well.
And it wasn't just them. Key forces of the New World Navy, including G-5's Isshō and G-12's Momonga, were all currently stationed in the waters surrounding G-1.
It could be said that after suppressing the pirate threat in the New World and completely eliminating hidden dangers to his foundation and base of operations, the elite core of the massive New World Navy under Ortoren's command had either already reached the gateway waters or was rushing there as fast as possible.
As Ortoren walked along the road, two figures followed at his side. One was Donquixote Doflamingo. The other was none other than the King of Alabasta himself, Nefertari Cobra.
That's right. This descendant of one of the Twenty Kings had arrived in the New World at almost the same time as Crocodile.
And the reason he had come was a secret invitation sent by Ortoren.
"Your Majesty Cobra, you won't need to worry about Alabasta anymore," Ortoren said as they walked. "That Crocodile fellow will be kept here in the New World under my watch. With him staying put, your side will be secure."
"Originally, my purpose in coming to the New World was to discuss Crocodile and the Shichibukai system with you, Admiral," Cobra said with a sigh of emotion. "But I never expected the situation out here to deteriorate so badly the moment I arrived. At a time like this, Alabasta's matters feel insignificant by comparison. Admiral, you must take care of yourself. Looking at the future of this sea… it seems we can only rely on you."
"Sigh. We Marines boast of justice," Ortoren replied, shaking his head as if helpless, "yet in the end… we've accumulated crimes beyond counting. Now, at this critical moment, with the Fleet Admiral imprisoned in Mary Geoise, the Navy is leaderless. Who knows what kind of disaster might follow? Even if I wanted to act, I simply don't have the strength right now…"
Cobra wasn't a fool. He immediately caught the hidden meaning behind Ortoren's words. After a brief pause, he spoke again.
"With the situation being what it is, everyone has to do what they can. Admiral, if there's anything you need from me, just say the word."
Ortoren didn't respond. He only gave a slight nod, his brows tightly knit, as if burdened by a heavy dilemma.
At that moment, Doflamingo knew it was his turn to step in. The corners of his mouth curled upward, his trademark wicked smile spreading across his face as he moved forward alongside Ortoren.
"To stand against the World Government's atrocities and bring peace back to the seas, only a Navy capable of suppressing all four seas can do the job," Doflamingo said smoothly. "But with the Fleet Admiral imprisoned in Mary Geoise, the only ones qualified to step forward and command the Navy are you, Admiral, along with Admiral Akainu and Admiral Aokiji. However, if you ask me, only under your command does the New World Navy truly possess overwhelming strength and abundant resources. Whether it's warships and armaments or logistics, supplies, and military funding, everything is self-sufficient and more than sufficient. The other two Admirals wouldn't be able to maintain the Navy's long-term combat effectiveness after breaking free from the World Government's control. So at a time like this, it has to be you who steps forward."
"How could I possibly do that?" Ortoren shook his head firmly. "Admiral Akainu has the deepest seniority. When he joined the Marines to uphold justice, I was still lost and clueless on Terian Island. Admiral Aokiji is kind-hearted and benevolent, beloved by both the people and the troops. Compared to them, I've suffered from mental instability in the past and am prone to a bad temper. How could I shoulder such a responsibility?"
Watching Ortoren and Doflamingo trade lines back and forth, Cobra felt a trace of helplessness.
So the two of you are putting on a show for me, are you?
But sometimes, such performances were necessary. After ruling as king for so many years, Cobra possessed at least that much political awareness.
Seeing both Ortoren and Doflamingo hesitate so conspicuously, he knew it was time for him to step forward.
So Cobra spoke up. "I think Vice Admiral Flamingo's point is quite sound. Admiral Akainu and Admiral Aokiji are both outstanding, but they're constrained far too tightly by the World Government and can't fully display what they're capable of. Only you, Admiral, can shoulder this responsibility at a time like this…"
"Besides," he continued, "my Nefertari clan is also descended from the Twenty Kings. Back then, our ancestors won this realm and established rules meant to benefit the four seas. Later, too many changes and upheavals came. My Nefertari clan refused to go along with the other nineteen families, and that's why we returned to Alabasta. But the legitimate line of the Twenty Kings still runs through us."
