The moment Xayuki finished speaking, every Marine officer surrounding them pulled a crimson armband from within their uniforms and secured it around their left arms. Their eyes blazed with fervent determination as they turned toward Sakazuki, clearly prepared to launch themselves at him should he make any threatening move.
Sakazuki, however, appeared utterly unconcerned by this display.
Though the room contained officers ranked Ensign and above—including a Vice Admiral—he remained confident that if combat erupted, he could eliminate them all single-handedly.
Of course, he had no intention of doing so.
What truly intrigued him was Xayuki's audacity—where had this subordinate found the courage to speak such treasonous words in the presence of one of Marine Headquarters' supreme combatants, openly declaring his intention to replace Fleet Admiral Sengoku?
Xayuki understood perfectly well that mere words alone would neither convince Sakazuki to join his cause nor prevent the Admiral's potential wrath.
Noting Sakazuki's measured reaction, Xayuki turned and walked to a nearby chair, taking a seat with deliberate calm.
The two former prison guards, now dressed in Marine officer uniforms, quickly brought another chair and positioned it behind Sakazuki.
Without hesitation, the Admiral sat down facing Xayuki.
Wasting no time on pleasantries, Xayuki addressed the heart of the matter: "Under normal protocol, allegations of corruption against senior Marine officers should be investigated by the Inspector General's office, which would form a specialized task force. Yet the investigation against me bypassed this procedure entirely, being handed directly to Enies Lobby."
"The moment the Chief Judge from Enies Lobby entered the Marine Headquarters courtroom, I knew with certainty that regardless of any evidence presented, my fate was sealed—I would not leave alive."
"Initially, I suspected Vice Admiral Onigumo was manipulating events from the shadows. His schemes, however, lack the sophistication to orchestrate something of this magnitude, so I dismissed the concern. But based on intelligence I've since gathered, the one who desires my elimination isn't Onigumo—it's Spandam, the director of CP9!"
"Admiral Sakazuki, you must know Spandam better than I do."
"Spandam is fundamentally a coward. His ascension to CP9 leadership came through the darkest of methods—climbing over the corpses of his colleagues. His vision extends only to promotion and power. Anyone obstructing his ambitions faces elimination without hesitation."
"Now that he's targeted me, should I meekly accept my fate?"
"Of course, someone of Spandam's caliber is merely a performing clown in my estimation. The Chief Judge's presence at Headquarters isn't solely due to their collusion. Those two alone lack the influence to challenge my standing within the Marines."
"The true orchestrator behind these events is the Chamber of Authority."
"And their motivation..."
Xayuki paused, shaking his head with a knowing smile. "The Chamber fears Marine Headquarters achieving true unity and purpose. If the Marines—this massive war machine—were to operate as a single, cohesive force, we would represent a far greater threat to the World Government than all the lawless pirates of the Grand Line or even the Revolutionary Army's global insurgency."
"Consider the implications—what if the three Admirals, all Vice Admirals, every officer, and our 100,000 elite soldiers pledged loyalty to a single leader? Without the Marines as their enforcement arm, how would the World Government contain the exponentially growing pirate presence since the Great Pirate Era began? How would they maintain equilibrium against the Four Emperors who now dominate the New World? How would they suppress the Revolutionary Army's spreading influence across the globe?"
"The World Government requires complete restructuring."
"The Celestial Dragons—who bask in unearned privilege while contributing nothing—should not exist. The pirates gaining strength throughout the Grand Line and Four Blues must be systematically eradicated."
"This isn't some desperate plan conceived under threat of execution. It's a vision I've been methodically developing since my promotion to Ensign."
"To be completely transparent, the funds I've acquired through various channels far exceed the alleged 200 billion Belly. I haven't maintained precise accounts, but the total is substantially higher. Naturally, such an astronomical sum far exceeds what any individual could spend in a lifetime, and I have no interest in the luxuries wealth provides—that was never my objective. That explains why investigators found merely 100,000 Belly in my residence."
"Because I distributed those resources to those who truly needed support—like the officers standing before you today."
Xayuki turned his gaze toward a Brigadier General standing to his left. "This is Brigadier General Modo. He embodies unwavering justice, prepared to sacrifice everything for his principles and resistant to all corruption. Yet despite protecting countless civilians and upholding the justice he believes in, he couldn't shield his own family. During an extended mission, pirates raided his hometown, murdering his wife and daughter."
"Upon receiving this devastating news, he immediately abandoned his post to return home and launched a relentless pursuit of those responsible. For this act of devotion, his commanding Captain branded him a deserter and imprisoned him."
"I intervened on his behalf. Not only did I ensure he obtained justice for his family, but I facilitated his transfer to Headquarters, where through his exceptional abilities, he rose to his current rank."
"There are countless officers like Brigadier General Modo throughout Headquarters and across our branch bases in the Four Blues. At minimum, half the branch Captains maintain loyalty to me. With a single command, they would converge from across the seas to support my ascension to Fleet Admiral."
Hearing this, Sakazuki's expression darkened considerably. "Are you threatening me?"
"Not at all," Xayuki replied, raising his hand in a placating gesture, his tone remaining measured. "This isn't a threat—it's a sincere invitation. Throughout these years, you've observed my operations and developed some understanding of my methodology."
"From my perspective, an era of chaos demands decisive action. The criminal elements proliferating since the Great Pirate Era began must be systematically eliminated, even when such actions require difficult sacrifices."
"That's precisely why, despite many officers maintaining cautious distance from you, I've consistently held you in the highest regard. I've long hoped we might stand together to accomplish something truly monumental—all in service to justice!"
At this declaration, Sakazuki slowly raised his head, his penetrating gaze locking onto Xayuki. His voice emerged as a controlled rumble: "Your conception of justice involves inciting rebellion and usurping the Fleet Admiral's position?"
Xayuki smiled and shook his head. "As I stated before, I have no intention of claiming this glory for myself alone. Seizing the Fleet Admiral position is merely one component of a far greater plan."
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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