Sengoku still hesitated after hearing Kuzan's words.
However, many Marines had already begun to waver. Some of the more ambitious officers were even starting to see the future more clearly.
As long as the Marines preserved their strength, no matter who won this war, the Marines would still remain necessary.
Even if the World Government managed to defeat the Emperors Alliance and the Revolutionary Army, they would still suffer devastating losses. At that point, the World Government would have no choice but to rely on the Marines again.
With their reputation and military power, the Marines could then force the World Government to make concessions.
And if the Emperors Alliance won, the situation might become even more favorable.
Without the Celestial Dragons and the crushing Heavenly Tribute imposed on nations around the world, the Marines could negotiate directly with the new rulers and help govern the world themselves.
Some people even secretly entertained a more dangerous thought.
If both sides exhausted each other in this war, the Marines could step in afterward, eliminate the weakened victors, and become the true force of justice ruling the seas.
"Fleet Admiral, we should remain neutral!"
"That's right! Let the Celestial Dragons, pirates, and Revolutionary Army fight each other!"
"The Celestial Dragons never treated us like humans anyway!"
"They call us insects and slaves, yet expect us to die for them!"
Marine Vice Admirals began voicing their opinions one after another.
At this stage, nobody felt the need to hide their dissatisfaction anymore.
The Marines had endured the arrogance of the Celestial Dragons for years. Their actions completely contradicted the justice the Marines claimed to uphold.
Many of them had long reached their limit.
Sengoku listened to the voices around him before finally speaking in a heavy tone.
"But have any of you considered what happens after the World Government collapses?"
The battlefield gradually became quieter.
"If the World Government disappears, the entire world will instantly fall into chaos."
"Pirates will rise."
"Kingdoms will start wars."
"Nations unable to pay the Heavenly Tribute will seek revenge."
"The member nations themselves already carry countless grudges and territorial disputes."
"Without the World Government suppressing them, those conflicts will explode into a global war."
Sengoku's expression grew darker as he continued.
"And all of you came from those nations."
"When your homelands begin fighting each other..."
"When your families become victims of war..."
"When soldiers within the Marines start hating each other because of their countries..."
"The Marines themselves may collapse from internal conflict."
Silence spread among the officers.
Nobody could deny Sengoku's concerns.
No matter how corrupt the World Government was, it still maintained order across the world on the surface.
The World Government restrained wars between nations and kept conflicts from spiraling completely out of control.
Without it, the balance of the world could shatter overnight.
But Kuzan answered firmly.
"A generation's sacrifice is better than eternal slavery."
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Has the World Government ever truly treated people like humans?"
"Not just ordinary civilians."
"Even kings and nobles are treated like insects by the Celestial Dragons."
"You've all heard it yourselves."
"They look down on everyone equally."
Kuzan's eyes sharpened.
"People don't live only for food and survival."
"They also need dignity."
"If a person has no dignity, then what does it even mean to live as a human?"
"Dignity..."
Sengoku repeated the word quietly.
At first, he wanted to refute Kuzan immediately.
But the words stopped in his throat.
For a moment, countless memories surfaced in his mind.
Every time he stood before the Celestial Dragons, despite being the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, he was still insulted like an animal.
A dog.
A pig.
An insect.
The Celestial Dragons never cared about rank or merit.
To them, everyone outside their bloodline was beneath them.
The anger inside Sengoku had existed for years.
Not because he pitied the world, but because even he, the Fleet Admiral, had suffered humiliation under the Celestial Dragons.
At the same time, Sengoku could sense Kuzan's determination clearly.
If he truly chose to continue fighting for the World Government, Kuzan would not hesitate to oppose him.
Kuzan had always been powerful, and after gaining the Phoenix ability, his strength had increased even further.
Still, Sengoku feared becoming a sinner in Marine history.
If a worldwide war truly erupted, countless innocent people would die.
His next decision would shape the future of the entire world.
After a long silence, Sengoku finally sat down heavily.
"Kuzan..."
"Freeze us all."
The surrounding Marines widened their eyes in shock.
Kuzan looked at Sengoku for several seconds before finally smiling faintly.
"Good choice, Sengoku-sensei."
Cold air instantly spread across the battlefield.
Ice rapidly climbed across Sengoku's body, freezing half of him first.
Then Kuzan paused briefly before releasing an even stronger wave of freezing power.
The ice completely sealed Sengoku inside.
"Ice Ball."
A massive sphere of ice formed around the former Fleet Admiral, making it appear as though Sengoku had been defeated in battle.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Saint Garling's expression darkened while fighting Dragon.
"Damn those Marines!"
"They betrayed us at the most critical moment because of a few words from Kuzan!"
Saint Warcury snorted coldly.
"I expected this much."
"The Marines were always unreliable when it truly mattered."
Meanwhile, Marco continued hunting down members of the God's Knights across the battlefield.
Many of the newer members had already used the Four Soul Divine Blood to forcefully increase their strength.
However, the power came at the cost of lifespan.
Unless absolutely necessary, they were unwilling to use it recklessly.
Even then, the enhancement only elevated most of them to Yonko Commander level at best.
Against Marco, that level of strength meant nothing.
The eighteen official members of the God's Knights were different.
They possessed far greater power and carried the same divine blood within them.
Still, even they could not abuse that ability carelessly.
No matter how powerful they were, their lifespans were not endless.
At that moment, Saint Nusjuro's voice suddenly echoed through telepathy.
"Everyone, retreat immediately!"
===
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