"Now that the situation has deteriorated to this point, the Nefertari clan must step forward as well. Once today's matters are settled, I will issue a public declaration in the name and standing of the rightful descendants of the Twenty Kings, openly supporting you, Admiral, in taking up the duty of leading this united front against the World Government!"
Ortoren listened, his expression full of "shock." After a moment, he hesitated, lips parting as if to refuse.
But Strawberry, who had been following behind, stepped in at once. "Admiral, I'm a rough man. I'll speak straight. Resisting the World Government's tyranny is something we have to do now. The Navy can't stand aside."
"But as for anyone else, I, Strawberry, don't acknowledge them. Only you, Admiral, can command me and the men under me. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. If you keep dodging this now, then where does that leave the Navy's justice?!"
The moment Strawberry spoke, the Marine officers around them, including Smoker and the others who had come to G-1 alongside Ortoren, all chimed in.
"That's right, Admiral! If you refuse at a time like this, how are we supposed to carry out justice?!"
Ortoren turned back to look at the crowd behind him. After a beat, he let out a long sigh. "You think this job is that easy? To carry the weight of the whole world on one shoulder… do you have any idea what kind of pressure that is? One wrong step and it's ruin beyond recovery. Sigh… you've really done me in."
As if everything had been arranged in advance, Ortoren hadn't even finished his miserable lament when a Marine Rear Admiral came rushing out from inside the base.
Looking closely, it was none other than Strawberry's deputy, Rear Admiral Maynard the Pursuer.
He was still a long way off when he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Marine Headquarters Admiral Benn Ortoren, receive the Fleet Admiral's order!"
Ortoren froze for a moment, feigning ignorance, then said in a deep voice, "This Admiral is here. What is the Fleet Admiral's command?"
Maynard delivered the order without hesitation. "It is hereby commanded that Marine Headquarters Admiral Benn Ortoren shall, effective immediately, act in the capacity of Fleet Admiral and assume overall command of all Marines!"
Ortoren's eyes went wide. "How can there be such an order? The Fleet Admiral, he—"
Maynard hurriedly explained, "Admiral, you may not know this, but over in Mary Geoise, CP-1's Spandine is currently broadcasting live to the entire world. Before he fled Mary Geoise to come here, he made contact with Fleet Admiral Sengoku. The situation is—"
Maynard then laid out the situation in clear, straightforward terms.
Ortoren put on an expression as though he'd only just learned of it, his face heavy. "If this is the order, then it must be carried out!"
Then Ortoren turned to Strawberry. "Originally, I had already resigned from the post of Admiral under Headquarters' orders. But now the situation is perilous, the Fleet Admiral has entrusted me, and the Navy's burden is upon me. I have no choice but to take it on."
"Pass on my command. Summon all officers at the rank of Captain and above within the New World's gateway waters. Have them assemble at G-1 immediately to discuss major matters!"
"Admiral, what major matters?" Strawberry stepped forward, clasping his hands as he asked.
Ortoren's voice rang out, firm and forceful. "The World Government is muddled and without principle, and the World Nobles are cruel and savage. The glory of the Twenty Kings is gone. Now the four seas are in peril, and the Fleet Admiral is imprisoned in Mary Geoise."
"Though we Marines bear guilt, at a time like this we can't afford to worry about that. The people of the four seas have suffered Mary Geoise for far too long, and the Fleet Admiral has been trapped for far too long. This is the moment for us Marines to follow Heaven's will, quell the calamity across the four seas, and rescue the Fleet Admiral from his cage."
"This great matter is to uphold Heaven's mandate, suppress the rebellion, and march on the capital to defend the king!"
The instant his words fell, the surrounding Marines raised their hands and shouted as one.
"Uphold Heaven's mandate, suppress the rebellion, march on the capital to defend the king!!!"
In that moment, the atmosphere in the G-1 Marine Base grew even more fiery.